Circle of Iron
“The challenge of a lifetime...”
Synopsis
In a mystical desert kingdom, young martial arts fighter Cord loses a contest to determine who will journey to take the powerful Book of All Knowedge from Zetan, an evil wizard. Despite his lack of a sponsor, Cord's rule-breaking nature leads him to try retrieving the book anyway. Help is offered by a mysterious blind man who gives advice as Cord fights his way through multiple opponents, discovering more about himself as he gets closer to Zetan.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
New 4K Restoration TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2026-03-27
Top Cast
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David Carradine
The Blind Man / Monkeyman / Death / Changsha
Jeff Cooper
Cord
Christopher Lee
Zetan
Roddy McDowall
White Robe
Eli Wallach
Man-in-Oil
Anthony De Longis
Morthond
Earl Maynard
Black Giant
Erica Creer
Tara
Michael M. Vendrell
Martial Artist
Leo Whang
Martial Artist
Donnie Williams
Martial Artist
Robert Gardner
Martial Artist
Tom Ascensio
Martial Artist
Heinz Bernard
Ferryman (uncredited)
Vincent Di Paolo
Warrior (uncredited)
Larry S. Dratch
Arena Announcer (uncredited)
Dov Friedman
Young Monk (uncredited)
Jeremy Kaplan
Monkeyboy (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
January 19, 1979
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Richard Moore
- Screenplay & Story
- Stirling Silliphant, Stanley Mann
- Original Score
- Bruce Smeaton
- Original Title
- Circle of Iron
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 42m
- Production Studios
- Sandy Howard Productions, Richard St. Johns Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Richard Moore
Stirling Silliphant, Stanley Mann, James Coburn, Bruce Lee
Bruce Smeaton
Ronnie Taylor
Ernest Walter
Sandy Howard, Alex Massis, Paul Maslansky, Richard R. St. Johns
Department Leadership Roster
Stirling Silliphant
Screenplay
Sandy Howard
Producer
Ernest Walter
Editor
Bruce Smeaton
Original Music Composer
Paul Maslansky
Producer
Richard Moore
Director
Stanley Mann
Screenplay
Lilly Fenichel
Costume Design
Terry Leonard
Stunt Coordinator
Tambi Larsen
Production Design
Ronnie Taylor
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Circle of Iron.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Circle of Iron
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Circle of Iron about?
In a mystical desert kingdom, young martial arts fighter Cord loses a contest to determine who will journey to take the powerful Book of All Knowedge from Zetan, an evil wizard. Despite his lack of a sponsor, Cord's rule-breaking nature leads him to try retrieving the book anyway. Help is offered by a mysterious blind man who gives advice as Cord fights his way through multiple opponents, discovering more about himself as he gets closer to Zetan.
Who directed Circle of Iron?
Circle of Iron was directed by Richard Moore.
Who stars in Circle of Iron?
The principal cast of Circle of Iron includes David Carradine, Jeff Cooper, Christopher Lee, Roddy McDowall, Eli Wallach.
When was Circle of Iron released and how long is it?
Circle of Iron was released in 1978 with a total runtime of 1h 42m.
Who composed the musical score for Circle of Iron?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Circle of Iron was composed by Bruce Smeaton.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Circle of Iron?
Circle of Iron holds official age classifications: FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).