The film is also known as The Silent Flute, which was the original title of the story conceived by Lee, James Coburn and Stirling Silliphant in 1969.

Many other well-known character actors also had small roles in the film, including Roddy McDowall, Eli Wallach and Christopher Lee.

At a martial arts tournament, fighters compete for the right to begin a quest to challenge Zetan, a famous wizard who possesses a special book of enlightenment that is supposed to contain all the world's wisdom.

On the way, Cord encounters a man in a large cauldron of oil who is attempting to dissolve the lower half of his body.

Encounters with a poor ferryman couple, a band of raiders and a spoiled child become opportunities for the blind man to teach an exasperated Cord a few life lessons before they go their separate ways once again.

Cord now holds himself responsible for Tara's death, but he insists on fighting Chang-Sha to learn the location of Zetan.

But the Oriental would realize that a man who has attained such complete mastery of an art reveals his presence of mind in every action...True mastery transcends any particular art.After Lee abandoned the project, the original script was rewritten, replacing some violent scenes with comedic themes.

[4] The film's reception was mostly negative, with critics citing poor acting and martial arts, but it has gained a cult following.

[6] On the occasion of the Blu-ray release, film critic Dave Kehr wrote: "(...) the picture is a mildly enjoyable martial arts fable shot in Israel, where the desert locations give the Eastern philosophizing a discordantly biblical slant.

(...) Indifferently directed by the cinematographer Richard Moore (“The Wild Angels”), “Circle of Iron” is no great shakes as a movie but remains a wistful reminder of the modest pleasures (emphasis on modest) of the pre-blockbuster action movie, when budgets were more in line with ambitions.

Extras include audio commentary with director Richard Moore, and "Playing The Silent Flute: Interview with Star David Carradine."