Shaw Brothers Classics, Volume 1 – Shout! Factory (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Hong Kong, 1967 (The Assassin, The Thundering Sword, Golden Swallow), Hong Kong, 1968 (The Jade Raksha, The Bells of Death, The Sword of Swords, Killer Darts), Hong Kong, 1969 (The Invincible Fist, Dragon Swamp, The Flying Dagger, The Golden Sword)
Directors: Chang Cheh (The Assassin, Golden Swallow, The Invincible Fist, The Flying Dagger), Hsu Tseng-Hung (The Thundering Sword), Ho Meng-Hua (The Jade Raksha, Killer Darts), Yueh Feng (The Bells of Death), Cheng Kang (The Sword of Swords), Lo Wei (Dragon Swamp, The Golden Sword)
Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Cheng Pei-pei, Lo Lieh, Shu Pei-Pei, Yueh Hua, David Chiang, Wu Ma, Kao Yuen, James Tien

Release Date: June 13th, 2023
Approximate running times: 117 Minutes 20 Seconds (The Assassin), 94 Minutes 58 Seconds (The Thundering Sword), 108 Minutes 33 Seconds (Golden Swallow), 95 Minutes 33 Seconds (The Jade Raksha), 88 Minutes 22 Seconds (The Bells of Death), 110 Minutes 55 Seconds (The Sword of Swords), 87 Minutes 50 Seconds (Killer Darts), 98 Minutes 59 Seconds (The Invincible Fist), 110 Minutes 30 Seconds (Dragon Swamp), 97 Minutes 16 Seconds (The Flying Dagger), 105 Minutes 37 Seconds (The Golden Sword)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (All Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Mandarin (All Films), DTS-HD Mono English (Golden Swallow, The Bells of Death, The Sword of Swords, The Flying Dagger)
Subtitles: English (All Films), English SDH (Golden Swallow, The Bells of Death, The Sword of Swords, The Flying Dagger)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $169.98

"In the same year that director/writer Chang Cheh and star Jimmy Wang Yu revolutionized Hong Kong kung fu cinema with One-Armed Swordsman, they also collaborated on this epic of the Six Kingdoms era. Here, Yu is a two-armed swordsman who is also a Wei Empire patriot. Inside the Han Empire, Han Kuei, who comes from the royal family, assumes full power and wants to eliminate loyal officer Yen Sui. Later, our main character is betrayed by a jealous rival and becomes a village butcher. But when he meets Yen Sui, he is sent back on the road of vengeance. Chiao Chiao, the lovely and talented costar of One-Armed Swordsman, here plays Hsia, the love of the hero’s life and the strong woman who survives to protect their child.

Superstar swordswoman Cheng Pei-pei, (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), stars as the daughter of the Poison Master in a Romeo And Juliet-style martial arts adventure concerning a search for the magical “Heaven and Earth” weapon in The Thundering Sword.

The indomitable martial arts team of director Chang Cheh and stunt choreographer Liu Chia-liang continues the compelling saga of The Golden Swallow from King Hu’s Come Drink With Me in this sequel of heartbreaking romance, intrigue and stunning action.

Thanks in great part to Cheng Pei-pei, women in martial arts movies played a more central role in the plots and the swordswomen of the genre became some of the most charismatic figures in Hong Kong cinema. In The Jade Raksha, Cheng Pei-pei becomes a human combine harvester as she hacks and whacks a path through life, avenging the death of her family under the moniker “The Jade Raksha.”

The Bells Of Death is a whirlwind story about a man embarking on a life-long journey to master the sword, then find and eliminate the three men who killed his family and abducted his sister.

Jimmy Wang Yu had just exploded into superstardom as One-Armed Swordsman when he teamed with respected writer/director Cheng Kang for this tale of master martial artists vying for the title blade – a “weapon of exceptional brilliance.” And with legendary martial arts choreographers Lau Kar-leung and Tang Chia directing the action, the result is a superb, flat-out adventure of intrigue, deception, and an abduction, delivering one battle after another until it culminates in an amazing all-out slaughter.

