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The 1970s represent a supreme period in the context of martial arts movies. Although these films were being released as early as the 1920s, this decade effectively put the genre on the map and brought mainstream popularity with some of the best martial arts movie performances of all time. The love for martial arts cinema continued in the following years, with hit releases like The Karate Kid, which made such an impact it warranted a Karate Kid sequel 40 years later.

Without a doubt, the most legendary figure of this period was Bruce Lee. As a pioneer of cinematic martial arts, Lee's performances were so great they produced a new sub-genre known as Bruceploitation films that were aimed at emulating his style. While he is certainly a household name for this decade and beyond of martial arts movies, there are several more standout performances from the 1970s that majorly affected the genre.

One of the most well-regarded choreographers of the day, Chia Tang has never caught on the way contemporaries Chang Cheh, Yuen Woo-ping or Liu Chia-liang have become luminaries in the style. Still, judging by this first directorial offering, he had enough to offer that should’ve kept his name in the genres’ upper echelon with this strong and highly enjoyable late-era Shaw Brothers effort.

After being separated at birth, twin brothers Zi-tai and Dao Xing are forced to learn different forms of martial arts based on their disparate status in the world. With Zi-tai training with Emperor Gu and Dao Xing living with the Buddhist monks Wu Ming Wu Chu and Wu Li (Tau Wan Yue) in the countryside, they are unaware of each others’ true identity as the evil 9th Lord seeks them out to kill the two in order to keep his secret rule intact.