#937: HU, King: Dragon Inn (1967)

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HU, King (Taiwan)
Dragon Inn [1967]
Spine #937
Blu-ray


The art of martial-arts filmmaking took a leap into bold new territory with this action-packed tale of Ming-dynasty intrigue. After having the emperor's minister of defense executed, a power-grabbing eunuch sends assassins to trail the victim's children to a remote point on the northern Chinese border. But that bloodthirsty mission is confounded by a mysterious group of fighters who arrive on the scene, intent on delivering justice and defending the innocent. The first film King Hu made after moving to Taiwan from Hong Kong in search of more creative freedom, Dragon Inn (Long men kezhan) combines rhythmic editing, meticulous choreography, and gorgeous widescreen compositions with a refinement that was new to the wuxia genre. Its blockbuster success breathed new life into a classic formula and established Hu as one of Chinese cinema's most audacious innovators.

111 minutes
Color
Monaural
in Mandarin
2:35:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2018
Director/Writer


King Hu was 36 when he wrote and directed Dragon Inn.

Other Hu films in the Collection:

#825: A Touch Of Zen (1971)

The Film

A

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

 The Booklet

Eight-panel foldout poster featuring an essay by critic Andrew Chan.

Commentary

None.

Interview 1

With actor Ling-fung.

Interview 2

From 2016 with actor Chun.

Scene analysis

By author and New York Asian Film Festival cofounder Grady Hendrix.

Newsreel footage

Of the film’s 1967 premiere in Taipei, Taiwan.

Trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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