Long Road to Gallantry

Directed by: Lung Yat Sing

Year: 1984

Cast:
Kenny Ho - Du Meng Fei
Kara Hui Ying Hung - Li Sai Nan
Lung Tien Hsiang - Leng Tiao Lei
Rosamund Kwan
Chen Kuan Tai
Jason Pai Piao

In the late 1970s, wuxia (martial arts) TV series were popularised by such stars as Adam Cheng and Felix Wong. By the early 1980s, the martial arts genre became less and less popular in the form of movies as the genre's popularity climbed in TV. However, during this time, the Shaw Brothers studio in Hong Kong made several movies that were ahead of the TV series in terms of action and production values, one example of which is "The Long Road to Gallantry".

It's safe to say that few martial arts TV series can match "Long Road" in the action department (none I have seen can match it). Of all Shaw Brothers wuxia movies I have seen (50+), this movie has the most dynamic action sequences. If you had any doubts about Kenny Ho's ability as a martial arts actor, this movie, which marked his début, would assure you of his ability. Hui Ying Hung, one of my favourite actresses, is without a doubt the most talented martial arts actress in old school movies. No one can match her charm or speed. Lung Tien Hsiang is one of my favourite villains, and he is at his best here. Rosamund Kwan, in one of her earlier roles, comes off rather stiff, but it's always nice to see her on screen. Chen Kuan Tai and Jason Pai Piao also add a lot to this movie, as they are both in the fans' old school hall of fame.

The movie may be an adaptation, the closest of which is a similar titled novel by Gu Long. The plot of the movie is about a young daxia's (chivalrous knight) adventures after he bids his teacher goodbye. He encounters people from the Sky Thunder Sect and the Wooden Dragon Sect (translation of the latter might be slightly off), who are feudal clans. Complications arise when the leader of the Sky Thunder Sect, Leng Tian Lei, discovers that his daughter is in the enemy clan. At the same time, a not-so-innocent girl named Li Sai Nan makes daxia Du Meng Fei wonder what she is up to. Just how do they end up getting married, what did Leng Tian Lei do 20 years ago that parted him and his daughter, and how will Li Sai Nan react to her uncle's order to kill Leng's innocent daughter?

Also, this is one of the movies (non-adaptation) whose characters' names I actually remember (most of them anyway). The story and the characters are very memorable. There may be two downsides to the action: the occasional noticeable speed-up, which is not too distracting; and the slightly generic action sequences. The action is great, but most of the fight scenes consist of the same moves. But needless to say, I highly enjoyed the movie, and I think you will too. The action puts TVB series to shame (in that aspect).

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