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Duel to the Death (1983)
Duel to the Death is a 1983 Hong Kong wuxia film starring Norman Chui and Damian Lau. It is the directorial debut of Ching Siu-tung. In 2014, Time Out polled several film critics, directors, actors and stunt actors to list their top action films; Duel to the Death was listed at 92nd place on this list. In the publication’s subsequent list, published in 2020, the film was listed in the 100th position.![Duel to the Death (1983)](https://martialartsviralnews.com/wp-content/uploads/ThumbJpeg-3-1024x572.jpg)
Plot
In the 16th century, during the Ming dynasty era, every ten years the greatest swordsman from Japan faces the greatest swordsman from China in a duel to the death for their nation’s honor. As a duel approaches, Chinese champion Ching Wan (Damian Lau) and Japanese champion Hashimoto[a] (Norman Chui) uncover a plot to rig the fight. Ching Wan, known as “Lord of the Sword”, is a peaceful and contemplative martial artist who has trained with Shaolin monks as well as a mischievous hermit.![Duel to the Death (1983)](https://martialartsviralnews.com/wp-content/uploads/Duel-to-the-Death-1983-1024x689.jpg)
By contrast, Hashimoto is a pitiless yet honorable samurai. One night after drinking with his compatriots Hashimoto is engaged by a masked assassin, after a brief but intense clash Hashimoto wins but realizes he inadvertently killed his sensei; his master using his death to cement the Samurai’s resolve as a final lesson before the duel.
Throughout the days leading up to the duel, ninja led by a Japanese official under orders by the Shogun of Japan collude with the Chinese wardens to kidnap famous fighters and sabotage the duel for Hashimoto so
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that Japan may study and improve upon their martial arts; as well as that the head of a famous Chinese sword school can credit his students as champions of China upon Hashimoto’s death. The honorable samurai, however, does not go along with the plan, Hashimoto instead wants a fair duel. Ching Wan as well rebuffs his Chinese compatriots, telling them that they are only pawns in the Shogun’s plan.
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Cast:
- Norman Chui as HashimotoÂ
- Damian Lau as Bo Ching-wan
- Flora Cheong-Leen as Sing Lam
- Paul Chang Chung as Master Han
- Eddy Ko as KenjiÂ
- Hon Gwok-choi as Bo Ching-wan’s master
- Gam San as Mr. Fok