Last Hurrah for Chivalry [Blu-ray] [Criterion Collection]

Director: John Woo John Woo

Overview

This 1978 martial arts film by director John Woo was wrapped nearly 20 years before 1997's Face/Off would bring him mainstream acceptance in Hollywood. His star was rising already in this routine story enhanced by his characteristic signature: dazzling fight sequences, flawed heroes, and well-placed comedy that releases tension. The narrative itself is a tale of a son (Damian Lau) who sets out to avenge his father but cannot manage alone. He seeks the help of some swordsmen, one of whom tends to doze off during a fight.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/14/2023
UPC:	0715515282512
Original Release:	1978
Source:	Criterion Collection
Language:	English
Time:	1:46:00
Sales rank:	1,551

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Damian Lau	Tsing Yi
Wei Pei	Chang Saam
Fung Hak-On	Pray
Hoi Sang Lee	Pak Chung Tong
Liu Chiang	Actor
Liu Sung Yan	Actor
Fung Hark On	Actor
Ngai Tsau Wah	Actor
Liu Lau Kong	Actor
Cheng Lui	Actor
Cheung Hung Cheong	Actor
Wong Kwong Yue	Actor
Yik Ka	Actor
Pai Wei	Actor
Lau Kong	Actor
Hoi San Lee	Actor
Frankie Chan	Composer

Technical Credits

John Woo

John Woo	Director,Screenwriter
Raymond Chow	Producer
Feng Ko An	Stunts
Louis Sit	Producer

Editorial Reviews

This early effort from John Woo combines the wild excesses of the kung-fu comedy genre with the heroic/tragic themes of his later work. The end result isn't always successful, but it is never dull. Some viewers might be thrown off by the script, which veers wildly from slapstick comedy to deadly serious drama and thus makes the story a rather schizophrenic affair. However, Last Hurrah for Chivalry manages to work despite the wobbly tone thanks to a combination of non-stop action and lean, stylish direction from John Woo. Kung-fu fans will definitely get their money's worth out of Last Hurrah for Chivalry because it delivers a steady stream of martial arts set pieces that grow ever more complex in location and technique: the most impressive arrives when heroes Zhang and Green storm a fortress in pursuit of a villain and are forced to fight their way through an array of colorful fighters and obstacles -- a battle royale that climaxes with a stunning sword-fight in a chamber full of candles. These set pieces are all the more effective and impressive because Woo uses minimal editing, wide angles, and long takes to show off the performer's physical prowess. Elsewhere, Woo works his familiar themes of loyalty and honor in a changing world: the relationship between Zhang and Green echoes the gangsters' friendships in A Better Tomorrow and the final image will be familiar to anyone who's ever seen The Killer. In the end, non-martial arts fans might get thrown by some of the film's excesses but Last Hurrah for Chivalry remains well worth a look to kung-fu fans and anyone interested in John Woo's early work.

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