Wen-Chung Ku

Two martial arts schools prepare for an important tournament. (imdb)

And as such, it is a prized possession over which combat will be waged and blood will be spilled. First the property of a brothel's proprietor, the Golden Blade is stolen by rivals during an attack that cripples the man and sends him into hiding with his young daughter. When the girl comes of age and is recruited for prostitution, she thirsts for the vengeance only the titular weapon can handily provide. (turnerclassic)

A magician makes money by charging people to cast love spells on the objects of their affection. Complications arise when he decides that he wants a customer's bride for himself. (imdb)

Ainu is among many new girls that are kidnapped and taken to a nearby brothel to be coerced into prostitution. The lady of the house, Lady Chun, falls for Ainu and immediately begins a relationship with her. As things heat up between them, Ainu begins her plan to exact revenge on the four officials that had their way with her. As she murders them one by one, Lady Chun becomes even more blinded by her love for Ainu, and a local cop investigates all of the devious happenings. (KFCCinema)

An earlier screen classic by King Hu, The Story Of Sue San is adapted from a chapter of the Chinese literature Jing Shi Tong Yan. The story evolves around a pair of star-crossed lovers -- Wang Chin-lung (Chao Lei), the youngest son of the Minister of Administration; and Su San (Betty Loh Ti), the famed prostitute. When Wang had exhausted his fortunes on Su... (Hkflix)

Revenge is a dish best served; warm. One woman, one sword, one wrath of fury as rogues fall; one by one.

Bruce Lee makes a brief appearance in this vintage martial arts action drama, which stars his longtime friend and mentor Unicorn Chan. When a rover named Lung is befriended by a young man named Tiger, he accepts an invitation to join Tiger and his mother in their home, and stays on as their handyman. Lung enjoys the stability of his new life, but when Tiger impulsively offends Wong, the violent and short-tempered son of a notorious gangster, Lung must step forward to defend him. (allmovie.com)

"The Twelve Gold Medallions" features an exhaustive "who's who" of martial arts swordplay films lead by veteran actor Yueh Hua, who later went on to star in Jackie Chan's "Rumble In The Bronx". Yueh plays a righteous knight trying to prevent the Chin invaders from destroying his country by preventing twelve gold medallions from reaching General Yueh. (hkcinemagic.com)

Since 1895, the imperial forces of Japan have tightened their grip on Northern China, destroying all who dare oppose them. When the local kung fu masters get holes punched in them by the Japanese overseer (just like in that anime with the blood and the heads exploding... you know the one we mean), the young fighters must look outside their own tradition for a way to win. (hkcinemagic.com)

Although King Cat was one of Chang I's earliest films, the young actor was already showing the promise that would make him the star of countless Shaw Brothers' martial arts movies. Chang plays Chan Chao, a knight of justice, who thwarts the plans of Minister Peng to assassinate the revered Judge Pao Cheng over and over again. Lo Lieh gives Chang a good run for his money as the evil and sinister henchman of Minister Peng. (hkcinemagic.com)

Starring the stunning, teenage heartthrob Pat Ting Hung, The Butterfly Chalice marks the important directing debut of the kung-fu film genre's most principle figure Chang Cheh, as he burst the martial arts and swordplay movie doors wide open, announcing the beginning of the end for the Cantonese musicals. The Story revolves around Tian Yu Quan (Chin Feng) who rushes to the aid of an elderly fisherman who is bullied by an arrogant relative of the Qiu Shan ministry. (listal.com)

For noble college and kung-fu student Yen Tzu-fei (played by experienced matinee idol Ling Yun), there can be no forgiveness or mercy, as an unscrupulous Japanese financier's sordid family literally rapes and pillages everything Yen holds dear. It's a fight to the finish against both his oppressors and their even more venal collaborators. (hkcinemagic.com)

The Iron Buddha starts off uniquely as the rapist Xiao Tianzun (Wong Chung-Shun) is caught red-handed, but let free by a merciful martial arts master who is familiar with the reputation of the rapist's teacher. He does not leave the rapist unscathed, though, carving a deep cross on his chest to mark him as an evildoer. Three years later, Xiao tracks down the man who gave him the scar, rapes his daughter while he watches and then kills him! (silveremulsion.com)

THE RESCUE (1971) is a Hong Kong-produced martial arts adventure about a group of Song Dynasty loyalists opposing Tartar Rule in 13th century China. Their aim in the film is to rescue Prime Minister Wen (Fang Mien) from a Tartar prison and spirit him to safety in the south of China. (imdb)

There is a decidedly Japanese flavor to this musical comedy, shot on location in Japan under the direction of Shaw Brothers' number one Japanese import, director Inoue Umetsugu. The star, often called the "Cary Grant of Hong Kong," gives an inspired performance in this romantic farce, but sadly, it was his last for Shaw Brothers before his untimely death less than a year after the picture was released. Even so, it is a fitting testament to his carefree comic talent. (hkcinemagic.com)

