Long Road To Gallantry is a 1984 Shaw Brothers film starring Kenny Ho Kar-kheng (nowadays better known for his portrayal as Constable Zhan from Justice Bao) and Kara Wai.
Kenny Ho, fresh off acting school in one of his earlier leading roles, plays Du Meng-fei, a martial arts student who had completed training. Leaving his school to seek adventures, with his teacher's advice of upholding gallantry as his motto, Meng-fei ends up getting himself dragged into a martial arts war when trying to save Li Tsai-nan (Kara), the daughter of a martial arts sect leader, from a band of thugs.
For some inexplicable reason, despite the film being well-received and Kenny Ho receiving praise for his portrayal of Meng-fei, Kenny would instead pass on an opportunity into becoming a movie star, showing up in TV series for the later part of his career. To date, this is Kenny's first - and ONLY - leading role. But who are we to judge his choice though?
Long Tropes to Gallantry:
- Action Girl: Tsai-nan, as played by Kara Wai.
- An Ice Person: The Big Bad, Chief Leng, whose inner chi can make him freeze objects by touching. Demonstrating his powers to the audience on a large bowl containing a goldfish, he solidifies the water (goldfish and all) into a half-sphere block of ice, shattering the bowl in the process. His skills can also kill opponents by freezing the blood in their veins, and nearly kills Meng-fei in the penultimate fight.
- And the Adventure Continues: For Meng-fei. The titular road to gallantry is indeed a long one.
- Badass in Distress: Meng-fei when recovering from having his limbs frozen, and barely able to fight.
- Big Eater: Meng-fei, who can eat two bowls of noodles and a whole chicken in one meal.
- Bittersweet Ending: The wandering warrior, Du Meng-fei had found true love in Li Tsai-nan, after they defeat the Big Bad together, only to lose her on their wedding night because her injuries are actually fatal. His journey then continues as he seeks his next adventure.
- Blood from the Mouth:
- Master Ling after his duel with Chief Leng. He attempts to hide his injuries, but as soon as Meng-fei and Wan-er is out of sight, he coughts up a mouthful of blood...
- Chief Leng after his temple gets punctured by Meng-fei, allowing the good guys to turn the tide of battle.
- Cool Chair: The Snake Sect's leader sits on a throne shaped like a giant serpent, with snakeheads as his armrests and a python covering the spot where he sits.
- The Big Damn Kiss: The movie ends with Meng-fei and Tsai-nan kissing each other. But unfortunately it's a Dying Declaration of Love for her.
- Booby Trap: Chief Leng's dungeon is filled with these, including pitfalls, spikes and ice blasts, which gives Meng-fei a hard time when he attempts to infiltrate.
- Impairment Shot: After the Big Bad Chief Leng gets a hit which ruptures his skull, the camera angle gets a shot like this from his POV.
- Injured Limb Episode: Meng-fei after his limbs are frozen, from a fight against Chief Leng.
- Long-Haired Pretty Boy: Du Meng-fei, see him on the screenshot above (he's the one on the left in case you couldn't tell).
- Meaningful Name: Chief Leng, who can Master ice-related powers with his chi. How appropriate that his surname is Chinese for "cold".
- Punched Across the Room: At the climax of their brawl, Meng-fei and Tsai-nan gets punted across the arena by Chief Leng.
- Secretly Dying: Tsai-nan in the end of the final fight. She succumbs after kissing Meng-fei on their wedding night.
- Silver Fox: Chief Leng may be an old man with long graying hair, but he's still all kinds of badass and a dangerous fighter.
- Tastes Like Friendship: Meng-fei and Li Tsai-nan started bonding when she bought him two bowls of noodles in the tavern scene. Later on the tavern's owner gratefully gave Meng-fei a roast chicken after Meng-fei beats up some thugs causing trouble in the tavern.
- Wuxia
