Secret Service of the Imperial Court, also known as Police Pool of Blood,[1] is a 1984 Hong Kong wuxia film produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio and was directed by Tony Lo. Starring Bryan Leung and Tony Liu, the film follows the story of Zhao Bu Fan (Leung), sergeant for the emperor's Brocade Guards who becomes disillusioned with his purpose under the direction of a corrupt court eunuch (Liu), the latter's characterization drawing reference from the historical Wang Zhen.[2]
The 2010 film 14 Blades has been suggested to be a remake.[3]
Plot
In Ming-era China, the power-hungry and sadistic eunuch Wang Zhen curries favor with the feeble-minded emperor and amasses political influence to the extent the emperor’s secret police force, the Brocade Guards, comes under his control. He begins procuring imperial decrees, forcing the Guards’ leader, Captain Zhao Wu Yi, whom he physically and mentally torments, to order assassinations that serve to bolster the eunuch’s own power, including the deaths of three generals who abandoned their posts in retaliation against Wang’s corruption and cruelty. The virtuous sergeant of the brocade and the captain's eldest son, Zhao Bu Fan, initially obeys the order, assassinating one general but upon learning his targets are honorable men framed by Wang, lets the surviving generals go and lies to his father of having killed them. The surviving generals later ambush Wang when he is on a leisurely outing but are no match against the eunuch who, upon realizing their identities and thus Bu Fan’s deceit, savagely murders them in rage. Bu Fan, along with his wife Xue Liang and their son, become hunted relentlessly by members of the Brocade Guards, his own father having ordered his death for his betrayal. Now ousted, Bu Fan is forced to kill his former brothers in arms and turns to alcohol to numb his emotions.
When Bu Fan kills Wang’s chief guard, an enraged Wang threatens the execution of Captain Zhao’s entire family line unless he brings Bu Fan’s head to him. Zhao tracks down his son who has since fled to the safety of his paternal relatives and orders his brother, Wu Ji, to kill his nephew or face execution of his whole clan. The unknowing Bu Fan is attacked during martial arts training the next day and confronts his uncle whereupon he finds the letter his own father sent ordering his death. Bu Fan refuses to turn on his relatives but accidentally kills Wu Ji when the latter attacks him from behind. Before dying, Wu Ji urges his daughter, Xiao Nan, to fulfil the task of killing Bu Fan. As the latter mourns, she tricks him into drinking poisoned tea and tries to stab him to death. In the ensuing fight, he kills her in self-defense and collapses from his injuries but is rescued by an unknown person, revealed to be his younger brother, Bu Qun, whom he thought had been executed after refusing to accept the adages of the Brocade Guards, which included turning on one’s own family if it meant proving one’s loyalty to the emperor.
Bu Fan slowly recuperates but Bu Qun secretly dons his clothes in a suicide mission to draw out his pursuers and die in his place, thereby allowing Bu Fan’s family to live in peace. Although he dies fighting valiantly, his sacrifice is witnessed by Xue Liang who, wracked with guilt, commits suicide while Bu Qun’s severed head is brought back to Captain Zhao, who instantly recognizes his younger son and is himself wracked with guilt, finally unable to subserviently obey eunuch Wang any more. Knowing the eunuch does not know Bu Fan’s face well, Zhao tricks him into believing his eldest has been killed by offering Bu Qun’s head when he is granted an audience with him and the emperor. A bereaved but determined Bu Fan challenges Wang to a duel, luring him out after kidnapping the emperor when he is on a hunting trip. The two engage in a duel in the mountains and Wang ultimately meets his end after Bu Fan cleaves him in two. Bu Fan announces Wang’s death at his hands to his father, throwing the eunuch’s sword as proof, and departs to live a life of peace with his son.
In a review for Hong Kong Cinemagic, David-Olivier Vidouze described Secret Service Of The Imperial Court as one of the last great achievements to be produced from the Shaw Brothers, with its greatest quality being the emotional power generated through the complex scenarios faced by the characters. These included the multi-faceted ideas of duty: the duty of a son to his father, the duty of an officer of the law to political superiors, and the duty of a clan leader to his community, all the while forcing the main and supporting characters into moral dilemmas and making difficult decisions. However, the film's action scenes received some criticism for being too fast-paced.[4]
The film was similarly noted by Tatu Piispanen in a 2003 review as being one of the best of the new wave wuxia films from the 1980s, and was praised for its directorial innovation, sets, action cinematography, and music.[5]
In addition, the arduous and violent journey of Bu Fan pursuing vengeance with his infant son has been seen as paralleling that of Ogami Ittō and Daigorō from the Japanese mangaLone Wolf and Cub.[4][5][2] Director Tony Lo himself was said to have been inspired by Japanese cinema and incorporated elements of it into the film including a duel with Bu Fan as well as the use of extreme blood and violence in several of the sword fighting scenes.[2]
Bryan Leung and Tony Liu received praise for their performances with Leung being lauded for his outstanding action and drama scenes, while Liu's portrayal of Wang Zhen was described as bringing to life "one of the most sadistically flamboyant villain roles in action film history."[2][4] Supporting actor Ku Feng was also noted for his convincing performance as a tortured father.[4]
Box office
The film underperformed during its theatrical run at the Hong Kong box office, grossing HK$1,376,722 between 19 October to 23 October 1984.[1] Its poor financial performance reflected Shaw Studios' continued struggle to draw in crowds against rival companies Golden Harvest and Seasonal Films.[2]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