Rampaging bandits are pillaging peaceful Chinese villages until the grieving dart master Liu Wen Lung sets out with his student, son, and servant to avenge his murdered wife and set things right. Renowned director Ho Meng-Hua – soon to be internationally famous for The Flying Guillotine – masterfully balances action with intrigue and romance, as the path of righteousness is littered with lies … and corpses.

The Invincible Fist is one of the few films where the godfather of the kung fu film Chang Cheh headlined Lo Lieh as the leading hero three years before Lo would become the Shaw Brothers’ first international star in King Boxer (aka Five Fingers Of Death). Here he plays a dedicated chief constable for Tsang Chou village who falls in love with the blind daughter of a bandit who is wreaking havoc. Joining him in all the action and emotion are award-winning actor Ku Feng and future superstar David Chiang.

Cheng Pei-pei, the screen’s greatest swordswoman, teams with Lo Lieh for this amazing, fast-paced adventure of the “Martial Arts World” – where everyone is killing to gain the famous “Jade Dragon Sword.” Fascinating characters, like the Roaming Knight and the Master of Dragon Swamp, clash in this family feud, which takes place over twenty years. In addition to the spectacular fights, this special production holds an emotional wallop for the finale.

Godfather of the kung fu film, director Chang Cheh is famous for introducing the revolutionary concept of “yanggang” (macho) martial arts movies. Until then, female stars (often in male swordsman roles) ruled the screens. This collaboration between him and swordswoman supreme Cheng Pei-pei is exceptional indeed. Cheng could hold her own with any man, freeing Chang to create the best of all possible martial arts worlds.

Lo Wei remains internationally famous for directing Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan’s first major movies. Cheng Pei-pei is now internationally famous for her superlative villainous role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. But both were superstars in Hong Kong for decades prior, so any teaming of the superlative “swordswoman supreme” and the vaunted director/writer/actor is cause for celebration. Kao Yuen joins them as a noble swordsman, and award-winning actor Ku Feng stars as the Frontier Terror in the evocative and effective “Martial Arts World” adventure." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5 (Golden Swallow, The Jade Raksha, Killer Darts, The Invincible Fist, The Flying Dagger, The Golden Sword), 3.25/5 (The Assassin, The Thundering Sword, The Bells of Death, The Sword of Swords, Dragon Swamp)

The Assassin comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 32.7 GB

Feature: 32.4 GB

The Thundering Sword comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.4 GB

Feature: 24.8 GB

Golden Swallow comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 33.7 GB

Feature: 30 GB

The Jade Raksha comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.5 GB

Feature: 25 GB

The Bells of Death comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 24.6 GB

Feature: 24.4 GB

The Sword of Swords comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31.8 GB

Feature: 31 GB

Killer Darts comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 23.4 GB

Feature: 23.2 GB

The Invincible Fist comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 26.9 GB

Feature: 26.2 GB

Dragon Swamp comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 30.1 GB

Feature: 29.1 GB

The Flying Dagger comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 27.2 GB

Feature: 26.9 GB

The Golden Sword comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 28.1 GB

Feature: 27.8 GB

Though no information has been provided about the sources used for these eleven film transfers, it is clear that they come from outdated sources. There are times when flesh tones look off, colors are inconsistent, image clarity ranges from serviceable to good, black levels are never convincing, and there are moments where they look grayish. Also, there are some compression issues, most noticeable during darker scenes, and none of these transfers look film-like; some even have a waxy look. Around the 26-minute, 50-second mark of Dragon Swamp, there is a noticeable drop in quality.

Audio: 3.75/5 (All Audio Tracks Except DTS-HD Mono Mandarin - The Jade Raksha, DTS-HD Mono Mandarin - The Invincible Fist), 3.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono Mandarin - The Jade Raksha, DTS-HD Mono Mandarin - The Invincible Fist)

All eleven films come with a DTS-HD mono mix with non-removable English subtitles. These films, The Golden Swallow, The Bells of Death, The Sword of Swords, and The Flying Dagger, also come with a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English SDH. It should be noted that the English SDH subtitles can only be disabled via the menu. Also, in the four films that have two audio options, you cannot switch between these two audio tracks during playback.

