AKA: Bao biao, 保鏢
This swordplay actioner from Shaw Brothers studio and director Chang Cheh stars Ti Lung and David Chiang as rival swordsmen at odds over their love for the same swordswoman (Li Ching). They set aside their differences to protect a shipment of silver from bandits, led by a skillful spear handler (Ku Feng). Having previously made their starring debut together in the contemporary drama DEAD END (1969), this was their first starring role in a martial arts film. The success of this film led to a string of action and martial arts movies that Ti Lung and Chiang headlined together and separately under the direction of Chang.
Swordman Siang Jin (Ti Lung) and swordswoman Yun Piau-piau (Li Ching) are a fighting couple from the same sword school who meet up with Lord In (Ching Miao), the head of an escort service, to offer their help. Lord In has a problem. Age has caught up with him and he’s lost his ability to fight. Yet every year, Lord In has been entrusted with the task of safely transporting a shipment of silver from Invincible Village to Loyang and the next shipment is due to leave in a matter of days. Meanwhile, a gang of bandits known as the Flying Tiger Stockade are planning to rob the shipment. Their leader Jiang Hong (Ku Feng) commands an army of swordsmen and bowmen along with his top assassins, a mute dagger whip specialist named Ghost Shadow (Wang Chung) and a silver spear master named The Pestilence (Chen Sing). Into this situation strolls a dark horse, a wandering swordsman named Yi Lo (David Chiang) who is distrusted on both sides. He’s asked by Jiang Hong to join the Flying Tiger Stockade to aid them in stealing the silver but he refuses. Likewise, Yi Lo is welcomed by Piau-piau but sensing a rival for her affections, Siang Jin remains wary of him. Events reach a climax when the caravan, en route to its destination, is attacked by the bandits near a pagoda. Yi Lo joins in their defense and opts to follow Siang Jin into the pagoda to take on Jiang Hong and a host of fighters while aware that it will likely kill him.
Acrobat-trained actor Wang Chung made his credited debut in this film as one of the lead villains. Discovered by Chang Cheh, he became one of the filmmaker’s favored actors over the next five years. Wang’s high point of this period was his starring role in Chang’s contemporary actioner POLICE FORCE (1973).
Trailer
Genre: Wuxia
Companies: Shaw Brothers
Release Date: December 25, 1969
Producer: Runme Shaw
Director: Chang Cheh
Action Director: Tang Chia, Yuen Cheung-yan
Starring: Li Ching (Yun Piau-piau), Ti Lung (Siang Jin), David Chiang (Yi Lo), Ching Miao (Lord In), Ku Feng (Jiang Hong), Wang Chung (Ghost Shadow)
