AKA: Sap sam tai bo, Shi san tai bao, 13 Fighters, Thirteen Princes, 十三太保
David Chiang and Ti Lung headline an ensemble cast in this historical action epic from Shaw Brothers and famed martial arts film director Chang Cheh. It’s the first of several large-scale historical action films Chang directed during the early ’70s where he enjoyed his greatest commercial success. Ample fighting action from action directors Tang Chia, Lau Kar-leung and Lau Kar-wing incorporates an unusual mix of exaggerated swordplay action from the wuxia genre and general military-style screen fighting. In subsequent historical epics, Chang would favor emerging kung fu-styled screen fighting featuring more distinct forms and weapons handling.
Set during the late 8th century in northern China, THE HEROIC ONES is loosely based on historical events that hastened the fall of the Tang Dynasty. Bandit leader Wang Chao is leading a revolt against the weakening state and Li Ke-yong (Ku Feng), the Mongol ruler of the Shatuo state, opts to lead his army in defense of the Tang. Tang Minister Chu Wen (Chan Sing) meets up with the Mongol leader and is introduced to his 13 fighting sons. The meeting is interrupted by the advance of a rebel force, led by a Goliath-like general (Bolo Yeung). After making a bet with the emissary, Ke-yong’s favored son Tsun-hsiao (David Chiang) easily defeats the attacking general in a duel which causes the attacking army to withdraw. Ke-yong then sends his sons out on a daring mission to infiltrate the rebels’ headquarters in an attempt to kill their leader. They manage to capture a rebel general on the way and use him to get close to the main fortress but fail to gain entry. The brothers return at night and scale the walls of the fortress, killing dozens of defending soldiers in the process. They manage to get close enough to the rebel leader to lodge an arrow into his crown before being forced into hiding before making their escape. When word arrives that Wang Chao has fled the rebel fortress, leaving his army behind, Ke-yong and his sons lead a victorious assault. With the last of the crumbling Tang Dynasty’s enemies defeated, Minister Chu Wen now plots to wipe out Ke-yong, the last defender of the Tang, and crown himself emperor. He leads an army in an assault on the unsuspecting Mongols still reveling in their recent victory. Yet Chu Wen is forced to withdraw his men due to the vigorous defense of Ke-yong’s most skilled sons, Ching-szu (Ti Lung) and Tsun-hsiao. Having recently fallen out of favor with their father, two of Ke-yong’s sons (Chin Han and Wang Chung) concoct a devious plan to trick their brother Tsun-hsiao into being drawn and quartered and thereby gain favor with the Minister. In response, Ke-yong’s remaining brothers confront their traitorous siblings to hand out justice.
Genre: Action
Companies: Shaw Brothers
Release Date: August 14, 1970
Producer: Run Run Shaw
Director: Chang Cheh
Action Director: Tang Chia, Lau Kar-leung, Lau Kar-wing
Starring: David Chiang (Li Tsun-hsiao), Ku Feng (Li Ke-yung), Ti Lung (Shih Ching-szu), Chin Han (Li Szu-yuan), James Nam (Li Tsun-hsin), Lily Li (Tsui Yen)
