My copy is a digital file that plays on a HDTV in 4:3 format similar to the old VHS and is English dubbed. The video quality is as good as it gets for something this old in that the colors are bright and the scratched or other signs of wear and tear are minimal.
It opens with two prisoners taken to the commander and given life or death options. This sets up the very popular evil Japanese plot. Cut to men working around a train for the first fight sequence. It's hand to hand street fighting. Barry Chan becomes the victim of the Japanese boss cruelty. A Chinese man actually owns the operation that the Japanese are running.
Since there is only the simple, black and white, story of Chinese versus Japanese here I am left with reviewing the martial arts. The martial arts is also simple. Martial arts has many different styles. Even more styles have been fabricated just for a movie. There are also many different weapons and ways of using them. This movie just keeps it simple. There is no need to see if Tiger claw can beat Crane style. There is no need to see if two short swords are effective against a katana. This movie just has brawls, street fighting, and beatings. This can work as long as the moves have power and are on target. It doesn't work for long though as it can soon all look like the same thing over and over again.
Here's a movie that had little going for it until the final fight. I rate it a notch above average all because of the final fight. The fight lasted an impressive thirty minutes. The setting of train tracks and lumber yard meant any misstep or tumble would be painful to injuring. Back then safety precautions meant they put a thin mat down for the fight, if any. I recommend this movie for fans of the genre based on the down and dirty long duration final fight.
