Review #6: THAT MAN IN CHANG-AN (1967): the first kung fu comedy!

REVIEW #6: 

THAT MAN IN CHANG-AN (1967): the first kung fu comedy!

Shaw Brothers’ first movie of 1967, THAT MAN IN CHANG-AN (1967) very quietly set history as the first wuxia / comedy ever made. Released February 18^th, 1967 it was produced by Sir Run Run Shaw and directed by veteran director Yan Jun. Ting Shan-Hsi wrote the script, only his second film, but the film he wrote before this one was the great COME DRINK WITH ME (1966) in an effort with King Hu. THAT MAN IN CHANG-AN (1967) is not as popular as other Shaw Brothers films of this period and while I have read other reviews of this movie there is not a lot of information on the making of the film and the audience’s reception of it. So we will just dig in and experience it for ourselves, in other words – let’s get busy!

KEYSTONE COPS chase scene

Empress Lu wants to replace the king of Zhongdu with her nephew. She sends an Imperial Edit to her nephew, General Lu Kun to assassinate the king of Zhongdu, King Dai Liu Heng and take his place as king in that province. So, General Lu Kun puts a scheme in place to frame King Dai Liu Heng for treachery so he may take the king’s head but when it comes time to take the king’s head does he do it? Noooooo, he decides to hold the king’s mother hostage and the place the king under house arrest so that he can marry the king’s sister and… what in the world is he doing?!? 

It says we are a comedy... what's a "comedy"?

It does not make any sense but spoofs rarely do. This delightful send up of the plot devices used in the spy movies that were coming to be popular in the sixties was a great idea but to set it in ancient China is probably where it threw everybody off. The movie itself is very funny in certain places but defies logic in just as many places and so while one should only have fun with it, the movie is set in a genre where everything is taken very, very seriously. What a challenge!

And what am I --blind?

Kim Jin-Kyu aka the Masked Man aka That Man in Chang-An aka Zhuang Bai the alchemist

CAST REPORT

the good: Kim Jin-Kyu as Zhuang Bai aka, The Masked Man aka, That Man in Chang-An. Fang Ying as Princess Wen Yang. Alison Chang Yen as Hong-er. Tien Feng as King Dai Liu Heng. Yan Jun as Cao Wu.

the bad: Park Nou-Sik as General Lu Kun. Cheung Kwong-Chiu as General Zhang. Chiu Ming as General Tian Ying.

HONORABLE MENTION: Kim Jin-Kyu as That Man in Chang-An. Mr. Kim totally sells his character as comedic when he has to and serious when he needs to, perfect casting!

SPOTTED: Fan Mei-Sheng as Cao Wu’s waiter. 

Fan Mei-Sheng 

What do you mean "you have to go??!"

FIGHT TIME: THAT MAN IN CHANG-AN (1967) has no fight choreographer credited. I counted eight (8) fight scenes scattered throughout the movie. For the most part they are short scenes with the exception of the four-minute finale. These fight scenes are basically by the numbers “one, two, three – kill” sword fights, rarely (there are exceptions, mostly during the finale.) more that two attackers at a time no matter how many soldiers enter the scene. There is also some last minute under cranking during the finally that just adds to the humor of the entire film, believe me, you do not watch this film for the fights.

HONORABLE MENTION: Alison Chang Yen’s (as Hong-er) double daggers versus soldiers with swords and spears fight scenes with its very direct maneuvering and quick-kill counters, were the best fights in the entire movie hands down. No nonsense, practical self defense techniques, bravo!

RECOMMENDATION: THAT MAN IN CHANG-AN (1967) is an automatic recommendation as a purchase because it is collectible as the first wuxia / comedy ever made. I was very animated while watching this movie with its the humorous moments and with the sheer ridiculousness of some of the scenarios presented, so I am definitely recommending it for the average viewer for pure popcorn entertainment! This movie is funny, period. That’s me for now, see you next time.

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NEXT UP: THE TRAIL OF THE BROKEN BLADE (1967)

KING CAT (1967)

KING CAT (1967)

The Seven Heroes and The Five Gallants is a novel written during the late Qing Dynasty that combined two genres: crime mystery (goon'an) and swordplay (wuxia). The characters in the title would assist one, Judge Bao Zheng, called "Black-faced Zheng for his unwavering dispensing of justice. The stories take place during the Song Dynasty known for it corrupt officials and the hopelessly downtrodden citizens of China at that time. Shaw Brothers made three (3) movies using the characters from this very popular novel and although they are not sequels I will review them consecutively because I can avoid writing the details of the characters three separate times in this way. The first review will be of KING CAT (1967) produced by Sir Run Run Shaw, directed by Chui Chang Wang and written by Ting Shan-Hsi (his first screenplay).

