Released in 1984, "Long Arm of the Law" has a layer of historical context that may be unfamiliar for nowadays audience outside China.
The movie is exactly set in time: around Christmas of 1983 and New Year eve of 1984.
In the very beginning the police file of Big Tung (or Brother Tung, called so by his buddies and partners from HK underworld) is displayed.
Aged 32 at the time, Tung was one of the Red Guard leaders in Canton back in the Cultural Revolution, moved to Hong Kong in 1979, since then was suspected of several crimes. Obviously, other gang members were in the ranks of Red Guards too. As I think, they inherited their merciless and cruel attitude to others from there.
On the opposing side, there is superintendent Lee, looking between 40 and 50. In the sixties he surely was on service and stood against leftists who terrorized Hong Kong in 1967. For him, the "O Gang" came from that time. In the eyes of this police official, chasing the gang was not investigation but warfare, and finally it turned so.
The movie is exactly set in time: around Christmas of 1983 and New Year eve of 1984.
In the very beginning the police file of Big Tung (or Brother Tung, called so by his buddies and partners from HK underworld) is displayed.
Aged 32 at the time, Tung was one of the Red Guard leaders in Canton back in the Cultural Revolution, moved to Hong Kong in 1979, since then was suspected of several crimes. Obviously, other gang members were in the ranks of Red Guards too. As I think, they inherited their merciless and cruel attitude to others from there.
On the opposing side, there is superintendent Lee, looking between 40 and 50. In the sixties he surely was on service and stood against leftists who terrorized Hong Kong in 1967. For him, the "O Gang" came from that time. In the eyes of this police official, chasing the gang was not investigation but warfare, and finally it turned so.