RETURN OF THE SENTIMENTAL SWORDSMAN is the second part of the Chor Yuen-directed trilogy starring Ti Lung as the eponymous wandering hero. In this outing, he plays a somewhat depressed character, struggling with drunkenness, who finds himself drawn into the usual intrigue and plotting of the martial world. The addiction sub-plot isn't handled too well and feels melodramatic at times; it was done much better in Lung's later OPIUM AND THE KUNG FU MASTER.
What this film does boast is an extraordinary cast of familiar faces; aside from the Venoms, nearly every big Shaw star of the period shows up to support Lung. Derek Yee is a sometime friend and rival, Yueh Hua a somewhat bedraggled lone fighter. Alexander Fu Sheng plays a villain, unusually, while Ku Feng is the wily old master. Ching Li and Linda Chu are the beautiful women furthering the plot, Kara Hui is around early on, and Lo Lieh typically scheming and larger than life. Tony Liu shows up for a battle or two while the great Yuen Wah has an early part as the 'Green Spear'. There may be others that I forgot to mention. Although the story isn't the best, the staging is fine and the fights plentiful and fun. I found it to be on par with THE SENTIMENTAL SWORDSMAN and superior to PERILS OF THE SENTIMENTAL SWORDSMAN.
What this film does boast is an extraordinary cast of familiar faces; aside from the Venoms, nearly every big Shaw star of the period shows up to support Lung. Derek Yee is a sometime friend and rival, Yueh Hua a somewhat bedraggled lone fighter. Alexander Fu Sheng plays a villain, unusually, while Ku Feng is the wily old master. Ching Li and Linda Chu are the beautiful women furthering the plot, Kara Hui is around early on, and Lo Lieh typically scheming and larger than life. Tony Liu shows up for a battle or two while the great Yuen Wah has an early part as the 'Green Spear'. There may be others that I forgot to mention. Although the story isn't the best, the staging is fine and the fights plentiful and fun. I found it to be on par with THE SENTIMENTAL SWORDSMAN and superior to PERILS OF THE SENTIMENTAL SWORDSMAN.