Cantonese Stage

Part 1

The story started out with a group of pugilist gathering together in pursue of a couple with two babies. They were students of Emei and Kungtung. The man belonged to Kungtung whilst the woman was from Emei. The man named Wan Qing Chung. The Moslem Sacred Fire Decree belonged to his forefather who had obtained it from Persia, but it was stolen by one of the Kungtung’s leader. Wan retrieved the Sacred Fire Decree and tried to run away. The leader of Emei, Qingyan accused the man from daring to seduce her disciple and demanded the pair of Sacred Fire decree as compensation. The rest of the major sects and clans too wanted a piece of action. Qingyan threatened to kill his pair of children. The man knew that there would be no way they could escape without giving up their lives. He pretended to agree to draw them a map of where he had hidden the weapon.

The leader of Emei and the rest of the leaders fought amongst themselves over the map and it was torn into eight pieces, each of the leaders having a piece of the incomplete map. The leader of Emei was furious and killed her disciple, and want to take the two babies with her, whilst the leader of Kungtung, killed the man. The abbot of Shaolin protested, as he had promised to look out the babies. Qingyan returned the baby boy, taking the baby girl, as a replacement for her mother. A strange man (Cheng Kwun Mien) called Yaw-ming Ghost hand, rushed to the scene and he was disappointed that he was not in time to save the family. He grabbed the baby boy and told all those present that he will teach the boy all his skills and eighteen years later, he would send the boy to challenge all of them for killing his parents. The rest of the pugilists agree to meet once a year to battle for the ownership of the torn map. There was continuous bloodshed during the ensuing years.

For eighteen years at full moon, a red light would glow strangely at Dai Yuet Kan. Chan Ho Kow and her father were snake catchers who had a place nearby warned travelers to beware, as it was known that the place is haunted with evil monster. Tuan Yun Fei (Connie) dressed, as a young scholar happened to be around. She was asking for direction and Chan told her about the strange phenomena. Connie did not believe in evil monster and stated that he will visit the place the next month during full moon.

Eighteen years had passed and the son, played by Lum Kar Sing, grew up learning his skills from Cheng. Lum had learnt almost all the skills of Cheng. He reminded Cheng about telling him who had killed his parents. Cheng did not tell him, but taught him two additional skills before letting him know that a true map of where the Sacred Fire Decree was hidden in Lam’s baby clothes. Cheng had managed to unravel the mystery for him, and Lum went on his way to Mr. Dai. Lam mentioned earlier, that if they have both the Sacred Fire Decree, they could dominate the world. Cheng rebuke him, saying that he had once thought the same way, but at the end, his family were killed and he realized that domination of the world is meaningless, but using his skills for the good of other would be the best.

Back at Emei, Wan’s daughter, Dan Feng played by Li Hung, was part of Emei’s Three Phoenixes. They had learnt their skills from Qingyan. Qingyan was happy with their progress, but singled out Dan Feng to learn some special skills. Dan followed Qingyan into her room. A hidden visitor surprised Qingyan, and she pursuit the stranger, only to be stopped by a flying dagger. She recognized it belonged to someone called Gu Pang Fei. Qingyan quickly checked the place where she concealed the maps, and found them missing. There was a commotion outside, Qingyan and Dan rushed out. The Golden Snake boy and the Five Poison kids were arguing with the Emei disciples. Qingyan set her students at them, one of them were poisoned, she was angry with the Golden Snake boy. Qingyan used an incense stick to teach the interlopers a lesson. The Golden Snake boy then revealed that his teacher had lost his share of the map and threw down a challenge to meet in ten days for the missing maps. Qingyan accepted the challenge.

Connie returned to his uncle Gu and told him that he managed to collect seven pieces of the torn map. Connie wanted to go to Shaolin to collect the last piece, but his uncle felt that with seven pieces they should be able to make out what going on. They pieced the torn map together, and could make out that Wan was merely scolding the various leaders for being avaricious.

The date for the duel came and the various sects came along. They too had lost their share of the map. Qingyan insisted that she did not steal the map, telling them that she too had lost the two pieces she was holding. The leaders of the various sects disbelieve her. Connie was hiding in bushes, started laughing. The leaders were annoyed and questioned Connie. Connie told them that he was there to catch crickets, and then told them that he saw someone with the map at Dai Yuet Kan

Chan and her father were looking for snakes, and a snake accidentally bit Chan. Chan and her father was dressing her wounds. A group of men saw the bloodied handkerchief and the old man; they surmised that that Chan was holding onto the treasure map and they attack Chan. Lam arrived at Mt. Dai and saw Chan and her father being harassed by a group of men. He stepped in and stops them from hurting them. He chased them away, and Chan invited him to their place for a rest.

