If You Enjoy Female-Led Martial Arts Movies, Watch This Amazing 56-Year-Old Classic & Its Sequel

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A fun and exciting martial arts film starring a woman was secretly followed up with a sequel just a year later, back in the 1970s. Interestingly, women leading roles in martial arts movies were already popular then, especially in Asia, thanks to influential films like My Young Auntie and A Touch of Zen. This happened well before it became a trend in American cinema.

Cheng Pei-pei was a groundbreaking figure in martial arts cinema, often considered the first female action star. She became famous for her role as a tough, skilled swordswoman in the highly impactful wuxia film, Come Drink With Me, where she embarked on a daring rescue mission.

While Come Drink With Me is often considered Cheng Pei-pei’s most famous film, it wasn’t her only great performance. Five years later, she starred in The Lady Hermit, a highly regarded martial arts movie with a female lead, and one of the best of its time.

The Lady Hermit Is A Superb Martial Arts Romance About Two Female Swordfighters

Released in 1971, The Lady Hermit features Cheng Pei-pei as a renowned swordswoman who has left the world of martial arts for a life of solitude. Shih Szu plays a determined female warrior who seeks her out as a teacher. As they train together, a student-teacher bond forms, complicated by their shared romantic interest in a man played by Lo Lieh.

Shih Szu and Lo Lieh find themselves caught up in the problems of Lady Hermit, who is determined to defeat her enemy. The story builds to a dramatic and emotionally charged fight that satisfyingly concludes the storylines for all three main characters.

The heart of this story lies in the compelling relationship between the two main female characters. The author skillfully develops both, making each one a sympathetic and admirable protagonist, even though they have very different motivations and perspectives. One character, the Lady Hermit, is a seasoned and cynical warrior with a difficult past, while Shih Szu is a well-intentioned but inexperienced fighter seeking honor and recognition.

Overall, The Lady Hermit is a fantastic martial arts film because it focuses on a good story and interesting characters, and still delivers exciting action.

The Black Tavern Is A Secret Sequel To The Lady Hermit, And It’s Just As Good

A year after The Lady Hermit was released, Shaw Brothers produced Black Tavern. Though the titles don’t suggest it, the film reveals that the main character – a wandering swordswoman dressed in white – is the same character Shih Szu portrayed in The Lady Hermit.

In a way, The Lady Hermit feels like a story about passing on knowledge, and The Black Tavern perfectly illustrates this. The film features the student returning, but the master is absent. The story revolves around her character encountering various people at a tavern, all while awaiting the arrival of a wealthy lord.

At first, it’s hard to figure out what drives her, just like many of the characters in The Black Tavern. Most of them are scheming and motivated by profit. This focus on intrigue sets the 1972 film apart from The Lady Hermit, which prioritized romance and a character’s development over mystery.

A standout feature of The Black Tavern – one that makes it as good as the previous film – is its villain. Ku Feng delivers a captivating performance as a ruthless bandit who commands attention with every scene. Memorable villains are essential to martial arts movies, and The Black Tavern excels in this area, thanks to Ku Feng’s appropriately dramatic and menacing portrayal.

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2026-03-05 06:08