King Hu-Long men ke zhen ('Dragon Inn') (1966)

The Eunuch of the Emperor has ordered the commander of his army condemned to death for betrayal and insurrection. The commander's family was was murdered to cut off his bloodline, but his two youngest, a son and a daughter, were expelled from the empire to the outlands in an attempt to draw out the commanders confidant and adviser. In order to complete the plan, the Eunuch sent his ultra-secret Black Arrow Troop to assassinate the two remaining children and the advisor. The ambush: to be carried out at the Inn Of Dragon's Gate at the border. The plans fail as journeymen of great swordsmanship turn up at the inn. From that point until the end of the flic many battles take place. This film is a masterpiece of martial arts swords-play and speaks the tune of "The Swordsman" and the "Zatoichi" films. A must see for fans of classic Asian cinema. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0060635/plotsummary)






The first eunuch of the emperor has managed to have a major opponent condemned to death and his family banished from the empire. In order to avoid a revenge of his victims, the eunuch sends his secret police to assassinate the deportees. The ambush is to be carried out at the inn of the Dragon Gate, an isolated place close to the border. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0060635/plotsummary)





The original plan of the secret agents is upset as several unexpected travelers - who prove to be master fencers - arrive at the inn. Very soon, and till the end of the last reel, secret agents, the escort of the deportees, mysterious travelers of all kinds, the personal guard of eunuch, the soldiers protecting the frontier, and the eunuch himself engage in ceaseless treacherous manoeuvres, frantic pursuits, and especially acrobatic sword fights in he good old tradition of the Chinese cinema. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0060635/plotsummary)




A must see swordplay film, probably the best of its kind ever made. The director, King Hu, is the master of tension and suspense and holds the viewer's attention throughout. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0060635/usercomments)




You can watch some scenes of it if you go to the movie Bu San(2003) aka "Goodbye, Dragon Inn" by Tsai Ming-Liang which paid tribute to this movie. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0060635/usercomments)




This VCD version which is the only release available now, omitted almost 25 minutes of the original film. Beware! Although this VCD does have English subtitles, it is cropped to full frame. (original 2.35:1 aspect-ratio cropped from left and right to be 1.33:1) YesAsia