If you are into martial arts films, especially those produced by Shaw Brothers Studios in the late 70s, the Flying Guillotine would probably be your favorite weapon from the Qing Dynasty. It looks very much like a hat with a netting full of razor sharp blades in the rim and there is a long chain attached to it. The skillful wielder or assassin throws it from a distance onto someone's head and with a pull of the chain, the blades circle in and cut the poor victim's head clean off. It is a very effective way to kill and besides it is quiet and almost impossible to defend against.
Though associated with Emperor Yung Cheng and his elite squad of assassins during the Qing Dynasty, no one really knows if such a device actually existed. But this deadly legendary Chinese killing machine sure looks great flying across the silver screens and sending sparks flying and accompanied by some funky sound effects. In any case, below is a series of films where it makes its glorious presentence felt and yes there will be blood and heads will roll.
1. The Flying Guillotine (1975) by Ho Meng Hua
Set in the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Yung Cheng (Chiang Yang) uses military force and fear to maintain peace and order as well as make sure that no one dares to oppose him. Meanwhile, after being inspired by a diabolo, a sort of Chinese yo-yo gadget operated by using a rope, his trusted royal servant Xin Kang (Ku Feng) eventually develops the flying guillotine, a killing machine which can chop anyone's head clean off even from a hundred yards away. Furthermore, twelve men are put through vigorous training so they can master the dreaded new tool, Ma Teng (Chen Kuan Tai) turns out to be the best and rightly becomes the elite squad leader of assassins. “The Flying Guillotine” or “The Blood Dripper” as translated from its Chinese title is definitely one of Ho's better creations, a production which includes some use of special effects. Although lacking in the typical kung fu action popular during its time, this is still a solid and highly entertaining work with rich characters and an engaging plot.
Starting with “The Flying Guillotine” back in 1975, director Ho unleashed his deadly decapitating machine on the big screen and started a trend. But he was too busy doing other horror projects like “Black Magic”, “Oily Maniac” and “The Mighty Peking Man” that he was not able to do the official follow-up. Even so with “The Dragon Missile” (1976), he did manage to do a quick knockoff version while other directors and actors were finishing off the troublesome sequel. Interestingly, when it finally came out in 1978, Ho also released the concluding chapter concerning the flying guillotine for the Shaw Brothers in the form of “The Vengeful Beauty” or “Bloody Hibiscus” as in the Chinese title.
2. The Flying Guillotine 2 / Palace Carnage (1978) by Cheng Kang and Hua Shan
This problematic official sequel didn't really take off till 1978, a very long time for a follow-up. For a start, Ho was too busy with other projects like “Black Magic”, “The Mighty Peking Man” and “Vengeful Beauty”. Conversely, in 1976 both Chen Kuan Tai and Liu Wu Chi were keen to reprise their roles but Liu unexpectedly disappeared from the movie industry altogether but they quickly replaced her with Hsiao Yao.
This time around, the plot essentially focuses on a bunch of Han rebels including a new female character Na Lan (Shih Szu) who is hell bent on trying to assassinate their ruthless tyrant Qing Emperor Yung Cheng (Ku Feng). After charming her way and winning the trust of the Emperor, Na Lan is able to set up her own all-female flying guillotine squad, much to the disapproval of the Emperor's personal advisers Lord Bao Ying (Lo Lieh) and Lord Tai Kuan (Wei Hung). Apparently, there is a second generation of the flying guillotine which has a double layer of blades and Na is there to steal the blueprint. On the other hand, main protagonist Ma Teng (Ti Lung) has become a fugitive who appears briefly at the beginning and shows up again during the final assassination of Yung Cheng in his palace by the rebels. With so many rewrites and actors dropping out during production, it is indeed quite a miracle that the Shaw Brothers are keen to finish making “The Flying Guillotine 2”. Furthermore, though it is a doom and gloom affair, it manages to turn into a fast paced and enjoyable energetic production and besides, the all-female guillotine squad with their colorful pink uniform is an interesting addition.
