Chu Liu Xiang

I'm glad to see that the reviews on here are of "Clans of Intrigue". If you made it all the way through Brian Camp's review you will see at the end that he added that Clans of Intrigue was the title when he wrote the review but now IMDb has changed it to Legend of the Bat. I don't know why either Brian...

"Clans of Intrigue" was released in Hong Kong on 03/05/1977 and "Legend of the Bat" (aka Clans of Intrigue 2) was released on 07/08/1978.

That's right, "also known as "Clans of Intrigue 2", Legend of the Bat is a sequel to "Clans of Intrigue"... Lung Ti resumes his same role in this but Hua Yueh comes back as a different character.

Anyway... This page is for reviews of Clans of Intrigue. So, there's not much I can add that hasn't already been said.

I hope that IMDb fixes this error and makes a "Legend of the Bat (aka Clans of Intrigue 2) 1978" page so I can write a review on it (Its as good as Clans).

Ooops... I just found it... IMDb has it listed under its other alias name aka "Bat Island Adventures" (1978). Well, they still need to remove this Legend of the Bat cover from this page and return it to Clans of Intrigue like it originally was and should be....

I'm not sure what other reviewers were watching when they say there's a lack of action in this film. Every few minutes a fight erupts or some potential Allie or enemy comes on the scene.

The fight choreography is really stunning, and some of the best of its time (ie still better than 99% of films even today) .

This is a similar format to many Chor Yuen films- a great detective tale with stunning direction, magical sets and fabulous ambience.

The actors are all now rightly considered legends of the studio.

I've watched over 400 Shaws films, but strangely missed this one- due to its rarity until the big remastering project by Celestial/Shaws..... and this one really stands out as a gem among many other gems.

Others here have given more in-depth overviews and some plot pointers, but I like to go into a film knowing almost nothing about it, so will avoid any more repetition.

Have sword, can fly, seems to be the norm with these productions, and if you enjoy SWORDPLAY FILMS (rather than FISTS & FEET, which are more grounded in 'reality') then this is certainly one of the very best- from any era.

There are some truly incredible moments in this that will make your jaw drop... I will say no more- but you will never forget this film once you've seen it !!! It certainly contains colourful characters and a whole heap of imagination.

I watched this film after the latest episodes of 'The Last of Us' and 'Picard season 3' (both junk) and by goodness it almost knocked me out with sheer ENTERTAINMENT value... so, tonight its time for its sequel LEGEND OF THE BAT !

HIGHLY RECCOMENDED FOR ANY GENUINE OLD SKOOL KUNG FU FANS- watch with friends if you get the chance.

Clans of Intrigue is an excellent suspense-mystery with all the high stakes action you would still expect from a Ti Lung-starring Shaw Brothers film. Here he plays a well known rich thief, blamed for the murder of the leaders of the region's three largest kung fu clans. He is given one month to track down the real killer to save his life. Yueh Hua is excellent as a monk you meet early on who turns into the most interesting character in the film. Wish I could say more about him. And one of my absolute favorites, Ku Feng, shows up for a few sequences as well. The sets they use are just gorgeous, especially near the end. Some GREAT surprises along the way. I've seen a few of the collaborations between director Chu Yuan and star Ti Lung and hope there are more out there. At the very least I have a few more from the director on my shelf awaiting a viewing.

The movie begins with Ti Lung framed for three murders. That is as far as I dare go to summarize the movie. I would need a sentence to summarize every minute of movie time, so I won't even try. The movie is filled with fabulous style, lavish sets, flamboyant costumes, fast pacing, and complicated characters. Yet it is easy to follow. Does it make sense? I watched it twice and I find no plot holes.

I have the DVD copy with the interviews. The DVD video quality is DVD standard.

My only criticism is for lack of action. The movie is more a suspense mystery than martial arts movie. Nevertheless more action would have made it better.

CLANS OF INTRIGUE (1977) is another in the series of Shaw Bros. swordplay adventures directed by Chor Yuen (aka Chu Yuan) and adapted by studio scribe I Kuang from novels by prolific author Ku Lung, which present an elaborate alternate universe "martial arts world" recreated with great care on lavish Shaw Bros. sets. Other collaborations of the three include KILLER CLANS (1976) and THE MAGIC BLADE (1976), both also reviewed on this site. CLANS OF INTRIGUE is less action-packed than the earlier films and plays more as a detective drama, with the emphasis on a large-scale investigation as a swordsman framed for murder tries to find out who has killed three clan chiefs and why.

Ti Lung stars as "Thief Master" Chu Liu-hsiang, a high-living swordsman who travels around on his own private boat attended by three beautiful female "students" referred to somewhat indelicately in the new English subtitles as "the babes." When Chu is accused of murder by a female fighter (Nora Miao) from the Palace of Magic Water, he has to find out who has killed three clan leaders and sent out letters accusing him of the deeds. The investigation takes him to a number of different towns and puts him in conflict with several other factions. A mysterious killer in red stalks him, killing off those who give him information. An enigmatic woman in purple known by three painted portraits of her also figures in the investigation, as does a flashback telling us the fate of a Japanese ninja who'd come to China and his two children. A desert clan leader's daughter, clad all in black, first opposes Chu and then assists him.

The plot gets very complicated, but moves quickly and efficiently, keeping close track of its large cast of fascinating characters, all played by worthy Shaw Bros. players including Yueh Hua (COME DRINK WITH ME), Ku Feng (THE HEROIC ONES), Ling Yun (SWIFT SWORD), Tien Ching (BOXER FROM SHANTUNG), and several attractive actresses including Nora Miao (FIST OF FURY), Nancy Yen (7 GRANDMASTERS), Li Ching (KING EAGLE) and the stunning Betty Pei Ti (INTIMATE CONFESSIONS OF A Chinese COURTESAN) as the manipulative, icily beautiful Princess Yin-Chi, who recalls similar femme fatale characters played by Chan Ping in KILLER CLANS and Tien Ni in THE MAGIC BLADE.

The energetic Ti Lung plays a hero more charming and good-humored than the deadly lone swordsman he played in the more serious MAGIC BLADE. His character here is somewhat reminiscent of Hollywood secret agent Derek Flint, played by James Coburn in OUR MAN FLINT (1966), who was equally a master of weapons, a shrewd undercover investigator and served by three beautiful "babes" who also got captured by the villains at one point.

There are fewer swordfights and more talk than usual for this kind of film, which is fine with me, given the intricate nature of the plot, a sprawling puzzle in which important pieces are added with every scene. The fights are briefer than the spectacular setpieces in THE MAGIC BLADE, although Ti Lung and Yueh Hua have a notable climactic kung fu bout. It's a magnificent-looking production, staged on massive, well-lit Shaw Bros. interior sets, with a great cast dressed in beautiful costumes and expertly photographed, all in the service of a clever, entertaining storyline.

CLANS OF INTRIGUE should not be confused with SON OF WU TANG (aka CLUTCH OF POWER, 1977), whose alternate title is sometimes erroneously listed as CLANS OF INTRIGUE.