The Last Duel (1971)
26 Mar 1971 • Action, Adventure • 1h 21m
1972 Hong Kong with Jimmy Wang Yu, Chung Wa, Tong Lan-Fa, Miao Tan, Shan Mao, Lee Ying, Hon Siu and Chang Yi. Jimmy starts with his forte – the brawl – and completes his assassination silently. Back home, his girl Tong Lan-Fa (a dramatic actress and beauty) expresses her concern over the usual outcome of his chosen profession. Jimmy explains he is different from all those other guys. Suddenly a dagger delivers a note and Jimmy runs off. Chang Yi, a fortune teller, at the tea house discusses the recent assassination of a man held in high regard by the poor folks. They demonstrate their inner powers and Chang Yi disappears impressively. Cut to a bunch of officials discuss the eunuchs power situation. Next Jimmy and his girl discuss the back story. He is really after revenge and it seems now his identity as an assassin is known which is a big problem. Jimmy is working for Eunuch Ho and his next job is to kill a counselor but Chang Yi was waiting on the roof. There was a chase but no fight. Soon they meet and Chang Yi reveals they had the same kung fu master and gives Jimmy proof that Eunuch Ho killed his father. Eunuch Ho denies the deed and counters the evidence is false and fabricated. Jimmy gives him the benefit of the doubt due to loyalty. The counselor's caravan is attacked (not by Jimmy) and Chang Yi defends. Some guy gives Tong Lan- Fa drugged wine to give Jimmy. She urges him to give up the assassination but he refuses and she serves the drink. This is the magic movie poison that starts to work the moment of the next fight. He is captured. En route to his execution he is released and the truth is revealed. After the eunuch is killed Chang Yi explains the mess Jimmy created with all his assassinations (perhaps that was the real story here) so the two of them must square off for the final fight. The one against one was simply average and simply average is my rating for the entire movie. The copy was better than average resolution and color, seems wide screen with dual Chinese and English hard subtitles but in white and often hard to see.
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Language:
Mandarin
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Country:
Taiwan, Hong Kong
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