In the 1960s Hong Kong’s Shaw Brothers studio really made a name for itself through a veritable conveyor belt of popular martial arts films. By the end of the decade the studio’s films began to diversify, seeking out a broader range of options to further attract moviegoers. One of these genres was the musical, leading to a string of pictures that combined Hollywood and Japanese influences with a particularly Chinese sound. In 1976 the Shaw Brothers movie machine effectively turned full circle, producing The Snake Prince: a musical martial arts fantasy film. Directed by Lo Chen, it is a chaotic “everything but the kitchen sink” exercise combining action, fantasy, romance, song and dance routines, giant monsters, and some rather chaste snake-on-woman sex.

There is always a place for the weird movies – the ones that get shared enthusiastically with friends, insisting that they have to see such bizarre content for themselves. The Snake Prince certainly qualifies, and has an undeniable cult appeal. This week it is receiving a world-first blu-ray release, courtesy of Australian outfit Imprint Films, and I suspect it will not take long for it to secure a fresh and enthused audience.

A rural village performs song and dance rituals to the gods, in order to break a drought and avoid the whole community starving. Their prayers are answered – not by the gods but by the mysterious Snake Prince (Ti Lung). He is immediately entranced by the sight of Hei Qin (Lin Chen-Chi), the daughter of one of the village elders. He grants the villagers’ wish and delivers them water, and all that he requests in return is to marry Hei Qin. Marital bliss is short-lived, however, due to the machinations of the resentful villagers and Hei Qin’s jealous sister.

Fans of Chinese folklore will recognise the well-told legend of the White Snake at the film’s heart. In this case it has been gender-flipped from a mortal man meeting a female snake demon to a mortal woman meeting the titular Snake Prince. It is an interesting variation, showing that there are a lot of variations that artists can find when re-telling well-remembered and popular legends.

It is quite a surprise to see noted action star Ti Lung perform musical romance, but its a transition he achieves with panache. Lin Chen-Chi is also wonderfully engaging with a strong sense of presence. Musically the film is a blend of Chinese opera and contemporary pop-rock, which provides what seems a unique style; it is not the greatest musical one will ever hear – far from it – but for a 21st century viewer it has a rather kitschy vibe and tone that can be rather enjoyable.

Technically speaking, the film has – as is typical of Shaw Brothers fantasies – bitten off rather more than it can chew. Visual and make-up effects are of the cheap-and-cheerful kind, rather than being in any way convincing. The film is alarmingly colourful, with a lurid in-your-face palette. The Snake Prince and his two off-siders transform into giant snakes, which are realised with some wonderfully entertaining macro-puppetry. The work is particularly effective during the film’s unexpectedly bloody climax, as villagers armed with pikes, bows, and spears lay their assault on the three magical serpents.

Speaking of violence in the film, it is an unavoidable fact that a large number of actual snakes are harmed and killed on-screen. This is an old film – nearly 50 years old – and there is no saving the snakes or condemning the producers for animal cruelty. It is still a deeply difficult watch here and there, and potential viewers should really be better forewarned in advance. For many it will be a deal breaker.

That caveat aside, and it is a big one, The Snake Prince is a delightful cheesy and wonderfully odd slice of Hong Kong pop culture. It struggles with its budgetary limitations, and is far from the best quality film of any of its specific genres, but it is distinctive. If nothing else it is a prime example of just how far the Shaw Brothers Studio were prepared to stretch their formats and styles to reach a new audience.

The Snake Prince hits select Australian stores on Wednesday 26th March 2025 in a world-exclusive blu-ray edition. It is also available online from Imprint Films here.