The Swordsman (1990 film)
The Swordsman | ||
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Hanyu Pinyin Xiào Ào Jiāng Hú | | |
Yue: Cantonese | ||
Jyutping | Siu3 Ngou6 Gong1 Wu4 |
companies
- 5 April 1990
The Swordsman, also known as Swordsman, is a 1990 Hong Kong wuxia film. King Hu was credited as the director but allegedly left the project midway, and the film was completed by a team led by producer Tsui Hark. The film is loosely adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. The film was followed by two sequels: Swordsman II (1992) and The East Is Red (1993).
Plot
The story is set in 16th-century China during the
While making their way to rendezvous with their Mount Hua School fellows, Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan chance upon Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang, who are planning to retire from the jianghu (martial artists' community). Just then, Zuo Lengshan, who works for Eastern Depot, shows up with his men and tries to arrest Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang. Linghu Chong and the others manage to escape, but Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang are seriously wounded in the process. Before committing suicide, the duo perform "Xiaoao Jianghu", a musical piece they composed together, and pass their instruments and the score to Linghu Chong.
Linghu Chong encounters the reclusive swordsman Feng Qingyang and learns the skill
Around the same time, Yue Buqun, Ouyang Quan, Gu Jinfu and the others have arrived at the location where the Sunflower Manual is hidden and are fighting over the manual. Linghu Chong shows up, kills Gu Jinfu, exposes Yue Buqun's treachery and defeats him. He decides to spend the rest of his life roaming the jianghu with his friends.
Cast
- Sam Huias Linghu Chong
- Cecilia Yip as Yue Lingshan
- Jacky Cheung as Ouyang Quan
- Sharla Cheung as Ren Yingying
- Fennie Yuen as Lan Fenghuang
- Lau Siu-ming as Yue Buqun
- Wu Ma as Liu Zhengfeng (guest appearance)
- Lam Ching-ying as Qu Yang (guest appearance)
- Yuen Wah as Zuo Lengshan (guest appearance)
- Lau Shun as Gu Jinfu (guest appearance)
- Cheung Ming-man as Lu Dayou (guest appearance)
- Kam Shan as Lin Zhennan
- Han Ying-chieh as Feng Qingyang (guest appearance and final performance)
Music
The theme song of the film, "Chong Hoi Yat Sing Siu" (滄海一聲笑; "A Sound of Laughter in the Vast Sea"), was composed by
Box office
The film grossed HK$16,052,552 at the Hong Kong box office.[1]
Reception
The Swordsman currently holds a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[2]
Andrew Saroch of Far East Films writes that
"Swordsman is undoubtedly a film that improves with successive viewings. Initial impressions are that this is a convoluted and confusing swordplay film that attracts the eye with its visual flair, but is ultimately easier to admire than to warm to. However, on second and especially third viewing, Swordsman reveals more of its hidden depths and draws the now prepared viewer into its character-laden storyline".[3]
Awards and nominations
Awards and nominations | |||
---|---|---|---|
Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
10th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Jacky Cheung | Nominated |
Lau Shun | Nominated | ||
Best Film Editing | David Wu, Marco Mak | Nominated | |
Best Art Direction | James Leung | Nominated | |
Best Action Choreography | Ching Siu-tung | Won | |
Best Original Film Score | James Wong , Romeo Diaz
|
Nominated | |
Best Original Film Song | Song: A Sound of Laughter in the Vast Sea (滄海一聲笑)
Composer/Lyricist: James Wong
Sam Hui
|
Won | |
27th Golden Horse Awards | Best Feature Film
|
The Swordsman' | Nominated |
Best Supporting Actor | Jacky Cheung | Won | |
Best Adapted Screenplay | Kwan Man-leung, Wong Ying, Lam Kee-to Lau Tai-muk, Edward Leung, Tai Foo-ho |
Nominated | |
Best Cinematography | Andy Lam, Peter Pau | Nominated | |
Best Art Direction | James Leung | Nominated | |
Best Makeup & Costume Design | Bobo Ng, Edith Cheung | Nominated | |
Best Film Editing | David Wu, Marco Mak | Nominated | |
Best Original Film Song Award | James Wong | Won |
References
- Hong Kong Movie DataBase
- ^ "The Swordsman at Rotten Tomatoes' website". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ "Swordsman (1990) - Review".
External links
- The Swordsman at IMDb
- The Swordsman at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Swordsman at AllMovie