Duan hun dao

It starts with the standard "Who are these two guys and why are they fighting?" Though it is not explicitly shown one of the fighters loses his right arm. After the opening credits a palanquin is carried to the palace. Lee Wan-Chung (the man with the greatest smile in the history of this genre) and another official discuss the political situation. Wang was sent into exile and committed suicide. But it seems he only faked his death.

Next Kelly Lai Chen is practicing his new style - one armed sword. He defeats all of Mr. Smiley's students. Karen Yip discusses romance with him. He loves someone else. Kelly Lai Chen started acting in 1956 doing drama. By 1970 his career was wrapping up. He seems unlikely to be cast as a martial artist. Whatever brought him to this movie, it was the end.

On the other end of the spectrum this movie seems to be the great Bruce Leung Siu-Lung's appearance as a stunt man or extra. To detail his screen appearance I would have to watch the movie again because I failed to notice him the first view but I am not watching this again.

The first "major fight" came at about 52 minutes. It was a brawl in the large tea house. The fight choreography was simply the actor raising his sword and the stunt men hitting it. Otherwise the movie was mostly drama that failed to hold interest.

This movie would only attract the attention of a hard core fan of martial arts movies of the golden age from 1967 to 1984. I am one such fan and on a mission to watch and review every movie of that age. Unless you are exactly like me you will accomplish nothing by watching this movie.