Movielogr

Rating: 7 stars

Tags

shout factory box set shaw brothers revenge murder martial arts Hong Kong

All movies seen on 08/07/2023

View on: IMDb | TMDb

The Bells of Death (1968)

Directed by Griffin Yueh Feng

Action | Drama

Most recently watched by sleestakk

Overview

A simple woodcutter named Wei Fu finds his world shattered when three murderous horsemen arrive to kill his family and kidnap his sister. Left with nothing but his mother’s bell-laden bracelet, he sets out to seek his revenge. Lucky for him, Wei Fu encounters a master swordsman, who takes him under his wing.

Length 88 minutes

Actors

Chang Yi | Chin Ping | Chiu Sam-Yin | Lam Kau | Tien Shun | Ku Feng | Chih-Ching Yang | Lee Wan-Chung | Wu Ma | Hung Lau | Lan Wei-Lieh | Shum Lo | Lau Gong | Chiang Lung | Hsu Chin | Sammo Hung Kam-Bo | Lee Ka-Ting | Kwan Yan | Goo Chim-Hung | Chow Siu-Loi | Chieh Yuen | Chu Gam | Chai Lam | Leung Lung | Chui Hing-Chun | Ng Ming-Choi | Cheung Sek-Aau | Tsang Choh-Lam | Wong Ching-Wan | Hao Li-Jen | Bai Yu | Wu Por | Chan Ho | Ling Mung | Yao Ko Chu | Ying Tan | Got Ping | Siu Lam-Wun | Kong Dan | Lau Kong

Viewing History (seen 2 times)

Viewing Notes

It has some flaws but when this movie rips, it rips! Obviously inspired by Leone’s spaghetti westerns and an obvious inspiration for the opening scene of Tarantino’s INGLORIOUS BASTERDS.

Some of the sound design is annoying (we really didn’t need foley for every sandal slap and titular bell ringing with every step) and some of the boss fight scenes needed better staging. Despite that there’s plenty to like in this very non-Shaw Brothers Shaw Brother movie. It uses non-traditional location shooting and on-set scenes that look like no other Shaw Brothers film, and some of the fight choreography is downright bloody for the period.

It may not be among my most highly rated Shaw Brothers films but it’s definitely going on my list of favorites. I knew I’d seen this before but really didn’t remember too much about it.

Comments