1977 • Hong Kong • Directed by Chor Yuen

The story of legendary swordsman Chu Liuxiang has been a favourite of Hong Kong filmmakers, but the roguish knave’s most stylish cinematic reincarnation is undoubtedly Clans Of Intrigue. How could it be anything but, with a story by celebrated martial arts novelist Gu Long, direction by movie master Chor Yuen, and a first-rate action cast that includes Nora Miao, fresh from the Bruce Lee blockbusters Fists Of Fury and Way Of The Dragon? Towering above them all is kung-fu king Ti Lung as the amorous knight. There is plenty of intrigue as the one-man dynamo goes about clearing his name after being framed for the death of three clan leaders, encountering treacherous palace maids and deceitful warriors along the way. A top-five box office hit in 1977, Clans Of Intrigue still packs quite a punch today. This is the Mandarin version.