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3. The Vengeful Beauty (1978) by Ho Meng Hua
Ho's final stab at the flying guillotine saga has a seedy wuxia touch to it, though it is better and more action packed than his own knockoff “The Dragon Missile” (1976), it fails to reach the height that the original film achieved back in 1975. On the other hand, the film is a breezy seventy eight minutes of tightly plotted chase and revenge film with enough action, cheap thrills and nudity to make it a forgettable light entertainment affair.
Set again in the Qing Dynasty under the ruthless Emperor Yung Cheng who, with the service of his flying guillotine squad continues to kill anyone who he considers a rebel, he now also sets his sight on the bookstore owners and proofreaders. Court officer Han Tian De, who believes that his Emperor is behind the endless massacre, soon becomes a target, despite the fact that he was away at the time; his fortunate pregnant and martial arts expert wife Rong Qiu Yan (Chen Ping) was unharmed. Nevertheless upon learning that Jin Gang Feng (Lo Lieh), the squad leader, is responsible, she sets out to kill him. Even though she fails in her rushed attempt due to her condition, she manages to escape and decides to have her revenge later. Along the way she comes across Ma Teng, now played by Norman Chu and together with a little help from from her martial brother, Wang Jun (Yueh Hua) the trio set out for revenge.
4. The Dragon Missile (1976) by Ho Meng Hua
Underneath all that flashy Shaw Brothers production standards, this was essentially a rushed and cashed in “B” grade road adventure drama from Ho Meng Hua. Released at the same time as Jimmy Wang Yu's “Master of the Flying Guillotine” this was pretty much a knockoff of his own hit “The Flying Guillotine” (1975) starring Chen Kuan Tai. Nonetheless, it crashed at the box office during its short run while Jimmy's guillotine clone won the hearts of many fans and attracted a cult following. An oppressive Lord Qin Quan (Ku Feng) is slowly dying of a poisonous boil named “100 Birds Worshiping the Phoenix” which grows on his back. Upon hearing that a retired herbalist has a cure in the form of a longevity vine, he sends out his trustworthy bodyguard, troop leader Si Ma Jun (Lo Lieh) as well as six skillful mercenaries to retrieve it. Accordingly, these low lives are there to check on Si, in case he doesn't return with the medication, however being an obedient servant, Si eventually returns even after facing some double crosses and near- death encounters.
“The Dragon Missile” is definitely not one of Ho's best works, it is a rushed production but he does make good use of the large Show Brothers outdoor sets. Nonetheless, it is still fun and entertaining during its running time of just over eighty minutes and besides, there is an unexpected sex scene in the middle of this chaotic struggle to obtain the mysterious life saving vine.
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5. One Armed Boxer Vs the Flying Guillotine / Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976) by Jimmy Wang Yu
The Shaw Brothers Studio and Ho Meng Hua unleashed their deadly decapitating flying machine film “The Flying Guillotine” in 1975 and it was a hit. However released in 1978 due to several actors dropping out and rewritten during production, their problematic official follow-up almost died a horrible death. Meanwhile, Jimmy Wang Yu was quick to let loose his action packed but outrageous flying guillotine related version “One Armed Boxer Vs the Flying Guillotine” which was in fact a sequel to his “One Armed Boxer” (1971). Acknowledged in the West as “Master of the Flying Guillotine” it went on to become a cult favorite with fans.
Again set in the Qing Dynasty, besides having his own guillotine team in the palace, Emperor Yung Cheng also sends out his trusted flying guillotine wielding assassin Fung Sheng Wu Ji (Kam Kang) to kill off any remaining rebels. However, it happens that his two nephews have the misfortune of engaging in a fight with the one armed boxer Yu Tien Lung (Jimmy Wang Yu) and get themselves killed. Upon receiving the bad news, a furious Fung sets his hideout on fire and armed with a new compact version of the flying guillotine, he immediately sets out to kill Yu. Furthermore, because of his blindness, he vows to kill every one armed man he comes across till he gets his target. Made cheaply in Taiwan by First Films, a Hong Kong company, this is easily Wang's most crazy and over the top production but won the hearts of many kung fu fans in the West. Although this is not a perfect film it is undoubtedly an extremely entertaining production with some interesting visuals and music from the highly creative mind of Wang Yu.
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