Hong Kong Reviews Reviews

Film Review: Oath of Death (1971) by Pao Hsueh Li

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"If you wouldn't mind, let's become blood brothers. Live and die amidst blessings and adversities"

After starting his film career as a cinematographer in Taiwan, Pao later joined after gaining recognition. While working in Hong Kong, he assisted Chang Cheh in films like “The Trail of Broken Blade” and “” (1968). He also co-directed with him in a handful of films like “The Boxer from Shantung”, “The Water Margin”, “Delightful Forest”, “Man of Iron”, “The Pirate” and “Iron Bodyguard”. Known for his meticulous camerawork, he started his directorial career with “The Drinking Knight” and “”. However, in 1977, he left the Shaw Studio and returned to Taiwan where he directed more wuxia films such as “Blooded Treasury Fight”, “The Heroic One” and “Night of the Assassins” (1981).

Pao’s blood drenched war drama is loosely based on the historical assassination of Ma Xin Yi, the official and military general of the Great Qing Dynasty. The film kicks off with a bunch of rebels led by Hao Da Hu (Chang Pai Shan) fighting against the invading Tartars. Out of nowhere, three riders, Ma Ching Ting (), Xiang Du Bu () and Jin Liang () turn up and help them to dispatch the small army of enemies. Impressed by their amazing skills, Hao asks them to become their leaders.

After accepting the offer, they start off by building a stronghold which they call the Flying Dragon Fortress in which they gather more followers and train them to fight against the ruthless Mongols. In the meantime, they also swear an oath of death to each other and become a trio of sworn brothers. Ma, the elder of the three, wields a deadly whip and a dagger. While Xiang is a skillful archer, the youngest brother Jin is good with a sword and “ching kung”, a lightweight skill which enables him to jump to great heights. 

Even though his rebellious army starts to gather more devoted support and power, the greedy and ambitious Ma still wants more. One day, the three brothers set out and rescue a kidnapped Tartar princess from an ally. After tricking his two brothers to remain in their fortress, he returns her safely to the Court himself to claim full credit and thereby promoted to a general. Before long, he is ordered to destroy the rebels’ fortress and it becomes clear that he is willing to sacrifice anything including his sworn brothers to gain an even higher position in Court.

Being an accomplished cinematographer himself, Pao’s production looks impressive visually and well thought out. The use of zoom and a stand out slow-motion death scene help in emphasizing tension and emotion. Nonetheless, kicking off just like most Shaw Brothers’ action packed wuxia, Pao’s film then turns into a slow burn drama but with plenty of nudity and sex. However, it abruptly picks up speed and ends with an unexpected bloody finale which is so full of gory violence and blood-letting that will guarantee to please any gorehound. Nonetheless, choreographed by Lau Kar Wing and Chen Chuen, the action sequences are fast, fluid and entertaining.

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Shaw veteran Tien Feng shows that he can easily play a good guy and be equally at home playing a ruthless and calculative villain who landed the role of Ma Ching Ting and does a pretty good job here. Besides, he looks pretty vicious and convincing wielding his weapon of choice, the Hurricane whip which becomes even more deadly when he hardens it up with his inner energy skill to stab his enemies.

Wei Hung turns up as the gullible middle brother Xiang Du Bu, the weakest of the three and an unguarded person who is too over-trusting. Shaw’s starlet, , plays the cunning and seductive Shum Yi Xia who uses her body to tease men and gets what she wants. Actually, the slow middle section of the film is all about her manipulating men with her busty and well endowed body and she is not shy to take her clothes off too. Elsewhere, Sze appears as a Tartar officer Shek of the Court. also appears briefly as the kidnapped Princess Shabeilan. has a meaty role portraying Hao Da Hu, a noble and fearless rebel who is willing to die for his country.

The hero here is the youngest brother Jin Liang, wonderfully played by Lo Lieh. Jin is a righteous man who is truly passionate about the rebels’ struggle. Besides, he is the only one who sees through Ma’s greedy rise to power and position. After learning that he had their brother Xiang killed, it becomes clear that the evil general Ma has to be stopped. To prepare himself for the assassination, Jin trains vigorously to master the “Million Arrows Piercing the Heart” which involves him punching through a tree to achieve the Iron Palm technique.

Interestingly, Chang Cheh’s version of the same story “The Blood Brothers” (1973) which has bigger stars and budget turns out to be a more serious war drama, but tame and rather bloodless compared to Pao’s blood stained wuxia exploitation of extreme violence, gore and nudity. Nevertheless, it is quite entertaining in its ghastly way.

About the author

David Chew

G'Day! Ni Hao? Hello! Many steamy hot tropical moons ago, I was bitten by the Shaw Brothers movie bug inside a cool cinema in Borneo while Wang Yu was slicing away on the screen. The same bug, living in my blood then, followed me to Sydney, Down Under years later, we both got through Customs & grew roots. Now I'm still happily living with this wonderful old bug and spreading my 'sickness' around to others whenever I can. Cheers!

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