The Fate of Lee Khan
Director: King Hu
Year: 1973
Rating: 8.5
This film is masterful
in the way that it slowly builds layers of drama and tension around a fairly
simple plot. King Hu creates a beautifully textured rendering of a time
set in the Mongol dynasty by using authentic sets and a wonderful assortment
of character actors. The basic story line though is that Lee Khan, a Mongolian
prince, is coming to stay at an inn somewhere in the middle of nowhere to
obtain a secret war map. The Chinese rebels learn of this and hope to kill
him and steal the map. Much of the film takes place inside the inn and the
first forty-minutes of the film presents us with a myriad of interesting
characters coming and going and the many activities such as gambling that
take place inside. It is a fascinating glimpse, yet beneath the surface
the conspiracy is slowly coming together and many of the characters are not
who they seem to be. Hu's use of the tracking camera to capture all the movements
that are taking place throughout the inn is superb.
The female innkeeper (Li Lihua - one of
the top Chinese actresses of the 40s and 50s) is part of the conspiracy
and has brought four waitresses to work at the inn. These are not four ordinary
waitresses as witnessed by the fact that Angela Mao, Helen Ma (Deaf Mute
Heroine) and Hu Chin are among them. They are all proficient killers. In
some early sequences there are a few occasions in which they are able to
showcase their skills as they twirl over table tops and balconies.
Of course the big test is Lee Khan. Finally
Lee Khan (Tien Feng), shows up with his entourage of bodyguards and the deadly
but beautiful Princess (Hsu Feng) at his side. Hu is in no hurry though and
very slowly the tension is created – will the plot be discovered, when will
they attack – to great effect. Finally the rebel's hands are forced and they
must show their faces. There is no turning back.
There is a reasonable amount of fighting
and kung-fu flying but taking into account the year that this was made –
1972 – it is somewhat primitive as compared to today’s films. Still there
is some good action and of course Angela Mao looks terrific and acrobatic
in all of her scenes. The real reward here is watching a great director construct
a world full of great faces, a feeling of wonderful authenticity and a story
that grabs your interest and never lets go.
Sammo Hung was the director of action.