Lam escorted father and daughter back to their place, without realizing that they were being followed. Lam had a quiet chat with Chan regarding mothers and parents. Lam left shortly for Dai Yuet Kan in search for the missing Fire Decree. Connie arrived at Dai Yuet Kan, but was cautious about taking any rash actions. Connie hid, as there were visitors to the place. She witnessed the members of the other sects being suck into quick sand. The Three Phoenixes of Emei together with some member of the other sects arrived at Dai Yuet Kan. They all attempted to cross over, however, soon some of their weapons were also be magnetized away from them. Connie stopped Dan Feng from taking any risks. Poisonous bats that were guarding the place soon killed the interlopers. The intruders decided not to take further risks but to go away. Connie wanted to explore the place, but instead was captured by a man-eating plant. Dan Feng with her fellow disciples went away from Dai Yuet Kan, and on the way, they met up with Lam; Dang Feng and Lam, both felt they knew each other.

Lam went further in and saw Connie being captured by the man-eating plant. He helped Connie’ Connie then warned him about the dangers of Dai Yuet Kan. Lam used the special skills he had learnt from Cheng to get in. The poisonous bats attacked Lam after he crossed over the quick sand pool; Connie assisted him by shooting a dart at one of the poisonous bats. Lam went further in and found a cave with messages from his parents, as well as the Fire Decree. This Fire Decree had a partner, one governing the Yin and the other the Yang. Lam had located the Yang Fire Decree.

Lam swore that he would take revenge for parents. Connie waited for him over the other side and was happy to see he came out without any harm. They then went off together to Chan’s place for a rest. They arrived at Chan’s place, only to see the place being burnt down. They searched the place and found Chan’s father at his deathbed. Chan’s father told Lam and Connie what had happened and that he asked Lam to look after Chan should he die. Lam accepted the responsibility to rescue Chan and take care of her. Connie knew where the brigands had taken Chan and offered to take Lam there. Lam was grateful that Connie offered to help. They finally arrived at the place where Chan was kept captive.

The leader of the Long Oars group found Chan attractive and intended to make her his wife. Chan refused to accept his offer of marriage and tried to resist him. Lam and Connie on the other hand arrived at the place and fought with the followers there. Connie stayed at the main hall, allowing Lam to get into the inner chambers to look for Chan. Lam finally found Chan, and rescued her from the clutches of the leader of the Long Oars. They ran out into the main hall, and met up Connie. The leader and the followers of Long Oars chased after them, and forced them into a trap. Lam and Connie found themselves unable to get out of the trap. Lam then used the Fire Decree to cut through the trap and they all escaped.

Connie after the rescue took her leave, as Connie wanted to return to her uncle to find out more about the Fire Decree. Lam asked about Connie’s uncle, but Connie avoided his questions stating that his uncle had retired from the martial art world and would not like to be disturbed. Lam then took Chan along with him. Chan had found out about her father’s death and was devastated, as she did not have anyone to turn to. Lam offered to look after like his own sister. They were on the way, when suddenly they came upon Emei’s Three Phoenixes. The Golden snake boy and his fellow disciples hid themselves as they saw the Three Phoenixes; they wanted to take revenge for the humiliation at Emei. He set a snake at the Three Phoenixes; Dan Feng was bitten by the snake and was in pain. Lee Heung Kum, the elder of the Three Phoenixes suggest cutting off the arm, whilst Dan Feng protest against the idea.

Lam and Chan chanced upon them; Chan had experience with snake catching, gave Dan Feng some antidotes and save Dan’s arm. The Golden Snake boy was unhappy and set more snakes at them. Lam wanted to help, but Chan told him that the poisonous snakes are rare and difficult to kill. Poisonous snakes surrounded Lam and the group. Lam had no choice but to the use the Fire Decree on them. Golden Snake boy and his cronies quickly disappeared. Chan was curious about the deadly snakes. She tried checking on the snake and hoped to remove the bile. Her finger was caught into the snake and soon she was in pain, being poison by the poisonous blood. Lam decided to take Chan to nearby inn to attend to her wounds. Dan Feng offered to follow them, whilst the two older Phoenix return to Emei.

Part 2

The second part started with a recap of the last few moments of part 1. Lam, Chan and Dan Feng seeks accommodations at an inn. The Long Oars group tailed them reported to their leader. He then went off to Emei to question Qingyan of Emei’s involvement in this matter. Lam was concerned with Chan, and Dan expressed her interest in him, as she thought Chan was Lam’s sister. Lam did offer to also take her as his sister, but Chan declined as she had hope that he would change his mind.

