Ma Yong Zhen (1972)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Directors:

Cheh Chang
Hsueh Li Pao

Writers:

Cheh Chang (writer)
Kuang Ni (writer)

Release Date:

11 February 1972 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Leaving the poverty of his life in Shantung to seek fortune in Shanghai, The Boxer is instead drawn into a world of corruption, gang warfare and evil... Where his only protection is his famed fighting technique.

Plot Keywords:

Axe | Brawl | Gore | Kung Fu | Teahouse

Cast

Kuan Tai Chen	...	Ma Yung Chen
Ching Wang	...	Lu, Pu
David Chiang	...	Tan
Ching Tien	...	Champion #4
Li Ching	...	Chen's girlfriend
Mario Milano	...	Russian Boxer
Feng Ku	...	Champion #4 'Hatchet gang' Zhang Jinfa
Kang-Yeh Cheng	...	Chen's Friend
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chuen Chan
Kwok Kuen Chan
Nan Chiang	...	Champion #1
Ngai Hung Chik
Yun Kin Chow
Ngai Fung	...	Champion #2
Pak-Kwong Ho
Hsia Hsu
Pei Chi Huang
Chiu Lee
Shang Yun Liang
Wen Tai Li
Chen Tien Loong
Wai Lo
Lao Shen	...	Chaperone
Yan Tsan Tang		(as Yim Chan Tang)
Fat Tsui
Fat Wan
Chiang Wang
Chung Wang	...	Tan Si's bodyguard
Ha Wong
Shu Tong Wong
Shi-Kwan Yen
Man-Tzu Yuan
Shun-Yee Yuen

Also Known As:

Boxer from Shantung (Hong Kong: English title) (original subtitled version)
Killer from Shantung (USA) (dubbed version)
Ma wing ching (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
The Shantung Boxer

Runtime:

94 min | West Germany:76 min (heavily cut) | Germany:126 min | Hong Kong:126 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-15 (2006) | UK:18 (cut) | West Germany:18 (heavily cut) | Germany:18 (re-rating) (uncut) | USA:R (cut) | USA:Unrated

Company:

Shaw Brothers

Trivia:

Similar to when Bruce Lee starred in Tang shan da xiong (1971), star Chen Kuan-tai was a Cantonese speaker, but Ma yong zhen was a Mandarin production. However, unlike Lee, who spoke Cantonese during shooting and was dubbed in Mandarin later on, Chen actually learned how to say his lines in Mandarin, even though he wasn't completely sure what they meant. Ironically, actor Cheung Pui San was the Mandarin voice actor for both Lee and Chen.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kung fu (2004)

Rags to riches... but is it all that it's made out to be??

This 1970's Shaw Brothers studio epic from legendary director Chang Cheh still seems to be as increasingly watchable to this day.

Chen Kuan Tai stars as Ma Yong Zhen, a street urchin in 1930's Shanghai who gets by washing carriages for the upper-class. But he desires more, he wants to have his own power, wealth and status in the city of Shanghai. After a couple of errands with the Four Dragon's gang, Ma gets the recognition he yearns for and is seen as a saviour to the poor and begins his parade by taking over districts in Shanghai. Soon the power and status he has craved for begins to crumble the inner-happiness he has longed for.

The film has proved to be very influential to this day, as John Woo was assistant director and the Four Dragon's gang was also used in Stephen Chow's 'Kung Fu Hustle' (but known as the Axe Gang), the finale of Ryo Seung Wan's 'City of Violence' also bears resemblance to the finale of 'Ma Yong Zhen'. Chen proves to be a worthy lead as his appearance and performance comes as very empathetic and proves quite adequately in fight sequences. Chang Cheh regular David Chiang plays a small role but sadly shows very little martial arts skills. The fights are somewhat average, if not very bloody but the story line, the central performances, the cinematography and the music score make this film stand out as an evergreen classic. What drew me into this film was it's cool and slick opening sequence (kind of like Chang Cheh's 'Vengeance') it creates the atmosphere of mystery, danger, rage and excitement.

All I can say is if you can see a worthy version of this movie (sadly there's no DVD released in the UK yet) go and see it. But I'm sure other DVD distributors in other countries have released the full uncut version of this classic.