HEADS FOR SALE is a Shaw Brothers wuxia fable from 1970 that lacks any of the studio's big-name stars or director but nonetheless proves an entertaining way to spend 80 or so minutes of your life. The main character is a headstrong swordswoman who has a habit of disguising herself and going on a vengeful rampage when things don't go her way. The plot kicks off when she's rejected by a noble lord and decides to get revenge by going after him.
The story soon develops further after your usual gang of bad guys are introduced into the story. Each has his own distinctive appearance: one guy is a brutally scarred master with past insults to repay; another's special power is to blow poison darts out of his mouth to dispatch his enemies. There are also some of the usual mercenary-like characters with outlandish weapons and costumes who invariably turn up in these kinds of film. The second half of the movie becomes a prison film of sorts before things end in one of those explosive, large-scale battle climaxes.
HEADS FOR SALE boasts the typical exemplary production values and fine balance between sets and beautiful scenery. One of the locations utilised is a rope bridge overlooking the sea and looks to have been real; either an astonishing location or a very good piece of special effects work. Chiao Chiao is a memorable lead who holds her own against the studio's top stars like Cheng Pei-Pei and there are the usual familiar faces in support. The action is fantastic. It's a hit.
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