 In this adaptation we begin as Judge Bao Zheng (aka black-face Bao Zheng because in in addition to be dark-skinned, the color black in Chinese Opera represents rough and bold or impartial and selflessness of character) beheads a relative of the Grand Tutor for embezzlement. The Grand Tutor learns of this but already has a political assassination plot for the emperor's younger sister in play involving Hua Chong (aka The Variegated Butterfly) his regular henchman, so he sends in the three Xiang Brothers to assassinate Bao Zheng. South HeroZhan Zhao suddenly rescues Bao Zheng from the attempted assassination and is then asked by Judge Bao to come stand guard with him over the emperor who is traveling out of the palace to view a lantern celebration. During the lantern viewing Zhan Zhao rescues the emperor's younger sister --twice and scales a wall to return her to the viewing balcony. This prompts the emperor to grant Zhan Zhao an official title of Imperial Cat as a reward. 

When word of this gets around to the Five Gallants also known as the Famous Five Rats (or Mice) of Xiankong Island , none of them seem too concerned about it accept Rat number 5: Bai Yutang aka Brocaded Rat. When he hears of the events by the Ding Brothers of the Seven Heroes, he is offended by the title of "Cat" since he is a "Rat" and goes to the capital to challenge Zhan Zhao. The eldest Rat, Lu Feng (aka Skyward Rat) dispatches the 3 other Rats ( Rat number 2: Han Zhang, aka Underground Rat,  Rat number 3: Xu Qing aka Mountain Rat and Rat number 4: Jiang Ping aka Underwater Rat) to return Bai Yutang to the island before he makes any trouble but when they catch up to him in Bianjing they experience an insult and are swayed into helping him. The four of them decide to steal an item from the emperor's palace counting on the emperor to give the case to Judge Bao Zheng and on Judge Bao Zheng to ask Zhan Zhao for help and they hope to embarrass him and ensure their reputation as superior to his. What they don't count on is the hideous character of Hua Chong to bring into question whether or not Bai Yutang can rape and murder.  

As this is a famous novel with literally hundreds of sequels and imitations naturally, this is an all-star cast production. Chang Yi is once again the star and once again he does not seem comfortable at all as the hero but, this time,  I think it is suitable for the character. Zhan Zhao wants no part of this official stuff and just does what any hero would do and then wants to move on. His character opposite is Bai Yutang and playing him is Kiu Chong who to my surprise just eats up the screen in this role, bravo! Kiu Chong is superb as the fancy-dan swordsman who won't be outdone by anyone and certainly not some official named "Imperial Cat"! The rivalry here is depicted in a very logical manner and even though Bai Yutang is supposed to be the unreasonable one, his emotions and subsequent actions make sense especially for the time (Song Dynasty). 

Speaking of great acting: watching Lo Lieh go back and forth as the hero and villain in these past few movies gives one a qualified opinion of how talented this actor really is. The character Hua Chong is the typical Song Dynasty official who can't possible conceive of  his actions as anything but justified as they are all self-serving actions. Lo Lieh is careful not to over-do his portrayal of this villain and create an evil caricature but just plays him as a man going about his evilness in a pathological, devil may care calmness, again, bravo!. Honorable Mention: There are so many stars here that I know that I am just going to miss someone so I won't even try but I must mention these guys: Liu Chia-Liang, Liu Chia-Yung, Tang Chia, Wu Ma, and Clif Lok. 

FIGHT TIME: Once again here we are, the reason why I am living and wait, what is this --no fight choreographer credited? But, but I see Liu Chia-Liang andTang Chia right there, in fact they are in the very first fight. Okay, okay I am being a bit facetious. Although they are not credited their presence in the movie means they worked on it and it shows. I counted eight (8) fight scenes which qualifies this movie as action-packed and it is well choreographed with even some stunt doubling to boot. The quality of the techniques is above average and the shining star this time is Kiu Chong, can you believe it!? I remember calling him out in THE KNIGHT OF KNIGHTS (1966) review for his lack of fighting ability but here, not only are his skills improved but they are character appropriate, so kudos to Mr. Kiu Chong for being the stand out in this ensemble production and Masters Liu Chia-Liang and Tang Chia for putting it together.

With this movie the experienced team of Liu Chia-Liang and Tang Chia raised the bar by adding some acrobatics to the sword-play and with a well-known and extremely popular story line there was no way for this one to disappoint. The new wuxia genre was here to stay and was only going to get better. To be brutally honest there is still some 1950's ambiance on the movie but KING CAT (1967)does feel like it is moving forward in film history and I whole-heartedly recommend you see it and buy it if you are a collector. We will continue with the adaptations ofTHE SEVEN HEROES AND THE FIVE GALLANTS in our next review. See you then. 

NEXT UP : CAT vs. RAT (1982)