She’s a one woman army!
There are a lot of differing opinions on The Thundering Sword. Released by The Shaw Brothers in 1967, this martial arts classic (as its Cheng Pei Pei’s first starring role!) flips the script on the whole sword-killing machismo that was dominant in the martial arts scene and, subverting everyone’s expectations, puts the beautiful Cheng Pei Pei in a melodramatic drama . . . by way of the sword.
That’s right, Cheng Pei Pei’s the killing machine in this drama. She’s ethereal for sure, but she’s also playing the deadly swordswoman Shu Chiao-chiao. Chiao-chiao is the badass and she’s the one who is responsible for killing 30 men while laughing all the way to the whereabouts of The Thundering Sword, a weapon which can break all other swords. It is also a weapon many clans want to get their hands on.
Unfortunately, Chiao-chiao also throws three poisonous darts into the chest of Chiang Kwun-Yuan (Lo Lieh, who really isn’t given a lot to do here) while she steals the Thundering Sword from him. Lieh belongs to a secret sect who believe that the martial arts are for healing only. He also happens to be the sect brother to Yu Chien-Wan (Chang Yi), a man she is already smitten with.
Uh oh.
And, yes, there’s big trouble ahead for her. Unfortunately, the heavy action sequences are pretty much over as The Thundering Sword, directed by Teng-Hung Hsu and written by Chiang Shen, leans heavy on the melodrama of two lovers at odds with each other in a society which really wants to see punishment for all the wrongdoings of her sword-swinging ways. 
At first, she doesn’t want to tell the truth about what she’s done. Even to her lover, but the presence of a female member of Yu’s clan, played by Shu Pei Pei, who also loves him complicates matters for her. You could say that it forces her hand. So, yes, while the mythical sword is pretty much forgotten about in the second part of the movie, there’s still a lot of emotion going back and forth between her victims and her love.
Co-starring a lot of Shaw Brothers’ regulars, including Tien Feng, Ku Feng, Chen Hung Lieh, Wu Ma, Cliff Lok and, in the role of Cheng Pei Pei's maid, Ching Li, The Thundering Sword might not be the fighting epic you thought it would be, but its romantic twists and turns, heralded by a long song performed by Jiau Jiau, get you to a soul-stirring conclusion which continues the subversion of this female-led martial arts movie.
It is now on blu-ray thanks to Shout Factory’s release of The Shaw Brothers Classics, Vol. 1, which includes an interview about the transnational appeal of The Shaw Brothers with author Leon Hunt and another on-screen interview with author and critic Kim Newman about the western "breakthrough" films of producer Sir Run Run Shaw.
Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on Blu-ray - June 13, 2023
Screen Formats: 2.35:1
Subtitles: English
Audio: Mandarin: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; 11-disc set
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A
Superstar swordswoman Cheng Pei-pei, (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), stars as the daughter of the Poison Master in a Romeo And Juliet-style martial arts adventure concerning a search for the magical "Heaven and Earth" weapon in The Thundering Sword.
Video
Presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, The Thundering Sword gets down to its dirty business with its audience in mind. The poetry on display comes through in the lush fields, the crispness of the interiors, and the sudden violence which echoes throughout the film, including its finale. Black levels are strong throughout, bringing out nice details in both the loud and quiet moments of this epic adventure.
Audio
For this movie, the only audio offered is a Mandarin Mono DTS-HD Master Audio With New Subtitle Translation. Everything is front-loaded and works to create a pleasant home viewing experience.
Supplements:
Commentary:
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None
Special Features:
Included on the disc are the following supplemental items:
- NEW From A Western Perspective – An Interview About The Transnational Appeal Of The Shaw Brothers With Academic Leon Hunt, Author Of "Kung Fu Cult Masters: From Bruce Lee To Crouching Tiger"
- NEW Interview With Author And Critic Kim Newman About The Western "Breakthrough" Films Of Sir Run Run Shaw, Which Took The Producer From East To West
- Celestial Trailer
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Composite Blu-ray Grade
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MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime: 95 mins
Director: Teng-Hung Hsu
Writer: Chiang Shen
Cast: Pei-Pei Cheng; Yi Chang; Pei-Pei Shu
Genre: Acttion | Drama
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote:
Distributor: Shaw Brothers
Official Site:
Release Date:
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: May 8, 1967 (Hong Kong)
Synopsis: A clan sends out two of their members to retrieve a powerful sword to prevent its misuse. Along the way they encounter a skilled swords-woman who is also after the sword.
