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Death Duel

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Death Duel
Film poster
Traditional ChineseTam thiếu gia kiếm
Simplified ChineseTam thiếu gia kiếm
Hanyu PinyinSān Shào Yé Dè Jiàn
Directed byChor Yuen
Screenplay byChor Yuen
Story byGu Long
Produced byRunme Shaw
StarringDerek Yee
Ling Yun
Candice Yu
CinematographyWong Chit
Edited byChiang Hsing-lung
Production
company
Distributed byShaw Brothers Studio
Release date
  • 7 July 1977(1977-07-07)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese
Box officeHK$1.64 million[1]

Death Duel(Chinese:Tam thiếu gia kiếm) is a 1977 Hong Kongwuxiafilm directed byChor Yuenunder theShaw Brothers Studiobanner. The film starsDerek Yee(whose role as the third master launched his career), Ling Yun, and marked the debut ofCandice Yufor Shaw Studio where she plays a prostitute. The film based on the Gu Long'snovel of the same name.[2]It was remade in 2016 asSword Master,directed by Derek Yee.

Plot[edit]

The Third Master is considered to be the greatest sword master of the day but he leaves his clan when he sees the wrongs of his father and the greed of his fiancé. Ending up as the lowest at a brothel and living as Useless An, he cannot shake his past. He tries to protect a lowly prostitute and her poor but happy family but only brings them sorrow. His greatest rival, sick from years of abuse to his body and soul and thinking the third dead, begins digging his own grave in the same town. In trying to help he brings an evil army to the town.

Cast[edit]

  • Derek Yeeas Third Master Chi
  • Ling Yunas Yen Shih-san
  • Candice Yuas Hsiao Li
  • Ku Fengas Miao Tzu, Hsiao Li's brother
  • Ouyang Sha-feias Hsiao Li's mother
  • Chen Pingas Mu-yung Chiu-ti
  • David Chiangas Mu-yung Chien-lung
  • Norman Chuias Mu-yung family swordsman
  • Ku Kuan-chung as one of the Yu Mien brothers
  • Ngai Fei as one of the Yu Mien brothers
  • Gam Lau as Mrs Han
  • Fan Mei-shengas Mute
  • Teresa Haas Mute's wife
  • Yeung Chi-hing as Chief Yang
  • Lam Fai-wong as Yang Wu
  • Liu Wai as Chief Yang's assistant
  • Ching Miao as Keeper Shih Wang-sun
  • Shum Lo as ferryman for Divine Sword Mansion
  • Yueh Huaas 'Tu Lang Chun' Chou Yu-feng
  • Ti Lungas Fu Hung-hsueh
  • Lo Liehas Han Tang
  • Nancy Yen as Yu Cheng
  • Chan Si-gai as girl bullied at tavern
  • Lau Luk-wa as teacher at tavern
  • Lau Wai-ling as Ms. Hua / clothes shop Boss
  • Wang Lung-weias Tien Hu (Yang's guest)
  • Wong Pau-gei as Tien Hu's brother (Yang's guest)
  • Jamie Luk as Tien Hu's brother (Yang's guest)
  • Chan Shenas Leader of Hei Sha Clan
  • Corey Yuenas Japanese in Hei Sha Clan
  • Tino Wong as Japanese in Hei Sha Clan
  • Ng Yuen-fan as Taoist in Hei Sha Clan / chestnut seller
  • Tai Gwan-tak as Monk in Hei Sha Clan
  • Hsu Hsia as Member of Hei Sha Clan
  • Chui Fat as Member of Hei Sha Clan / Yen's challenger
  • Kong Chuen as Member of Hei Sha Clan / Chiu-ti's man
  • Ng Hong-sang as Leader of 4 Swift Swords
  • Wong Chi-keung as One of 4 Swift Swords
  • Chik Ngai-hung as One of 4 Swift Swords
  • Lau Jun-fai as One of 4 Swift Swords/chestnut seller's
  • Alan Chan as one of 8 Spirit Catchers
  • Yuen Shun-yias one of 8 Spirit Catchers
  • Hao Li-jen as tavern Boss
  • Wang Han-chen as bully at tavern
  • Lo Waias bully's thug at tavern
  • Yuen Biaoas bully's thug at tavern
  • Lee Hang| as bully's thug at tavern
  • Tang Tak-cheung as bully's thug at tavern
  • Alan Chui Chung-Sanas Yen's challenger at Maple Wood
  • San Kuai as Yen's challenger at Maple Wood / Chief Yan
  • Yuen Wahas whoremonger who stabs Chi
  • Fung Ging-man as collies supervisor
  • Ting Tung as collie
  • Sai Gwa-pau as mourner/whoremonger
  • Wong Kung-miu as mourner
  • Tam Ying as mourner
  • Cheung Sek-au as brothel worker
  • Mama Hungas brothel worker
  • Gam Tin-chue as waiter
  • Brandy Yuen as extra
  • Man Manas townsfolk

Reception[edit]

Paul of hkcinema gave the film four out of five stars, writing, "Death Duel is one of the latter wuxia films featuring the enchanting direction of Chor Yuen."[3]

Reviewer Andrew Saroch of fareastfilms gave the film four out of five stars, writing, "Death Duel is a bleak, nihilistic swordplay film that embodies all of the qualities that one expects from a Chor Yuen adaptation of a Gu Long story."[4]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Death Duel".Hong Kong Movie DataBase.Retrieved6 July2021.
  2. ^"Death Duel".Silver Emulsion Film Reviews. 14 July 2018.Retrieved14 July2020.
  3. ^"Death Duel".Hong Kong Cinema.Retrieved14 July2020.
  4. ^"Death Duel".Far East Films.Retrieved14 July2020.

External links[edit]