Bastard Swordsman (1983)

September 26, 2016

This is the kind of film that really got me into Wuxia movies!  To me the Bastard Swordsman is a perfect example of the Martial Hero story! In the main story Yun Fei Yang (the bastard swordsman) is a servant at Wu Dang and is mocked, bullied, and ill treated by both the students and instructors.  I’ve seen this theme several times in both movies and TV serials as well.  Wu Dang always considering themselves as righteous  and above moral reproach but being horribly biased and bigoted in reality.  The movie tells how this lowly servant rises to the highest levels of martial chivalry.

Written, directed, and action directed by Lu Chun-ku (Tony Liu Chun-Ku) the Bastard Swordsman is a fantastic movie with very high standards.  As for the acting I am always pleased to see Norman Chu who has been in over 135 films!   He is well known for the Bastard Swordsman series. Tony Liu (a.k.a. Lau Wing) was in several movies with Bruce Lee, also the famous Lo Meng & Sun Chien of the Venom Mob!  It was very enjoyable and the time just flew by watching it.  If you get a chance I highly recommend it!

Lu Chun-ku (The Iron Fisted Monk, Return of the Bastard Swordsman, The Lady Assassin), Director and Action Director

Yuen Tak (Kid from Kwangtung, The Iceman Cometh, Hero), Action Director

Norman Chu (The Flying Guillotine, The Web of Death, Heroes of the East, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Zu: The Warriors from the Magic Mountain, The Duel) as Yun Fei Yang
Tony Liu (The Way of the Dragon, Fist of Fury, Enter the Dragon, Shaolin Temple, Return of the Sentimental Swordsman) as Fu Yu Shu
Wong Yung (The Golden Sabre, Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, Part I & II) as Chief Qing Song
Leanne Liu (White Hair Devil Lady, The Lady Assassin, Return of the Bastard Swordsman, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter) as Lun Wan Er
Alex Man (Buddha’s Palm, Return of the Bastard Swordsman) as Chief Dugu Wu Di
Yeung Jing-jing (The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, A Chinese Ghost Story II, The Bride with White Hair 2) as Dugu Fang Er
Chan Si-gai (The Brave Archer, Flying Guillotine, Part II, Dirty Ho, Return to the 36th Chamber) as Shen Man Jiun
Ku Kuan-chung (The Spiritual Boxer, The Magic Blade, The Sentimental Swordsman, The Brave Archer I & II, Return of the Bastard Swordsman) as Bai Sek
Lo Meng (Shaolin Temple, Ten Tigers of Kwantung, Five Element Ninjas, Ip Man 2, The Grandmaster) as Kung Suen Wang
Kwan Fung (The Duel of the Century, The Brave Archer and His Mate, The Lady Assassin) as Lightning
Yuen Qiu (New Tales of the Flying Fox, Disciples of the 36th Chamber, Kung Fu Hustle) as Rain
Yuen Tak (Return of the Bastard Swordsman, Fong Sai Yuk I & II, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon) as Wind
Wong Lik (The Shaolin Avengers, Masked Avengers, The Brave Archer Part III, A Chinese Ghost Story II) as Thunder
Wilson Tong (The Iron Monkey, Heroes of the East, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Duel to the Death) as Yen Zhong Tian
Lau Siu-gwan (Return of the Bastard Swordsman, Disciples of the 36th Chamber) as Yao Feng
Sun Chien (The Brave Archer Part II, Crippled Avengers, The Kid with the Golden Arm, Shaolin Rescuers) as Xie Ping
Tong Chun-chung (The Assassins) as Jin Sek
Siao Yuk ( Crippled Avengers, The Magnificent Ruffians, Return of the Sentimental Swordsman) as Yu Sek
Chan Shen (Six Assassins, The 14 Amazons, The Spiritual Boxer, The Brave Archer I & II, Full Moon Scimitar) as Guardian of the Law
Wong Ching-ho (The Silent Swordsman, The Thundering Sword, Kid from Kwangtung) as Guardian of the Law
Chan Yuet-yue (Return of the Bastard Swordsman) as Invincible Clan Chief
Chan Lau (Mantis Combat, The Chinese Boxer, Swordswomen Three,Duel of the 7 Tigers) as Invincible Clan Chief
Pak Sha-lik (The 36 Crazy Fists, The 36 Deadly Styles, Return of the Bastard Swordsman) as Invincible Clan Chief
Yiu Man-gei (Project A, Kung Fu Jungle) as Invincible Clan Chief
Cheung Chok-chow (Thirteen Heroes with Seven Swords Part 1, How Wong Fei-Hung Set Fire to Dashatou, Five Swordsmen) as Invincible Clan Chief
Shum Lo (The Sword of Swords, The 14 Amazons, Shaolin Temple, The Five Venoms) as Thundering Prognosticator

Hong Kong Cinemagic Review