DIRTY HO (1979) is an unusual kung fu movie in that its main character has to hide his martial skills for much of the film in order not to give away his identity as the Eleventh Prince, who is set to be named heir to the throne of China. The title refers to a shady character, Ho Chi (played by Wong Yue, not to be confused with Jimmy Wang Yu), a petty thief who becomes sidekick to the Prince, who is operating undercover as a merchant named Wang while trying to determine which of his brothers is trying to have him killed.
Wang is played by Gordon Liu, the colorful star of MASTER KILLER and many other kung fu classics of the 1970s. For many of his scenes here, he has to disguise his kung fu maneuvers while engaged in polite encounters with men who turn out to be his enemies. For instance, while engaging in a wine tasting session at the home of a wine connoisseur (played by Wang Lung Wei), he has to fight off stealthy assassination attempts by the connoisseur and his servant (Hsiao Hou), all while going through the motions of sitting and tasting different wines. Later, at the lavish home of an antiques dealer, Liu has to fight the dealer while ostensibly engaged in examining ancient treasures. Poor Ho has to watch helplessly from outside the house, eager to help his master, but unsure of what is actually going on.
The party scene where Liu first meets-and fights-Ho is particularly ingenious, because he has to manipulate one of the party girls (Kara Hui Ying Hung) and use her arms, legs and the lute she's playing to fight off Ho, to make it look like she's defending him. Liu claims she's his bodyguard and continually praises her kung fu skills, while she's standing in the midst of the action totally bewildered. Eventually, Liu is forced to reveal himself and is seriously injured in a climactic battle. At that point, he is compelled to teach his skills to Ho whom he then works in tandem with for the knockdown, drag-out final battle with the corrupt General Liang (kung fu great Lo Lieh) and his henchmen, who are working for the 4th Prince, one of Liu's brothers.
The staging is very clever and is clearly a noble effort to do something different within the kung fu genre. Director Liu Chia Liang (aka Lau Kar Leung) has mounted a good-looking historical production, with great sets and costumes, filled with encounters that are imaginative and fun to watch. The plot is not very complicated nor is there much of the excitement one normally associates with kung fu movies, but for fans of the genre looking for something distinctive and unpredictable, this is one to savor and enjoy.
Wang is played by Gordon Liu, the colorful star of MASTER KILLER and many other kung fu classics of the 1970s. For many of his scenes here, he has to disguise his kung fu maneuvers while engaged in polite encounters with men who turn out to be his enemies. For instance, while engaging in a wine tasting session at the home of a wine connoisseur (played by Wang Lung Wei), he has to fight off stealthy assassination attempts by the connoisseur and his servant (Hsiao Hou), all while going through the motions of sitting and tasting different wines. Later, at the lavish home of an antiques dealer, Liu has to fight the dealer while ostensibly engaged in examining ancient treasures. Poor Ho has to watch helplessly from outside the house, eager to help his master, but unsure of what is actually going on.
The party scene where Liu first meets-and fights-Ho is particularly ingenious, because he has to manipulate one of the party girls (Kara Hui Ying Hung) and use her arms, legs and the lute she's playing to fight off Ho, to make it look like she's defending him. Liu claims she's his bodyguard and continually praises her kung fu skills, while she's standing in the midst of the action totally bewildered. Eventually, Liu is forced to reveal himself and is seriously injured in a climactic battle. At that point, he is compelled to teach his skills to Ho whom he then works in tandem with for the knockdown, drag-out final battle with the corrupt General Liang (kung fu great Lo Lieh) and his henchmen, who are working for the 4th Prince, one of Liu's brothers.
The staging is very clever and is clearly a noble effort to do something different within the kung fu genre. Director Liu Chia Liang (aka Lau Kar Leung) has mounted a good-looking historical production, with great sets and costumes, filled with encounters that are imaginative and fun to watch. The plot is not very complicated nor is there much of the excitement one normally associates with kung fu movies, but for fans of the genre looking for something distinctive and unpredictable, this is one to savor and enjoy.