Though dialog comes through clearly on all of the audio tracks, the Mandarin language tracks for these films all sound more robust than the films that also come with English language tracks. Also, The Jade Raksha and The Invincible Fist have sibilance issues. Range-wise, all of the tracks do a good job handling ambient sounds, and the scores sound appropriately robust. That said, despite some of the limitations of these audio tracks, for the most part, they get the job done.

Extras:

Extras for The Assassin include a celestial re-release trailer (1 minute 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Mandarin with non-removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with David West, Critic And Author Of Chasing Dragons: An Introduction To The Martial Arts Film.

Extras for The Thundering Sword include a celestial re-release trailer (1 minute 8 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Mandarin with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with academic Leon Hunt, author of Kung Fu Cult Masters: From Bruce Lee To Crouching Tiger titled From A Western Perspective (27 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an interview with author and film critic Kim Newman who discusses Sir Run Run Shaw titled Never the Twain Shall Meet   (27 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles). 

Extras for Golden Swallow include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with burnt-in English subtitles), a celestial re-release trailer (1 minute 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Mandarin with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Cheng Pei-Pei (14 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Hong Kong-based academic and filmmaker Gilbert Po.

Extras for The Jade Raksha include an interview with Hong Kong based dubber Peter Boczar who reflects on his time behind the microphone for a number of martial arts masterpieces titled A Very Vocal Violence (20 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an interview with film critic and Hong Kong film expert Tony Rayns who discusses the emergence, key players, and success of the Shaw Brothers Wuxia film titled Slicing At The Stars (92 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Extras for The Bells of Death include a celestial re-release trailer (1 minute 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Mandarin with non-removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with  James Mudge, veteran Hong Kong film critic at easternKicks.

Extras for The Sword of Swords include a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with burnt-in English subtitles), a celestial re-release trailer (1 minute 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Mandarin with non-removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with James Mudge, and an audio commentary with film historian Brian Bankston (Cool Ass Cinema Blog).

Extras for Killer Darts include a celestial re-release trailer (1 minute 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Mandarin with non-removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with James Mudge.

Extras for The Invincible Fist include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with burnt-in English subtitles), a celestial re-release trailer (1 minute 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Mandarin with non-removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with James Mudge, and an audio commentary Brian Bankston.

Extras for Dragon Swamp include a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 19 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with burnt-in English subtitles), a celestial re-release trailer (1 minute 6 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Mandarin with non-removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Gilbert Po.

Extras for The Flying Dagger include a celestial re-release trailer (1 minute 8 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Mandarin with non-removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng of the New York asian film festival.

Extras for The Golden Sword include a celestial re-release trailer (1 minute 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Mandarin with non-removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Gilbert Po.

Other extras include reversible cover art.

Summary:

The Assassin: Directed by Chang Cheh, one of Shaw Brothers most renowned directors. His impressive filmography includes these standout films: The One-Armed Swordsman, Golden Swallow, Five Deadly Venoms, Boxer from Shantung, and The Water Margin.

The narrative revolves around a gifted swordfighter named Nieh Cheng, who is forced into exile when his teacher and all the students at his school are killed by a rival who betrays them.

Revenge and betrayal are two themes that are prominent in 1960s and 1970s cinema. And though these are two themes that would dominate the films of Chang Cheh, tone-wise, when it comes to on-screen violence, The Assassin is an early film in which he has yet to establish his own style.

At just under two hours, The Assassin is surprisingly light when it comes to action set pieces; there are only four. With the bulk of the screen time being exposition about the characters and a love story subplot, some who are more familiar with Chang Cheh’s most celebrated films might find the dramatic moments in between the action set pieces too slow.

Fortunately, when it comes to the action set pieces, they do not disappoint. They’re filled with intensity, carnage, and well-executed swordplay. The last action set piece, which is also the finale, provides a heroic death that is in line with the heroic bloodshed films that Chang Cheh did better than any of his other contemporaries.

The thing that you start to notice when you watch enough Shaw Brothers films are the recognizable actors' and actresses’ faces. And though the Shaw Brothers had their fair share of big-name stars like Jimmy Wang Yu (One-Armed Boxer), who portrays Nieh Cheng in The Assassin, they also have a solid group of secondary actors who often excel beyond being background fodder. That said, the main attraction of The Assassin is Jimmy Wang Yu, who delivers a solid performance in the type of role that he would make a career out of portraying. Ultimately, The Assassin is a well-made Wuxia that fans of this genre are sure to enjoy.

