ALL-TIME CLASSIC!

I saw this film as an 8-year-old in the summer of '74. Classic Shaw Bros. wuxia epic. Based on one of the greatest classics of medieval Chinese literature, this film's original title was THE WATER MARGIN(1972).

With Cheng Cheh as the film's main director, that which is already expected is amplified. Great cast with unusual casting of two Japanese stars in the pivotal roles of protagonist and antagonist: Tetsuro Tamba and Toshio Kurosawa [no relation to director Akira]. For those familiar with the more famous of the two, Mr. Tamba is best known to Western audiences as Tiger Tanaka from the 007 Bond movie YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE(1967). While Toshio Kurosawa (the Japanese Stephen Boyd) also appeared in the 1977 Japanese TV series "The Water Margin" in which he played the role of Tai Sung.

Shaw Bros. superstar David Chiang is Mr. Tamba's devoted right-hand man and has the most screen time in this epic film and is the film's other main character alongside Tetsuro Tamba. Ti Lung is in a supporting role, while Chen Kuan Tai has only two scenes in the film as one of the Liang Shan bandits. Other famous names in this film are veteran stars: Ku Feng, Yueh Hua, Wang Chung, the lovely Lily Ho, etc. Ku Feng plays Song Jiang, the true life historical outlaw who was the leader of the Liang Shan bandits that actually numbered 37 (including Song Jiang himself); in subsequent literature, that number was expanded to 108.

Mr. David Chiang has one of his most iconic screen roles in this film and its sequel ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS(1975); in that film, maestro Chang Cheh allots Chen Kuan Tai a major role, whereas his is virtually a guest appearance in this film. The same goes for Li Hsiu Hsien[aka Danny Lee]. Tang Yen Tsan, in maybe his only Shaw Brothers appearance in a villainous role, plays one of Toshio Kurosawa's apprentices; incidentally, Mr. Tang Yen Tsan might hold the record for a supporting hero or co-star who has been killed off in every Shaw Brothers film in which he has appeared. Nonetheless, it is unusual and discomforting to watch this erstwhile good guy playing a villain.

In spite of the overkill of an all-star cast, it is the triumvirate of Testuro Tamba, Toshio Kurosawa, and David Chiang that are the centerpiece of this extravaganza. Mr. Toshio Kurosawa's intensity is only matched by Tetsuro Tamba's majestic, restrained performance. And Mr. David Chiang is simply INIMITABLE in this film. David Chiang remains one of my all-time favorite martial arts cinema stars...

My all-time Top 10 favorite martial arts films:

1-FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS(1974)
2-THE WATER MARGIN/SEVEN BLOWS OF THE DRAGON(1972)
3-ENTER THE DRAGON(1973)
4-RETURN OF THE DRAGON(1972)
5-FISTS OF FURY/CHINESE CONNECTION(1971)
6-MAN OF IRON(1972)
7-SHAOLIN MARTIAL ARTS(1974)
8-SHAOLIN TEMPLE(1976)
9-NEW SHAOLIN AVENGERS(1976)
10-MARCO POLO/THE FOUR ASSASSINS(1975)