Duan chang jian

In 1967, the conventions of the Chinese martial arts film as we know it were still being established. Shaw Brothers had released King Hu's groundbreaking swordplay drama "Come Drink with Me" the year before, and it established a trend toward better, more realistic action choreography. Chang Cheh was contributing to the evolution of the swordplay film, too: "The Magnificent Trio" (1966) was rough around the edges but showed a lot of promise, and Chang's approach had become considerably more sophisticated and streamlined by the time he directed "Trail of the Broken Blade". Critics don't care much for this one, but it really was the prototype for every subsequent Chang Cheh movie...and for just about everything else, since Chang was so widely imitated. All the elements of his formula are here: a stern, chivalrous hero (Wang Yu) who faces seemingly impossible odds; a comic book-type villain (Tien Feng) who resides at the center of an impregnable fortress and whose henchmen wield an array of exotic weapons; and, of course, messy stomach wounds. Watch any Chang Cheh film made after "Trail of the Broken Blade" and you'll see how it built on the foundation laid here. The action (choreographed by Tang Chia and Liu Chia-liang) is too infrequent but holds up surprisingly well, especially during the bloody final battle. (In my opinion, the fights in "Trail" are superior to those in Chang's later--and more successful--"The One-Armed Swordsman".) There's some fine acting, too, particularly from supporting players Chiao Chiao and Wei Ping-ou. Any fan interested in the origins of the genre should see this film.