The Thundering Sword: Directed by Hsu Tseng-Hung, whose other notable films are The Twin Swords, The Sword and the Lute, and The Invincible Sword.

The narrative revolves around a clan that sends two of its members to retrieve a powerful sword before it falls into the wrong person's hands.

The Thundering Sword has all of the elements one has come to expect from Wuxia films. There is a mythical sword that has great powers and characters that effortlessly leap over walls and glide over rooftops. Nothing about The Thundering Sword is rooted in reality; it is a fantasy film through and through.

Hong Kong cinema has had a long history of strong female characters who more than hold their own against their male counterparts. And the main attraction of The Thundering Sword is Cheng Pei-pei in the role of So Jiau-jiau, a gifted swordswoman whose skills are unrivaled. She first gained attention by starring in Come Drink with Me. Though her character is co-led by Chang Yi (Lady Whirlwind) and Lo Lieh (The Chinese Boxer) in the role of the two clan members given the task of retrieving the powerful sword, that is not to say that her character's impact and her presence as an actress do not overshadow all other performances.

The bulk of the narrative is about various characters searching for the powerful sword. And it is not until around 31 minutes that the first action sequence happens. That said, the latter half of the narrative is more action-heavy. And the action sequences are well executed and sufficiently bloody. Also, a love story subplot about star-crossed lovers works its way into the story at hand. Ultimately, The Thundersword is a good blend of action and melodrama that works best when it comes to its action sequences.

Golden Swallow: Directed by Chang Cheh, one of Shaw Brothers most renowned directors. His impressive filmography includes these standout films: The One-Armed Swordsman, Five Deadly Venoms, Boxer from Shantung, and The Water Margin. Golden Swallow is a sequel to the film Come Drink with Me.

The narrative revolves around two fighters with different fighting styles who forge a bond when one of them nurses the other one back to health after a near-death experience.

Golden Swallow opens with a stylized opening sequence that partially obscures the sword fighting by blacking out portions of the screen. This inventive way of displaying opening credits during a fight sequence is a clever way to open a film.

Though billed as a sequel to Come Drink with Me, the only connection between that film and Golden Swallow is the character Golden Swallow, who, despite the name of the film, has less screentime this time around. With her two male co-stars, Jimmy Wang Yu (Master of the Flying Guillotine) and Lo Lieh (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin), being the focal points

When it comes to performances, Cheng Pei-pei (The Shadow Whip) in the role of Golden Swallow, Jimmy Wang Yu in the role of Silver Roc, and Lo Lieh in the role of Golden Whip are all excellent in their roles. That said, the rest of the cast are all great in their roles.

Besides giving the Golden Swallow character a reduced role, the other thing that sets this film apart from Come Drink with Me is how distinctively different these two directors styles are. That said, you really can't go wrong with either of these films.

The narrative is a good mix of melodrama and bloody action set pieces that are synonymous with the films of Chang Cheh. With the finale serving as a spectacular heroic death, that was the perfect coda for the events that preceded. Also, when it comes to pacing, there are no major issues as things tend to move along briskly. Ultimately, despite being a few notches below its predecessor, Come Drink with Me, Golden Swallow is a solid Wuxia film that is a must-see if you're a fan of this genre.

The Jade Raksha: Directed by Ho Meng-Hua, whose diverse filmography features some of the Shaw Brothers most eclectic films like The Kiss of Death, Black Magic, Black Magic 2, and The Oily Maniac.

The narrative revolves around a female assassin who kills everyone with the surname Yan.

The Jade Raksha has a fantastic fog-shrouded opening sequence where an unseen woman whose singing is frightening the locals And the next morning, when the dust settles, the locals discover several decapitated heads hanging throughout town. This scene does a phenomenal job setting the stage for the events that unfold.

At its core, The Jade Raksha is yet another revenge-themed martial arts film. The result is a film that does not feel derivative; it feels flesh as it injects some new elements into the all-too-familiar revenge-themed martial arts film. That said, one thing that sets The Jade Raksha apart from other similar-themed films is its supernatural undertones.

