Southern fist fighter Wang Tao and super-kicker John Liu first appeared opposite one another in the 1976 epic, SECRET RIVALS. Their chemistry in the film is evident, and SECRET RIVALS went on to achieve international accolades. Following that classic, Wang Tao continued to take starring roles in independent pictures like THE HOT, THE COOL, THE VICIOUS and MOONLIGHT SWORD AND JADE LION. Likewise, John Liu headlined the sequel, SECRET RIVALS 2, and also appeared in INVINCIBLE ARMOR and MARS VILLA. In 1979, director Cheung (MANTIS FISTS AND TIGER CLAWS OF SHAOLIN) Kay reunited Wang Tao and John Liu for DEATH DUEL OF KUNG FU, which is a virtual showcase for the skills of the two main stars. DEATH DUEL OF KUNG FU is a Taiwanese production filmed in the beautiful hills and ancient temples of South Korea.

Throughout all of the Ming dynasty, the Ching took over China. The Ming general Ching Cheng Kung fled to Taiwan where he carried on the battle, nurturing an army to lead against the Ching. In retaliation, the Ching sent out troops to capture him, dead or alive. Hsiun Chin Kwai (Wang Tao) is a Ming patriot working undercover among the Ching. He gains the trust of a Manchu official, then decapitates him right before the eyes of the Ching soldiers. The Ching Emperor assigns To Ku Yun (Han Ying) to oversee the Ching troops. The successor quickly deigns that Hsiun Chin Kwai be assassinated. To Ku Yun believes the troops are demoralized that an intruder could get to such a high ranking official, and orders the Ching forces to hunt down Hsiun Chin Kwai. So he goes on the run, turning back assassins and soldiers at every step. He is faithful to the Ming underground, whose goal it is to stop the Chings from crossing over the Formosa Straight. The Chings have established a presence in Taiwan, and the Ming underground are hoping to stop the invaders before they can reach the capital. The Chings have a spy in place to relay information back to the Emperor.

The Emperor gives the unknown spy a special pendant, so they can be identified by other Chings. While trying to stay alive in the Taiwanese countryside, Hsiun Chin Kwai meets a beautiful young con artist, Yi Ki. As the two spend some time on the road together, they begin to fall in love. But mysterious stranger Sun Shan (John Lu) enters the picture and makes accusations to Yi Ki. Meanwhile, To Ku Yun comes one step closer to his goal of eradicating Hsiun Chin Kwai. They meet on the grounds of a sacred temple, and begin to duel. Despite the unbelievable Praying Mantis techniques of Hsiun Chin Kwai, Tu Ku Yun’s Crane Fist helps him win the fight, and his men take Hsiun Chin Kwai captive. Sun Shan grills Yi Ki about her allegiances, and about her love with Hsiun Chin Kwai. She cannot hide the fact that she is indeed the spy; and rather than face the shame of returning to her superiors or facing her lover, she takes the easy way out—suicide. With Hsiun Chin Kwai defeated and in custody, Tu Ku Yun turns his attentions to Sun Shan, who has not committed to either the Ming or Ching causes. Sun Shan allows himself to get captured by the Ching, so he can challenge To Ku Yun to a Death Duel of Kung Fu!

DEATH DUEL OF KUNG FU is easily as good as SECRET RIVALS. Although he loses a fight, Wang Tao is in perfect form here. I’ve seen all his films and he is clearly at the peak of his physical condition in DEATH DUEL OF KUNG FU. He looks rather skinny and unthreatening in his other roles, but here he looks totally massive and intimidating. John Liu is perfect as the mysterious lone wolf fighter who is not afraid to voice his opinion. See John Liu perform his high kick style, and deliver some truly beautiful roundhouses to the faces of his opponents. John Liu learned his leg skills from "Flash Legs" Delon Tan. Legend has it that John Liu cooked and cleaned Delon Tan’s apartment for two years for free lessons. All the while, Tan forced Liu to undergo painful and rigorous leg training. I would say it paid off, however, judging by the way John Liu uses his legs in DEATH DUEL OF KUNG FU. The high-kicking Han Ying steals the show as the evil leader of the Ching troops. Even the combined fighting skills of Wang Tao and John Liu can’t stop him. In the final climatic fight scene, it takes both fighters forever to even slow him down.

Besides the talents of the stars and the quality fight choreography, DEATH DUEL OF KUNG FU has a lot going for it. First of all, the screenplay is by I. Kuang, the Shaw Brothers writer who penned several Venoms classics such as FIVE DEADLY VENOMS, KID WITH THE GOLDEN ARM , and CHINESE SUPER NINJAS. Kuang’s script is full of political intrigue and historical relevance. If there is one flaw to the script, it’s that many of the fights have little or no motivation—the characters just fight at the drop of a hat. Cheung Kay’s assured direction gives DEATH DUEL OF KUNG FU a very Spaghetti Western feel (complete with Morricone sounding music). Cheung Kay delivers a confident narrative flow, that in less capable hands would surely come across as just another low-budget independent quickie. Instead DEATH DUEL OF KUNG FU is intelligent, mature, and well-paced. The director knows when to push the story elements and characters aside to let the creative fight choreographers do their thing. This film is violent with impalements, decapitations, and suicide (but no where near as bloody as the Venoms films). The make-up effects are not convincing by today’s standards, but keeping mind the 1979 vintage of the film, the make-ups are effective. DEATH DUEL OF KUNG FU also features some welcome female nudity, so don’t expect Jackie Chan-style kid friendly material here.