Arrow Video is now releasing Volume 3 in the Shawscope series and the first disc in the set is a new 4K remaster of the classic One Armed Swordsman starring Jimmy Wang Yu.
Accepted to the Golden Sword School after his father sacrificed his life to save his master, Fang Kang (Wang Yu) is resented by his fellow pupils and decides to leave. However, his master’s daughter Chi Pei-erh challenges him to a fight and chops off his arm. After being nursed back to health by Hsiao Man (Chiao Chiao), Fang Kang attempts to master the art of sword fighting with one arm and finds himself returning to the Golden Sword School on a desperate mission to save his master.
A classic and the first film to make over 1 million Dollars at the Hong Kong box office this has Wang Yu as the tormented anti-hero forced to fight and train with his left hand after the tragic loss of his right.
The movie is a little dated but the action is bloody for its time and as the series progressed the choreography became more complex and enjoyable. It is a great introduction to the Shaw Brothers style of swordplay movies which was to grow quickly after the success of this film.
The 4K remaster is fabulous and has a bold colour palette and solid blacks. Compared to previous releases it is a big improvement in many ways. The sound is original mono Mandarin with subtitles or the classic English dub, both sound clear and fine.
Extras are plentiful and talk not just about this film but the other two in the series Return of the One Armed Swordsman and The New One Armed Swordsman which I shall review next.
EXTRAS –
- Brand new commentary by David West, author of Chasing Dragons: An Introduction to the Martial Arts Film.
- Newly filmed appreciation of the One-Armed Swordsman series by film critic and historian Tony Rayns – As always a great listen as he goes into details about the making of the film and the two sequels also.
- Interview with actor Wang Yu, filmed in 2001 – He talks about his career and the One-Armed Swordsman films.
- Interview with actor Chiao Chiao, filmed in 2005
- Interview with actor Ku Feng, filmed in 2004 – Really great to hear Ku Feng talk about his career and some of the movies that he was involved in , especially New One Armed Swordsman where he was the main villain.
- Appreciation of director Chang Cheh’s work by film historian Sam Ho, filmed in 2003
- Interview with Daniel Lee, director of the remake What Price Survival, filmed in 2004
- One-Armed Side Hustles, a brand new video essay by Brandon Bentley on Wang Yu’s career playing amputee protagonists
- Theatrical trailers, and trailers for other films by Chang Cheh
A great release with a superb remaster Arrow Video certainly do not disappoint with there Shaw Brothers releases.
FILM – 7 OUT OF 10
