The Swordsman (1990 film)

The Swordsman, also known as Swordsman, is a 1990 Hong Kong wuxia film. King Hu was credited as the director but allegedly left the project midway, and the film was completed by a team led by producer Tsui Hark. The film is loosely adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. The film was followed by two sequels: Swordsman II (1992) and The East Is Red (1993).

The Swordsman
Film poster
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese笑傲江湖
Simplified Chinese笑傲江湖
Directed byKing Hu
Ching Siu-tung (Executive director)
Tsui Hark (Executive director)
Raymond Lee (Executive director)
Ann Hui (uncredited)
Andrew Kam (uncredited)
Screenplay byWong Ying
Edward leung
Tai Foo-ho
Lam Kee-to
Lau Tai-muk
Kwan Man-leung
Based onThe Smiling, Proud Wanderer
by Louis Cha
Produced byTsui Hark
StarringSam Hui
Cecilia Yip
Jacky Cheung
Sharla Cheung
Fennie Yuen
Lau Siu-ming
CinematographyAndy Lam
Peter Pau
Edited byMarco Mak
David Wu
Music byRomeo Díaz
James Wong
Production
companies
Distributed byNewport Entertainment
Release date
  • 5 April 1990 (1990-04-05)
Running time
120 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguagesCantonese
Mandarin
Box officeHK$16,052,552

Plot

The story is set in 16th-century China during the Ming dynasty. Gu Jinfu, a eunuch from the spy agency Eastern Depot, leads a team to retrieve the Sunflower Manual, a martial arts manual stolen from the imperial palace. They track down and attack the thief, Lin Zhennan. Around this time, Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan, members of the Mount Hua School, encounter Lin Zhennan and save him. Before succumbing to his wounds, Lin Zhennan tells them to tell his son, Lin Pingzhi, where he had hidden the manual.

While making their way to rendezvous with their Mount Hua School fellows, Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan chance upon Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang, who are planning to retire from the jianghu (martial artists' community). Just then, Zuo Lengshan, who works for Eastern Depot, shows up with his men and tries to arrest Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang. Linghu Chong and the others manage to escape, but Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang are seriously wounded in the process. Before committing suicide, the duo perform "Xiaoao Jianghu", a musical piece they composed together, and pass their instruments and the score to Linghu Chong.

Linghu Chong encounters the reclusive swordsman Feng Qingyang and learns the skill Nine Swords of Dugu from him. He also finds out that his gentlemanly master, Yue Buqun, is actually a power-hungry hypocrite. In the meantime, Gu Jinfu's henchman, Ouyang Quan, impersonates the dead Lin Pingzhi and infiltrates the Mount Hua School. He tricks Linghu Chong into revealing the whereabouts of the Sunflower Manual and then poisons him. Linghu Chong is saved by Ren Yingying and Lan Fenghuang of the Sun Moon Holy Cult. They combine forces to defeat and kill Zuo Lengshan and his men.

Around the same time, Yue Buqun, Ouyang Quan, Gu Jinfu and the others have arrived at the location where the Sunflower Manual is hidden and are fighting over the manual. Linghu Chong shows up, kills Gu Jinfu, exposes Yue Buqun's treachery and defeats him. He decides to spend the rest of his life roaming the jianghu with his friends.

Cast

Music

The theme song of the film, "Chong Hoi Yat Sing Siu" (滄海一聲笑; "A Sound of Laughter in the Vast Sea"), was composed by James Wong, who also wrote its lyrics, and performed in Cantonese by Sam Hui.

Box office

The film grossed HK$16,052,552 at the Hong Kong box office.[1]

Reception

The Swordsman currently holds a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[2]

Andrew Saroch of Far East Films writes that

"Swordsman is undoubtedly a film that improves with successive viewings. Initial impressions are that this is a convoluted and confusing swordplay film that attracts the eye with its visual flair, but is ultimately easier to admire than to warm to. However, on second and especially third viewing, Swordsman reveals more of its hidden depths and draws the now prepared viewer into its character-laden storyline".[3]

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations
Ceremony Category Recipient Outcome
10th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Jacky Cheung Nominated
Lau Shun Nominated
Best Film Editing David Wu, Marco Mak Nominated
Best Art Direction James Leung Nominated
Best Action Choreography Ching Siu-tung Won
Best Original Film Score James Wong, Romeo Diaz Nominated
Best Original Film Song Song: A Sound of Laughter in the Vast Sea (滄海一聲笑)

Composer/Lyricist: James Wong
Singer: Sam Hui

Won
27th Golden Horse Awards Best Feature Film The Swordsman' Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Jacky Cheung Won
Best Adapted Screenplay Kwan Man-leung, Wong Ying, Lam Kee-to
Lau Tai-muk, Edward Leung, Tai Foo-ho
Nominated
Best Cinematography Andy Lam, Peter Pau Nominated
Best Art Direction James Leung Nominated
Best Makeup & Costume Design Bobo Ng, Edith Cheung Nominated
Best Film Editing David Wu, Marco Mak Nominated
Best Original Film Song Award James Wong Won

References

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