The Duel of the Century (1981)

February 9, 2017

I really love Gu Long’s Lu Xiaofeng novel series.  Probably the best known story is about the duel between Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng in the Forbidden City. This Shaw Brothers adaptation is brilliant! I think Tony Liu did a fantastic job of portraying Lu Xiaofeng, probably one of the best I have ever watched! Chor Yuen made a great script, tons of action, great dialogue, funny in the right places, and just enough character background and development. Definitely worth watching and you can currently stream it on Amazon Prime.

Chor Yuen, Director, Script
Huang Pei-Chih, Action Director
Yuen Wah, Action Director
Yuen Bun, Action Director

Lau Wing (The Big Boss, Enter the Dragon, Bastard Swordsman) as Lu Xiaofeng
Yueh Hua (Princess Iron Fan, Come Drink with Me, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon ) as Shimen Chuei Shiue
Jason Pai Piao (Have Sword, Will Travel, The Duel, Seven Swords) as Ye Gucheng
Ching Li (Duel of Fists, The Web of Death, Shaolin and Wu Tang) as Leng Chingchiou
Choh Seung-Wan (Ambitious Kung Fu Girl, Return of the Sentimental Swordsman, Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman) as Lu’s girlfriend
Tang Ching (Swordsman and Enchantress) as Chief Eunuch Wang An
Sun Chien (The Brave Archer Part II, The Five Venoms, Disciples of the 36th Chamber) as Hua Manlou
Yeung Chi-Hing (Revenge of a Swordswoman, Come Drink with Me, Duel of Fists) as Dao Tunghsin
Ngaai Fei (Killer Clans, The Sentimental Swordsman, Shaolin Intruders) as Kuo Chingfeng
Helen Poon Bing-Seung (Abbot of Shaolin, Dirty Ho, Clan Feuds) as Suen Saujin
Ku Kuan-Chung (The Spiritual Boxe, The Web of Death, Flying Guillotine, Part II) as Yian Ranyin
Lam Fai-Wong (Five Shaolin Masters, Disciples of Shaolin, The Avenging Eagle) as Gan Er Jiao
Wong Yung (The Golden Sabre, Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, The Supreme Swordsman) as Emperor
Alan Chan Kwok-Kuen (All Men Are Brothers, The Iron Fisted Monk, The Daring Kung-Fu Refugee) as Monk Xing Tung
Cheng Miu (Lady General Hua Mulan, The Sword of Swords, The Water Margin) as Li Yianbei
Cheung Ying (Story of the White-Haired Demon Girl, The Book and the Sword) as Fake Wax Man Jiang
Yuen Bun (Shaolin Intruders, Golden Swallow, A Chinese Ghost Story III) as Chuen Chun School disciple
Kwan Fung (Ten Tigers of Kwantung, The Brave Archer and His Mate, The Roving Swordsman) as Tang Tienyung
Lau Siu-Kwan (Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman, Bastard Swordsman) as Emperor’s brother
Lung Tin-Sang as Sikong Zhaixing
Hung San-Nam as Saujin’s servant
Shum Lo as Hermit Pine
Walter Tso Tat-Wah as Monk Honest

Blood Brother review

List of Lu Xiaofeng Movies‡ and TV series*

• Luk Siu-fung (1976)*
• Clan of Amazons (1978)‡
• The Last Duel (1978)‡
• The Duel of the Century (1981)‡
• The Return of Luk Siu-fung (1986)*
• Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng (2000)*
• The Duel (2000)‡
• Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng 2 (2001)*
• The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng (2006)*
• Detectives and Doctors (2014)*