Rent Magnificent Ruffians / Ten Tigers of Kwangtung (1980)
3.4 of 5 from 45 ratings
3h 17min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Two more films from the final years of the Shaw Brothers studio, proving that while the end was nigh, these merchants of martial arts mayhem weren't going to go out without a fight!
Magnificent Ruffians (1979)Yuan Ying-fei, a treacherous character from a wealthy family, is highly skilled in the use of the 'Golden Blade' in martial arts. To expand his business, he wants to take possession of the Hu Wei Security Bureau. But he meets with opposition from Guan Yun, owner of the bureau, who rejects Yuan's offer to buy the bureau. Yuan also finds himself unable to gain the affection of Guan's sister and decides to get rid of Guan. With the introduction of modern arms, the techniques of fighting with fists and kicks begin to lose importance, and many skilled martial artists fall into obscurity and become drifters. Among these are 'Twin Blades' He Fei, 'Magnificent Kicks' Feng Jia-ji, 'Sharp Axe' Zeng Qiao and 'Magic Pole' Yang Zhui-feng. One day, unable to pay for their food at Yuan's restaurant, this band of ruffians reveal their martial expertise. Yuan observes their skill and craftily offers them warm hospitality, entertaining them in great comfort at his own house, in the hope that their gratitude will oblige them to get rid of Guan for him. After several fights with Guan, the ruffians begin to realize that he also is an expert in martial arts, and not the villain described by Yuan. Yuan realizes that his plan is not working smoothly, and to prevent the opponents from becoming friends, he orders his men secretly to exchange Yang's pole with one that he has specially made. The five of them later meet, as usual, at a derelict temple to fight, and it is Yang's turn to take on Guan. He uses the pole, unaware of the explosives placed inside it, and it explodes on contact, instantly killing Guan. Yang is unable to understand or explain, and departs in bewilderment. Knowing Guan is dead, Yuan next sets out to kill the other ruffians with his 'Golden Blade', and tells Guan's sister that it was they who caused her brother's death, in order to win her favor. He is the only ruffian to escape death in a fierce fight with Yuan. He finally finds Yang and discovers the truth behind the whole plot, and the two men join forces against Yuan and kill him.
Ten Tigers of Kwangtung (1980)
There is an old grudge between certain families among the Qing and Ming supporters, going back to the day when pro-Ming Zhu Hong-ying is hunted by Qing official Liang Shi-gui in Kwangtung. Zhu is concealed by pawnbroker Li Ren-chao, a "Yun Chun" boxer, whose anti-Qing society Zhu later joins. Li tries with the help of the Ten Tigers of Kwangtung to get him out of the province. But Liang wants to capture Zhu alive, and secretly enlists the aid of another pawnbroker, Zhou Dong-sheng in return for helping him with his drug business. Zhou establishes a martial arts gym with Liang's help, and assists him in fanning the flames between the two opposing factions. Zhu narrowly escapes being caught in a brothel by Liang and the Qing troops. He manages with the help of fellow revolutionaries to kill Liang and the other pursuers. Some years later, Liang's son returns to avenge his father's death. Spurred on by Manchu warriors Tung Qi and Tung Ba, he kills five pupils and descendants of the Ten Tigers. However his merciless pursuit of revenge brings about his own death and also that of Tung Qi and Tung Ba.- Actors:
- Feng Lu, Meng Lo, Chien Sun, Li Wang, Sheng Chiang, Phillip Chung-Fung Kwok, On-Lai Liu, Lai Wang, Hung Chan, Lien-Ping Chang, Hui-Chi Chen, Tien-Chu Chin, Kwok-Keung Choi, Kin Ping Chow, Kwok Wing Ha, Yu Lung Hsiao, Yu-Lun Huang, You-Hsing Lai, Wai Lam, Ta Lei
- Directors:
- Cheh Chang
- Producers:
- Run Run Shaw
- Writers:
- Cheh Chang, Kuang Ni
- Aka:
- Mai ming xiao zi (Destroyers / Destroyers of the Five Deadly Venoms) / Guangdong shi hu xing yi wu xi (The Ten Flying Tigers)
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- Cinema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 1
- Countries:
- Hong Kong
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 21/11/2022
- Run Time:
- 197 minutes
- Languages:
- Cantonese LPCM Mono, Dubbed, English LPCM Mono, Mandarin LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English, English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.35:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Brand new audio commentary on 'Ten Tigers of Kwangtung' by filmmaker Brandon Bentley
- Interview with star Chin Siu-ho, filmed in 2003
- Rivers and Lakes, a brand new video essay on Shaw Brothers' depiction of Chinese myth and history, written and narrated by Jonathan Clements, author of 'A Brief History of China'
- Hong Kong (audio only) and German theatrical trailers for 'Magnificent Ruffians'
- Hong Kong trailers (Mandarin and Cantonese audio options) and US TV spot for 'Ten Tigers of Kwangtung'
- Image galleries for both films
