Shaw Brothers Festival Screening: The Sword of Swords

USC School of Cinematic Arts and Celestial Pictures invite you to special screening.

Knight Mei Ling Chun owns the “sword of swords”, a weapon of exceptional brilliance. It happens that he accepts as his student a young man named Fang Shih-hsiung. Fang has saved the life of Mei’s daughter but with the intent of gaining his goodwill and seizing the coveted blade.

Mei lies dying; a fencing contest is held among his students to determine his successor. Fang is defeated by Ling Tseng Hsiao, Mei’s best pupil. The resentful Fang leaves for Shang Kwan Wu’s gang. Fang later kidnaps Ling’s fiancée Pai Feng and holds her hostage for the sword. Pai manages to escape and she and Ling are wed.

A year goes by. After the birth of her son, Pai is taken prisoner by Shang during her husband’s absence. Ling tries to rescue her on his return but is maimed in the attempt. Meanwhile, his parents are slain by outlaws led by Fang. His aunt is also mortally wounded and dies after bringing his son to safety. Burying the bodies, Ling unearths the sword.

Ling heads for the Shang stronghold, falls into Fang’s trap, loses his blade and is wounded. Fang dumps Ling’s inert form in the woods but he survives and goes into hiding. Shang learns of his whereabouts and dispatches Ma Wu and Sun Chiu to kill him. Ma is slain instead and Sun begs Ling to spare his life.  When Ling does so, the grateful Sun releases his wife.

In a final confrontation, Ling eliminates Fang and his entire gang in a bloody duel.

Provided courtesy of Celestial Pictures. Not rated. Running time: 106 minutes. In Mandarin, with English subtitles.