Shaw Brothers Classics, Volume 3

Eleven-disc set includes: Killer Clans (Liu Xing Hu Die Jian) (1976)After a master assassin (Chung Wah) contracts to take out the head (Ku Feng) of the Lung Men Society, he finds himself mired in the intrigues of the clan-and their rivals, the Roc Society-and with no idea who he can trust, in this revolutionary wuxia effort. Chor Yuen directs; Yueh Hua, Ching LI also star. 91 min. C/Rtg: PG-13 The Shaolin Avengers (Fang Shi Yu Yu Hu Hui Qian) (1976)Alexander Fu Sheng again portrays the legendary hero Fong Sai-Yuk, as Fong, Hu Huiqian (Chi Kuan-Chun) and Fang Xiaoyu (Bruce Tong Yim-Chaan) are confronted by determined ambushers-as we learn in flashback why the three united and met this seemingly inescapable fate. Chang Cheh and Wu Ma direct; Lung Fei, Johnny Wang Lung-Wei also star. 97 min. C/Rtg: NR The Web Of Death (Wu Du Tian Luo) (1976)In this vivid martial arts thriller, Lo Lieh portrays the leader of a snake cult eager to obtain a powerful spider weapon that traps it's victims in a radioactive cobweb. To achieve his aims, Lo must bed the beautiful leader of a Scorpion sect and fend off a rival sect fashioned around the centipede. There's creepy-crawly-themed oddness and action galore in this Shaw Brothers hit. With Yueh Hua, Ku Feng. 87 min. C/Rtg: R Death Duel (San Shao Ye de Jian) (1977)He's the deadliest swordsman in the world, but Third Master Ah Chi (Derek Yee) wants to leave his bloody past behind him and live a simple life. Too bad an endless procession of would-be successors won't let Chi put down the blade and forces him to battle villainy to the death everywhere he goes. Candy Yu, Chen Ping, and David Chiang co-star in this Shaw Brothers gem filled with wuxia swordplay action. 91 min. C/Rtg: NR The Vengeful Beauty (Xue Fu Rong) (1978)Rong Qiu Yan (Chen Ping) was with child when the emperor determined that her officer husband had become expendable. Escaping the royal assassins that slew her family, she'd prove her own formidable skills in her quest for vengeance. Ho Meng-Hua directs; Lo Lieh, Yueh Hua, Norman Chu Siu-Keung also star. 82 min. C/Rtg: NR Life Gamble (Sheng Si Dou) (1978)Master swordsmith Qui Zi Yu (Kuo Choi) got out of the business after an unknown assassin manage to maim him with his own craftwork. He'd sharpen his skills, however, as a casino encounter left him in a position for payback. Chang Cheh directs; Meng Lo, Sheng Fu, Feng Ku also star. 96 min. C/Rtg: PG-13 Soul Of The Sword (Sha Jue) (1978)As a boy, a nameless swordsman (Ti Lung) watched the merciless King of Swords, Lu Tien Kang (Ku Feng) dispatch an enemy in a duel, and the slain opponent's lover kill herself. The traumatized child pledged to gain the skill to defeat Lu... but can he make good on his oath? Hua Shan directs; Lin Chen-Chi, Yue Wing also star. 85 min. C/Rtg: NR The Deadly Breaking Sword (Feng Liu Duan Jian Xiao Xiao Dao) (1979)Possessing the deeply impractical ability to break off a piece of his sword inside every opponent he kills, a masterfully skilled warrior (Ti Lung) forges an uneasy partnership with a reckless gambler. It's not a good bet, however, as the weapon-wasting hero soon discovers when he comes up against an enemy who survived his idiosyncratic style of combat. Sheng Fu, Fei Ai also star. 101 min. C/Rtg: R Shaolin Abbot (Shao Lin Ying Xiong Bang) (1979)Having survived the burning of Shaolin Temple, monk Chi San (David Chiang) went on a quest for funds to rebuild, and find new disciples to mentor. Can his current crop of students stand against the machinations of the pursuing Pai Mei (Lo Lieh)? Ho Meng-Hua directs; Lily LI, Norman Chu Siu-Keung also star. 84 min. C/Rtg: R Shaolin Rescuers (Jie Shi Ying Xiong) (1979)A pair of fighting-skilled but indolent laborers (Kuo Chi, Lo Meng) and a put-upon Kung Fu student (Sun Chien) find purpose when an injured Shaolin (Jason Pai Piao) recruits them to take a stand against the forces of Pai Mei, in this "Venom Mob" free-for all. Chang Cheh directs; Lu Feng also stars. 100 min. C/Rtg: PG-13 Clan Of The White Lotus (Hong Wending San Po Bai Lian Jiao) (1980)The follow-up from "Executioners from Shaolin" finds Hong Wen-Ding (Gordon Liu Chia-Hui) the survivor of a final death duel with Pai Mei. The local governor isn't going along with the emperor on leaving the Shaolin alone, however... and a malevolent white-haired monk (Lo Lieh, who directed) wants to ensure their annihilation. 100 min. C/Rtg: PG-13 Widescreen; Soundtrack: Mandarin; Subtitles: English. In Mandarin with English subtitles.