Golden Swallow (1968)

Thanks for the memories!

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Having just watched Jimmy Yu Wang in One-Armed Boxer, and enjoying it, I figured this would be just as good. Boy, was I wrong. Jimmy Yu Wang is wooden in his depiction of Silver Roc Xiao Pang/Hsiao Peng. He doesn't have the charisma here that he exuded in One-Armed Boxer. He seems more like a man in serious need of Lamictal.His obsession with Golden Swallow (Cheng Pei-Pei), is so intense he frames her for murders by leaving her Darts at every scene. He wants to draw her out. Setting her up for them murders of many villains was his only option? A letter would have done a better job. And, she wouldn't be dealing with nutjobs coming out of the woodwork to exact revenge for things Silver Roc did.I felt so bad for Golden Whip Han Tao (Lieh Lo). He saved Golden Swallow from from certain death. He nursed her back to life. He even sparred with her to keep her Kung Fu levels above par. And, she spends 3 years (Yup, Han Tao spent 3 years at her side) pining over the unrequited love of Silver Roc. Han Tao puts up with it because he too is in love with her.Silver Roc, when not setting Golden Swallow up, spends most of his time at a brothel with Mei Niang (Chiu Sam-Yin). He uses her as, a substitute for Golden Swallow. You know the saying, if you cant be with the one you love, love the one you're with - however, Silver Roc makes it quite clear he has no feelings for Mei. He'd rather wax nostalgic over Golden Swallow, kill any baddie that crosses his path and of course, set Golden Swallow up for his crimes. Yeah, talk about toxic love.Han Tao follows Golden Swallow in her search for Silver Roc. She needs to decide which one she loves more. It's quite clear from the moment she realizes Silver Roc is her old school chum, that her heart belongs to him. She constantly reminds Han Tao he's been friend-zoned.The men finally meet and prepare to duel. Silver Roc's attempts to act all cool and nonchalant come off more annoying than impressive. His attitude is not believable, in my honest opinion. He spends most of the time looking like he'll collapse from a lack of sleep.The best parts of this film are the brief, and a I do mean brief, appearances of other well known Shaw Brothers Actors. Lau Kar Leung and brother Wing are baddies who are bumped off by Silver Fox. Ku Feng is a father who's son is accused of stealing a goose because the accuser wants Ku Feng's house to add to his property. Sadly, the boy kills himself to prove his innocence and Ku Feng is murdered by the accusers cronies.If you blink, you'll miss Wang Kuang-Yu as Lin Qian and Cliff Lok as Fang Ying, who are both killed off by Golden Swallow in a fight at a restaurant. The best moment is seeing David Chiang Da Wei as an eavesdropping brothel clerk. Now, there's someone who could have breathed the missing life into Silver Roc. David Chiang Da Wei would have given Silver Roc his signature over confident smirk and it would have made this movie pop. Silver Roc and Han Tao's duel is merely a precursor to more unrequited love confessions between Silver Roc and Golden Swallow. Han Tao misinterprets Silver Roc's leap toward him and stabs Silver Roc mid-air. Silver Roc was actually aiming for Poison Dragon Wang Xiong (Yeung Chi-Hing). Xiong was sneaking up on Golden Swallow and Silver Roc wanted to protect her.The dying Silver Roc demands Han Tao take Golden Swallow home, so she can't watch Silver Roc die. But, it's okay for Mei to hang around for the final curtain. Silver Roc hangs on to kill off a few more baddies before doing his version of James Cagney's "Made it Ma. Top of the World" from White Heat.Golden Swallow and Mei bury Silver Roc between Golden Swallow's and Han Tao's homes. Yeah, that wouldn't be an issue for any man. Han Tao packs up and announces he's leaving - a good choice. He assures Golden Swallow they'll never meet again - also a good choice.This is not a good Jimmy Yu Wang movie. It is, a great fight film. If you like checking out Shaw Brothers' actor in their younger days, this is one to watch. Otherwise, skip it.

Golden Swallow was a sort of sequel to King Hu's classic Come Drink With Me and the name of the film. Golden Swallow is also the name of returning character by actress Cheng Pei Pei, but is more of a vehicle for Jimmy Wang Yu. This is much different from Come Drink With Me, but is also a classic in its own right. This was directed by Chang Cheh and is a very sharp looking, action packed and well put together swordplay film. Performances are excellent and Cheng Pei Pei becomes involved in a love triangle between the righteous Iron Whip( Lo Lieh) and the ruthless Silver Roc(Wang Yu). Together the three of them must fight off an evil kung fu clan that Silver Roc had ticked off, but targeted Golden Swallow. In this film Wang Yu shines as revenge seeking anti hero as he slaughters a slew of bad guys in a gory fashion. He lives in a brothel and is greatly admired and adored by the ladies that live there. He is a great swordsman indeed, if you get my drift. But, what a cool character and Wang Yu does a great job in carrying the film while stealing a little thunder from Cheng Pei Pei and Lo Lieh, who both did an excellent job as well. Lo Lei is best known for playing villains, but he is great here as the heroic and honorable Iron Whip. Golden Swallow is very bloody and action packed and a very good earlier film from the legendary Chang Cheh.

This is the seventh film from Chang Cheh. Still finding his style, here Cheh is clearly influenced by concurrent chambara films from Japan. While there are a number of signature Cheh style scenes in this film, there many scenes that are very experimental for him especially the opening fight that's cropped in unique ways. The photography is very good, especially the outdoor shots and the composition is better then in many of his later films.While titled, "Golden Swallow", as others have noted, it really should be called "Silver Roc" or "Iron Whip vs. Flying Swords" or something like that. The character Golden Swallow is in the film but director Cheh is more interested in the disturbed swordsman played by Wang Yu. He gets to kill scores of bad guys in numerous extended scenes while the title character is involved in four short fights at the most.Is the film good? Well it is entertaining for the most part if a bit gory (with lots of bright red paint). The martial arts are good but many fights scenes are shot with a shaky hand-held camera much like many Japanese movies from the same time. It's effective but muddies up the choreography if that's what you're looking for. The signature zoom lens Shaw style camera work doesn't really get going until the mid seventies. Shaw director Liu Chia Liang can be seen for a second or two as a villainous swordsman.

Released in the Philippines with the title: The Golden Swallow,the film follows a well worn formula in Chinese swordplay movies. The character of Jimmy Wang Yu has a formidable secret fighting method called the Dragon's Flight or whatnot. He executes it with a high flying leap and slashes too quick for the eye to follow. Unfortunately, his arch-enemy has devised a formula counter-attack called The Dragon's Convulsion.Always in immaculate white with a gleaming silver sword (he is Silver Roc, after all), the reed thin and handsome Wang Yu is at his prime in this movie. He pines for his lost love, a female swordfighter called Golden Swallow. The last scenes where a seriously wounded Wang Yu fights to the last is one of the best choreographed swordplay scenes ever.