Dragon Inn (1967)

Part of Flying Sword Heroes: Gravity-Defying Tales from Taiwan Film Festival 

Directed by: King Hu
Starring: Polly Shang-kuan, Shih Chun, Pai Ying, Hsu Feng, Tsao Chien

Dragon Inn — King Hu’s razor-sharp, wuxia landmark that turned the lonely desert inn into a blood-soaked waiting room for destiny — marked the first time Hu fully incorporated the aesthetics and movement of Beijing Opera into his filmmaking, shaping a signature cinematic style, and setting the box office on fire in Taiwan and Hong Kong. When a power-mad eunuch executes a loyal general, the general’s kids become next on the chopping block. But not so fast — mysterious heroes start arriving at the remote Dragon Inn, where the wine flows cheap and the blades fly cheaper. Is that traveling swordsman just here for a drink, or to slice through a dozen assassins before dessert?

With vast landscapes, balletic swordplay, and more tension than a teapot full of gunpowder, Dragon Inn redefined the martial arts movie, inspiring generations of filmmakers. And while the film’s prologue subtly frames its narrative as a timeless allegory — one of resistance against authoritarian rule, where forces of freedom challenge oppression — the result is pure pulp entertainment: arrows zing, doors slam, identities shift, and the body count climbs like a mountain monk on Red Bull.

7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23
FREE Admission (tickets must be reserved in advance online, or at the Box Office)