Swordsman

1990 1h 57m CN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 96

ActionAdventure

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A kung-fu manual known as the Sacred Scroll is stolen from the Emperor's library. An army detachment is sent to recover it. Meanwhile, a young swordsman and his fellow disciple are accidentally drawn into the chaos.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Sam Hui
Ling Wu Chung
Cecilia Yip Tung
Kiddo
Jacky Cheung Hok-Yau
Au Yeung
Sharla Cheung Man
Ren Ying Ying
Fennie Yuen Kit-Ying
Blue Phoenix
Lau Siu-Ming
Ngok
Yuen Wah
Zhor
Lau Shun
The Eunuch

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Tsui Hark
Writers: Edward Leung Yiu-Ming, Jason Lam Kee-To, Wong Ying
Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese
Countries: Hong Kong, Taiwan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $2.1M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

36 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Mandarin, Cantonese.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Hong Kong, Taiwan.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Swordsman Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Tsui Hark, shot by Peter Pau Tak-Hai. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Sam Hui and Cecilia Yip Tung and Jacky Cheung Hok-Yau carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0100973 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Tsui Hark directs. Peter Pau Tak-Hai behind the camera. Produced in Hong Kong, Taiwan. Dialogue in Mandarin, Cantonese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $2.1M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
236 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Mandarin, Cantonese.
4International production across 2 countries: Hong Kong, Taiwan.
5Part of the "Swordsman Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
6Directed by Tsui Hark, shot by Peter Pau Tak-Hai. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Sam Hui and Cecilia Yip Tung and Jacky Cheung Hok-Yau carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0100973 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 96 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
10Released under 13 different titles around the world.