Flight Man (1973)

movie

(12)

Country: Hong Kong, Taiwan
Genres: Adventure
Release: 1973-10-24
Director: Ting Shan-Hsi
Writers: Ting Shan-Hsi
Language: Mandarin
Stars: Ivy Ling Po , Yung Wang (I) , Chin-Chu Chen , Fu Hung Cheng , Yu Chiang , Wan-Hsi Chin , Ji-Chi Chou , Hsieh Han , Hsin Hsin , Blacky Ko Shou-Liang
Runtime: 91 min
Awards: N/A
AKA: Flight Man , Ma Lan fei ren , Flying Man of Ma Lan (Taiwan) , The Daredevil (Hong Kong) , Ma Lan fei ren (Taiwan)
Plot: A traveler stops at a house where everyone is practicing martial arts. He reveals his skills which are more magic than martial as he "flies away" whenever he is attacked. I guess the title relates to this. Next is an abrupt cut to the police going house to house and beating up people. After that a man complains that he is forced to marry off his daughter to a corrupt official. The Japanese enter next to arrest him. His son tries to fight them off. The traveler helps but they are forced to flee.Once the Japanese enter the picture we fans of this genre know the movie will now be all about the evil Japanese.There are plenty of fights. Many different weapons and improvisations are used. Some sequences had the speed kicked up a noticeable amount which was not needed. I was surprised there were two song and dance numbers. I thought Shaw Brothers was done with. Overall this movie had the feel of an early 1960s production based on that and other style elements in production.Instead of a big final fight sequence our hero and lady are trapped in a building shaped like a simple tower with grass roofs. I suspect this building was actually the remains of the seven story pagoda. Fans of these movies will remember a seven story pagoda that was used a few times in 1960s and early 1970s Shaw Brothers martial arts movies. It was a landmark on the outdoor set sometimes called Tiger Village. I hope I am right as having the seven story pagoda go down in flames is a fitting end. It's better to burn out than fade away.Even though the action was good and plenty my rating is just average for the year and genre. Of course, all Shaw Brothers movies are recommended for fans of martial arts movies of the golden age from 1967 to 1984.
IMDB:tt1054495