Stroke of Death (1979)
"Chu long ma liu" (original title)

A small-time crook goes in search of the other half of a wooden keepsake which will lead him to the legendary kung fu technique of the Gibbon Clan Fist.

Director:

Mar Lo

Writers:

Mar Lo (screenplay), On Szeto (screenplay)

Stars:

Hsi Chang, Ling Wei Chen, Mu Chuan Chen

Cast

Credited cast:
Hsi Chang
Ling Wei Chen
Mu Chuan Chen
Cheng Chiang
Han Chiang
Yu-lan Chiang
Tien-chu Chin
Siu-Tung Ching	...	Wei Chung
Yu Fang
Ping Fong
Chiu-sing Hau
Yung Huang
Ho Chiu Kei
To-hoi Kong
Feng Kuan

Storyline

Ching, a small-time crook, is sent to prison. There he meets a one-eyed master who has been sentenced to death. Shortly before he is executed, he gives Ching a wooden keepsake, half of which is missing, and cryptically tells him he must search for the other half, for then he will understand. Shortly thereafter Ching breaks out of prison with another inmate and goes in quest of the missing piece to discover its secret. However, he is not the only one after it. A gang leader who also wants the piece is now on Ching's tracks. Also, the inmate with which Ching originally escaped now seems to be popping up everywhere. What secret lies behind the wooden puzzle?

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Plot Keywords:

kung fu | martial arts | chinese

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese Mandarin

Release Date:

5 May 1979 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Stroke of Death

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shaw Brothers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

One-eyed Master: Tomorrow I'll be taken to the execution site.
Wei Chung: Really? The execution will take place?
One-eyed Master: Fear not. This will happen sooner or later. I will give you something now.
Wei Chung: What? This is...
One-eyed Master: There's only half a piece of wood here. After you get out of jail, you must find the other half.
Wei Chung: The other half?
One-eyed Master: Yes. Put the two pieces together and you'll understand.

User Reviews

Highly impressive kung fu action/adventure

Hearing that "Monkey Kung fu" had almost non-existent plot, I did not expect to like this one, but the fact is, this is a highly enjoyable film, thanks mainly to the leads, Ching Siu-tung & Hou Chao-sheng, who together, bring an incredible energy to the screen. Not so much a comedy, but the sheer insanity of the kung fu action is enough to make any viewer laugh and shake their head in amazement. The story is simple; a pair of convicts escape from prison, to discover the mystery of "Gibbon fist," a kung fu technique thought to be lost. They each hold one half of a wooden amulet, and when it it is pieced together, it will lead the pair to a mountain top, where an ancient scroll is hidden. Of course there is a rival clan bent on destroying them and claiming the scroll for themselves. Along the way we join this crazy pair for some off the wall situations; like when Wei Chun (Ching) must battle his way out of a whorehouse after short changing the prostitute, (who kicks his ass with some truly eye-popping kung fu of her own.) In fact, you will see some of the absolute finest kung fu ever captured on film. Also known as "Stroke of Death," this one is a bit reminiscent of "Hellz Windstaff" in how the two friends seem to become one when fighting, working off each other to bring down their opponent. The more involved story and character development of Windstaff makes that one superior, but "Monkey Kung Fu" is a very worthy entry in the history of 1970's kung fu classics; Recommended.