''The Sentimental Swordsman'' is a 1977 Hong Kong

wuxia ( , literally "martial arts and chivalry") is a genre of Chinese literature, Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists in ancient China. Although is traditionally a form of historical fantasy literature, its popularity ha ...

film written and directed by

Chor Yuen Chor Yuen (), born Cheung Po-kin (; 8 October 1934 – 21 February 2022), was a Hong Kong film director, screenwriter, and actor. Chor is credited with over 120 films as director, over 70 films as a writer and over 40 films as an actor. Early ...

and produced by the

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 ...

. It stars

Ti Lung Tommy Tam Fu-wing (, born 19 August 1946), known professionally by his stage name Ti Lung (), is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist known for his numerous starring roles in a string of Shaw Brothers Studio's films, particularly '' The Duel'', '' ...

Derek Yee Derek Yee Tung-sing () is a Hong Kong filmmaker and former actor. Early life Yee was born Yee Tung-sing in Hong Kong on 28 December 1957, the son of Yee Kwong (), a film producer from Tianjin, Tientsin (Tianjin), and Hung Wei (), an actress of ...

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 ...

, Yueh Hua, Fan Mei-sheng and

Ku Feng Chan Sze-man (3 July 1930 – 27 March 2025), better known by his stage name Ku Feng, was a Hong Kong actor. Background Feng studied in Beijing, and appeared in hundreds of films, many of which were produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio S ...

. The film is based on ''Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian'' of

Gu Long Xiong Yaohua (7 June 1938 – 21 September 1985), better known by his pen name Gu Long, was a Hong Kong-born Taiwanese novelist, screenwriter, film producer and director. A graduate of Cheng Kung Senior High School and Tamkang University, Xio ...

's '' Xiaoli Feidao Series'' of novels. It was one of Shaw Brothers' highest grossing films in the studio's history, and it was followed by a sequel, '' Return of the Sentimental Swordsman'', in 1981. An in-name-only "sequel", '' Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman'', was released in 1982, with no relation to the main character of Little Flying Dagger Li, being based instead in the ''Lu Xiaofeng'' novel series (also by Gu Long), and its previous film adaptations.

Synopsis

Due to his own extreme ideals, famed swordsman Li has lost everyone dear to him. After his life is saved by a rival swordsman, Li's overwhelming pride makes him forsake the woman he loves and lets her marry his saviour. Now resigned to traveling the country with his loyal aide, Li's only comfort is alcohol and the simple life he has now accepted. On one such journey, the lonely swordsman befriends the exceptionally skilled, yet secretive Fei who has his own pressures to contend with. Li then finds himself embroiled in a battle to own the highly prized 'gold armour shirt' — a protective vest that can withstand any blow. As he discovers that many of the people he meets have a hidden agenda, Li realizes that Fei is the only man he can truly trust. This new friendship is put under a test when the 'sentimental swordsman' is hunted down by numerous hired killers and framed for a series of crimes he didn't commit. The person behind Li's troubles proves to be elusive, though all the clues seem to point to the legendary 'Plum Blossom Bandit', a disguised figure whose identity has long proved elusive to the martial world.

Cast

as Little Flying Dagger Li *

as Lin Xian Er *

as Ah Fei * Yueh Hua as Long Xiao Yun * Candice Yu as Shi Yin *

Fan Mei-sheng Fan Mei-sheng (; born 13 September 1942) also known as Fan Mui-sang, is a prolific Hong Kong Cantonese actor. Fan Mei-sheng started acting in movies from 1964; his first movie was ''The Story of Sue San''. He made his name in Shaw Brothers St ...

as Chuan Jia *

as Zhao Zheng Yi * Norman Chu as Iron Flute * Ngai Fei as Iron Sword Tian Qi *

Yuen Wah Yuen Wah (born Yung Kai-chi; 2 September 1952) is a Hong Kong action film actor, action choreographer, stuntman and martial artist who has appeared in over 160 films and over 20 television series. Early life Born Yung Kai-chi on 2 September 195 ...

as You Long Sheng * Goo Man-chung as Gong Sun * Ching Miao as Shaolin abbot * as Monk Xin Mei * Ku Kuan-chung as Monk Xin Jian * Chan Shen as Shaolin monk * Wang Sha as Doctor Mei Er * Shum Lo as Hua Feng * Lee Sau-kei as Zhu Ge Lei * Keung Hon as Golden Lion Escort man in blue * Wong Pau-gei as Golden Lion Escort man * Fung Hak-on as White Snake *

Alan Chui Chung-San Chui Chung-San (often known as Shu Zhong Xin, Tsui Chung-San, Hsu Zhong-Xin or Alan Hsu; 16 August 1954 – 2 November 2022) was a Hong Kong actor, director, choreographer, martial artist and stuntman. He was known for being an action director ...

as Black Snake * San Kuai as Black Snake's man * Yuen Yat-choh as Black Snake's man * Brandy Yuen as Black Snake's man * Wong Chi-keung as Black Snake's man * Chan Kwok-kuen as Black Snake's man in yellow * Lau Jun-fai as Black Snake's man / Yun's man * Chiang Nan as 5 Poisons Kid with cold needle * Fung Ging-man as 5 Poisons Kid's man with bun * Cheung Chok-chow as 5 Poisons Kid's man selling bun * Lui Hung as 5 Poisons Kid's woman with noodle * Lo Wai as 5 Poisons Kid's man * Wong Chi-ming as 5 Poisons Kid's man * Chui Fat as 5 Poisons Kid's man * Ng Hong-sang as Yun's invited hero * Jamie Luk as Yun's invited hero * Stephan Yip as Yun's invited hero * Tang Tak-cheung as Yun's invited hero * Yuen Cheung-yan as Yun's invited hero * Wang Han-chen as Golden Palm Wang Chen *

Lam Ching-ying Lam Ching-ying (; born Lam Gun-bo (); 27 December 1952 – 8 November 1997) was a Hong Kong stuntman, actor, martial artist and action director. As a practitioner of martial arts Lam starred in a number of notable films that found recognition o ...

as Yun's man * Chik Ngai-hung as Yun's man * Liu Wai as Shen Lao San * Yuen Bun as Shaolin disciple * Chan Dik-hak as Shaolin disciple * Law Keung as Shaolin disciple * To Wing-leung as Shaolin monk * Ting Tung as Huan's escort to Shaolin * Sai Gwa-pau as cook * Tsang Choh-lam as waiter * Wong Kung-miu as waiter * Fung Ming as restaurant customer * Cheung Sek-au as restaurant customer * Ng Yuen-fan * Lau Wai-man * Lam Choi * Kong Chuen

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sentimental Swordsman, The 1977 films 1977 martial arts films 1977 action films Hong Kong martial arts films Hong Kong action films Shaw Brothers Studio films Wuxia films Works based on Xiaoli Feidao (novel series) Films directed by Chor Yuen Films based on works by Gu Long 1970s Hong Kong films ja:多情剣客無情剣

Synopsis

Cast

See also

External links