Ku Feng is one of Asia’s greatest and most respected character actors. He appeared in some of the best martial arts movies of all time, and also achieved critical acclaim in contemporary efforts as well. Ku Feng started his career with the Shaw Brothers studio, specializing in their epic costume dramas like TWIN SWORDS (1965), TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS (1965), and Chang Cheh’s original ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN (1967), which forever changed the face of the costume drama as we know it. Ku Feng became a regular in Chang Cheh’s stable of actors and acted alongside the likes of Ti Lung and David Chiang in THE HEROIC ONES (1970), THE DEADLY DUO (1971), and SEVEN BLOWS OF THE DRAGON (1972). With the end of the Shaw Brother’s reign in the late 1970s and early 1980’s, Ku Feng’s career degenerated and the actor was forced to appear in lower budgeted comedies or exploitation vehicles like THE 36 CRAZY FISTS (1977), BRUCE LE’S GREATEST REVENGE (1978), and LITTLE DRAGON MAID (1983). However, the Hong Kong New Wave once again put Ku Feng into the spotlight with important roles in PEKING OPERA BLUES (1986), THE MASTER STRIKES BACK (1985), and NEW MR. VAMPIRE (1986). To this day, Ku Feng still appears in prominent roles on the big screens of Hong Kong. In 1977, Ku Feng was branching out into the independent scene, and secured the lead role in the early Kung Fu comedy, CRACK SHADOW BOXER. The film predated the arrival of DRUNKEN MASTER (1980) by two years, and was a sleeper hit at the HK box office. CRACK SHADOW BOXER was one of the first films to usher in the Kung Fu comedy scene which would explode later with the movies of Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. Crash Cinema film released it on DVD in widescreen as part of their Shaolin Boxer Collection.

Two bumbling con-artists, Pi San (Ku Feng) and Wu Long (Han Kuo Tsai) stumble into a town threatened by the Tiger Gang. The Mayor of the town hires two skilled martial arts fighters to offset the presence of the gang’s nervous boss (Dai Sai Aan). When the townsfolk witness Pi San and Wu Long enter the village and fraudulently proclaim themselves martial artists, everyone thinks that they are the two fighters hired by the Mayor. The people roll out the red carpet for these two con artists, who plan on setting them straight after they wolf down some free meals. The Mayor offers them more money to stand against the Tiger Gang, something that the greedy Pi San cannot ignore. The townspeople put them up at the home of a woman called Tigress. Pi San discovers that she has an insatiable sexual appetite which caused her previous husbands to die early deaths. He is horrified when Tigress sets her sights on making Pi San her next husband. Meanwhile, the Tiger Gang learns that the con artists are in town, and believe them to be unbeatable fighters. The thugs follow Pi San and Wu Long around to find out just how good these two Kung Fu fighters are. Through sheer luck and misunderstanding, the con-artists convince the bad guys that they are the real deal. The Tiger Gang leader feels his power slipping away, and hires a legendary martial arts hitman to beat our two heroes. As the dangerous fighter enters the outskirts of town, Pi San and Wu Long accidentally meet up with him and are instantly intimidated by the psychotic behavior of this enforcer (who doesn’t recognize them as his opponents). Both agree to leave town immediately, but Wu Long gets second thoughts when he thinks about how kind the townspeople were to them. Together, the two con-artists hatch a master plan to neutralize the enforcer, and liberate the oppressed town from the Tiger Gang. But can these two bumbling heroes execute their own plan?

If you are looking for a solid Kung Fu fight thriller, you’ve chosen the wrong film. CRACK SHADOW BOXER offers little in the way of plot or martial arts excitement. The martial arts choreography that is shown in the film is very flashy—its Peking Opera style with acrobats leaping under and over the waving weapons. When the skilled Venoms performers do it, it resembles authentic martial arts movement. Never mind the action set pieces, the main reason to see CRACK SHADOW BOXERS is because it’s one of the funniest, goofiest movies to emerge from the shores of Hong Kong ever. Because of this, the movie has attained cult status. It’s like the AIRPLANE of martial arts films, but without the endless sight gags. This is pretty much Ku Feng’s movie, and he gets to really stretch his boundaries into the realm of humor. He’s played villains, old masters, and other undesirables, so his fans get to see him in a new light. Besides Ku Feng, CRACK SHADOW BOXER features Han Kuo Tsai in a key role. He appeared in RAGE OF THE WIND (1974), DRAGON’S CLAWS (1979), and 36^TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN (1978). They are joined by supporting players like Fong Yao, who starred in SUPER KUNG FU KID (1974), BLOODY FIGHT (1972), BROKEN OATH (1977), and later went on to direct TEN MAGNIFICENT KILLERS (1980). Dai Sai Aan (Mandarin name Ta Hsi Yen) plays the leader of the Tiger Gang. He excelled in comic villain roles as seen in THE BUDDHIST FIST (1980), THE FOUR INVINCIBLES (1979), and DIRTY KUNG FU (1978). The movie also features San Kuai, better known as Iron Head from DRUNKEN MASTER (1978). Additionally, San Kuai can be seen on DVD in such efforts as 36 CRAZY FISTS (1977), SUPER KUNG FU KID (1974), and MANTIS FISTS AND TIGER CLAWS OF SHAOLIN (1977).

CRACK SHADOW BOXER veers straight into THE THREE STOOGES territory with the goofy comedic antics. Both main characters are not true fighters at all; they are extremely fortunate people who score lucky punches and kicks on their opponents. There is also a ton of sexual humor and innuendo, although it’s all done in a very clean manner. A young woman who has a crush on Han Kuo Tsai requests that he teach her his rare form of the martial arts. The practice requires them to roll around in bed. Tigress has a crush on Ku Feng, and is constantly forcing him to satisfy her appetite. He develops feelings for her, but he’s afraid he’s going to end up her next dead husband. In one scene, Han Kuo Tsai believes he has the hitman helpless inside a sheet. He hangs up the bag, and begins beating the person in it with a staff. Seconds later it is revealed that the person inside the sack is none other than his partner. In the end, when Han Kuo Tsai confronts the hitman, he wraps rubber straps all over his body. The blows of this burly fighter bounce off his squirrel-like opponent. Han Kuo Tsai revels in playing the goofy side-kick to Ku Feng’s character, who always insists that he is a wise Kung Fu master. The facial expressions employed by these two for cheap laughs make Jackie Chan’s antics seem reserved in comparison.