It starts with a game of blind man's bluff but the kids are actually hazing the disabled guy. A white guy comes out, chases the kids off and demands to know if the disabled guy saw a missing boxer dog. The answer is no but the white guy insists he lies and beats him. In the next scene the police are also looking for this dog and if you haven't seen it then you too will be beaten. Finally they arrest the disabled guy for stealing the dog.
I've viewed thousands of martial arts movies going back as far as the 1950s. Anyone who has not watched at least a few hundred would never get past the first ten minutes of this movie. The novice viewer would think that in Chinese society to beat disabled people is normal, the folks in power use all opportunities to oppress, you are guilty unless you can prove your innocence or pay a bribe, and if a crime is committed it is solved as soon as an arrest is made regardless of innocence or guilt. And if you made it to the end – all that matters is who walks away after the final fight. Hard core fans like myself acknowledge the senseless plot and then go on to rave about the final fight scene.
Phillip Ko Fei began his acting career in 1970 as an extra. This movie was his first big role. Hwang Jang-Lee is an established martial arts who began acting in small parts in South Korean movies with Charles Han as the lead. He hit the big time in the Hong Kong movie "The Secret Rivals". There was a glass ceiling to his career though as Hong Kong movie makers type cast him into "The Boot Master" role. In the 1990s he invested his money in various business opportunities in South Korea and has acted only on special occasions. He still practices Tae Kwan Do and also enjoys golf. He is in his 70s now in great health and looks 20 years younger which he credits to martial arts.
Other reviewers have called the final fight in this movie one of the best fights ever. There is always the question "What was the best fight sequence ever in the history of martial arts movies?" That can never be answered because simply defining the best is impossible and all is really opinion anyway. I have been watching every martial arts movie ever made in chronological order from 1967 to present day. This mission began in January 2014. Since then I have made the following opinions regarding various "The Best".
1969 "King of Kings" The opening sword fight was the best sword fight ever as of 1969.
1972 "The Roaring Lion" The final fight in this movie with Cliff Lok against Sek Kin was the best fight sequence ever as of 1972 when the movie was released.
The best real martial artist female martial arts star was Kan Chia- Fong (aka Yuen Qiu).
May 7, 1976 (the release date of "Challenge of the Masters") the best fight scene ever filmed as of that day was the fight scene in that movie with Lia Chiu-Liang against his brother Lau Kar-Wing. The runner – up would be his fight against Gordon Liu in the same movie. Since then there are thousands of possible best fight scenes.
1976 "The Secret Rivals" was not "The Best" anything but a landmark that changed the look of fight choreography with the amazing kicks of John Liu, Don Wong, and Hwang Jang-Lee.
The final fight in this movie was impressive. There was real power, speed, and expert focus. I would rate it Hwang Jang-Lee and Phillip Ko Fei's personal best fight sequence. I recommend the movie for all fans and rate it above average.
