One-Armed Swordsmen | DVD Review

The latest release from Dragon Dynasty is legendary Shaw Brothers director Chang Cheh’s seminal kung Fu flick, The One Armed Swordsman.

As the dying wish of his slain father, a young boy named Fang Gang is raised under the tutelage of swordplay Master Qi Rufeng. As Fang Gang grows older, his orphan status and perceived preferential treatment become a source of friction with the school’s other pupils. Not wishing to complicate his Master’s life, Fang Gang decides to leave but suffers a premature handicap when his arm is taken from him during an argument with Qi Rufeng’s spoiled daughter. After coming to terms with his predicament, and mastering a one armed style of swordplay, Fang Gang must decide where his loyalties lie and what direction his life should ultimately take…

The film’s major thematic issue is lifestyle cause and effect. Specifically, whether a life devoted to martial arts is beneficial or not. It’s a motif that surfaces repeatedly throughout the film and culminates in Fang Gang’s ultimate direction. Although the film’s ideas are well thought out, some of it’s plot mechanisms are a little hokey. The way in which a great many people die are due to a weapon that renders swords all but useless. This is more of a detail which serves the larger picture, but some may find that too much emphasis has been placed on this silly weapon. The film is also notable as the Chinese answer to Japanese über-hero Zatoichi who debuted five years earlier in 1962. In fact the two Asian icons would eventually meet in 1971’s Zatoichi and the One Armed Swordsman.

The disc includes feature commentary with film cholars David Chute and Andy Klein who do all they can to give you an informed understanding of the film and it’s place in kung fu lore. There is a featurette called The Master: Cheng Cheh which uses a montage of well known Chinese celebrities such as John Woo, Tsui Hark and Andy Lau among others talking about Cheh’s life and influence on the Hong Kong film industry and also included are two interviews, the first with star Jimmy Wang Yu and the second with film scholars David Chute and Andy Klein. And, of course, commentator biographies, a posters and stills gallery and assorted trailers round out the extras.

The One Armed Swordsman is considered a classic of the genre, an important Chinese cultural touchstone, and if you don’t take it too seriously, it’s a good deal of fun.

Movie rating – 4

Disc Rating – 3.5