导演李翰祥继《梁祝》之后的又一力作。由李翰祥创立的国联公司与台湾省电影制片厂合作拍制的历史巨片，动用港台两地精英合作，拍摄勾践复国的故事。本片在制作及宣传上不遗余力，耗资巨大，演职员阵宠大，制作不惜工本。从开镜到完成，整整历时十四个月。本片反映的主题有一定的文化统战，政治宣传意味浓厚。制作进行期间一波三折，卒于1965年完成。此片曾以上下两集发行，后剪辑成另一较短版本，主要演员有江青﹑赵雷﹑朱牧﹑洪波等港台两地精英。

Hsi Shih: The Beauty of Beauties was one of the most ambitious films made in the Taiwan film industry in the 1960s. After leaving The Shaw Brothers studio in Hong Kong and moving to Taiwan, filmmaker Li Han-hsiang mounted this historical epic. Told through the story of Xishi (Hsi Shih), one of the 'Four Great Beauties' of Chinese history, the film portrays the war between two Chinese Kingdoms during the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C). After the kingdom of Yue is defeated by the kingdom of Wu, King Goujian of Yue takes pains to prepare for his revenge and rebuild his country. Knowing that King Fucha of Wu is lewd and lustful, he offers Xisi to the court of Wu to serve as Fucha’s concubine, with Fucha unaware that she is also a spy. She uses her charm to draw Fucha away from his office and governance, while King Goujian rallies his forces together to attempt to reclaim his lands.

Conta a história de Xishi (Hsi Shih), uma das 'Quatro Mais Belas' da história chinesa, o filme retrata a guerra entre os dois reinos chineses durante o Período dos Reinos Combatentes (475-221 a.C.). Depois do reino de Yue ser derrotado pelo reino de Wu, o rei Goujian do Reino Yue preparar-se para a vingança e reconstruir o seu país. Sabendo que o rei Fucha do Reino Wu é obsceno e lascivo, ele oferece Xisi à corte do Reino Wu para servir como concubina do Rei Fucha, sem que perceba que ela é uma espiã do Reino Yue. Ela usa o seu charme para afastar o Rei Fucha do seu cargo e do governo, enquanto o Rei Goujian reúne as suas forças para tentar recuperar as suas terras.