#Polly Ling-Feng Shang-Kuan

[scenesandscreens]

General Stone [Shi san tai bao Li Cun Xiao] (1977)

Director - Hung Tao, Cinematography - Wen-Hsiung Li

[of-fear-and-love]

龍門客棧 / Dragon Inn (1967)

[beingharsh]

Dragon Inn (1967), dir. King Hu

[classicfilmcentral]

Dragon Inn ‘龍門客棧’ 1967, Directed by King Hu

[facesofcinema]

Long men kezhan (1967)

[wangyulove]

黑白道 The Brave and the Evil (1971)

Surprise, surprise! I liked this one much better the second time around. It’s written, directed and starring Wang Yu back in 1971. This would’ve made a great Shaw Brothers Production. It seems Wang Yu was very ambitious back then. It’s a well-written, produced and directed movie. There is no insider-humor, the plot is consistent and the editing is professional as opposed to his later movie “One-armed Boxer vs. the Flying Guillotine”.  Not that I don’t enjoy that type of movie, but this is more serious and I am much more impressed with it after watching it again.  There was a lot of attention to detail too. I like that the final battle lasts through the night into the morning and you first see twilight, then the sun coming over the mountain, birds “waking up”, some morning fog and then it becomes full-on daytime. And, some nifty, believable weapons are employed. 

A group of bandits rob a wagon train that is carrying money to go to victims of a famine. They kill Polly Shang-Kuan Ling-Feng’s father in the process. She has a short temper and is an expert with her two knives and a red rope that she carries with her. When she hears of her father’s death she goes galloping at full speed through the town on her way to the bandit’s fortress. Wang Yu, who is also a Kung Fu expert, rescues a small child that is about to get trampled by Polly and her horse. He finds out from the locals why she’s so upset and decides to help her. She doesn’t know he’s on her side at first and they fight each other but then the bandits come to town to attack her and Wang Yu demonstrates he’s out to kill them too. The plot continues to develop and of course culminates in a final, bloody battle. Watch it a few times if you’re not immediately won over. 

[of-fear-and-love]

Swords (and a dagger)

From Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022); 龍門客棧 / Dragon Inn (1967); Solomon Kane (2009); 英雄 / Hero (2002); Double Impact (1991); Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023); 用心棒 / Yojimbo (1961); The Long Ships (1964); The Golden Blade (1953); Seminole (1953); ドラゴンボールＺゼット 復ふっ活かつのフュージョン！！悟ご空くうとベジ / Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (1995); and The Mighty Quinn (1989)