Flying Guillotine (1975)

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This Shaw Brothers production introduced the world to one of the most memorably bizarre weapons to ever appear in a martial arts film. Flying Guillotine was inspired by a historical account of the Manchu dynasty and revolves around the development of the title weapon, which is created by general Xin… More This Shaw Brothers production introduced the world to one of the most memorably bizarre weapons to ever appear in a martial arts film. Flying Guillotine was inspired by a historical account of the Manchu dynasty and revolves around the development of the title weapon, which is created by general Xin Kang (Ku Feng) to appease an emperor who requests a device that will allow him to quietly dispatch his enemies. Ma Teng (Chen Kuan-Tai) is enlisted to become part of an elite squad trained to use the weapon and quickly excels. However, he finds himself on the run when rival student Xu Shuang-kun (Frankie Wai) plots against him. Ma Teng finds happiness for a short while by living in seclusion with street performer Yu Ping (Lau Ng-Kei) but is ultimately forced to square off with the gang of killers he once belonged to. Flying Guillotine was a big hit for Shaw Brothers, inspiring two follow-ups (Flying Guillotine II and The Vengeful Beauty) as well as a slew of imitators like Master of the Flying Guillotine. It remains a cult favorite today amongst martial arts film fans and is considered by many to be one of the all-time Shaw Brothers classics. ~ Donald Guarisco, Rovi