The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter is a 1984 Hong Kong film by Shaw Brothers, directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring Gordon Liu, Kara Hui and Alexander Fu (in his final film appearance). It was released as The Invincible Pole Fighters outside of Hong Kong and Invincible Pole Fighter in North America.
Alexander Fu died in a car accident before the filming of The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter was finished. The script was partly re-written after his death and Fu's character does not appear in the final showdown as originally written in the script.
The film is based on the Generals of the Yang Family (Yeung family in Cantonese) legends.
Plot With help from the treacherous Song dynasty general Pun Mei, the Khitan-ruled Liao dynasty army succeeds in trapping the loyal Song general Yeung Yip and his seven sons at Golden Beach. Yeung Yip and his sons are all killed or captured in the ambush, except for the 5th son and the 6th son, who manage to escape. The 6th son returns home, but is severely traumatised by the events, resulting in tantrums. Meanwhile, the 5th son seeks refuge in a monastery in Mount Wutai, but the monastery leaders initially do not consider him calm enough to be a Buddhist monk. As blades are not allowed inside a monastery, he uses his training in spears to practise with a pole, eventually developing the unique eight diagram pole fighting technique. When he finally appears to have put his anger and past behind him, news breaks that the Khitans have captured his younger sister, Yeung Baat-mui, who has been looking for him. Now he must break his Buddhist vows, which include not killing any living being and not being bothered by worldly affairs, to save Baat-mui and exact his revenge.
Cast Note: The characters' names are in Cantonese romanisation. CastRoleDescriptionLily Li Se Choi-fa "Taai-gwan", Yeung Yip's wifeWong Yue Yeung Ping "Daai-long", Yeung Yip's 1st sonLau Kar-wing Yeung Ding "Yi-long", Yeung Yip's 2nd sonMak Tak-law Yeung On "Saam-long", Yeung Yip's 3rd sonHsiao Ho Yeung Fai "Sei-long", Yeung Yip's 4th sonGordon Liu Yeung Dak "Ng-long", Yeung Yip's 5th sonAlexander Fu Yeung Chiu "Luk-long", Yeung Yip's 6th sonDavid Cheung Chin-pang Yeung Zi "Chat-long", Yeung Yip's 7th sonKara Hui Yeung Kei "Baat-mui", Yeung Yip's daughter and 8th childYeung Jing-jing Yeung Ying "Gau-mui", Yeung Yip's daughter and 9th childLam Hak-ming Pun Mei Song dynasty generalWang Lung-wei Ye-leut Lin Liao dynasty princeChu Tiet-woh Gun Kwai Liao dynasty generalKo Fei abbot of the Ching-leung MonasteryChing Chu Master Ji-hung senior monk at the Ching-leung MonasteryYuen Tak Yang Loyalist with the golden bladeLau Kar-leung hunter
Production Actors Alexander Fu Sheng, his younger brother David Cheung Chin-pang and Wong Yue were involved in an automobile accident in which Fu Sheng died. At the time of his death, he had not finished filming his role, after which the director rewrote Fu's parts for Kara Wai's 8th child character.
Awards and nominations 1985 – 4th Hong Kong Film Awards Nominated – Lau Kar-leung, Best Action Choreography
References
External links Eight-Diagram Pole Fighter at Hong Kong Cinemagic