By Lee Pfeiffer
Blue Underground, which specializes in first class DVD editions of cult films, has released Circle of Iron (aka The Silent Flute) on Blu-ray. The 1978 martial arts movie was based on a story devised by Bruce Lee, James Coburn and Sterling Silliphant. Lee couldn't find studio interest in the metaphysical film that was designed to combine the spiritual qualities of Taoist philosophy with martial arts fight sequences. The movie languished for years until Silliphant was able to get a production deal. However, by then, Lee was a major film star and he turned his back on having anything to do with the movie. After Lee's death, studios were eager to capitalize on anything to do with his legend. Thus, the movie was heavily promoted as being a tribute to Lee, though the final result is probably light years away from what he envisioned. The movie is bizarre on many levels, yet is consistently entertaining and has a goofy and charming aspect to it.The plot takes place in a mythical land where Cord (Jeff Cooper), a top martial arts fighter is determined to take on the seemingly impossible quest to locate a mysterious figure named Zetan, who jealously guards a legendary book that supposedly contains the meaning of life. Cord must first accomplish numerous dangerous tasks along the way, if he hopes to actually meet Zetan. (Imagine The Wizard of Oz with kung fu fights).
Along the way, he meets friends and foes including a blind spiritual master with inexplicably great fighting skills, a fetching temptress who makes him give up his vow of chastity (hey, vows of chastity are like diets- you can always start them again tomorrow), and a crazed tribe of beings that appear to be half-man/ half-monkey, but that could just be the unintended consequences of the sub-par makeup. Lee may have envisioned the movie as an endorsement of Taoist spiritualism, but it's really mostly an unending series of fights, none of which are particularly well choreographed. Not helping matters is when Cord finally is allowed access to the fabled book that contains the answers to life, it disappointingly resembles a scrapbook from Wal-Mart (right down to the attractive stitching around the cover!).
The film does benefit from some impressive ancient locations in Israel. There are also some talented thespians thrown into the mix including brief appearances by Roddy McDowell and Eli Wallach, who certainly has the strangest role of his career. Billed as "Man in Oil Barrel", Cord encounters the character bathing in a barrel of --well, oil in the desert sun - an activity he has undergone for ten years in order to shrink his penis into oblivion. (I didn't write this, folks, I'm just reporting it.) David Carradine has the chance to provide tour-de-force performances, playing four roles. He's fun to watch and the opportunity to see him outside of his general somnambulist persona is most welcome. In the film's final scene, there is an appearance by Christopher Lee, who elevates the modest enterprise to another level- despite the fact he is clad in a cheesy costume that appears to have come from the Ku Klux Clan thrift store.The weakest link is the performance of Jeff Cooper, about whom little was heard in ensuing years. You'd have to go to your local delicatessen to see this much ham on display, but at least he cuts a dashing figure in a loin cloth. Silliphant, who co-wrote the screenplay, is definitely slumming here, considering he also turned out In the Heat of the Night. The dialogue contains some pretentious howlers that play like overheard snippets of conversations you'd here in the lobby of a Samuel Beckett play off-off Broadway.
The Blu-ray disc is first rate on all counts and Blue Underground has loaded it up with extras that are far more fascinating than the film itself. There is an extended 2004 interview with David Carradine, who professes this to be his favorite movie. He's more verbose here than in the last thirty years of his life. He reveals he so believed in the film, that he donated his salary in order to finance several key sequences. He also says his nose was broken twice in four days while performing fight scenes. The highlight of the disc is a wonderful interview with producer Paul Maslansky, who discusses a wide body of work ranging from Jason and the Argonauts to Police Academy. He's funny, entertaining and highly informative and is the kind of guy you'd love to belly up to the bar with just to hear his anecdotes from a remarkable career. There is also a vintage audio interview with Silliphant and a filmed interview with martial arts trainer Joe Lewis. The disc also provides a wealth of TV spots and trailers.In summary, well worthwhile, if primarily for the extras.
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