Lei Li lost his right-arm in a sword duel with the master of a martial arts school, long ago. Now, he is able to defend himself well with just his left arm, and kung fu techniques. That he proves with just the help of his friend Chung-Chieng, when he crosses his path with a beautiful girl in need, Pao Chiao. Even against impossible odds, he will prove a great warrior.
Direction
Chang Cheh's signature male weeping and arterial spray
Stunts
David Chiang's one-armed swordwork, impossibly fluid
Acting
Ti Lung's doomed pretty-boy energy, peak Shaw Bros
Director
Chang Cheh
David Chiang Da-Wei
Lei Li
Ti Lung
Feng Junjie / Hero Fung
Li Ching
Ba Jiao
Ku Feng
Long Yizhi / Lung Er Zi
Chan Sing
Chief Chan Chun Nam
Wong Chung
Tiger Mansion Leader Jin Fen
Liu Gang
Tiger Mansion Leader Jin Yi
Huang Pei-Chih
Tiger Mansion Leader Chen Jie
Wang Kuang-Yu
Tiger Mansion Leader Fan Yun He
Wong Ching-Ho
Boss Li
Shum Lo
Blacksmith Ba
Cheng Lui
Chieftain Ho Wai
Yau Ming
Lung's Disciple
Cheng Kang-Yeh
Lung's Disciple
Bruce Tong Yim-Chaan
Lung's Disciple (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Chang Cheh made THREE One-Armed Swordsman films because he was obsessed with Jimmy Wang Yu's original. This 1971 'New' version exists because Wang Yu left Shaw Brothers and took his arm with him.
The film codified the 'jianghu' code of brotherhood that would dominate Hong Kong cinema for decades. David Chiang and Ti Lung became Shaw's biggest stars overnight — their real-life friendship fueled this onscreen tragedy.
HK
