Death Duel

Death Duel (Chinese: 三少爺的劍) is a 1977 Hong Kong wuxia film directed by Chor Yuen under the Shaw Brothers Studio banner. The film stars Derek Yee (whose role as the third master launched his career), Ling Yun, and marked the debut of Candice Yu for Shaw Studio where she plays a prostitute. The film based on the Gu Long's novel of the same name. [1]

For the video game, see Death Duel (video game).

Death Duel
Film poster
Traditional三少爺的劍
Simplified三少爷的剑
MandarinSān Shào Yé Dè Jiàn
Directed byChor Yuen
Produced byRunme Shaw
Screenplay byChor Yuen
Story byGu Long
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

Plot

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
  • Derek Yee as Third Master Chi
  • Ling Yun as Yen Shih-san
  • Candice Yu as Hsiao Li
  • Ku Feng as Miao Tzu, Hsiao Li's brother
  • Ouyang Sha-fei as Hsiao Li's mother
  • Chen Ping as Mu-yung Chiu-ti
  • David Chiang as Mu-yung Chien-lung
  • Norman Chui as 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-sheng as Mute
  • Teresa Ha as 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 Hua as 'Tu Lang Chun' Chou Yu-feng
  • Ti Lung as Fu Hung-hsueh
  • Lo Lieh as 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-wei as 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 Shen as Leader of Hei Sha Clan
  • Corey Yuen as 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-yi as one of 8 Spirit Catchers
  • Hao Li-jen as tavern boss
  • Wang Han-chen as bully at tavern
  • Lo Wai as bully's thug at tavern
  • Yuen Biao as 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-San as Yen's challenger at Maple Wood
  • San Kuai as Yen's challenger at Maple Wood / Chief Yan
  • Yuen Wah as 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 Hung as brothel worker
  • Gam Tin-chue as waiter
  • Brandy Yuen as extra
  • Man Man as townsfolk

Reception

Paul of hkcinema.com 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."[2]

Reviewer Andrew Saroch of fareastfilms.com 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."[3]

See also

References
  1. "Death Duel". Silver Emulsion Film Reviews. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  2. "Death Duel". Hong Kong Cinema. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  3. "Death Duel". Far East Films. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
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