Set in the Ming Dynasty, the film is loosely based on the Brocade Guards or Jin Yi Wei (the movie's Chinese title), the secret police force of the Ming Court in which the members wear distinctive embroidered uniforms. This grim wuxia and melodrama is a late Shaw Brothers outing before they rescheduled film making and concentrate on television productions through their broadcasting company, Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB).
Buy This Title
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
At the palace, a cruel and ambitious eunuch, Wang Zhen who is both the personal guard and adviser to the Emperor Ying Zong, is showering the young Emperor, a childish and womanizing weakling, with gifts like beautiful women. The cunning Wang is trying to persuade the busy Ying who at times has to play hide and seek with four naked women, to hand the country‘s affairs over to him, and to his anticipation, the Emperor agrees.
As soon as he gains power, he starts off by ordering the Brocade Guards to kill any one and his entire family who goes against him and being the sergeant of the platoon, Zhao Bu Fa has to do the dirty work, no questions asked. However, Zhao starts to doubt his missions after seeing such atrocities and he eventually lets a good minister's family go free. A grave mistake for a righteous man to make, consequently he soon finds himself being hunted by his own guards, the eunuch's army and even his own father, the Commander of the feared Brocade Guards.
There is no doubt that Lu Chin Ku is very much influenced by Japanese samurai films. During the scenes where Zhao and his family are under attack, Zhao has his young son strapped in front of him while he cuts down his enemies; Lu is definitely paying his tribute to the “Lone Wolf and Cub” comics and series. Then there is the fight between Zhao and Chao Ji Seng (Ko Fei)m where we witness the two rush towards each other and as they freeze in the middle of the screen, a geyser of sprays from Chao's body seconds later and he slowly collapses to the ground.
As the kind-hearted and honorable Sergeant Zhao of the Brocade Guards, Bryan Leung Ka Yan has no problem carrying the movie with his intense and commanding performance. Besides, he looks the part wielding his larger than normal and imposing broad sword. The members of the Brocade Guards are actually ruthless killers themselves, trained from childhood to become vicious killing machines solely to serve the Ming Court and eliminate any rebel and outlaw. Therefore it is refreshing to see Leung being portrayed as a righteous man with sincere principles under these circumstances.
Equally impressive is the heartfelt performance of Ku Feng as Zhao Wu Ji, a tortured father of Sergeant Zhao and Captain of the Brocade Guards. Easily one of the best character actors from the Shaw Brothers era, Ku is able to show a wonderful range of emotions from scene to scene. Furthermore, the list of supporting cast is just as remarkable; Lo Mang turns up in a heroic role as Zhao Bu Qun, brother to Bu Fa. His Venom co-star Sun Chien has a much smaller role as one of the guards. Elsewhere, Jason Pai Piao shows up as an officer briefly and another recognizable face, Ko Fei is on hand as eunuch Wang's right hand man who has a memorable duel with Sergeant Zhao. Lastly, while on the run, Zhao takes refuge in his ancestral village with his uncle played by the distinguished Lo Lieh. Helping to move the plot along, the beautiful Nancy Hu comes on board as Zhao's tragic wife.
In contrast and almost stealing the show every time he appears on screen, Tony Liu Yung is amazingly slimy portraying the real-life power hungry eunuch Wang Zhen. With a little slap of his hand, he is able to send a court minister flying across the room to his death, that's how powerful and cruel he is being interpreted here.
“Secret Service of the Imperial Court” is a fast paced late period Shaw production, though gloomy and dark in nature, it is quite emotional at times. Besides having the obvious Japanese vibes, fortunately it has a great villain and some ferocious fight sequences to make it entertaining.
