SYNOPSIS

Revenge is and has always been one of the most popular and prolific themes in Hong Kong cinema, from classic wuxia epics to kung fu movies and heroic bloodshed films. During the 1970s, Shaw Brothers Studio was the largest production company operating in Hong Kong and the king of the vengeance tale. Presented here are two of the studio’s most interesting and underrated takes on the revenge story: The Eunuch and The Deadly Knives (or Fists of Vengeance).

A wuxia pian written by the legendary Lo Wei (Fist of Fury) and directed by Teddy Yip (The Black Tavern), The Eunuch begins as the eponymous eunuch Gui De-hai (Pai Ying, The Valiant Ones) survives an attempt on his life ordered by the Emperor (Lo Wei himself). After killing the Emperor and his family in cold blood, Gui notices that the Prince is missing – and sets out to complete his revenge mission. Then, Ching Li (Four Riders) and Ling Yun (Killer Clans) star in the kung fu film The Deadly Knives as young lovers Guan Yue-hua and Yan Zi-fei, whose relationship is tested when Yan’s family comes under threat by Japanese thugs led by Ogawa (Ching Miao, The Shadow Boxer). He becomes determined to avenge their honour – even if that means taking on Guan’s corrupt father.

The Eunuch and The Deadly Knives were made just as the wuxia film was giving way to the kung fu movie in the wake of Bruce Lee’s international success, and provide a fascinating insight into how the theme of revenge was retooled as one genre superseded another. Eureka Classics presents both films on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere in the world.