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EXECUTIONERS
FROM SHAOLIN
AKA:
Executioner Of Death ||
Shaolin Executioner
Year:
1977 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Following
his own re-telling of the Wong Fei Hung story with 'Challenge
Of The Masters', martial arts auteur Liu Chia Liang crafted
another film based around past histories. This time the expert
director focuses on the destruction of the Shaolin temple by
the vicious 'White Eye-Brow Monk' Pak Mei. Once more though,
Liang offers the audience far more than just the
straight-forward action-orientated narrative.
Anti-Manchu
fighter Hung Hsi Kwan (Chen Kwan Tai) and a precious few
manage to escape the aforementioned destruction of the Shaolin
temple. With various allies laying down their lives for these
heroes to escape from the powerful Manchu army, there is
naturally an immediate desire for revenge. As the rebels' best
fighter, Hung decides to bide his time with his fellow survivors
and decide their next move. While the patriots continue to
plan their vengeance they decide to go from town to town on
their ship and use their street performing to draw out the odd
Manchu band. During one such stop the party encounter a fellow
street artist and her father, both of whom are experts in the
Crane style. After an initial moment of rivalry, the two sets
of street performers join together. As time passes, Hung Hsi
Kwan and the female Crane expert develop a romantic
relationship and are shortly after married. When the rebels
decide to split for safety reasons and scatter their
activities throughout China, Hung and his new bride head off
into the countryside. Following the birth of their son, Hung
decides it's time to concentrate on avenging his long-dead
colleagues and regaining his Tiger style prowess. After a
fortunate escape from a Pak Mei during a vengeance-inspired
duel, Hung goes back to the drawing board in the hope of
finding his adversary's weak spot. However, with his flat
refusal to learn his wife's Crane style, can Hung defeat this
seemingly invincible fighter?
For
such an early effort (only his third solo directorial work),
Liu Chia Liang's 'Executioners From Shaolin' is a very
polished effort. Although his previous two films were
certainly well above average, there were still the rough edges
that one expects from a director who's finding his feet. This
masterful kung-fu drama shows how quickly Liang found his own
way of conveying his thoughts to the audience. Wearing his
choreography hat he once again triumphs with authentic and
exciting action the order of the day. It's certainly worth
remembering how advanced the choreography was for a 1976
feature; the combination of styles and forms had rarely been
detailed so well previously.
Vitally
though, 'Executioners From Shaolin' is amble proof of Liu Chia
Liang's talent as a cinematic craftsmen. Although the action
is a very important component of the production, there is also
strength in other departments, namely characterisation and
performances. Chen Kwan Tai makes a totally believable and
thoroughly sympathetic Hung Hsi Kwan, well-assisted by a
career-best display by Lily Li.
With
a very impressive filmography and an ever growing reputation,
Liu Chia Liang will hopefully be seen a true artist of film
very soon. It is difficult giving any of his or Chang Cheh's
efforts full marks simply because of the fact that audiences
now see them dubbed and usually full-screen. 'Executioners
From Shaolin' is also not quite up to Liang's later
masterpieces e.g. 'Eight
Diagram Pole Fighters'. However, this is the work of one
of cinema's neglected masters and should thus be watched at
all costs.
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