REVIEW: ‘Secret Service of the Imperial Court’ (1984)

As a crafty Eunuch (Lau Wing) is slowly wresting control of the Ming Dynasty from its weak-minded emperor and ordering the deaths of loyalists, Sergeant Zhao Bufu (Leung Kar-yan) breaks rank from his father’s elite Brocade Guards and is forced to combat the entire force to uphold his honor and save the empire from ruin.

There are times when any depth of story, subtlety of character, or range of emotion cannot surpass a simple, yet near-mythical and ferocious battle pitting a peerless fighter against an entire army. Having gleefully soaked up the literary tales of Celtic heroes like Cu Chulainn who became a beast in battle, laying extreme waste to legions of enemies, the desire to see such carnage on screen has always been a guilty desire. No western filmmakers have come any closer than Shaw Brothers studios who produced many blood-drenched sagas based on China’s many heroic legends. Shortly before shutting down film production they produced one of their last great epics, Secret Service of the Imperial Court.

Leung Kar-yan, one of Hong Kong’s great heroic leading men stars in this ambitious tale of one swordsman fighting against many. It owes a tremendous debt to Chang Cheh who co-wrote and directed the first modern swordplay epics in the late ’60s. Secret Service distinguishes itself by offering outstanding performances from its leads, improved cinematography, and stunning use of outdoor settings to stage powerful swordplay action.

The story draws from both Chinese history and heroic literature in a much more clear and graphic way than in earlier swordplay films. With a few exceptions (discussed below), Tony Liu’s direction is superb. The late Ming Dynasty is the time period when the influence and power of the court Eunuchs are at their peak. One in particular is Wang Zhen (Lau Wing), a vicious martial arts master who has distracted the weak-minded young Emperor with an endless supply of concubines to sate his passions, while plotting to seize power for himself. Loyal to the Emperor is Zhao Wiyi (Guk Fung), captain of an elite force of swordsmen known as the Brocade Guards (AKA the Imperial Court’s “Secret Service”). Their task is to squelch rebellion, hunt down traitors, and uphold justice. No one believes in this more firmly than Wiyi’s son and the Guard’s first sergeant Zhao Bufu (Leung Kar-yan). After the disinterested Emperor appoints Wang Zhen as his chief administrator in charge of all affairs, Wang orders the Brocade to hunt down three heroic loyalists who oppose the Eunuch. Reluctantly, Wiyi orders his son to carry out this order, but Bufu ultimately rebels. Wiyi is forced to order the death of his own son and Bufu must confront the entire Brocade Guard as he makes his escape with his wife and child. Wang Zhen’s influence is far-reaching and leads to calamity for Bufu’s family and clan. Stripped of nearly everything he holds dear, Bufu vows to kill Wang Zhen or die trying.

As a great fan of classical and romantic adventure, this is the sort of story I love to see played out on screen when done right. Director Tony Liu (The Master) is no stranger to kung fu or swordplay classics and puts his experience to good use, creating a film that seeks out outdo the great SB classics of the late ’60s. He succeeds in part by retaining classical Chinese heroism and infusing the film with a more modern sensibility. Where Chang Cheh had increasingly embraced fun, but campy studio adventures increasingly akin to live-action cartoons, Liu’s pallet is broader in scope and vision. The cinematography is the greatest example. Although outdoor sets are few in number and indoor sets seem barren in comparison to past features, Liu makes up for it. Interiors are given some artistic flavor, such as the the nebulous void that backs many of Guk Fung’s scenes which adds to the bleak despair his character must live with. Outdoor locations are used nicely, particularly as Leung makes a run for it with his immediate family in tow. Phillip Ko Fei plays the Eunuch’s right hand man who lead’s the remaining Brocade Guards on a frantic chase filled with swordplay through a forested valley and across a shallow river, before finally making an obvious leap to a set for an explosive final confrontation with Leung and his massive chopper (a very large sword).

Dramatically, the film manages to portray the usually misunderstood Chinese notion of filial piety and brotherhood reasonable well. This film is a tragedy equal to any gratuitously morbid Shakespearian production such as Hamlet. There is more at stake than Leung forced to be at odds with his father and former comrades. He’s also forced to confront his uncle as played by Lo Lieh, his sister, and the rest of his clan who see his death as their only way of escaping the wrath of Eunuch Wang. Venoms alumni Lo Meng makes a great appearance as Leung’s exiled brother and the only family member loyal to him. There is a lot of great drama, exaggerated by Western standards, but well played within the confines of the film.

Not everything is rosy with this film unfortunately. Tony Liu’s action choreography is fine, but his decision to hyper-speed through it by use of severe undercranking undermines his efforts. There is also some extremely exaggerated martial arts “effects” and gore, such as head’s flying off and bodies tossed at sonic speed. This is entertaining stuff on its own, but is unevenly used in a story that is also trying to be a little more highbrow than usual. There are a few other elements tossed in that add nothing to the story, but were clearly directed at the audience of the day including gratuitous nudity and unsavory Canto-pop.

Although not as highbrow as it could have and should have been, Secret Service of the Imperial Court generates a lot of excitement and mountains of swordplay action. The cast is full of notable stars in colorful roles. Guk Fung stands out with another underappreciated dramatic role and Leung Kar-yan is put in a boldly heroic role worthy of his charisma and athleticism. Lau Wing is devilishly brilliant as the effeminate, yet brutal eunuch. Screen villains rarely get as much mileage out of a single sneer. With a high volume of action within an epic tale, this film is a must see for swordplay fans. Simply watching Leung lay into an army of swordsmen should be enough to send shivers of delight up the spine.

Related Topics: Ku Feng, Leung Kar-yan, Lo Meng, Secret Service of the Imperial Court (1984), Shaw Brothers, Wuxia