There is a reason that there is no such thing
as Opium Kung Fu like there is Drunken Kung Fu. This film from the great
Tong Kai has 4 to 5 excellent action scenes, but also a very strong anti-drug
message. Unusual for a period martial arts film. Demon Opium. There is of
course a long historical context about opium in China and how the drug brought
in by the British caused so much damage. This is a much smaller story that
symbolizes that. Shaw in 1984 was approaching the end of their film making
but they could still put together a fine cast here. At least the male actors;
not so much on the female side. The Kung Fu Master is Ti Lung with Robert
Mak as his disciple and Chan Shen as his friend. On the opposite side are
Chen Kwan-tai, Phillip Ko, Lee Hoi-sang and Kwan Fung. Tong Kai takes on
the role of a blind kung fu instructor. And if you look closely, you might
spot Yuen Wah, Ching Miao, Yang Chi-chung and Yuen Bun. A film full of talent.
It begins with two thieves - Phillip Ko,
Kwan Fung - being seen and the whole town comes out to catch them. Not so
easy as they batter one person after another. Until Ti Lung shows up like
Gary Cooper in a Western. A nice tussle on the roof with Fung being killed
and Ko getting away. The town toasts Ti Lung, gives him a big dinner and
then he retreats, lies down and starts smoking opium. Damn, I wasn't expecting
that. Gary Cooper would never have done that. He likes it. A lot. When Mak
tells him he is overdoing it, Ti Lung tells him he knows what he is doing.
An opium den is opened and soon the whole
town is on the black stuff, the Big O, Ah-pen-yen and no work is being done.
Sweet dreams are made of this. Eventually, Ti Lung rouses himself to help
his friend but has lost his fast ball. Gets his ass kicked. Tong Kai takes
him in, cleans him up and gets him ready for revenge. By this time, the audience
is ready for it as is the town that comes out to cheer him on. Solid martial
arts film with an emotional plot and good action. The set pieces are not
spectacular, but they are all choreographed with precision and speed. For
all intents, Tong Kai was to retire after this. An incredible career and
impact on Hong Kong action. 90-minutes.
The character of Ti Lung is based on an
historical character - Leung Kwan but better known as Tit Kiu Sam or Sam
the Iron Bridge. He was the subject of the Martial Arts Trilogy - White Lotus
Cult, Sam the Iron Bridge and One-Arm Hero that was released in 1993. Sam
was played by Do Siu-chun who never became very well-known. The trilogy is
choreographed by Phillip Kwok and is quite decent. Sam was born around 1815
and studied martial arts and is considered one of the Ten Tigers of Kwantung.
One source I read said that he fought drug gangs and another source said
he kept smoking opium all of his life until he died in 1887.
