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Better known under its deliriously exploitative US title Five Fingers Of Death, another kung fu bona fide classic finally makes its way onto UK DVD – bring it on…!
But King Boxer is notable for more than just a campy pseudonym: dubbed into English by Warner Brothers for a US release it actually kick-started the kung fu phenomenon, even predating Bruce Lee’s Fist Of Fury. And rarely has such an honour been so richly deserved…
Lo Lieh (Golden Swallow, The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin, Killer Clans) stars as Chao Chih-Hao, a principled martial artist who lacks ambition to fulfil his potential until his master convinces him to join another school. Finding his skills lacking, his new Master, Sun Hsin-Pei (Fang Mian), confines Chao to kitchen duty, but is soon so impressed by his determination and willingness to learn.
The local martial arts schools are to compete against each other to run the local province. Unfortunately one school master, Meng Tung-Shun (Tien Feng, Trail of the Broken Blade, The Magnificent Trio, The Assassin) and his corrupt wide-boy son Tien-hsiung (Tung Lam, The Water Margin, Oily Maniac) plan win the competition and attain even greater control of the area – even if it means employing Japanese mercenaries and making sure none of the other schools can even contend. (And let me make it clear, that’s exactly what it means!)
Meanwhile Chao has impressed his new master so much that he gives his the manual for the all powerful Iron Palm style, which other than great strength involves a glowing from the palms and the sound of the siren intro to Quincy Jones Ironside theme to play when in use. However, he’s also made an enemy of Meng and his various cronies, including the balding, head-banging Chen Lang (Chi Chu Chin, Hand Of Death, The Thunderbolt Fist), who decide to corner him and smash his hands so he can no longer fight.
But will even that stop our hero and his quest for justice? Well, what do you think?
Okay, so far this may all sound like a pretty standard Shaw Brother kung fu epic of the time – it even has the usual ensemble cast that would circulate through hundreds of their films from the mid-60s until the early 80s – yet it’s the quality with which it’s undertaken that lifts this movie way above expectations.
Korean-born director Chang-hwa Jeong, also known as Cheng Chang-Ho – who extensively reworked the script – embodies the characters with such empathy to lift this way above peers like Zhang Che (whose ‘yang gang’ machismo and ‘extreme close-up’ style by that time was already becoming something of a parody of itself). The clarity of the narrative is definitely more Western (and Akira Kurosawa) influenced than other Shaw Brother directors, and reminiscent of early King Hu. In fact, it owes much to Che’s earlier One-Armed Swordsman, and not just because of the hand-disabling scene – it’s the leading man’s reluctance to become the hero, as well as the sympathetic portrayal of all the characters. Here Jeong’s Korean background stands him in good stead, being a lot more genuinely interested in Chinese culture, novels and history than his peers were by this stage.
Despite filling the screen with over a dozen main characters, including variously idiosyncratic villains from the aforementioned Japanese mercenaries and head-banger, to a Mongol wrestler and even a girl singer, he never muddles the plot. Beautifully played out by the cast, the themes of brotherhood and betrayal come to the fore, as heroes become tainted and jealous and villains become ashamed of their actions.
Of course, the cast are great, particularly Lo Lieh, making a convincing and sympathetic romantic lead – though we’re more used to seeing him as the delicious sadistic villain or self-possessed hero. But a special mention needs to go to Tung Lam, wonderfully unpleasant as Meng’s repugnant son.
Produced to Shaw Brothers usual high standard, the cinematography – by Wang Yung-lung– is also outstanding, with imaginative and striking composition. There’s a great (though simple) effect where fighters send up dust when they fall to the floor, indicating the force with which they’ve been sent. Director Jeong insisted on use of trampolines rather than wires for speed (as King Hu had done several years earlier).
And with action choreographed by Shaw stalwarts Lau Kar-Wing and Chan Chuen, it does not disappoint either, from hand-to-hand combat to use of samurai swords. It’s true, with the strength of the Iron Palm sending opponents through wooden columns and even brickwalls (not to mention the infamous eye gouging!) this is one kung fu film that really does have everything – without it feeling unnecessarily forced.
So whether you’re a martial arts fan or not, King Boxer should definitely be on your DVD wishlist – a genuine 70s kung fu classic!
DVD details
Distributor: Momentum Pictures (UK)
With a great restoration job from Celestial Pictures, this comes with both the original Mandarin and English-dubbed soundtracks. But it doesn’t end there, it also contains all the bonus features from the US Dragon Dynasty release, including a commentary by (the) Quentin Tarantino and critics David Chute and Elvis Mitchell.
There are also informative interviews by director Chang-hwa Jeong and action choreographer Lau Kar-Wing, trailers, galleries and more. Making this one fine, good value package.
