''King Cat'' is a 1967 Hong Kong

martial arts film Martial arts films are a subgenre of action films that feature martial arts combat between characters. These combats are usually the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often are a method of storytelling and character expression a ...

directed by Hsu Tseng Hung and produced by

Shaw Brothers Studio Shaw Brothers (HK) Limited () was the largest film production company in Hong Kong, operating from 1925 to 2011. In 1925, three Shaw brothers— Runje, Runme, and Runde—founded Tianyi Film Company (also called "Unique") in Shang ...

. The story is loosely based on the 19th-century Chinese novel ''

The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants ''The Tale of Loyal Heroes and Righteous Gallants'' (忠烈俠義傳), also known by its 1883 reprint title ''The Three Heroes and Five Gallants'' (三俠五義), is an 1879 Chinese novel based on storyteller Shi Yukun's oral performances. The ...

''. The title refers to a nickname of the protagonist

Zhan Zhao Zhan Zhao (展昭) is a fictional character in the Chinese wuxia classic ''The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants''. Nicknamed the "Southern Hero", he is a righteous knight-errant with incredible martial arts skills, often helping Prefect Bao Zhen ...

(the nickname can also be translated as "Imperial Cat").

Plot

During the

Song dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...

, after the upright prefect Bao Zheng executed Pang Yu for embezzlement, the grand tutor Pang Ji sent assassins to avenge his son's death. A chivalrous man, Zhan Zhao the "Southern Hero", saved Bao and was conferred the title "King Cat" by the emperor. This title invoked the jealousy and anger of Bai Yutang the "Brocade-Coated Rat" — as rats were considered cat food — who went to the capital

Kaifeng Kaifeng ( zh, s=开封, p=Kāifēng) is a prefecture-level city in east-Zhongyuan, central Henan province, China. It is one of the Historical capitals of China, Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and ...

(also known as Bianjing) to challenge Zhan. He was later joined by his 3 elder sworn brothers — Han Zhang the "Earth-Piercing Rat", Xu Qing the "Mountain-Boring Rat" and Jiang Ping the "River-Overturning Rat", and together they stole a treasure from the imperial palace, knowing that Bao would send Zhan to retrieve it. On their way home, the four brothers were confronted by Bai's girlfriend Ding Yuehua the "Nine-Tailed Phoenix", who accused them of raping and killing 3 imperial maids whose corpses were discovered right after their theft. Infuriated by her lack of trust, Bai admitted to the crimes, and Ding broke up with him. The real criminal, however, was Hua Chong the "Flowery Butterfly", who had been involved with the treacherous grand tutor and his daughter Consort Pang, as well as a few

Taoist priest A ''daoshi'' () or Taoshih, translated as Taoist priest, Taoist monk, or Taoist professional is a priest in Taoism. The courtesy title of a senior is ''daozhang'' (, meaning "Tao master"), and a highly accomplished and revered is often cal ...

s in a plot to overthrow the dynasty. Hua tried to rape Ding, but fled after Zhan stopped him. Ding informed Zhan of Bai's guilt, so Zhan went to the island occupied by Lu Fang the "Sky-Penetrating Rat" and his four sworn brothers to arrest Bai, but was trapped under a fish pond. Ding Yuehua and his two brothers Ding Zhaolan and Ding Zhaohui arrived later looking for Zhan, and Zhan escaped from the trap. Finally Zhan discovered that Bai was not the rapist, and Jiang remembered overhearing a plot by Hua to rape Princess Yong'an during her visit to a monastery. The heroes and gallants arrived in the monastery to rescue the princess, only to discover it was filled with rebellious priests. Helped by an army led by Bao, they eventually subdued the rebels and killed Hua. The "Five Rats" returned the treasure, and Zhan became romantically involved with Ding Yuehua.

Cast

* Chang Yi as

*Chiao Chuang as

Bai Yutang Bai Yutang, nicknamed "Sleek Rat" or "Brocade-Coated Rat" (), is a fictional Song dynasty knight-errant from the 19th-century Chinese novel ''The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants''. Handsome, brave, clever and charismatic, Bai Yutang is the young ...

*Pat Ting Hung as

Ding Yuehua Ding Yuehua (丁月华, as "Moonlight") is a fictional character from the 19th-century Chinese novel ''The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants''. She was a younger sister of the brothers Ding Zhaolan and Ding Zhaohui, and later married Zhan Zhao. Bac ...

Ching Li Ching Li (; 1945–2017) was a Hong Kong actress popular in the 1970s. She appeared in more than 60 films, mostly by Shaw Brothers Studio. Early life On October 29, 1945, Ching was born in mainland China "Mainland China", also referred ...

as Jinhua *

Ching Miao Ching Miao (; March 15, 1913 – 1989) was a Taiwanese actor born in Shandong, China. He had appeared in over 190 films, mostly in Hong Kong for the Shaw Brothers Studio. He won the Best Supporting Actor for Golden Horse Awards twice, for '' Be ...

