The Assassin A.K.A. The Great Assassin • 大刺客 (1967)

The Assassin (1967), also released as The Great Assassin, was originally released as Da Ci Ke (大刺客), also romanized as Daai Chi Haak. Directed by legendary filmmaker Chang Cheh for Shaw Brothers Studio, the film stars Jimmy Wang Yu, Chiao Chiao, Li Hsiang-Chun, Tien Feng, Huang Chung-Hsin, Chao Hsin-Yen, Chang Pei-Shan, Lei Cheng, and Ku Feng. Inspired by the famous historical assassination attempt on the King of Han, this early Chang Cheh masterpiece helped establish the themes of honor, sacrifice, brotherhood, and tragic heroism that would define his legendary career. Available from ClassicKungFuMovies.com for collectors who value accurate film details and hard-to-find physical media.

STORY OVERVIEW

During China's Warring States period, the fearless warrior Nie Zheng lives quietly after abandoning a violent past. When a loyal minister asks him to assassinate the ruthless Han Chancellor who has plunged the kingdom into fear, Nie accepts the dangerous mission knowing it will cost him everything. Facing impossible odds, betrayals, and relentless enemies, he embarks on one of the most legendary acts of sacrifice in Chinese history without revealing the film's unforgettable conclusion.

MARTIAL ARTS HIGHLIGHTS

The Assassin features elegant swordplay, large-scale battle sequences, and emotionally charged duels that showcase Chang Cheh's emerging visual style. Jimmy Wang Yu delivers a commanding performance as the tragic hero, while Han Ying-Chieh's action choreography combines graceful wuxia techniques with realistic combat that influenced generations of Hong Kong martial arts filmmakers.

WHY COLLECTORS PICK IT

The Assassin is regarded as one of Chang Cheh's defining early masterpieces and an essential chapter in Shaw Brothers history. Collectors admire Jimmy Wang Yu's powerful performance, the film's historical inspiration, and its emotional exploration of loyalty, honor, and self-sacrifice. Its influence can be seen throughout Chang Cheh's later classics and across decades of Hong Kong martial arts cinema.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Released in 1967, The Assassin earned Chang Cheh the Best Director award at the 14th Asian Film Festival and helped transform the wuxia genre by emphasizing heroic sacrifice and masculine honor. The film also further established Jimmy Wang Yu as one of Hong Kong cinema's first international martial arts stars and became one of Shaw Brothers Studio's most celebrated historical adventures.

• Verified AKAs:
  • The Assassin – International English title
  • The Great Assassin – Alternate English title
  • Da Ci Ke – Mandarin pinyin
  • Daai Chi Haak – Cantonese romanization
  • 大刺客 – Original Traditional Chinese title
  • 大刺客 – Simplified Chinese title
  • 대자객 – Korean release title
  • El asesino – Spanish release title
  • O Assassino – Portuguese release title
  • Убийца – Russian release title
  • Zamachowiec – Polish release title
  • A gyilkos – Hungarian release title
  • อสูรเพชฌฆาต – Thai release title
  • Kolsuz kahraman dehşet saçıyor – Turkish release title
• Director: Chang Cheh
• Producer: Run Run Shaw
• Screenplay: Chang Cheh
• Action Director: Han Ying-Chieh
• Music: Wang Fu-Ling
• Cinematography: Tadashi Nishimoto
• Editor: Chiang Hsing-Lung
• Studio: Shaw Brothers Studio
• Distributor: Shaw Brothers Studio
• Starring: Jimmy Wang Yu, Chiao Chiao, Li Hsiang-Chun, Tien Feng, Huang Chung-Hsin, Chao Hsin-Yen, Chang Pei-Shan, Lei Cheng, Ku Feng, Wong Chung-Shun
• Country: Hong Kong
• Genre: Wuxia, Martial Arts, Historical, Swordplay, Drama
• Martial Arts Focus: Traditional Chinese Swordsmanship
• Based On: The historical legend of Nie Zheng from the Records of the Grand Historian
• Format: DVD
• Language: English (Uncut)
• Subtitles: None
• Region: All Regions
• Running Time: 121 Minutes
• Release Year: 1967

Carefully researched and prepared for collectors of classic martial arts cinema by ClassicKungFuMovies.com.