Shui hu zhuan (1972)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Directors:

Cheh Chang
Hsueh Li Pao

Writers:

Guanzhong Luo (novel)
Kuang Ni (writer)

Release Date:

September 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Epic | Martial Arts | Based On Novel

Cast

David Chiang	...	Yen Ching
Lung Ti	...	Wu Sung
Kuan Tai Chen	...	Shih Chien
Chung Wang	...	Shi Hsiu
Tetsuro Tamba	...	Lu Chun I
Feng Ku	...	Sung Chiang
Lily Ho	...	Lu San Niang
Toshio Kurosawa	...	Shih Wen Kung
Feng Chin	...	Wu Yung
Miao Ching	...	Tseng Chang Kuen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pin Chang	...	Tseng Tu
Chuan Chen	...	Tseng Kuei
Lei Cheng	...	Short Tiger Wang Ying
Yuan Chieh	...	Wrestler
Paul Chun	...	Hua Yung (as Chin Pei)
Mei Sheng Fan	...	Li Kuei
Han Chou Ho	...	Chang Meng
Hsiao Hsiao	...	Tsui Hung
Pei Chi Huang	...	Tseng So
Wei Hu	...	Gaoler Tsai Fu
Wei Lieh Lan	...	Chief Wrestler
Danny Lee	...	Chang Shan
Lung Lei	...	Chin Ming
Shang Yun Liang	...	Liu Tang
Heng Li	...	Magic Messenger Tai Chung
Ling Ling	...	Lady Chua, wife of Lu Chun I
Kang Liu	...	General Li Cheng
Tan Liu	...	Lei Heng
Wen Tai Li	...	Hsieh Pa
Yunzhong Li	...	Grand Secretary Liang (as Yun-Chung Li)
Chen Tien Loong
Wai Lo	...	Chu Tung
Wei Lu	...	Gaoler Tung Chao
James Nam	...	General Wen Ta (as Nan-Kung Hsun)
Peng Peng	...	Friar Lu Chih Sheng
Lao Shen	...	Chief Clerk Chang
Yan Tsan Tang	...	Tseng Sheng
Ching Tien	...	Li Ku
Lin Tung	...	Pagoda Bearer Chao Kai
Ching Ho Wang	...	Court Clerk
Ching Wang	...	Wrestler
Kuang Yu Wang	...	Tseng Mi
Chi Chin Wu	...	Yang Hsiung
Ma Wu	...	Shih Chien
Tse Lin Yang	...	Gaoler Tsai Ching
Hua Yueh	...	Leopard Head Lin Chung
Yang Zhang	...	Little Whirlwind Chai Chin

Also Known As:

Outlaws of the Marsh (Hong Kong: English title) (working title)
Seven Blows of the Dragon (USA)
Sui woo juen (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
Water Margin (Hong Kong: English title) (original subtitled version)
Waterside Story (literal English title)

Runtime:

80 min | Hong Kong:120 min (25 fps) (restored version) | USA:81 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R | Hong Kong:IIB | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Clearwater Bay Studios, Hong Kong, China

Company:

Shaw Brothers

Trivia:

Selected by Quentin Tarantino for the First Quentin Tarantino Film Fest in Austin, Texas, 1996.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Dong kai ji (1975)

A Classic...

This movie was released in the US in the mid-seventies as Seven Blows of the Dragon as there are seven bandit warriors, though barbaric, are considered the heroes. They have names like Young Dragon (David Chiang (the only cast member I recognize), Tigress, Red Devil, etc. There are also a few "old-master" types who provide much of the drama and action.

Seven Blows of the Dragon was one of the biggest budgeted Hong Kong films of the time, and the story is a true epic scale presentation. Unlike most movies of the time inspired by Bruce Lee films, where the lone hero usually battles against bad guys with a revenge style motive, Seven Blows of the Dragon involves the old masters, the mountain outlaw band, and marauding kung fu armies, and the clash in the end features all three parties going at it, until only the old masters make for a satisfying conclusion.

The version of Seven Blows I saw was a pan and scanned cable TV print which had horrible video transfer quality. Perhaps someday the film will get an international release in its widescreen glory. The dubbing is not bad for a movie of this type. The voices are a little cartoonish, but somehow it adds to the larger than life characters portrayed in the film.

Seven Blows of the Dragon is a classic of the genre. The martial arts action is non-stop, and the film captures the flavor of ancient China. I don't believe it's currently available on video, but check your old mom'n pop videostore for a copy from the eighties. Or keep your eyes peeled on late night TV. I saw it on TNT a couple years back at 3 in the morning.