In the vein of "Romeo And Juliet", Hong Kong style, the small ensemble cast and little-known director Michihko do a big league job with their rendition of "Romeo And Juliet" in "The Young Lovers". Although poor boy (Derek Erh Tung-Sheng) and rich girl (Yu An-An) are from opposite ends of the spectrum, their undying love refuses to let anyone get in their way, including their parents. Shakespeare would be moved. (hkcinemagic.com)

To help his ailing mother, an un-named young man agrees to copy the Buddhist scriptures in a quiet place, bathe regularly, and avoid the company of beautiful women. With his slave boy, Ching, he goes to live at an abandoned estate believed to have a haunted well. Though he disbelieves at first, he discovers it is haunted by Su-Su, a ghost of a drowned girl merged with an enchated mirror spirit called Yau Ying. (imdb)

Before the mafia...the Tongs...And the Kung-Fu Dragons...These were the first--The most dreaded of all the dealers of death! (movie poster)

A remake of Mar Lo's 1972 film of the same name about an escaped convict meets a young girl with incurable disease and falls in love. The girl is visiting for only seven days, so they decide to hide the truth from each other and enjoy their brief life together. (imdb)

A comic crime caper from the Shaw Brothers.

The son of a big film producer goes to Copenhagen from Hong Kong trying to seal a deal.

Tells the story of "Bao sheng da di"--A marvelous man who wanted to become a doctor so that he could save his mother's life. (worldcat.org)

Return Of The Phoenix is yet another masterpiece from prolific director Li Han-hsiang. An imperial minister Cheng Pu (Ching Miao) is faced with a quandary. He's getting old and his daughters are still not married. Elder daughter Shueh-yeh (Elizabeth Chuang) is so ugly no one wants her. Younger daughter Shueh-wu (Li Hsiang-chun) is beautiful but Mrs Cheng refuses to let her marry before her elder sister. The drama unfolds when Cheng decides to marry Shueh-wu off. (Letterboxd)

The action kicks off when Liu Yuen Ying (Ding Nung) is "bride-napped" by a bandit who's out to make her his wife! The bandit's sympathetic sister returns Ying, but that's only the beginning of the mistaken identities, social satires, and cross-dressing confusion as Ying's disappearance and return wreak havoc with the locals! A delightful costume comedy that combines screwball antics, musical interludes, and even a little action.

In a wealthy household, there is a fair amount of enmity between the mother-in-law and her daughter towards the new wife of the son. When the daughter is murdered, Yan-niang is caught with the murder weapon in her hand and the dear old mother-in-law immediately accuses her of being the killer and her weak-spined son just mumbles and doesn't defend his wife. The judicial system rushes a judgment through - guilty - execution scheduled... - BrianNaas

Mysterious songstress Fang Biyu is loved by two brothers, Qiwei and Qijun. After freeing herself from the clutches of gangsters, she gives her heart to Qiwei. Tragedy comes knocking on the door when one of the gangsters comes out of prison, and Qiwei dies in a car accident. Blamed for her husband’s death, Biyu is forced to go back to singing to make a living, but hopes to reunite with her son and return to the family one day.

Two sisters, Ching-ping (Irene Chen I-ling) and Pai-hung (Betty Ting Pei) struggle to find a workable act after their magician father and younger sister leave to try their luck in Taiwan. A good friend gets them cast in a new movie, and the rest is history...

Li’s The Mad Monk consists of four stories that see the roaming monk save a mother and daughter from the brink of death and a young man from the hands of unscrupulous debtors. Ji Gong also deals mischievous justice on robbers and corrupt officials.

1956 film from Hong Kong, produced by Shaw Brothers.

A Shaw and Sons production is about a couple who love each other but end up marrying different people because of parental pressures.

A mad scientist wants to get his hands on a certain growth-accelerating serum developed by Hong Kong scientist Dr. Li Zong-Hua so that he can create an army of supermen and conquer the world.

A young girl runs away from her abusive father to join a group of circus performances, expecting that one day she will be the greatest trapeze artist. Later, she falls in love with one of the members of the circus staff who used to be a trapeze performer in previous times.

A sensitive love triangle helmed by one of Shaw era’s top directors, Chin Chien. A psychiatrist taking a room at an old friend’s apartment soon discovers an insane woman living in a neighboring flat. As the doctor gradually heals the woman he also falls in love with her. The problem arises when the friend’s daughter confesses her love to him as well. Misunderstanding and mistaken passions soon lead to broken hearts and an emotional confrontation in the love triangle.

Fang Chih Kien witnesses a triad murder. When he picks the killer out of a lineup, the triad gang goes out of their way to make his family’s life a living hell, until he can take no more and seeks revenge.

Chin Ping Mei 金瓶梅 (1955) is a Hong Kong feature film written by Ku Wen-Chung and directed by Wang Yin, it was produced by Shaw Brothers Studio. This is an adaptation of the Lotus Pan tale.