Customer Reviews

Chinatown Kid

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THE CHINATOWN KID (1977) is an excellent showcase for one of the greatest kung fu stars of the 1970s, Alexander Fu Sheng. It also introduced audiences to the five actors who would come to be known collectively as the Five Venoms, following the success of their first starring film, FIVE DEADLY VENOMS (1978).

CHINATOWN KID is set mostly in America, in San Francisco's Chinatown, although it was shot at Hong Kong's Shaw Bros. Studio on sets which may not convince many viewers. However, the film tells an exciting rise-and-fall gangster story filled with short, but spectacular, kung fu brawls set in the streets, clubs and gyms of Chinatown. Fu Sheng plays a mainland Chinese refugee in HK who flees to the U.S. to escape the wrath of an angry triad boss after rescuing a girl from his prostitution ring. The boss, played by Wang Lung Wei, eventually arrives in S.F. as well, forcing a showdown that soon escalates to involve two rival Chinatown gangs. Thanks to his courage, cockiness and kung fu skills, Fu Sheng rises up within the underworld but his conscience gets the best of him after a Taiwanese student he had befriended gets hooked on heroin. This leads to an all-out battle with the gang that had taken him in.

In addition to Fu Sheng, the major kung fu performers on hand include Wang Lung Wei and three future Venoms, Kuo Chui, Sun Chien and Lo Meng. (The other two, Chiang Sheng and Lu Feng, have smaller roles.) The film's production design captures the wonderfully garish costumes and interior décor of mid-1970s American taste, making it a very different-looking kung fu film. In fact, it feels more like an American gangster movie and looks forward particularly to Brian De Palma's SCARFACE (1983).

I just wanted people to know that the Forum Home Video version of Chinatown Kid runs at 88 minutes, not 115 min. Also, it's full screen. Basically its the same source as the Ground Zero DVD.

On Labor day weekend in 1977, several people were shot at the Golden Dragon Restaurant on Washington Street at Grant Avenue in San Francisco's Chinatown. This was the result of a war between two youth gangs. The Wah Cheng gang was based in Chinatown centered on Grant, and Joe Fong's Boys were based in New Chinatown centered on Clement across town. Some Joe's Boys tried to shoot some of the Wah Cheng but hit innocent bystanders. Next weekend, some Wah Cheng went to New Chinatown and shot some Joe's Boys. Thus did the war continue all through September 1977. I knew one of the founders of the Wah Cheng, and I saw two shooting episodes, since I lived about 2.5 blocks from "Gum Long-Chin Lung (Golden Dragon)" then. Chinatown was soon deserted by tourists, and it was unusual to see that. It was big news in Chinatown when Shaw Brothers decided to make a movie loosely based upon this gang war. Fu Sheng, aka Alexander Fu starred, and the female leads Shao Yin-Yin and Yu Sai-Li both resembled my girlfriend Chu Bi-Zhen. I love this movie, even if it has little resemblance to the real people involved. It is a better story however. I recommend adding it to your collection, and when you do, be aware it was inspired by a real series of events.

Do NOT buy this DVD as the transfer is HORRENDOUS. I bought it earlier but returned it because of the terrible picture quality. Alexander Fu Sheng's classic flick deserves better than this!

great vhs video. almost back to the past of the 70s show where another one bite the dust.