Published Mar 4, 2026, 10:00 PM EST
Nicholas Raymond is an author and journalist based out of Alabama, where he proudly roots for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. A graduate of the University of Montevallo, he has a degree in mass communication with a concentration in journalism.
One of the most entertaining female-led martial arts movies of the 1970s received an under-the-radar, secret sequel a year later. Long before American movies started heading in this direction, women headlining martial arts films had already been a common trend. This was due in large part to masterpieces like My Young Auntie and A Touch of Zen.
A key pioneer in this particular corner of the martial arts genre was Cheng Pei-pei, credited by many as the original female action star. The actress famously starred as a no-nonsense swordswoman on a rescue mission in the extremely influential wuxia film, Come Drink With Me.
Come Drink With Me is justifiably thought of as the definitive Cheng Pei-pei movie, but it's not the only standout vehicle for the actress. Five years after her career-making role in the film, Cheng Pei-pei starred in The Lady Hermit, one of the decade's best female-led martial arts films.
The Lady Hermit Is A Superb Martial Arts Romance About Two Female Swordfighters
The Lady Hermit is a 1971 period piece that stars Cheng Pei-pei as a famous swordswoman who abandoned the martial arts world to live as a hermit. She's sought out by an ambitious female warrior, played by Shih Szu, who's eager to receive guidance in swordfighting. The two develop a master-student relationship, while also navigating their mutual love for the film's male lead, played by Lo Lieh.
Although not as well-known as Cheng Pei-pei, Shih Szu also had a notable career in martial arts movies. In addition to The Lady Hermit, Shih Szu played prominent roles in other movies frequently cited as among Shaw Brothers' best, from Avenging Eagle to Shaolin Temple.
Shih Szu and Lo Lieh's characters become embroiled in the struggles of the titular Lady Hermit, who has been waiting for an opportunity to take down a powerful rival. The story culminates in an intense battle with high, emotional stakes that adequately pays off each of the three characters' arcs in the story.
But the crux of the story is really the great dynamic between the two female leads. The Lady Hermit builds up both characters beautifully, presenting each one as a heroine you can root for, but with different goals and ideas. The Lady Hermit is an older, jaded woman with a reason for being the hardened warrior she is, while Shih Szu is playing a noble but naive fighter looking for glory.
All things considered, The Lady Hermit is a great example of a martial arts movie that manages to prioritize storytelling and character development, while also balancing it out perfectly with action.
The Black Tavern Is A Secret Sequel To The Lady Hermit, And It's Just As Good
The Lady Hermit received an unexpected continuation a year later when Shaw Brothers made Black Tavern. Its title obscures the connection between its predecessor, but it becomes apparent as the story develops that the wandering, female swordfighter in white is the same character that Shih Szu played in The Lady Hermit.
In some ways, The Lady Hermit comes across as a passing-of-the-torch-story, and The Black Tavern encapsulates that, as it sees the student return, but not the master. The movie sees her character become one of several people to cross paths at a tavern where a supposedly rich lord is expected to pass by.
For a while, her motives are unclear, as is the case with many of the players in The Black Tavern's story, many of whom are conniving villains looking to make money. This enables the 1972 film to stand far apart from The Lady Hermit, with it putting more emphasis on mystery than romance and training.
One of the highlights of The Black Tavern that easily puts it on the same level as its predecessor is its main villain. Ku Feng plays a cold-blooded, whip-wielding bandit with a commanding, scene-stealing presence. Great villains are part of the fabric of martial arts movies, and The Black Tavern doesn't disappoint in that regard, with Ku Feng putting in an appropriately over-the-top but sinister performance.
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