Golden Swallow is a classic Shaw Brothers kung fu wuxia movie from 1968 directed by Chang Cheh and starring Jimmy Wang Yu, Cheng Pei-Pei, and Lo Lieh. Golden Swallow was recently released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory as part of their Shaw Brothers Classics Collection Volume 1.
Golden Swallow stars the talented Jimmy Wang Yu as Silver Roc, Lo Lieh as Iron Whip, and Cheng Pei-Pei as Golden Swallow, and is a loose follow-up to “Come Drink With Me,” albeit primarily focusing on the character Silver Roc portrayed by Wang Yu. While the story and choreography may not hold up over time, “Golden Swallow” still offers a unique viewing experience that enthusiasts of the genre will appreciate.
I encountered a myriad of strange plot devices that left me scratching my head. Questions arose about the betrayal and setup of Golden Swallow in the movie’s opening scene, as well as the underutilization of the talented Ku Feng who makes a small cameo appearance. Despite these peculiarities, “Golden Swallow” remains a notable entry in the genre, known for its groundbreaking techniques such as the handheld camera, even though its execution may have been wobbly and less effective.