Using the confines of the inn acts like a pressure cooker, building the tension to bursting point, especially when Lee Khan and his entourage arrive on the scene. It is a well-crafted, often witty and intriguing thriller. “The Fate of Lee Khan” isn’t a non-stop martial arts action movie. The finale features mostly swordplay and it is Angela Mao who steals the scene, not only with her fighting skills but a solid dramatic performance as well.īonus features include an informative commentary by Tony Rayns, an excellent video essay on the film from Anne Billson and David Cairns, and a fascinating accompanying booklet featuring the thoughts of David West and Stephen Teo on the work of King Hu. Nonetheless, the way King Hu captures the fighting means he always maintains the threat of violence and possibility of death. With the action directed by a then very young Sammo Hung, the choreography is not overly complex, but there are some high kicks, occasional acrobatics, and even a little slapstick.
Much like an old western saloon, the waitresses have to deal with drunks and cheating gamblers. They are in fact tough and courageous fighters who are not afraid to teach the bandits a lesson.įeng Hsu plays Lee Wan Erh Lee Khans sister and a highly skilled fighter The action was directed by a then very young Sammo Hung We quickly learn that the female servants at the inn are not the delicate flowers we were led to believe they were. Three bandits burst into the inn brandishing swords. ActionĪfter a bit of scene setting in the inn with the friendly-but- put-upon waitresses, we get a brief taste of some action. Unbeknownst to them, the inn is populated by a group of resistance fighters, including an all-female group of ex-convicts, who plan to recapture the map, whatever the cost. Their mission is to obtain a battle map that reveals the location of the Chinese rebel army. Lee Khan, a dangerous and cunning Mongol official and his equally deadly sister Lee Wan-erh, arrive at the Spring Inn. Mao is probably most recognised for her role as the sister of Bruce Lee’s character in the film “Enter the Dragon”. She shot to fame in 1972 with her films “Deadly China Doll”, “Hapkido” and “Lady Whirlwind”. Taiwanese actress Angela Mao Ying plays “Hai Mu-tan”, a waitress at the Spring Inn, who also happens to possess incredible martial arts skills! Originally trained in traditional Opera, Mao studied Hapkido, Wushu, Taekwondo and other forms of martial arts to prepare for her various movie roles. The movie is a well crafted often witty and intriguing thriller Angela Mao Ying plays Hai Mu tan who happens to possess incredible martial arts skills Lee Khan and his equally deadly sister Lee Wan erh arrive at the Spring Inn He is best known to martial arts fans for his roles in movies such as “King Boxer”, “ Fist of Fury“, “ The Young Master” and “ Miracles”. In a career spanning over 40 years, he acted in or directed over 120 films. Tien Feng stars as the titular “Lee Khan”. Having appeared in classics such as “Dragon Inn”, “A Touch of Zen”, “The Valiant Ones”, and “Legend of the Mountain”, Hsu also produced the highly acclaimed “Farewell My Concubine”. An actress in nearly 120 movies, Li Li-Hua stars as the innkeeper “Wan Jen-mi”.Ī regular in King Hu’s movies, Taiwanese actress Feng Hsu plays “Lee Wan-erh”, Lee Khan’s sister and a highly skilled fighter.
Chiao will be familiar to many movie fans from his roles in “ A Touch of Zen“, “ Enter the Dragon“, “ Game of Death“, “ Bloodsport” and “ Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”.
The ever-popular Roy Chiao-hung stars as “Tsao Yu-kun”, an undercover rebel agent.
Starring Roy Chiao, Hsu Feng and Angela Mao, with action choreography by Sammo Hung. Presented from a stunning new 2K restoration, this is a thrilling wuxia classic from master craftsman King Hu! Available on DVD and Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from 21 st October 2019, courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.
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