Though none of the performances are lacking, all performances pale in comparison to Cheng Pei-pei’s (Brothers Five) portrayal of Leng Qiuhan, an assassin who kills everyone with the surname Yan. She delivers a solid performance as a cold-blooded assassin. And when it comes to the fight sequences, this is another area where she shines brightest.

The Jade Raksha is a well-made Wuxia film that does a good job balancing action and melodrama. The narrative does a great job building momentum towards a wall-to-wall action-packed finale act that provides a satisfying conclusion. That said, if there was one area where The Jade Raksha comes up short, that would be a love triangle subplot. Ultimately, The Jade Raksha is a solid example of a revenge-themed martial arts film.

The Bells of Death: Directed by Yueh Feng, whose career spanned 40 years and he directed 87 films. His notable films are Madame White Snake and The Dragon Creek.

The narrative revolves around Chang Wei Fu, a man determined to avenge the death of his massacred family by studying extensively martial arts before he tracks each one of them down in his quest for revenge.

The Bells of Death’s bloodbath opening sequence, in which three bandits massacre a family, perfectly sets the stage for what follows. This sequence, like all of the action sequences that follow, are brutal moments of blood-soaked carnage in which some limbs are dismembered. That said, the fight sequences are the highlight of The Bells of Death.

The cast is all very good in their roles, especially Chang Yi (The 18 Bronzemen) in the role of Chang Wei Fu. His character's evolution is convincing, and another strength of this character is how he wears on his wrist a bracelet with bells that was his mother's. This bracelet also figures into his scenes with the three men who massacred his family.

Once again, revenge is central to the story at hand. And though this theme is in countless films, when done right, it never feels repetitive. At 88 minutes in length, The Bells of Death’s narrative ensures there are never dull moments as things move along quickly. Also, when it comes to the stunt work, The Bells of Death is filled with amazing wirework, a hallmark of Wuxia films. Ultimately, The Bells of Death is a well-made Wuxia film where everything falls into place.

The Sword of Swords: Directed by Cheng Kang, whose other notable films are The Twelve Gold Medallions and The 14 Amazons.

The narrative revolves around Ling Tseng-hsiao, a gifted swordsman who seeks revenge against the man who killed his master and stole his magic blade.

The Sword of Swords is a text-book example of a martial arts movie that starts off strong only to lose momentum for most of its film. The two best moments bookend The Sword of Swords. It opens with a phenomenal ambush opening sequence in which a character named Mei Lin-chun quickly and singlehandedly disposes of an assassin with his coveted sword, and the finale in which a character named Ling Tseng-hsiao, whose sightlessness takes on anyone who stands in his way of getting revenge against Fang Shishiung,

At the heart of The Sword of Swords is a tale about betrayal, where a student’s jealousy of another student leads to him killing his master. From there, things turn into a tale about revenge when Ling Tseng-hsiao, the teacher's favorite student, is left blind in a fight with the man who killed his master.

This is yet another film in which Jimmy Wang Yu (The Killer Meteors) is cast in a role in which his character is put through hell. And though his character, Ling Tseng-hsiao, is left blind, his determination to avenge his murdered teacher helps him overcome this obstacle as he teaches himself how to fight without sight. Another performance of note is Tien Feng (Fist of Fury) in the role of Ling Tseng-hsiao, the main villain. He delivers a diabolical performance in which his character's sadism and lust for carnage are never in doubt.

When compared to other films that Jimmy Wang Yu made in the late 1960s, the action sequences are not as inventive or acrobatic. Fortunately, when it comes to bloodshed, this is one area where the action sequences deliver in spades. The most memorable moment was a sword-fighting scene in the snow. Also, when it comes to pacing, there are many instances where the narrative drags. Ultimately, despite its shortcomings, The Sword of Swords is a good martial arts film that is a must-see if you're a fan of Jimmy Wang Yu.

Killer Darts: Directed by Ho Meng-Hua, whose diverse filmography features some of the Shaw Brothers most eclectic films like The Kiss of Death, Black Magic, Black Magic 2, and The Oily Maniac.

