The Heroic Ones
| The Heroic Ones | |
|---|---|
 movie poster | |
| Chinese | Thập tamTháiBảo |
| Literal meaning | Thirteen Grand Guardians |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Shísān Tàibǎo |
| Directed by | Chang Cheh |
| Written by | Chang Cheh Ni Kuang |
| Produced by | Run Run Shaw |
| Starring | David Chiang Chin Han Ti Lung Lily Li Nam Seok-hun Wang Chung Ku Feng Chan Sing |
| Cinematography | Yukio Miyaki |
| Edited by | Chiang Hsing-lung |
| Music by | Wang Fu-ling |
| Distributed by | Shaw Brothers Studio |
Release date |
|
Running time | 121 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Mandarin |
The Heroic Onesis a 1970 Hong KongShaw Brothers Studiomartial arts film directed byChang Cheh.[1]It was originally released on 14 August 1970 inHong Kongand was one of the top grossing Hong Kong films between the years of 1970 and 1972.[2]
Plot[edit]
In 880simperial China,theTang dynastycourt no longer had effective control of its empire, and the national capitalChang'anwas sacked by Huang Chao's anti-government army. Li Keyong, aShatuochieftain loyal to the Tang cause, led his troops to suppress the rebellion. His 13 generals—essentially all adopted sons—helped expel Huang from Chang'an, although a rift between some of them became more and more apparent in the process. Following the victory, Li Keyong accepted an invitation for a banquet atmilitary governorZhu Wen's territory ofBianliang,unaware that it was a trap to assassinate him.
Cast and characters[edit]
- Ku FengasLi Keyong,Prince of Jin
- Chin HanasLi Siyuan,Li Keyong's 1st general
- Pao Chia-win asLi Sizhao,Li Keyong's 2nd general
- Lo Wei asLi Cunxu,Li Keyong's 3rd general
- Nam Seok-hun asLi Cunxin,Li Keyong's 4th general
- Liu Kang as Li Cunzhi, Li Keyong's 5th general
- Sung Yuan as Li Cunke, Li Keyong's 6th general
- Huang Pei-chi asLi Cunjin,Li Keyong's 7th general
- Wang Kuang-yu asLi Cunzhang,Li Keyong's 8th general
- Chen Chuan asLi Cunshen,Li Keyong's 9th general
- Lau Kar-wingas Li Cunshou, Li Keyong's 10th general
- Ti LungasShi Jingsi,Li Keyong's 11th general
- Wang Chung asKang Junli,Li Keyong's 12th general
- David ChiangasLi Cunxiao,Li Keyong's 13th general
- Chan SingasZhu Wen,the Bianliang governor (he was an officer under Huang Chao before he surrendered to the Tang government)
- Lee Hae-ryong asHuang Chao,the rebel leader, self-proclaimed Qi emperor
- Bolo Yeungas Meng Juehai, Huang's general
- Jin Bong-jin as Zhang Quan, Huang's general
- Lily Lias Cuiyan, a young woman in Chang'an
Deviations from history[edit]
Some events in the film are loosely based on history, such as Li Keyong's troops expelling Huang Chao from Chang'an in the summer of 883, and Zhu Wen's failed assassination attempt of Li Keyong a year later that took the lives of Shi Jingsi and many others. However, many other events have been fictionalized. While Li Cunxiao did in fact have a strained relationship with Li Cunxin and Kang Junli and did die bydismemberment,he was actually the one who betrayed Li Keyong, who eventually executed him. Except for Kang who was killed by Li Keyong in relation to Li Cunxiao's death, no other general died from infighting.
In history, Shi and Kang were not adopted sons of Li Keyong, hence their different surnames from the other generals, in fact Kang was Li Keyong's senior by 9 years. Li Cunjin was one of the oldest adopted sons, and both Li Cunxin and Li Cunshen were older than Li Siyuan, and quite possibly Li Sizhao and Li Cunzhang as well. Li Cunxu, a few dozen years younger than most of his adoptive brothers, was not even born in 883-884. Li Keyong was not created "Prince of Jin" until 895, a good 12 years after expelling Huang Chao from Chang'an. Zhu Wen (who since 882 bore the name Zhu Quanzhong) was actually called the Xuanwu governor instead of the "Bianliang governor" —Bianliang being a much later name of Xuanwu's capital Bianzhou.
The film got one detail right: according to historical records, Li Keyong had one eye smaller than the other.
Reception[edit]
Empire OnlinegaveThe Heroic Onesfour out of five stars, saying that although the film was "occasionally uneven in pace, [it] nonetheless delivers spectacular action and earns its rep as a must-have."[3]Far East Films remarked that it was a "worthwhile addition to anyone's collection though, but is not among Cheh's finest works".[4]The film has experienced some success since its original release in 1970 and has been screened at the 2004Melbourne International Film Festival.[5][6]
References[edit]
- ^Coppola, Antoine (2004).Le cinéma asiatique.Editions L'Harmattan. p. 201.ISBN2747560546.
- ^Laikwan Pang, Day Wong (2005).Masculinities and Hong Kong Cinema.Hong Kong University Press. p. 33.ISBN9622097375.
- ^"The Heroic Ones (review)".Empire Online.Retrieved1 December2013.
- ^"The Heroic Ones (Review)".Far East Films.Retrieved1 December2013.
- ^"Honouring Master Cheh".The Age.Retrieved1 December2013.
- ^""Hong Kong Cinema" opens at 53rd Melbourne International Film Festival ".Gov.hk.Retrieved1 December2013.
External links[edit]
- 1970 films
- 1970 action films
- 1970 martial arts films
- Hong Kong action films
- Hong Kong martial arts films
- Shaw Brothers Studio films
- Kung fu films
- Films directed by Chang Cheh
- Films set in 9th-century Tang dynasty
- Films set in Xi'an
- Films set in Kaifeng
- Films set in Shanxi
- Films shot in Hong Kong
- Films about assassinations
- 1970s Hong Kong films