Master of the Flying Guillotine (1975)

90% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
82% of users liked it
(5,683 ratings)

When the Manchu dynasty employs the Master of the Flying Guillotine (Kam Kong) in hopes of quelling the resistance stirring within than Han people (their dynasty had recently been overtaken) the Master accepts, oblivious to the challenges that could impede him. Before long, a fighting tournament is… More When the Manchu dynasty employs the Master of the Flying Guillotine (Kam Kong) in hopes of quelling the resistance stirring within than Han people (their dynasty had recently been overtaken) the Master accepts, oblivious to the challenges that could impede him. Before long, a fighting tournament is announced, and the participants include the One Armed Boxer, who was responsible for killing two of the Master's disciples. The Master is certain he can down his newfound opponent by means of the Flying Guillotine (which entails hurling through the air at such a velocity that the victim is decapitated on contact), but the One Armed Boxer proves a challenging fighter himself. The film also features Jimmy Wang Yu and Lung Kun Yee. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: Yu Wang
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1977 Wide
On DVD: Sep 17, 2002
Studio: Pathfinder Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

V.A. Musetto, New York Post
For old-fashioned raw energy, it's tough to beat.
Elvis Mitchell, New York Times
Once you find the groove of this delectable cheese fest, you'll realize how influential Guillotine has been.
Nick Rutigliano, Village Voice
Snags the viewer's attention by lacing its martial-arts high jinks with a compelling weirdness.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
A gem of its genre.
Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
A staple of Kung Fu television.
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
One of the greatest (and weirdest) Chinese martial arts movies of the 1970s
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly
A Chinese martial-arts master defends himself with the wackiest weapon ever, East or West, giving new meaning to the term "head shot."
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
Will there be a ridiculously entertaining orgy of punching and kicking and wonderfully bad dubbing? Lord, yes.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
A film that depends more on its imagination than on its special effects, and more on wide, clear action scenes than the choppy, shaky brand, making it entirely unique in this summer's crop of entertainment.
Max Messier, Filmcritic.com
It stands as the pinnacle of 1970s martial arts films.
Kim Morgan, Oregonian
In the title sequence alone, you feel you may just see one of the greatest kung fu films ever made.
Wade Major, Boxoffice Magazine
Those sufficiently attuned to appreciate its magic and majesty, Jimmy Wang Yu's restored masterpiece may very well be the archival discovery of the decade.
George Wu, culturevulture.net
One of the preeminent examples of 1970s kung fu pulp.
Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine
It's raw and it's dusty, just as a good martial arts movie should be.
Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International
Despite its cult reputation, this is a silly film with very little to recommend it, even to kung fu zealots.
Hazel-Dawn Dumpert, L.A. Weekly
With its nonstop flurry of fighting, ersatz bloodletting and incidental hilarity, this remains [Yu's] signature work.

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tsubaki S

Baddest old guy in a kung fu flick ever. Baddest weapon ever created. Indian guy that stretches his arms....i could go on and on.
Ken S

I feel like I've just been let it on a secret. One of the coolest, purest and craziest kung fu films ever made. The flying Guillotine is one of the most WTF weapons in the genre. Imagine a bladed bee keepers helmet on a chain and it's being wielded by a blind blood thirst… More
I feel like I've just been let it on a secret. One of the coolest, purest and craziest kung fu films ever made. The flying Guillotine is one of the most WTF weapons in the genre. Imagine a bladed bee keepers helmet on a chain and it's being wielded by a blind blood thirst monk on a revenge kick.
Steve K

Such fun!
Lesley N

Old school kung fu fun (& a Tarantino & Samuel L Jackson favourite) as the one armed goody fights a variety of quirky baddies. Apparently there's a remake in the pipeline for 2010. Noooooo!
shane h

This is a really masterfully done movie for the era. The soundtrack and background music is amazing and really adds to the film. The fight scenes are superb and the vast array of martial arts specialists that comes to the tournament is impressive. A lone monk receives a letter from 2… More
This is a really masterfully done movie for the era. The soundtrack and background music is amazing and really adds to the film. The fight scenes are superb and the vast array of martial arts specialists that comes to the tournament is impressive. A lone monk receives a letter from 2 of his disciples who are tracking a one armed boxer to kill him. If the monk gets the letter that means that the boxer killed them instead and they wish the blind monk to avenge them. He burns down his home and makes a pact to avenge them or die. He is the master of an elusive style called the Flying Guillotine that involves a weapon that has a long chain and a vale at the end that covers the head and then he yanks the chain and sharp razors cut your head off. A great movie with a cast that involves a few people who show up in some main stream kung fu and martial arts films.
Leo L

Great.
Christopher B

Great, fun film with an awesome theme song. Oddly, the Master of the Flying Guillotine is actually the film's villain and the one armed boxer is the hero. The fight scenes in this are highly entertaining, especially the introduction of the Thai kickboxer, and the extended… More
Great, fun film with an awesome theme song. Oddly, the Master of the Flying Guillotine is actually the film's villain and the one armed boxer is the hero. The fight scenes in this are highly entertaining, especially the introduction of the Thai kickboxer, and the extended competition scene reminds me a lot of the excellent extended training scenes in 36th Chamber of Shaolin, in the sense that it totally steers away from the films narrative (maybe not so much in 36th Chamber) to deliver awesome kung fu action. And to think all the critics were praising Fargo for it's scenes that don't involve the plot! You can't go wrong with this film if you are a martial arts fan, and listen to the commentary if you have the DVD. It's entertaining and informative.