Written, directed, and starring Jimmy Wang Yu and made for Raymond Chow’s Golden Harvest (and not the Shaw Brothers after he left them), One-Armed Boxer takes its kung-fu leanings as seriously as it does its villains' row. Recognizing this, Arrow Video presents the film in a special limited edition blu-ray, complete with a 2K restoration from the original elements by Fortune Star, and a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady!
While it seems Wang Yu gets overshadowed by the rise of Bruce Lee, it is really his contributions to the wuxia genre (as in shaping it so that a figure like Lee could reign supreme) which matter in the early 1970s. It seems that all others would follow in his footsteps, especially after his rise in 1967’s One-Armed Swordsman.
But it is here where the fists - as one kung fu fighter learns how to beat some ass with only one hand - furiously fly fast! In what other movie can you see Yu punch a mercenary right out of a second story window?! The scene is just one in a thousand which fly by as he takes out some dangerously evil goons - which includes a Tibetian monk who can inflate his entire body like a balloon, an Indian yogi who walks on his hands and confuses his enemies, and a fanged Okinawan fighter (Lung Fei) who can rip limbs from bodies and use them as bats - all hired by a ruthless opium dealer in this surreal school rivalry flick. They are, of course, The Chinese Professionals!
Combining elements of The Chinese Boxer with One-Armed Swordsman, Wang Yu plays Tien Lung, the best fighter in his school, who sets out to teach a bunch of hooligans a lesson about picking fights. What he unleashes upon his entire school is tantamount to Hell itself and everyone pays the price as his school is obliterated in the follow-up attack, thanks to a dangerous drug dealer. Lung even loses his arm in the battle, getting it completely knocked off by the killer moves from Fei!
He then trains in the one-arm iron-fist and death grip techniques so he can get his revenge! Outrageously over the top and full of some killer fight choreography, One-Armed Boxer remains a celebration of all things badass as Wang Yu steals the Shaft theme, absolutely murders his one good hand (so that it can become more rock-like), and then agrees to take down all manner of enemies, no matter how bonkers their skills are!
Make way for the Chinese professionals!!!
Home Video Distributor: Arrow Films
Available on Blu-ray - May 24, 2022
Screen Formats: 2.39:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: Mandarin: LPCM 2.0 Mono; English: LPCM 2.0 Mono
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A
When former Shaw Brothers executive Raymond Chow founded rival studio Golden Harvest in 1970, he quickly teamed up with “Jimmy” Wang Yu – Hong Kong’s first kung fu superstar and formerly Shaw’s biggest box office draw. Bringing over his peerless talent for taking on all foes with one hand tied behind his back, Wang wrote, directed and played the title role in one of his most unmissable kickass classics. From the legendary star of One-Armed Swordsman and The Chinese Boxer comes… One-Armed Boxer!
Yu Tian Long (Wang) is the best fighter to come out of his local martial arts school, but when he crosses the ruthless leader of a local crime syndicate, the big boss’ brutal bevy of deadly killers make mincemeat out of the school and everyone inside. Now the only survivor of the massacre, and short of one appendage, Yu is gifted a powerful elixir that promises to give him the strength to take swift revenge on the army of assassins, each representing the most lethal forms of fighting from across the Eastern hemisphere.
Proving once and for all that you only need five fingers of death to get the job done, Wang would later reprise his role in the infamous sequel Master of the Flying Guillotine, but it’s the dementedly inventive original where he’s arguably at the height of his powers.
Video
Presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, One-Armed Boxer, from Arrow Video, gets its hands bloody and never once rinses its fists as beauty is birthed in this same blood, all with its audience in mind. The poetry on display comes through in the village at the center of this school rivalry film, the crispness of the interiors and the haunting exteriors in which some barren hills become a playground full of blood, and the sudden violence which echoes throughout the film, including its big finale. Black levels are strong throughout, bringing out nice details in both the loud and quiet moments of this epic adventure. The tracking shots are glorious to behold in 1080p.
Audio
The audio is presented in a clean lossless Mandarin mono audio, an alternate Mandarin soundtrack, and original English dubbed audio are also included. While this release does recycle Isaak Hayes’ Shaft theme, it makes for a fun, front-loaded ride.
Supplements:
This one has a bunch of cool supplemental items, including an illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Simon Abrams.
Commentary:
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There is an awesome commentary by Frank Djeng from the NY Asian Film Festival.
Special Features:
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Career retrospective interview with Wang Yu, filmed in Nantes in 2001 and never released before, courtesy of the Frédéric Ambroisine Video Archive
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Trailer gallery, featuring the original Hong Kong theatrical trailer, a US TV spot (as The Chinese Professionals) and over half an hour of trailers for other Wang Yu classics including One-Armed Swordsman and Master of the Flying Guillotine
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Composite Blu-ray Grade
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MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 93 mins
Director: Jimmy Wang Yu
Writer: Jimmy Wang Yu
Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu; Yeh Tien; Hsin Tang
Genre: Action | Drama
Tagline: Make Way for the Chinese Professionals
Memorable Movie Quote:
Distributor: Golden Harvest
Official Site:
Release Date:
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: 1973 (United States)
Synopsis: Yu Tian Long (Wang) is the best fighter to come out of his local martial arts school, but when he crosses the ruthless leader of a local crime syndicate, the big boss' brutal bevy of deadly killers make mincemeat out of the school and everyone inside. Now the only survivor of the massacre, and short of one appendage, Yu is gifted a powerful elixir that promises to give him the strength to take swift revenge on the army of assassins, each representing the most lethal forms of fighting from across the Eastern hemisphere.
