Contents:
Traitor Lord 9th (Pai Piao)’s henchmen assassinate the emperor. Just in time, he manages to entrust the baby princes to Gu Long (Kwan Feng) and Li Zheng (Yuen Wah). The two Martial Arts experts succeed in escaping but Lord 9th is already waiting for them. Again, they are able to escape, thanks to their fellow combatants who sacrifice themselves. Gu Long who carries the younger son and the Imperial Sword reaches the hiding place of the loyal Premier Minister Wang (Ku Feng). Li Zheng is deadly wounded but still able to bring the crown prince and the Imperial Jade Seal to the Three Dumb Shaolin Masters in the Disciplinary Hall of the Shaolin Temple. He dies before he can tell them the truth about the baby boy. The crown prince is raised as Dao Xing (Ti Lung) by the Three Dumb Masters, and they train him in the most secret and deadliest Shaolin Martial Arts, while the younger son is raised as Wang Zitai (Derek Yee) by the premier minister who also trains him. Contrary to Dao Xing, he is fully aware of his imperial heritage. Lord 9th has not forgotten about the princes, and, since he has spies in the Shaolin Temple and at the premier minister’s household, both young men are soon involved in the fight for the Dragon Throne. Only with joint forces they will be able to emerge as winners.
Critique:
Shaolin Prince is the directional debut of choreography genius Tang Chia, and, together with Shaolin Intruders and Opium and the Kung Fu Master, one of only three movies he directed. This cannot be due to quality because Tang Chia lets off a fireworks of first-class action, and goads the actors into top performances.
The plot itself is only average but this does not matter much because it is narrated without frills and at a fast pace. Tang Chia enters the dangerous ground of Hong Kong comedy in the form of the Three Dumb Masters but luckily he does not go wrong. Despite their piecework grimacing and stupid dialogues, they prove to be even quite amusing because their appearance is usually accompanied by high-carat Martial Arts performances. When they intend to support their protégé in a fight, for example, they use one-legged jumping stilts because they are not allowed to touch the ground beyond their Disciplinary Hall. They way they then teach the enemy a lesson is a stroke of genius.
The only thing I did not like worth speaking of is an exorcism scene with Ti Lung, Derek Yee, and Lau Yuk Pok. The scene is well done but ends with orange flames emitting from Derek Yee’s sword, eliminating the demon. This special effect is totally inappropriate for the movie, and looks like an alien element. All in all, however, it does not matter because it is overtopped by many brilliant fighting scenes, for example, the monk formations. The director equips the arch-villain with some special devices which are effectively used in the wonderful final fight .
Rating:
Excellent directional debut by Tang Chia whose weaknesses are almost totally overtopped by great action scenes. Due to the average plot, the movie slightly lags behind its successor Shaolin Intruders, and thus receives 9 out of 10 points.
Shaolin Prince
Alternative Title: Iron Fingers of Death
Year of Release: Hong Kong 1983
Director: Tang Chia
Actors: Ti Lung, Derek Yee Tung-Sing, Jason Pai Piao, Chan Kuen, Ku Feng
Running Time: 89 minutes
Production: Shaw Brothers
Version: IVL Celestial
Reviewed by: Yun Fei Yang