The narrative revolves around a kung fu master and a young girl, whom he takes in after one of his students kills her family. Flash forward years, and the new life they have forged is disrupted when someone from their past comes back into their lives.

Another solid opening sequence is where bandits attack a kung fu master's home and kill his wife and servants, and they burn down his home. The following day, the kung fu master meets up with the bandits and their leader, Zhou Chao, and when a poison dart hits Zhou Chao in the hand, he cuts off his own hand. This opening setup does a superb job setting the stage for the events that follow.

When it comes to the action sequences, they are well executed and inventive, especially the scene where Yu-Long, the kung fu master's son, single-handedly takes on an evil monk and his henchmen. Besides solid sword fighting, this sequence also features some impressive wirework.

The cast is all very good in their roles, especially Chang Pei-Shan (Broken Oath) in the role of Hu Chi-Feng, a student who raped and killed the young girl’s mother. He delivers a solid performance; he is a formidable villain. Another performance of note is Chin Ping (The Bells of Death) in the role of Yu Sein, the girl who is now a woman whose mother was murdered.

From a production standpoint, there is not an area where Killer Darts does not deliver, and then some. The premise is well executed, the narrative does a great job building momentum, and there are an ample amount of well-placed twists to keep you on your toes. Ultimately, Killer Darts is a perfect blend of melodrama and action.

The Invincible Fist: Directed by Chang Cheh, one of Shaw Brothers most renowned directors. His impressive filmography includes these standout films: The One-Armed Swordsman, Golden Swallow, Five Deadly Venoms, Boxer from Shantung, and The Water Margin. Golden Swallow is a sequel to the film Come Drink with Me.

The narrative revolves around a chief constable who is given the task of bringing to justice four bandits who stole boxes of gold. Unfortunately, for him, no one knows what these four bandits look like.

The Invincible Fist features another inventive opening credits sequence where action is unfolding and parts of the image are blacked out. This same type of opening, Chang Cheh, is also used for Golden Swallow. Also, this is a bloody sequence, like the kind of action sequence that is synonymous with the films of Chang Cheh.

And when it comes to the fight sequences, once again, Chang Cheh delivers spectacular moments of blood-soaked carnage. Some memorable moments include a scene where the bounty hunter chases a man into a tall field of grass that he uses to hide and ambush him. Another standout moment is a scene where the mastermind behind the stolen gold and his henchmen try to ambush the chief constable inside of an inn located in the middle of nowhere.

The Invincible Fist has a solid cast who are all great in their roles, especially Lo Lieh (The Magic Blade) in the role of a chief constable named Tieh Wu-ching. Though Lo Lieh is most known for his villain roles, he does a great job in the role of the hero. Another performance of note is Fang Mian (The Assassin) in the role of the mastermind behind the gold heist. Though his character appears laidback, he uses this to deceive his opponents.

Something that immediately stands out about The Invincible Fist is how each of the five main villains has their own weapon. Another strength is how the four bandits and their master's identities are kept hidden by killing anyone who can identify them. Also, the well-executed narrative moves at a brisk pace, and a phenomenal knockdown dragout bloodsoaked finale serves up a perfect conclusion to the events that proceeded. Ultimately, The Invincible Fist is an exceptional film that stands out as one of Chang Cheh’s best films.

Dragon Swamp: Directed by Lo Wei, who is most remembered for the two films he directed that starred Bruce Lee, The Big Boss and Fists of Fury, and six collaborations with Jackie Chan.

The narrative revolves around Fan Ying, a woman who is banished to Dragon Swamp for 20 years because of the theft of the Jade Dragon sword.

Dragon Swamp is a Wuxia film that is overflowing with fantasy elements. And though Wuxia films are known for their fantastical elements like characters floating through the air or acrobatic fighting skills, Dragon Swamp’s fantasy elements take things up a few notches. Notably, when it comes to the look of the Dragon Swamp and the monster that lives in its lake,

One trope that often appears in martial arts films is a female character who pretends to be a male character. And what makes this trope all the more enjoyable is how everyone who's in contact with the disguised female character is oblivious to her secret and shows a genuine surprise when she reveals her true identity.

