AKA: Fei dao shou, 飛刀手
Lo Lieh (THE MAGNIFICENT TRIO) briefly ascended to leading man status for director Chang Cheh in this, the first of two wuxia films before Chang’s second generation leading men, David Chiang and Ti Lung, took over in HAVE SWORD, WILL TRAVEL (1969).
In THE FLYING DAGGER, Lo Lieh portrays an aloof, wandering swordsman with deadly dagger-throwing skills who becomes involved in conflict between two sword clans. This leads him into a deadly showdown with a rival dagger-throwing expert and a love affair with a beautiful swordswoman, played by Cheng Pei-pei (GOLDEN SWALLOW).
Three years earlier, swordswoman Yu Ying (Cheng Pei-pei) of the Qiankun Sword Clan slew the son of Green Dragon Clan chief Jiao Lei (Yang Chih-ching) after catching him in the act of raping and murdering a young woman. In seeking revenge, Jiao Lei attacks the Qiankun Sword Clan with the intention of killing its chief Yu Yuan (Ching Miao) and the chief’s adolescent son Yu Ming. Though wounded by Jiao Lei’s throwing daggers, Yu Ying escapes with his family and goes into hiding. As Jiao Mei and his men close in on Yu Ming, Yang Qing offers to protect the boy first in exchange for one night in bed with Yu Ying after the deed is done. Though greatly offended, she reluctantly agrees. When Yang Qing is wounded by Jiao Lei while helping the boy to escape, Yu Ying rescues him and nurses him back to health. In getting to know him better, she falls in love with Yang Qing but he absolves her of having to fulfill her end of their bargain and quickly leaves.
As Yu Yuan recovers from his wound, Jiao Lei takes a hostage and demands a duel between the two clans. Members of the Green Dragon Clan fail to honor the rules of engagement and both clans begin fighting. Yu Yuan’s men are killed, leaving only the chief and his daughter. Just as Jiao Lei prepares his final attack, Yang Qing shows up to challenge the Green Dragon Clan.
Although initially presented as a capable swordswoman, Cheng Pei-pei’s character is somewhat minor with Lo Lieh, Yang Chih-ching and Cheng Lei taking the spotlight. David Chiang, who would soon be co-starring with Lo Lieh in THE INVINCIBLE FIST (1969), makes a brief appearance, as does co-action director Tang Chia and stuntman Yuen Cheung-yan.
Genre: Wuxia
Companies: Shaw Brothers
Release Date: June 18, 1969
Producer: Run Run Shaw
Director: Chang Cheh
Action Director: Tang Chia, Lau Kar-leung
Starring: Cheng Pei-pei (Yu Ying), Lo Lieh (Yang Qing), Cheng Lei (Chu Wenxiong), Yang Chih-ching (Flying Dagger/Jiao Lei), Ching Miao, Lin Chiao, Lin Tsung
