The Pirate by Chang Cheh, Pah Hsueh Li and Wu Ma (1973)
12 August 2008A classic Ti Lung and David Chiang epic, this one about a Robin Hood like pirate, the corrupt people he is fighting and an honorable general sent to stop him. Some great at sea fighting, with good character. Enjoyable all the way around. A classic Shaw and Chang Cheh film, and the Region 3 DVD looks amazing.
Chang Pao Chai (Ti Lung) is an honorable pirate, who steals from Foriegners and especially the evil East India Trading Company, but after taking a really big haul his ship is badly hurt, and he must make shore to get materials to make repairs. On shore things aren’t so good though. Not only has another pirate named Hua Er Dao (Fan Mei Sheng) been captured and escaped, but there is powerful man named Zheng Yi (Tin Ching) who controls the docks, and with corrupt officials are using thugs to supposedly investigate pirates, but really steal and damage the boats, then charge so much for repairs that family’s have to sell their daughters into prostitution. Chang goes in posing as a Taiwanese trader, and goes to purchase the parts, but when he goes to the docks, and sees how bad off the fishermen are, he promises to pay for all their repairs. He returns to his boat, but learns 4 of his crew have sneaked off so he goes to get them, sending his trusted two to get money and give it to the fishermen, but Hua Er Dao shows up, hating Chang, and steals the boat and all the money, and sails off even thought the boat is not fit to sail.
REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS…
Meanwhile General Wu (David Chiang) has showed up in town, and it is his job to take out pirates, but he is staying undercover so he can get in and find what is going on.
Chang gets his men from the whore house, and saves a girl (Yuen Man Txu) from being sold into prostitution, and then goes to the gambling den where he runs into Wu, and they fight, because Wu knows who he is from the wanted poster. The fight gets Zheng Yi’s men pissed off at Wu, not knowing who he is.
Chang and his few men decide to steal from Zheng and give to the poor, and they go there, and Zheng thinks he is actually Wu, so they are going to give him the money, but then Wu shows up and Zhengs sister Second Madam (Yue Fung) knows who Chang is, and they go after him, but he manages to take her prisoner, and go in and steal her money.
Zheng and his sister and men follow, and a huge fight ensues, and the only survivor is Chang who goes to give the money to the poor, but Wu is waiting for him, as he knew he would help the people above all else.
The two ride out onto a beach and have an epic fight, and Hua shows up, the ship having sank as everyone knew it would, and tries to kill Chang, but Wu kill shim, and the two keep fighting. At nightfall Wu’s troops show up and surround the place, and Wu lets Chiang go this time in a boat he prepared, vowing to take him in next time, and Chang tells Wu he will let him go if he catches him.
In text we learn that Chang went good after this.
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This is epic and so enjoyble. I just love watching Ti Lung and David Chiang. They are some of my absolute favorite Hong Kong Martial arts actors!
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