The film is based on the true story of a man who, after his father and brothers are killed, develops the Yang Ga Ng Long Baht Gwa Kwun (Yang Family 5th brother eight diagram pole) style.
The Yangs are a well-known family of soldiers in the service of the government but are betrayed by a government official (Wang Lung Wei) conspiring with the Khitans of the Liao Dynasty. All of the Yang family males except the 4th, 5th, and 6th brothers are killed (played by Hsiao Ho, Gordon Liu and Fu Sheng respectively).
4th brother is captured by the Liao and is not mentioned again (in the source story he marries a Liao princess and returns). Fu Sheng loses his mind after the death of his family, while the other brother (Gordon Liu), takes refuge in a temple to put his anger and past behind him. Liu's superb martial arts skill, particularly with the quarterstaff, impress the temple's senior monks.
Publication Information
- Title : Eight Diagram Pole Fighter
- Directed by : Lau Kar-leung
- Produced by : Mona Fong, Run Me Shaw, Run Run Shaw
- Written by : Lau Kar-leung, Kuang Ni
- Starring : Alexander Fu Sheng, Gordon Liu, Lily Lee, Lau Kar-leung, Wang Lung Wei
- Music by : Stephen Shing
- Distributed by : Shaw Brothers Studio
- Release date(s) : 1983
- Running time : 98 minutes
- Country : Hong Kong
- Language : Cantonese
- Download link : Download Movies
Fu Sheng died during filming and does not appear in the final showdown as originally written in the script. After Fu Sheng's death, the story was changed to center on Gordon Liu.
Cast
Note: The characters' names are in Cantonese romanisation.
- Lily Lee - Se Choi-fa - "Taai-gwan", Yeung Yip's wife
- Wong Yue - Yeung Ping - "Daai-long", Yeung Yip's 1st son
- Lau Kar-wing - Yeung Ding - "Yi-long", Yeung Yip's 2nd son
- Mak Tak-law - Yeung On - "Saam-long", Yeung Yip's 3rd son
- Hsiao Ho - Yeung Fai - "Sei-long", Yeung Yip's 4th son
- Gordon Liu - Yeung Dak - "Ng-long", Yeung Yip's 5th son
- Alexander Fu - Yeung Chiu - "Luk-long", Yeung Yip's 6th son
- Cheung Chin-pang - Yeung Zi - "Chat-long", Yeung Yip's 7th son
- Kara Hui - Yeung Kei - "Baat-mui", Yeung Yip's daughter and 8th child
- Yeung Jing-jing - Yeung Ying - "Gau-mui", Yeung Yip's daughter and 9th child
- Lam Hak-ming - Pun Mei - Song Dynasty general
- Wang Lung-wei - Ye-leut Lin Liao Dynasty prince
- Chu Tiet-woh - Gun Kwai - Liao Dynasty general
- Ko Fei - abbot of the Ching-leung Monastery
- Ching Chu - Master Ji-hung - senior monk at the Ching-leung Monastery
- Lau Kar-leung - hunter
- 1985 - 4th Hong Kong Film Awards
- Nominated - Lau Kar-leung, Best Action Choreography
