Shaw Brothers Classics, Volume 2

Twelve-disc set includes: Lady of Steel (Huang Jiang Nu Xia) (1970)Rescued as a young girl by a nomad after her family was waylaid, Fang Ying Chi (Cheng Pei-pei) matured into a dreaded swordswoman. Trusted to act as courier to deliver intelligence to an embattled general, can she stay on mission when a chance for vengeance appears? Meng-Hua Ho directs; Hua Yueh, Chung-Hsin Huang co-star. 84 min. C/Rtg: NR Brothers Five (Wu Hu Tu Long) (1970)Yen Lai (Cheng Pei-pei) has a difficult task awaiting her at the Teng Lung Manor. Not only must she bring together the five Kao brothers in an effort to vanquish a deadly army of assassins-she must also lead them in an act of bloody revenge! Martial arts action from the Shaw Brothers is always a sure bet, and this extravagant thriller is no exception. Co-stars Chin Han, Chang Yi, and, in an early role, Sammo Hung as "security escort Chu." 102 min. C/Rtg: NR The Crimson Charm (Xue Fu Men) (1971)The bandit gang known as the Crimson Charm chose to massacre those who lethally stood up to their chieftain's son. They should have been more thorough, as three survivors (Chang Yi, Ivy Ling Po, Shih Szu) bound their wounds and swore their vengeance. Huang Feng directs; Fang Mian, James Nam Gung-Fan co-star. 95 min. C/Rtg: NR The Shadow Whip (Ying Zi Shen Bian) (1971)Stunning Shaw Brothers production concerns Yang, a powerful swordfighter who was taught how to handle a whip with perfection by her mysterious mentor. When she discovers that her master was suspected of wiping out a noble family 15 years previously, she sets out find the truth. Now, Yang travels across snowy landscapes while learning that it's not too late to whip it, whip it good. Cheng Pei-pei, Ku Feng, Lee Kwan star. 78 min. C/Rtg: NR The Bride From Hell (Gui Xin Niang) (1971)When wanderer Nie Yun Peng (Yang Fang) happened upon his hostess Anu (Margaret Hsing Hui) in the nude, he did the honorable thing and proposed marriage. He'd soon discover, however, that his new spouse still had her secrets-some of them unworldy, in this chiller. Chou Hsu-Chiang directs; Lui Ming, Got Siu-Bo co-star. 75 min. C/Rtg: NR The Delightful Forest (Kuai Huo Lin) (1972)After killing his sister-in-law, a martial arts master is sent to prison, where he is spared from the usual welcoming violence visited upon new inmates through the intervention of one officer. That benevolent gesture, however, comes with a request made of the jailed warrior to help the officer take back the reins of his restaurant business. Ti Lung, Mu Zhu, and Feng Yu star. 93 min. C/Rtg: NR The Devil's Mirror (Feng Lei Mo Jing) (1972)When a cunning witch (Chia Chien LI) connives to steal a pair of mystical mirrors that can open an emperor's tomb and provide her with unlimited power, a young swordsman (Lau Dan) and swordswoman (Shu Pei-pei) must partner to stop her in this over-the-top wuxia fantasy. Sun Chung directs; Lee Ga-Sai, Wang Hsieh co-star. 90 min. C/Rtg: NR Man Of Iron (Chou Lian Huan) (1972)Ambitious low-end thug Qiu Lian-Huan (Chen Kuan-Tai) grew tired of the small pickings his minor gang managed to scrape. Having taken a major gangster's son (Tin Ching) at cards-and eyeing his woman (Ching LI) as well-he might have found all he can handle. Chang Cheh and Pao Hsueh-LI direct; Wong Chung, Chu Mu co-star. 92 min. C/Rtg: NR The Water Margin (Shui Hu Zhuan) (1972)How many martial arts masters does it take to defend against the invading Sung army? The true story of the Mountain Brothers-108 rebel heroes of the 12th century-is dramatized by the renowned Shaw Brothers in this action-packed Hong Kong classic. Features spectacular photography, lavish costumes, relentless action, and an all-star cast. David Chiang, Ti Lung, and Tetsuro Tamba star. 125 min. C/Rtg: NR Heroes Two (Fang Shi Yu Yu Hong Xiguan) (1974)Even a great hero can be deceived, as Fang Shih-yu (Sheng Fu) discovers when he captures and delivers Hung Hsi-kuan (Kuan Tai Chen) to a thuggish Manchurian general. Realizing too late that his captive is not the villain he believed him to be, Fang must fight his way into the general's inner sanctum to save Hung from execution. Action-packed Shaw Brothers outing co-stars Chuen Chan, Kent Cheng. 91 min. C/Rtg: NR The Flying Guillotine (Xue Di Zi) (1975)A Shaw Brothers fave, this unpredictable martial arts epic involves a paranoid emperor who enlists his weapons expert to concoct a head-lopping device. Soldier Teng Ma (Chen Kuan Tai) proves to be tops at using the instrument, but when he realizes the guillotine is being used to kill the emperor's rivals Ma flees the area. Soon, however, his enemies find him and he's forced to fight. With Ku Feng, Wei Hung, Ai Ti. 111 min. C/Rtg: NR TheDragon Missile (Fei Long Zhan) (1976)General Sima Jun (Lo Lieh) used his bladed boomerangs like a master, and his dying lord (Ku Feng) entrusted him to retrieve a miracle cure from a famous herbalist (Yeung Chi-Hing). Is he just being set up for ultimate betrayal? Ho Meng-Hua directs; Lau Wing, Nancy Yen Nan-See co-star. 82 min. C/Rtg: PG-13 Widescreen; Soundtrack: Mandarin; Subtitles: English. In Mandarin with English subtitles.