Connie had returned home and told Gu of his recent experience. Gu was certain that Lam must have obtained the Sacred Fire Decree, and wanted to snatch it way from him. Gu sent Tuan to further investigate, his servant, Sai Gau Pow also volunteered for the mission. Tuan arrived at the inn, just in time to see Dan Feng coming out of Lam’s room. Connie was happy to see Dan, as he was interested in Dan. It was at this moment, that Qingyan arrived with her students. She was angry with Dan for daring to speak to a man; she had enshrined this in the Emei’s rules. Dan was afraid and feared for her life, as the penalty for speaking with a man would be death. Connie was not about to let Qingyan hurt Dan and so fought with her. The commotion they raised caused Lam to look and saw Connie fighting. He quickly came out to clarify that the man whom the Three Phoenixes had spoken to was he and not Connie. Connie was slighted winded by Qingyan during their fight.

Qingyan was furious and fought with Lam instead. Qingyan soon could deduce from Lam’s skills that his teacher was Cheng. She retreated and took Dan with her. She told Dan that she would teach her a new skill so that she could take revenge and then she told her that it was Cheng who had killed her parents, Lam is his disciple and that makes him an enemy too. Qingyan had long discovered the Yin Sacred Fire Decree, but she was unable to practice the skills written on it. It had to be imparted to a young unmarried woman. She had selected Dan to learn the skill, and as the same time, to kill her own brother.

Connie did not know that Qingyan was using Dan as a tool to extract revenge; he was worried that Qingyan might hurt Dan. He returned to his uncle and lied to his uncle, saying Qingyan had the Sacred Fire Decree. Gu went to Emei to look for the Sacred Decree. At the same time, Qingyan was working with Dan on her new skills. Gu suddenly came in and grabbed the Scared Fire Decree. Qingyan gave chase; Connie slipped in and wanted to save Dan. Dan told him that she is fine and that Lam and Cheng are her enemies. Connie promised to help her. Dan told Connie to leave before her teacher returns.

The rest of the other sects had heard of the emergence of the Sacred Fire Decree and they all guess that Qingyan had possession of it. They all arrived at Emei demanding to see Qingyan. As Qingyan gave chased to Gu, she met up with the rest of the people. They demanded that she hand over the Sacred Fire Decree. Qingyan than told them that Gu had stolen it from her. She had long discovered the whereabouts of the Sacred Fire Decree, and retrieved it a few months after the death of Wan. They all agreed to set their differences aside and to meet up with the challenge Cheng had made with them eighteen years ago.

Lam on the other had returned with Chan to Cheng. Cheng behaved strangely, and Chan felt that Cheng did not want her around; she disappeared into a cave at the mountains to avoid Lam and his teacher. Cheng spent time teaching Lam the skills from his Sacred Fire Decree. Lam did not fare too well. Chan hid behind trees and rocks to observe Cheng teaching Lam. She copied their movements and found herself able to split rocks just pointing with her fingers. Lam was shocked at the splitting of the rocks, Cheng was aware that Chan had been observing them for sometime. He told Lam to ferret Chan out of her hiding place. He soon was able to find out that Chan’s finger being soaked in the poisonous bile of the Golden Snake boy’s snake, she was infused with at least twenty years of inner strength. Cheng offered to teach her some techniques to harness her powers. He then left to collect some medical plants for Chan.

Dan had finished learning the special skill her teacher had taught her. Qingyan then send her and the other two Phoenixes to where Cheng was living. She told Dan to kill Cheng; at the same time she gave instructions to the two Phoenixes to keep an eye on Dan. Dan arrived at the Cheng’s place, and found Cheng had left. She could see Lam and Chan getting along fine. She was jealous and felt that if she could not have Lam; she would not let other women to have him. She plotted with the other two Phoenixes on how to get rid of Chan.

Dan and Chan were took a walk around the place, when they arrived at a steep edge, she pushed Chan down. Chan fell down and fortunately; Gu who was also coming to Cheng’s place to look for the Yang Scared Fire Decree saved her. Gu finding that Chan was Cheng’s disciple, decided to kidnap her and force Cheng to come with the Yang Sacred Fire Decree.

