This is the good stuff. I love Chang Yi. He started at Shaw Brothers as the lead of "King Cat" in 1967. Back then they were actors, not martial artists. Times changed and as you watch Chang Yi in subsequent movies you certainly see that this guy has been working out. By "The Crimson Charm" he is doing front flips, jumping from the floor to a table top then flipping off and that is not a stunt double as his face is plainly visible. He continued to improve and like most "good guys" he topped off his career by playing villains. His "white eyebrows" character looked as good and kicked as hard as the master Hwang Jang-Lee. Why? Did he need the money for hookers and drugs or for his ego? I'll never know but I like to think he just enjoyed martial arts and enjoyed being a martial arts actor. He could never beat Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan or – insert name here – but he was certainly the best Chang Yi ever. For the movie proper, Sammo Hung plays a great off the top scar faced villain. All the fight scenes are very good for 1972. The final fight at the bandits fortress was disappointing from a set piece perspective as the fortress seemed more like a cottage in the hills. Perhaps Golden Harvest gave all their money to Bruce Lee that year and had little left to finish this film!