Dragon Swamp has a solid cast who are all great in their roles, especially Lo Lieh (On the Run) in the role of Yu Jiang, a devious character who steals the Jade Dragon Sword. He delivers a fantastic performance in which his characters always fight dirty. Another performance of note is Cheng Pei-pei (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) in the dual role of Fan Ying and her doppelganger Qing-er. Besides pretending to be a man, she also gets to portray lookalike characters. This is another superb performance from Cheng Pei-pei.

From a production standpoint, Dragon Swamp is a film that maximizes its resources. The premise is well executed, and the narrative does a good job balancing exposition and action. Also, the action choreography is very good, and the visuals are another highlight. Ultimately, Dragon Swamp is a highly entertaining film that works as well as it does because of Cheng Pei-pei’s performances.

The Flying Dagger: Directed by Chang Cheh, one of Shaw Brothers most renowned directors. His impressive filmography includes these standout films: The One-Armed Swordsman, Golden Swallow, Five Deadly Venoms, Boxer from Shantung, and The Water Margin.

The narrative revolves around Yang Qing, a wandering swordsman whose path crosses with a family who are being terrorized by the Green Dragon Clan.

The Flying Dagger opens with a stylized sequence that is shot in striking black and white before shifting to color for the rest of the film. This opening setup does a phenomenal job of setting in motion the events that follow. What also makes this sequence so potent is how graphic it is, especially when it was made in the late 1960s. That said, the tone of The Flying Dagger is bleak and, at times, unrelenting.

The cast are all great in their roles, especially Cheng Pei-pei (Painted Faces) in the role of a swordswoman named Yu Ying and Lo Lieh (Mad Monkey Kung Fu) in the role of a wandering swordsman named Yang Qing. Their performances are excellent, and they steal every scene they're in.

Though revenge is front and center in The Flying Dagger, instead of the act of revenge being done in response to someone who was wrongly killed, it is a by-product of a father whose rapist son was killed by a woman named Yun Ying. The narrative is a good mix of melodrama and action. Chang Cheh's direction is solid, the fight scenes are excellent, and the kill scenes are bloody. Ultimately, The Flying Dagger is an exceptional film that is a must-see if you’re a fan of Chang Cheh.

The Golden Sword: Directed by Lo Wei, who is most remembered for the two films he directed that starred Bruce Lee, The Big Boss and Fists of Fury, and six collaborations with Jackie Chan.

The narrative revolves around a man named Bai Yu-Lung who searches for his missing father, a martial arts master.

The Golden Sword opens with a scene where masked riders carrying a box convince a martial arts master to leave with them after he looks inside the box. Though there is ambiguity in this scene, this opening setup does a good job laying the foundation for what follows.

A good story can go a long way when watching any film. The best martial arts films are more known for their action sequences. Unfortunately, this is one area where The Golden Sword is lacking. That said, the two main action sequences are solid, especially the scene at a tavern with a trio of thieves known as the three cripples. All three of them are gifted fighters who use their deformities to their advantage.

The main attraction of The Golden Sword is Cheng Pei-pei (The Lady Hermit) in the role of a penniless wanderer who once again does a gender swap. When her character is first introduced, she is pretending to be a man, and it is not until her fighting skills are put on display that she reveals her true identity. That said, the rest of the cast is very good.

From a production standpoint, The Golden Sword is a film that often exceeds the sum of its parts. Though the deliberate-paced narrative does a good job building momentum, The love story subplot is one area where the narrative is weakest. Ultimately, The Golden Sword is a well-made Wuxia that fans of this genre should thoroughly enjoy.

Over the last two years, there have been a lot of Shaw Brothers films making their way to Blu-ray. Where most Arrow Video and 88 Films Blu-ray releases have brand new 2K or 4K transfers, all of the films included as part of this collection from Shout! Factory come from dated sources that leave plenty of room for improvement. Also, when it comes to extras, this collection from Shout! Factory pales in comparison to most Arrow Video and 88 Films Blu-ray releases; many of their releases also came with booklets.

Shout! Factory’s Shaw Brothers Classics Volume 1 gives eleven films serviceable audio/video presentations and a few informative extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer