RELEASE DATE: February 13, 2024
On February 13, 2024, Arrow will be releasing a Blu-ray (Region A) for the 1977 classic Golden Harvest kung fu film, The Shaolin Plot. The film is directed by Huang Feng, who is perhaps best known for 1972’s Hapkido, 1972’s Lady Whirlwind, 1973’s When Taekwondo Strikes and 1974’s Stoner.
The Shaolin Plot features an all-star cast that includes Chan Sing (New Fist of Fury, Amsterdam Connection), James Tien (Hand of Death, Seaman No. 7), Casanova Wong (Ninja in the Claws of the CIA, The Iron-Fisted Monk) and Sammo Hung (The Skyhawk, King Swindler), who also serves as fight choreographer.
In 1977, fight choreographer Sammo Hung made one last film under his mentor, director Huang Feng (Lady Whirlwind, Hapkido) before graduating to the director’s chair himself with The Iron-Fisted Monk. That film was the rarely-seen martial arts ensemble thriller The Shaolin Plot, which sees the pair reunite with Hong Kong heavy Chan Sing (New Fist of Fury).
Prince Daglen (Sing) is hellbent on completing his comprehensive collection of Chinese martial arts manuals and mastering each form against his opponents. With only two manuals left to obtain, he sends his most dangerous henchman, a renegade monk (Hung) armed with two golden cymbals acting as flying guillotines, to steal the manual of Wu-Tang. To steal the sacred texts of Shaolin, however, the wicked Daglen will have to infiltrate the temple himself. The stage is set for a clash between Daglen, his cronies and surviving Wu-Tang student Little Tiger (James Tien, The Big Boss), alongside a lethal duo of Shaolin warrior monks (Casanova Wong, Warriors Two and Kwan Yung Moon, My Young Auntie).
Based on a story by legendary storyteller Ni Kuang (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin), The Shaolin Plot is a classic tale of martial arts intrigue and deception, combining the incoming new wave of action with the old, resulting in one of the most overlooked and underrated kung fu classics from one of the most prolific Hong Kong film studios of all time!
Arrow’s Features:
- 2K restoration from the original film elements by Fortune Star
- High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
- Original lossless Mandarin and English mono options
- Optional English subtitles
- Commentary by martial arts film experts Frank Djeng & Michael Worth
- Commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
- Alternate English credits
- Original theatrical trailers
- Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Peter Glagowski
This Arrow title will soon be available at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly!
Thanks to DOTD for breaking this news.
