This is a solid enjoyable Shaw film that
begins as a Robin Hood adventure tale and then morphs into a clever sting
film. It isn't particularly ambitious or innovative, but it speeds along
and has a well-written script from Cheng Kang who had been pumping them out
for years in Cantonese cinema and then quite a few for Shaw. What is intriguing
and unexpected is that the hero of the film gets neither of the two big female
stars. This is more plot-driven than action-driven with a few twists and
turns. An excellent cast of Shaw actors - Yueh Hua, Li Ching, Angela Yu-chien,
Ching Miao, Chen Hung-lieh and small bits for Ku Feng, Wu Ma, Ou-yang Sha-fei,
Lee Wan-chung, Shum Lo and Wu Chia-hsiang (who also directs this film). All
familiar faces to Shaw fans. Everyone is given a decent scene or two.
The film is set in the early part of the
20th century in which the land is controlled by Generals aka warlords. Xiao
Pao (Yueh Hua) is a master thief taking from the rich and giving to the poor.
His very able assistant is Xiao Zhong (Wu Chia-hsiang). Between the two of
them they have been robbing from the homes of the wealthy and Pao is being
called the Masked Bandit. When he steals the collected taxes from the General
(Ching Miao), the General and the head of police set up a trap for him. Meantime,
the son of the police chief Qian-li (the Joker smiling Chen Hung-lieh) has
decided to marry his cousin Dan-ping (Li Ching) by hook or by crook because
she is in love with a small time doctor who tends to the poor.
After another robbery by the Masked Bandit,
Qian-li frames the doctor and has plans to kill him in jail. Then the Sting.
The bandit disguises himself as the wealthy uncle of the wife of the General
and insinuates himself into the household. The wife is played by Angela and
in another unexpected turn, yes, she is very greedy but has a loving relationship
with the General. They are a cute couple. Too bad he is a corrupt killer.
Once inside the home, Pao sets his master plan into action to get back at
all the bad players and reunite the lovers. It is nicely done.
