Tong tian xiao zi gong qiang ke

Sun Chung is one of the lesser known Shaw directors but he had a reputation for taut action filled serious genre films. HIs fight scenes, even with some unusual choreography, usually seem like an actual fight not a stage show. Since most of his films are unknown in the United States, each re-release from Celestial is a surprise of sorts. This is the first comedy I've seen from Sun Chung.

Wong Yu plays the brash son of a cotton dealer in a small city. He doesn't want to learn his lessons or follow his father's footsteps in the cotton business. He rather learn kung fu from a mysterious beggar living on the out skirts of town. The kid is great at kung fu but pretty stupid at everything else. He gets into trouble constantly and receives beating from his father played by Ku Feng. Meanwhile a crooked shipping firm run by Wang Lung Wei has hired the feared Red Spear gang to guard a shipment of opium and kill the police detective on the trail of the opium. It doesn't take long before the kid is in the face of the criminals and in really big trouble.

Rather light hearted for any Sun Chung film I've seen, it has a tone like similar films from Liu Chia Liang especially with the presence of Wong Yu. What is not different is Sun Chung's direction. The film is stylish but still within the Shaw tradition. The action is what make this film noteworthy. Tang Chia creates some of the best choreography I've seen from him. Many of the supporting actors are excellent martial artists but are not familiar to me. And to top it Sun Chung films the action in his usual excellent manner. Lots of different angles and image compositions.

Recommended!