Lady with a Sword

At this point in the never-ending flood of Shaw Brothers titles glutting the market it comes down to one question:  is this one really worth it?  Even collectors with a raging case of FOMO have to draw the line somewhere. So 88 Films release of Lady with a Sword (1971) is a good news/bad news situation.  The good news?  It’s definitely a keeper.  The bad news? Time to make some more room in the budget.

After her sister’s murder, Fei-fei (Lily Ho) vows to settle the score with those responsible.  Unfortunately, that just so happens to be her betrothed from a marriage arranged in childhood. Torn between family obligations and righteous vengeance, Fei-fei and her young nephew must fight off a trio of bad guys – and overprotective in-laws – to see justice done.

While set in the same sweeping historical period as most Shaw Brothers films, Lady with a Sword keeps the story personal and is all the better for it.  There are no royals to keep track of or revolutions to navigate; it’s a stripped-down revenge film with a memorable cast of characters.  Not to mention the fact that director Pao-Shu Kao slips in a fight scene worthy of the finale within the first 15 minutes.

As Fei-fei, Lily Ho (whose career spanned 45 films in just one decade) cuts through her enemies with practiced style and a masterful smirk.  But she also has more acting skills in her repertoire than her contemporaries.  Her performance anchors the emotional stakes, making every betrayal sting and every victory cathartic.  And when it’s time for a little showboating there’s Yen-Man Meng, who plays her 6-year-old nephew, going toe-to-toe against opponents twice his size.

Visually, Lady with a Sword delivers the studio’s trademark flair — lavish sets, eye-popping costumes, and a color palette that borders on the psychedelic — but it’s more tightly edited and economically paced than many of its era. There’s little fat here, and even the quieter scenes hum with tension and purpose.

As for the new 88 Films Blu-ray, the restoration is clean and vibrant, doing justice to the original cinematography. The extras aren’t exhaustive, but they’re thoughtful: an audio commentary from genre David West, a newly translated subtitle track, and a slick slipcover that’ll look right at home next to your other 88 Asia titles.

 

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