1972 • Hong Kong • Directed by Cheng Kang

Long before feminism made it to Hong Kong, women proved themselves more than equal to men in this martial arts classic set in ancient China, where a matriarchal clan uses sword, fist, and gravity-defying leaps to avenge their fallen menfolk. The cast is a veritable “who’s who” of the golden age of Shaw Brothers swordplay adventures, and was not only a major box office hit (ranking fourth for 1972), but also a top prize winner, including Best Supporting Actress for Lisa Lu, a special citation for outstanding lead female performance for Lily Ho, Best Director for Cheng Kang, and an award for Honourable Mention For Drama.