Lady of the Law – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1975
Directors: Shen Chiang, Stanley Wing Siu
Writer: Shen Chiang
Cast: Lo Lieh, Shih Szu, Chang Pei-Shan, Chan Shen, Tung Lin, Dean Shek, Yang Chi-Ching, Ou-Yang Sha-Fei 

Release Date: May 19th, 2025 (UK), May 20th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 25 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 18 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"A dangerous criminal escapes captivity – but luckily crime-busting super-swordswoman Leng Rushuang (Shih Szu, Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires) is on his trail. However, she has doubts about his guilt, and she's not going to stop fighting until she's sure the right man is being punished." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "High Definition Blu-Ray Presentation In 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio".

Lady of the Law comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 24.6 GB

Feature: 24.1 GB

Though the transfer uses a dated source, it is in excellent shape. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and compression is solid. 

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and range-wise things sound very good.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background (21 images), an audio commentary with David West, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster, and a slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

A man is framed for the rape and murder of a woman by the man who is responsible for murderering his father.

Lady of the Law is a revenge-themed film in which a character's original quest, avenging the death of his father, takes a backseat when he is accused of a heinous crime. What makes this scenario so compelling is that those responsible for his father's death and the framing of the son are one and the same. Though all of these things drive the narrative, none of these characters are the protagonist.

The best martial arts all have excellent opening sequences which draw you in and perfectly set the stage for what follows. Lady of the Law opens with a scene where a man's son has been kidnapped by bandits who try to blackmail him by threatening to kill his son. The father dies after rescuing his son, and when the bandits try to kill the boy, a woman named Madam White Brows convinces them to spare the boy. Flash forward years later, the son, now a man, is a servant for the man whose men killed his father.

Though Leng Rushuang, aka Lady of the Law, is the protagonist, this character comes and goes at opportune moments throughout. Shih Szu (The Lady Hermit) is cast in the role of Leng Rushuang, and she delivers an exemplary performance in the role of the hero. Her character has only one purpose: bringing those who commit evil deeds to justice. Leng Rushuang’s mentor is Madam White Brows, which makes her task of bringing Jiao Yaner to justice all the more complicated.

Jiao Yaner, the son of the man who was murdered at the beginning of the film, has the most screen time. Lo Lieh (King Boxer), an actor who appeared in many of Shaw Brothers' most celebrated films from the 1970s, portrays Jiao Yaner. This character acts like a simpleton, while he secretly learns martial arts while watching those around him. That said, when it comes to the rest of the performances, they are all excellent, especially Dean Shek’s (Drunken Master) portrayal of a rapist.

Though Shaw Brothers at their peak were cranking out films at an incredible pace, a film like Lady of the Law is a textbook example of their craftsmanship. The most compelling aspect of Lady of the Law is how it takes a familiar premise and puts an inventive twist on it. The narrative is flawlessly constructed; it does a phenomenal job building momentum to an exemplary finale. When it comes to the fight scenes, they are all well-crafted moments, many of which feature impressive stunt work. Ultimately, Lady of the Law is an outstanding film and a superb showcase for the talents of Shih Szu.

Lady of the Law gets a first-rate release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and an informative audio commentary, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer