The One-Armed Swordsman
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The One-Armed Swordsman (1967)
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With my recent purchase of Shawscope: Volume Three, I noted that the star of this release was the One-Armed Swordsman trilogy. I also mentioned that it’s really not one of my favorite films, mostly because I think it’s a little boring and too long (especially the first film). I still think so, but I also recognize the importance of those films – and I will explain why with this breakdown of the various One-Armed films.
I will stick to the films that I’m aware of – I’m sure there are a lot more independent films cashing in on the one-armed craze. Remember, in Chinese and Italian laws, the copyright laws are loose and that’s why there are a million “Django”, as well as “Flying Guillotine” films.
Not as popular as the Brucesploitation (yes a Bruce Lee subgenre), nunsploitation, or giallo genre, but there definitely is a weird one-armed subgenre of films. Quite fascinating, really.
Below are some of my one-armed films that I currently can find. Please note that I can’t find my copies of Master of the Flying Guillotine. It’s possible that they are in CD boxes that I mailed to myself, or it’s possible that I’ve lost it during my move to Jacksonville.
The one that started it all, produced in 1967, by director Chang Cheh and starring Jimmy Wang Yu. The film launched Jimmy Wang Yu into stardom and also spawn a whole one-armed subgenre! It was the first “new style” of wuxia (chivalry fantasy) film and the first Hong Kong film to make over $1 HK dollars at the box office.
The story is about Jimmy Wang losing his arm to his love interest. After his recovery, he finds a partial kung-fu manual with instructions on a one-armed style of kung-fu. What a coincident.
After his training, Wang is able to take revenge on his master and then retires as a farmer in the countryside.
Although the “bloody” film is ahead of its time, I still felt the pacing and the story is not that compelling and I do think it’s a little boring, in my opinion.
With the success of the first time, Shaw Brothers studio quickly greenlit a sequel, reuniting Cheh and Wang for Return of the One-Armed Swordsman.
Long retired from the martial word, he’s once again called back with his one-armed sword style with his famous half-sword (broken sword) technique, when eight deadly swordsman comes to town.
Return… is the first of these one-armed films that introduce these very colorful villains (and when I say colorful – there is the unforgettable black and white swordsman!) and a “contest of champions” type.
The second film, in my opinion, is a superior film to the first, mainly because it’s so different in style. Return… feels more modern and updated, vs the first time, which is slow and traditional. You can watch this film by itself, without having seen the first film.
Based on the success of the first two films, once again Cheh and Wang were to once again crank out the third one-armed film, but by this time, Wang was such a star that he wanted more control (and assuming better money) and so he broke his contract with Shaw Brothers to write and direct One-Armed Boxer for the rival company Golden Harvest.
Shaw Brothers rushed production on New One-Armed Swordsman to try and beat Wang, who took the one-armed character to Japan with Zatoichi and the One-Armed Swordsman. The result is a third film that really had nothing to do with the first two films. The “new” one-armed swordsman is now played by David Chiang.
The third film features a snobby Chiang and his two-sword style. He loses a fight and cuts off one of his arms as a penalty. He then takes up a quiet life as a waiter.
Sometime later, another twin-sword hero, who recognized Chiang’s kung-fu abilities tries to recruit/befriend him. After they become friends, the new hero is also defeated by the same technique that took Chiang’s arm. Of course, Chiang, using new one-armed technique was able to take revenge and that’s pretty much the end of the movie.
Again, you can watch the three one-armed swordsman separately and still get a full story.
Also known as Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman, teams up two disabled characters: a blind swordsman (Zatoichi) and a one-armed swordsman (Wang).
This Chinese/Japanese team-up, follows Zatoichi teaming up with the Akira Kurosawa character Yojimbo, who already appeared in Yojimbo and Sanjuro.
The plot to the one-armed swordsman meets Zatoichi is typical. At first the two fights, due to a language barrier, but eventually the two unite to defeat a common villain.
Somewhat forgettable, and standard affair, when you consider that there are over 26 films and 100 television episodes of Zatoichi. It’s just another tale of Zatoichi, as he continues his adventures in Japan.
If you’re a fan, the best transfer of this film is available in the Criterion Zatoichi boxset, which contains 25 Zatoichi films, starring Shintaro Katsu.
I’ll be honest, I only discovered One-Armed Boxer recently in 2022. Let me explain: this film was produced by Golden Harvest, who famously signed Bruce Lee with The Big Boss. Outside of Hong Kong, we rarely got films released in America, outside of the famous ones. There’s still a massive catalog of Golden Harvest films that are yet to be discovered by an American audience, and only recently are specialty companies such as Eureka and Arrow Videos are bringing a new remastered/re-subtitled/translated films to an English audience.
Between One-Armed Boxer, and its sequel Master of the Flying Guillotine, these two Jimmy Wang Yu films are the best of all the one-armed films. They have plenty of colorful characters, plenty of action, and bat-sh** crazy (literally the main villain is a bat/vampire fighter). It’s so creative and is like nothing you will ever see in American cinema.
Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976)
This is the sequel to One-Armed Boxer, but I did not know that until 2022. For many years, owning two DVD versions, the film just jumps us into the action with Jimmy Wang Yu’s one-armed boxer.
That’s what is great about Master of the Flying Guillotine, the film just assume you watched the first one, so there are no setups: just action and action and action.
This masterpiece sees a global Mortal Kombat/Street Fighter II (the film actually inspired the video game) style in a tournament. The one-armed boxer has to fight these different fighting style… but he also has to deal with the blind monk with the flying guillotine. The Flying Guillotine, if you didn’t know, is another popular weapon from the Shaw Brothers.
If you have to see one one-armed film, this is the one to watch. It’s so good.
Also known as One-Armed Swordsman Against Nine Killers.
I own this on DVD, but it’s a terrible transfer… feels like it was taken from a VHS copy. Once again Jimmy Wang Yu reprises his one-armed swordsman character.
Remember the eight deadly fighters from Return of the One-Armed Swordsman? How about we have nine deadly killers? That’s pretty much it, it’s basically a one-armed guy having to defeat nine different fighters and defeating them all.
It’s actually been a long time since I saw this film, so I may have to dust off the old DVD and watch it again. Alternatively, it’s priced at $3 on Amazon, but I’m sure the quality is just as inferior as the DVD.
The most important thing about this film is that it stars Jimmy Wang Yu and David Chiang… so essentially the old one-armed swordman meets the new one-armed swordsman.
On top of the two one-armed swordsman… there are many other one-armed swordsmen, so they have to fight or team up with various one-armed guys against a one true villain.
1976 was a crazy year for one-armed films, we already have three one-armed films!
I also own the DVD (and $3 on Amazon), but haven’t seen it in a long time. Again, I might have to try and find it in my collection and re-watch it.
The film is also known as One-Arm Chivalry Fights Against One-Arm Chivalry.
I have never heard of this film, but it stars Jimmy Wang Yu reprising his one-arm act. Since the film is available on Amazon Prime, I will have to put it on schedule to watch it soon.
Since I haven’t seen it, the plot, on IMDB:
Clearly inspired by the One-Armed Swordsman, but with a gender swap. I only started watching this on Amazon Prime, who described the film as:
One Armed Executioner (1983)
Again, haven’t seen this, but the film is about a one-armed guy. Based on the description and martial-arts, it’s clear to me that this is a modern re-telling of the one-armed swordsman… exception in the 80s with guns. Amazon Prime description:
The Blade (1995)
This is a re-imagined or modern version of The One-Armed Swordsman. The main character loses his arm and fights with a broken sword (similar to the original one-armed swordsman).
I haven’t seen this remake… it would seem this film made its way to an American release as a Warner Brothers on demand. I am told it’s brutal and violent.
The description reads:
Tange Sazen (1933-2004)
Just related, but this Japanese character, Tange Sazen, is a one-armed, one-eye swordsman. He originally appeared in a newspaper serial in 1927, before being adapted as silent films in 1928. The first audio film appeared in 1933, and the latest is in 2004 with a television show.
The character inspired a female adaption, known as Onna Sazen (Lady Sazen), with the latest film Lady Sazen and the Drenched Swallow Sword in 1968.
I haven’t seen the Japanese films or television, but there are a few episodes on Amazon Prime, if you were incline to check them out.