It starts at a location in Thailand used for many movies of that era. There are temples gray from recent air pollution and other partial walls and doorways made from more modern bricks. Everything is covered in high weeds. The area is definitely off the tourist guide book but in the first chapter of location scout guide book.
Jimmy drops in on some guys gambling. He takes their pot and accuses them of thievery. A brawl ensues. This is one of those fights where the hero is in the center surrounded by dozens of attackers. They hop about and add movement to the scene but only one or two of them attack the hero at a time. Despite this scenario being 100% unrealistic it is in about 99% of the martial arts movies ever made. Jackie Chan, in an interview, ridiculed this fight scenario and made it his personal mission on becoming a star never to put such a scene in his movies. Jimmy Wang Yu never looked at it as so complicated. Instead, he somehow made all these stupid scenes look good.
Injured, he holds up at a kung fu school. They are attacked and Jimmy fights and flees again. Eventually he is rescued by some farmers. James Tien enters as the Japanese boss of a casino. The movie slowly turns into a drama about the evils of gambling. Lee Kwan loses everything and an over-dramatic suicide scene is the low point of the movie.
I recommend this movie to fans of martial arts movies of the golden age from 1967 to 1984 for only one reason. Near the end is a scene where Jimmy fights a stunt man set on fire. Yes, in 1973 if you needed to set a stunt man on fire you used fire not a computer. Otherwise, this movie is totally forgettable average material only.
Jimmy drops in on some guys gambling. He takes their pot and accuses them of thievery. A brawl ensues. This is one of those fights where the hero is in the center surrounded by dozens of attackers. They hop about and add movement to the scene but only one or two of them attack the hero at a time. Despite this scenario being 100% unrealistic it is in about 99% of the martial arts movies ever made. Jackie Chan, in an interview, ridiculed this fight scenario and made it his personal mission on becoming a star never to put such a scene in his movies. Jimmy Wang Yu never looked at it as so complicated. Instead, he somehow made all these stupid scenes look good.
Injured, he holds up at a kung fu school. They are attacked and Jimmy fights and flees again. Eventually he is rescued by some farmers. James Tien enters as the Japanese boss of a casino. The movie slowly turns into a drama about the evils of gambling. Lee Kwan loses everything and an over-dramatic suicide scene is the low point of the movie.
I recommend this movie to fans of martial arts movies of the golden age from 1967 to 1984 for only one reason. Near the end is a scene where Jimmy fights a stunt man set on fire. Yes, in 1973 if you needed to set a stunt man on fire you used fire not a computer. Otherwise, this movie is totally forgettable average material only.