Dan returned to Lam and told him that Chan had fallen from the cliff. Lam was shocked and went to look for Chan. He too fell down from the same cliff. He saw the words left behind by Gu, asking Cheng to bring the Yang Sacred Fire Decree to exchange for Chan. Lam returned to take the Fire Decree and set out for Gu’s place. The Three Phoenixes followed hotly behind. The leaders of the various sects as well Qingyan had arrived at Gu’s residence to demand for the return of the Sacred Fire Decree. They fought with Connie, after finding out Gu was not around. Gu returned to witness the fight and he threatens to fight them with the Sacred Fire Decree. The various leaders got cold feet and ran. Lam arrived at Gu’s place and was surprised to find Connie there. He demanded that Gu to release Chan. Lam and Gu fought, each using their Sacred Fire Decrees. The two weapons stuck together and they were having a hard time trying to separate. Cheng arrived in time to release Chan from her captivity. Chan was worried that Lam might be hurt and asked Cheng to help. Cheng suggested that she should use her newfound skills to help Lam. Chan then pointed her fingers at Gu. Chan mortally wounded Gu. Dan took the opportunity during the fight to use her special skill on Cheng, and he was also wounded.

Lam then retrieve both the Sacred Fire Decree. Chan was apologetic to Connie for having killed his uncle, but Connie felt that his uncle deserved the punishment. He volunteered instead to help Lam during the eighteen-year appointment. The various sects had gathered their best pugilists together to meet up with Lam. They were afraid that Cheng might help Lam.

During the gathering, all of the leaders of the various sects as well as the Abbot from Shaolin Temple, the Abbot told Lam to stop all these killings, but Lam told him that he had not been able to stop the various leaders from killing his parents and therefore he doe not have any moral authority to ask him to stop taking revenge. The Abbot went away shamefaced, whilst the rest of the leaders engaged Lam and Connie in their fight.

Lam and Connie fought hard against the various fighters. Chan also helped at the sideline. Chan aimed at Qingyan and the force wounded her, causing her to lose all her inner strength and skills. Dan then found out that Qingyan had lied to her, and that Lam was her brother. She was devastated, whilst Qingyan realized her mistake and told her disciples to help her back to Emei where she would be live in seclusion. Lam was finally reconciled with his sister, Dan, with the ending where Cheng felt satisfied that the pair of Sacred Fire Decree were left in good hands.


Observations

I guess there had been too many confusion over this show, this was perhaps the original show, with a new one called 聖火雄風, (1966) with the leading stars being changed from Lam Kai Sing to Connie Chan, Chan Ho Kow to Josephine Xiao. This would be another movie to hope for. However, for now, it is about this about Moslem Sacred Fire Decree.

This is one of those movies that leaves an impression, not that it was a great show, but because Connie was great in it. She came across intelligent, resourceful and most of all, nice looking. Well, in this movie she played the role of a handsome young man with great martial art and most of all, a kind heart. I noted that Connie’s fighting skills are showcased well here. It was so exciting to see the way she moved; especially it showed her ability to handle different types of weapons from a brush, a fan to the ball and chain. It is exciting to see her moving with such dexterity.

All the girls in the movie are not really great lookers, Chan Ho Kow and Li Hung; so, we turn to look at the guys instead. Lum Kar Sing had always been the one playing the righteous hero; after all he was trained in Cantonese Opera as the Mo Sung - 武生. Well, it would be difficult to say that Lum was not handsome, but put him together with Connie, I guess, he kind of lost in the comparison.

The movie was to be Lum’s vehicle; he was listed as the main star, together with Chan Ho Kow. However, it was Connie who actually stole the show. She came across exciting and naughty. She was the one bordering between being chivalrous and walking on the edge of the dark side, his uncle was the one who lust for the weapon, he was perhaps just being supportive. In the case of Lam, he being the main star of the show, was of course righteous and straight, however, he leave me feeling rather unbelievable and one dimensional.

I could understand why Siew Sang decided to make another movie with the different leads. The story was good, the normal run of the mill, taking revenge story, but somehow in the hands of Lum and Chan, the story seemed a little too theatrical and less of a true wuxia show. I would dare say that the second making of this movie with new leads would certainly give it a golden touch.

In 1983, we see TVB attempting to remake the movie with leads like Tung Wei, Wei Tinchi, Angie Chiu Ngar-ji and Chek Mei-zhen. This remake was perhaps done at a time when TVB must be out of their mind over wuxia stories – it kind of turned out with outlandish costumes and like something from the outer space.

However, what I cannot forget was the title of this movie -武林聖火令, it was about a pair odd looking weapons. As a child I did hope to get a pair, but I still could remember my father coming after me for daring to paste his tie onto a cardboard, and pretending it was the revered weapon. I think I stopped sitting on my bottom for a couple of days.