Leaving behind an inch of sword in the spent corpses of his opponents, Tuan Changqing is known as the Deadly Breaking Sword. After barely surviving a duel, one of his foes is treated by the diabolical Dr. Kuo, who uses his powers of mind control to transform the man into a somnambulistic killer. After Tuan Changqing teams up with Rabelaisian gambler Xiao Dao, the story proceeds as a comical kung fu buddy flick.
Stunts
Ti Lung's signature sword-exit wound choreography, gleefully excessive.
Acting
Fu Sheng's Xiao Dao: pure gambling-addict chaos energy, scene-stealing legend.
Direction
Sun Chung's tonal whiplash from gruesome opener to slapstick buddy comedy.
Director
Sun Chung
Ti Lung
Tuan Changqing / Deadly Breaking Sword
Alexander Fu Sheng
Xiao Dao, the Little Dagger
Shih Szu
Liu Yinxu
Ku Feng
Dr Guo Tiansheng / Killer Doctor
Michael Chan Wai-Man
Lian San / Throat Piercing Halberd
Lily Li
Luo Jinhua
Shum Lo
Boss Luo
Chan Shen
Officer Fan Fei
Ai Fei
Chen Yinggang
Teresa Ha Ping
Madam Li Xing
Kara Hui Ying-Hung
Xiaoqin
Keung Hon
Dr. Guo's Hanger-on
Eddy Ko Hung
Dr. Guo's Hanger-on
Ng Hong-Sang
Dr. Guo's Hanger-on
Yuen Wah
Dr. Guo's Hanger-on
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Fu Sheng was reportedly drunk during several scenes, which director Sun Chung allegedly encouraged for Xiao Dao's authentic dishevelment.
The 'Rabelaisian' gambler archetype references 16th-century French literature—Shaw Brothers loved smuggling literary allusions into pulp kung fu.
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