Ma ko Po lo (1975)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Cheh Chang

Writers:

Cheh Chang (writer)
Kuang Ni (writer)

Release Date:

1981 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Plot:

Four friends learn kung fu to avenge the death of their friend against the manchus. |

Plot Keywords:

Kung Fu | Revenge | Kung Fu Kid | Urination | Rebel

Cast

Sheng Fu	...	Li Hung-fung
Kuan-Chun Chi	...	Chou Hsing-chung
Szu Shih	...	Wang Yung
Richard Harrison	...	Marco Polo
Yan Tsan Tang	...	Huang Chung-han (as Tang Yen-tsan)
Philip Kwok	...	Chen Chieh (as Kuo Tsui)
Ka-Yan Leung	...	Tai Dadlu (as Liang Chia-jen)
Lung Wei Wang	...	Duritan
Chia Hui Liu	...	Aburiha
Carter Wong	...	Tso Chien-ming
Hua Chung Ting	...	Tso's young brother
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yi-fei Chang
Hui Lou Chen
Ju Lu Chen
Shen-lin Chen
Li-Sheng Chin
Chiang Han
Kwong Hu
Ying Lee
Hui Huang Lin
Tung Chun Li	...	Kublai Khan
Ti Lu	...	Wang Tien-tao
Kuang Pu Shao
Ting Ken Shih
Yung Chih Sun
Te Hsiang Teng	...	Chin Yao
Yao Wang

Also Known As:

Marco Polo (International: English title)
The Four Assassins (USA)

Runtime:

Taiwan:104 min

Country:

Taiwan

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R

Company:

Chang's Film Company

Marco Polo joined by powerhouse kung fu cast in HK costume epic

THE FOUR ASSASSINS (aka MARCO POLO, 1975) is that rare Hong Kong kung fu film which features a westerner in a pivotal, heroic role. Set at the time of Italian explorer Marco Polo's historic expedition to China, during the reign of Mongol ruler Kublai Khan, it stars American actor Richard Harrison as Polo. Taking considerable liberties with the historic record, the film has Polo turning up as an Imperial Inspector assigned to root out Chinese rebels in the south, but eventually being won over to their cause. As such, it relies on the formula commonly used in kung fu films to depict a much later period of conflict, that of Qing-era Manchu conquerors vs. Ming loyalists.

The film boasts a large cast of formidable kung fu players, including, as three of the four heroes of the title, Alexander Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan-Chun, and, in his first film role, Kuo Chui (Philip Kwok, better known as one of the Five Venoms). The villains are portrayed by Wang Lung-Wei, Leung Kar Yan and the normally heroic Gordon Liu. These six actor-fighters are among the top names of 1970s Hong Kong kung fu cinema and any film with such a top-ranked cast involved in such a dazzling array of matches belongs at the top of any kung fu fan's must-see list. Also on hand are Billy Tang as the fourth assassin of the title and Carter Wong as an ill-fated would-be assassin.

The film's one serious structural flaw is that it introduces the villains first and follows them around as they are assigned to accompany Polo on his travels and tour of inspection. The four heroes make comparatively little impact because we don't meet them until nearly half-way into the film and then have to wait during their period of training (at mundane tasks designed to mask their outlawed kung fu practice) before the spectacular final series of matches with the villains. Action director Lau Kar Leung ended his association with director Chang Cheh during the shooting of FOUR ASSASSINS (in Taiwan) and thereafter struck out on his own as a director.

As Marco Polo, Richard Harrison, who appeared in many Italian action films, including westerns and sword ‘n' sandal adventures, doesn't participate in any fighting here but simply gets to hang around the margins of the action and, ultimately, give advice to the heroes on how to beat the villains. Harrison appeared the following year in another kung fu film, BLOODY AVENGERS, as a German officer harassed in Peking during the Boxer Rebellion by three of this film's stars. They let him live (possibly for having helped them in this film).