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Shaw Brothers studio gem The Bells of Death on Eureka Blu-ray in May

6 March 2025

Eureka Entertainment will be releasing The Bells of Death (Duo hun ling, 1968), a cherished gem in the history of Shaw Brothers productions on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK in May as part of the Eureka Classics range, in a Limited edition of 2000 copies exclusively featuring an O-card slipcase and collector’s book.

A standout wuxia film heavily influenced by both the longstanding Japanese samurai tradition and the emergent Spaghetti Western, The Bells of Death is a fantastical tale of revenge produced by Shaw Brothers Studio, directed by the prolific Yueh Feng (Madam White Snake) and starring Chang Yi (Lady Whirlwind) in one of his earliest roles.

Wu Fei (Chang) is a simple woodcutter – that is, at least, until he gives directions to a group of bandits he encounters on a lonely road, sending them in the direction of his family home. He returns to find the criminals have murdered his parents and younger brother – while his sister has been kidnapped, claimed by chief bandit Tao Ching Lung (Lam Kau, Drunken Master) as his new bride. Desperate for vengeance, Wu Fei finds a way forward when he encounters a master swordsman (Yang Chi-ching, Come Drink with Me), who takes the woodcutter under his wing and prepares him to take his bloody revenge.

A markedly dark and gruesome wuxia film featuring a cadre of truly despicable villains, The Bells of Death boasts breathtaking cinematography by Pao Hsueh Li – who would go on to direct several wuxia films of his own – and features Hong Kong superstars Wu Ma and Sammo Hung in supporting roles. Eureka Classics is presenting the film on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK.

The Bells of Death Blu-ray cover art

The Bells of Death will be released on UK Blu-ray by Eureka Entertainment as part of the Eureka Classics range on 19 May 2025 at the RRP of £22.99.

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY FEATURES:

  • Limited Edition of 2000 copies
  • Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju)
  • Optional English subtitles, newly revised for this release
  • Original Mandarin mono audio
  • Optional English dub
  • New audio commentary by East Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
  • New audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
  • For Whom the Bell Tolls – a new interview with Wayne Wong, editor of Martial Arts Studies
  • A limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on The Bells of Death by East Asian cinema expert Camille Zaurin

You can watch the trailer on YouTube (at the time of posting it was age restricted and embedding it on a web page was disabled) here: https://youtu.be/T5-PqfPKO9g