The Secret Book

Dir: Hong Ngai (aka Miu Hong-nee)
Orig Story: Or Lung-sang
Scr: Du Ning
Prod Co: Hong Kong United
Co-starring: Lam Kar-sing, Tang Bik-wan, Chan Ho-kau, Lam Kau
1961 / B&W / D Beta / Cantonese / 100min

Specialising in martial arts films, Hong Kong United naturally approached Yu So-chow, the top action actress of her time, for its inaugural film. Based on the novel by Or Lung-sang, the film follows the adventures of Ma Kwan-mo (Lam Kar-sing) as he seeks the titular secret book. Along the way, he is helped by his sister-in-arms (Chan Ho-kau) and martial arts master Pak Wan-fei (Tang Bik-wan). Not only does Yu So-chow get to play a feisty romantic heroine as So Fei-fung, the daughter of Kwan-mo's nemesis, the skilled Peking opera performer also gets to flex her muscles in the film's action scenes.