Bao Zheng Bao Zheng (; 5 March 999 – 3 July 1062), commonly known as Bao Gong (), was a Chinese politician during the reign of Emperor Emperor Renzong of Song, Renzong in China's Song Dynasty. During his twenty-five years in civil service, Bao was kn ...

*Chin Feng as

Emperor Renzong of Song Emperor Renzong of Song (30 May 1010 – 30 April 1063), personal name Zhao Zhen, was the fourth emperor of the Northern Song dynasty of China. He reigned for about 41 years from 1022 to his death in 1063, making him the longest reigning Song ...

*Carrie Ku Mei as Princess Yong'an *Ku Wen-chung as

Han Zhang Han Zhang is a fictional Song dynasty Chinese knight-errant, knight-errant from the 19th-century Chinese novels ''The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants'' and ''The Five Younger Gallants''. Nicknamed "Earth Rat" or "Earth-Piercing Rat" () for his e ...

* Huang Tsung Hsing as

Xu Qing Xu Qing (; born January 22, 1969), also known as Summer Xu, is a Chinese actress. Early life Xu was born at the 301 Hospital in Beijing. Her mother, of Tujia ethnicity, was the dance leader in the Central Military Commission Political W ...

Paul Wei Ping-ao Wei Ping-ao (29 November 19293 December 1989), also known as Paul Wei, was a Hong Kong–based Chinese actor who started his career in the Shaw Brothers Studio. He is best known for playing cunning interpreters in Bruce Lee's 1972 films ''Fist ...

Jiang Ping Jiang Ping (; 28 December 1930 – 19 December 2023) was a Chinese legal scholar. He was the President of China University of Political Science and Law, and a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Biography Jian ...

*Yang Chih-ching as Lu Fang *Fang Mian as

Gongsun Ce Gongsun Ce is a fictional character in the Chinese novel ''The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants''. Highly intelligent and very familiar with traditional Chinese medicine, he was an able assistant to the upright official Bao Zheng. Background Profi ...

* Cliff Lok as

Bao Xing Bao or BAO may refer to: Cuisine * Baozi, a type of Chinese dumpling made of a steamed or baked bun with fillings * Cha siu bao, a pork-filled steamed bun * Gua bao, steamed clam-shaped bun sandwiched with meat and condiments * Bánh bao, Vietname ...

Lo Lieh Wong Lap Tat (June 29, 1939 – November 2, 2002), better known by his stage name Lo Lieh, was an Indonesian-born Hong Kong martial artist and film actor. Lo was perhaps best known as Chao Chih-Hao in the 1972 martial arts film ''King Boxer'' ...

as Hua Chong * Helen Ma Hoi-lun as Consort Pang *Tin Sam as

Imperial Tutor Pang Pang Ji () (988–1063) was a Chinese politician who lived during the Northern Song Dynasty. He was the chancellor from 1051 to 1053 during Emperor Renzong's reign. Biography After passing the imperial examination in 1015, Pang Ji gradual ...

*Fan Dan as

Pang Yu Pang Ji () (988–1063) was a Chinese politician who lived during the Northern Song Dynasty. He was the chancellor (China), chancellor from 1051 to 1053 during Emperor Renzong of Song, Emperor Renzong's reign. Biography After passing the i ...

*Cheng Lei as

Ding Zhaohui ''The Tale of Loyal Heroes and Righteous Gallants'' (忠烈俠義傳), also known by its 1883 reprint title ''The Three Heroes and Five Gallants'' (三俠五義), is an 1879 Chinese novel based on storyteller Shi Yukun's oral performances. The ...

*Chao Hsiung as

Ding Zhaolan ''The Tale of Loyal Heroes and Righteous Gallants'' (忠烈俠義傳), also known by its 1883 reprint title ''The Three Heroes and Five Gallants'' (三俠五義), is an 1879 Chinese novel based on storyteller Shi Yukun's oral performances. The ...

Wu Ma Fung Wang-yuen (22 September 1942 – 4 February 2014), better known by his stage name Wu Ma, was a Hong Kong actor, director, producer and writer. Wu Ma made his screen debut in 1963, and with over 240 appearances to his name (plus 49 directoria ...

as Little Sun

References

External links

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Trailer with English Subtitles
{{The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants 1967 films 1967 action films 1960s martial arts films Hong Kong martial arts films Shaw Brothers Studio films 1960s Mandarin-language films Wuxia films Films based on The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants Fictional depictions of Bao Zheng in film 1960s Hong Kong films