Runtime: 90 minutes
Directed by: Chang Cheh
Starring: Cheng Pei-Pei, Jimmy Wang Yu, Lo Lieh, Hsin-Yen Chao
From: Shaw Brothers
Seeing something from Chang Cheh and Jimmy Wang Yu was something I wanted to do in May as it was brought up in a messageboard thread a few weeks ago. I also wanted to see more Shaw Brothers films in May... circumstances prevented that. Perhaps in June... this is a sequel to the very good Come Drink with Me, seen and reviewed a few years ago. Once again it follows the titular Golden Swallow, a lady who is a martial arts master. Why she was often mistaken for a man in Drink when she was never not feminine... <<shrug emoji>> In this picture, the same holds true; maybe something was lost in translation.
Not only does this movie have a mysterious figure who goes on a rampage that frames Ms. Swallow, she is also part of a love triangle that of course turns out poorly. As in Drink, she is a badass skilled fighter who uses poison darts and small blades to her advantage. A valid complaint is like in the final act of Drink, Golden seems to be a supporting character in her own movie, even if she's the engine that drives everything. There are some arty flourishes, not all of them a good thing. Why the opening is done with most of the screen obscured in black, I dunno... it did not work for me.
All that said, I can still rate this highly; Cheh, Wang Yu, Pei-Pei Cheng, Lo Lieh and Lau Kar-Leung's stellar action choreography all blended together sounds great on paper, and it did come to fruition; you can't forget the quality musical score, location shooting, the typical expertly constructed sets, and a story with mature themes... such as honor, jealousy and the conflict between the ruthless Yu and the compassionate Lieh. The action is plentiful, full of grace and bloodshed, some gruesome moments and many enemies end up in the afterlife.
I have viewed many Shaw Brothers efforts which have received a nice grade; both Drink and this are worth viewing and make for a sweet double feature... even if the stories are notably different and in part due to the different directors & action choreographers.
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