Ground Zero releases an entire series of Shaw Brothers films, mostly centering on Gordon Liu and his director/choreographer/actor brother Chia Liang Liu, one of the greatest Kung Fu directors of all time (second only to Chang Cheh). Though he is famous for his direction of Jackie Chan’s best film, DRUNKEN MASTER 2, most Hong Kong film fans forget that Chia Liang Liu had a long running relationship with the Shaw Brothers studios, resulting in some of the greatest classics of all time, including THE MASTER KILLER, EIGHT DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER, and DIRTY HO. Most of these films featured Gordon Liu in some capacity and all were extremely popular at the time of release. Unlike the barbaric tone and deadly seriousness of the Chang Cheh films, audiences flocked to the movies of Chia Liang Liu, which were just as epic, but lighter in tone and more colorful. Eventually, Chia Liang Liu parted ways with the Shaw Brothers, but their legacy remains firmly entrenched in the minds of Hong Kong movie fans everywhere. He eventually joined Golden Harvest to direct some new wave action films, among others. But thanks to Ground Zero, these Liu Bros./Shaw Bros. classics can now be enjoyed on DVD.

Gordon Liu gets star billing as businessman Mr. Wang, but who in actuality is the eleventh son of the Ming Emperor who is due to inherit the throne. Wang Yu portrays the title character, Ho Chi. Wang Yu, better known as Yu Huang, is also a Shaw Brothers mainstay, having appeared in such classics as MASTER KILLER, CRAZY SHAOLIN DISCIPLES, and EXECUTIONERS OF DEATH. The typecast Lo Lieh plays the corrupt General Liang. Lo Lieh’s Hong Kong resume is so extensive, there’s no point going into it now. Wang Lung also has a major genre credentials such as THE BOXER REBELLON, CHINATOWN KID, and FIVE DEADLY VENOMS. In DIRTY HO he plays Fan Chin Kong, a martial arts assassin assigned to kill Gordon Liu. The beautiful and talented Kara Hui is Choi Hung, a woman who protects Gordon Liu (well, sort of). If you’ve seen MAD MONKEY KUNG FU, BRAVE ARCHER, or FIST OF THE WHITE LOTUS, then you know how gorgeous this woman is. Hou Hsiao is another martial artist who also graced the Shaw Brothers films EIGHT DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER, THE MARTIAL CLUB, and LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA.

The film opens in a tavern with Mr. Wang (Gordon Liu) and jewel thief Ho Chi (Wang Yu) trying to outdo each other for the attentions of the pretty young ladies. Mr. Wang offers money to the ladies and Ho offers jewelry. Inevitably, they come to blows over the situation. The Emperor’s soldiers enter the tavern and proceed to arrest them until the cunning Mr. Wang fools the soldiers. They arrest Ho, but Mr. Wang bribes them to let his rival go and escort him home. Later, Ho catches Mr. Wang making a business proposal using the jewelry that he stole from him the day before. Again, the two are about to come to blows, but they are interrupted by four cripples who attack Ho for stealing their gold (which in turn, was stolen anyhow). Ho uses his martial arts skills to beat a blind man, a one armed guy, a hunchback, and a one-legged man. As he fights them, it becomes clear that these men are not really cripples at all, but con artists. The soldiers return to arrest Ho and the one-legged fighter, until again Mr. Wang bribes the official to release Ho. Mr. Wang escorts him back to his place and offers Ho a job, which he refuses because he doesn’t like Mr. Wang. Tempers flare and Ho attacks Mr. Wang, but not before Mr. Wang controls his chambermaid’s (Kara Hui) body like a puppet and uses it to batter Ho senseless.

In the scuffle with Mr. Wang and his chambermaid, Ho receives a blow to the head that leaves a huge welt, which swells at an alarming rate. A quick visit to the doctor reveals that Ho has been poisoned, and that is why the wound on his head grows bigger and bigger. Ho deduces that he was poisoned at Mr. Wang’s place and heads over to confront him. After Ho pleads his case, Mr. Wang makes him an offer: agree to be his disciple and he will provide Ho with the cure! Ho reluctantly agrees because he really has no choice. Meanwhile, a member of the royal family pays General Liang (Lo Lieh) to use his assassins to kill the eleventh Prince of the royal family (who has gone into hiding). General Liang knows that the Prince loves fine wines, so he stages a wine-tasting competition (where assassins pose as connoisseurs) to draw out his prey. Mr. Wang shows up with his disciple Ho, to sample the fruits of the vineyard’s harvest. The lead wine expert is Fan Chin Kong (Wang Lung). Mr. Wang and Ho are apparently too much for Fan Chin Kong and his assassins to handle. After this fracas, General Liang stages an antiques show to attract the eleventh Prince, because he has a thing for antiques. Mr. Wang and Ho arrive (can you see where all this is going?) to witness the antiques exhibition. Again, the assassins can’t out fight Mr. Wang and his disciple, Ho. Sadly, one of the assassins manages to stab Mr. Wang with a blade hidden inside an ancient scroll.

Ho brings his master to a doctor who does what he can for Mr. Wang. But his leg is injured so bad, he can’t possibly walk, much less use Kung Fu. That’s when Ho begs his master to teach him proper Kung Fu. Ho and Mr. Wang retreat to a remote dwelling, where Ho undergoes some rigorous training techniques, similar to those employed in THE MASTER KILLER. During this time, Mr. Wang reveals the truth about himself to his loyal student—that he is actually the heir to the Emperor’s throne, and he is hiding out undercover to avoid the killers of his jealous brother. Another pack of ruthless killers called the Seven Tigresses (though they are all men!) locates the abandoned building where the eleventh Prince instructs Ho in Chinese boxing. Ho confronts them and fights off the assassins named The Sufferer and The Bitterer. The eleventh Prince uses his riches to pay off the Seven Tigresses. When the Prince feels that Ho is fully trained, he plans to fight his way back into the Royal Palace to reclaim his birthright. He orders Ho to build a re-enforced wheelchair to transport the limp Prince through hostile territory, and they begin their danger-fraught journey back to the Royal Palace. But General Liang sends his crack shot team of archers to shoot them dead…

DIRTY HO is one of Chia Liang Liu’s best-directed films, probably second only to THE MASTER KILLER. Liu masterfully plays to the strengths of his stars, and actually works from a screenplay crammed with plot, character definition, and inventive dialog (the script is by I. Kuang, the Shaw Brother’s greatest screenwriter). The focal point of the film is the character of Ho Chi (Wang Yu), who begins the film as a reckless brawler. When he meets the eleventh Prince (who bilks jewelry from Ho), a rivalry is immediately established. But the Prince does not partake of the rivalry and sees Ho as a man of great potential. So when Ho is forced to become the Prince’s disciple, the resentment boils to the surface. Ho eventually grows to see the Prince in a favorable light. And after the Prince teaches him Kung Fu, Ho is proud to call him master. The script portrays the eleventh Prince as very proud and cultured individual. The antagonists use his love of wine, antiques, and fine art to bait him. On yeah, don’t forget Chia Liang Liu handles humor in these films better than Yuen Woo Ping. The pacing is right on, even though there are moments when the movie stalls, like when Ho faces the Seven Tigresses. Chia Liang Liu employs kinetic camera work and rapid editing that foreshadowed the modern wire-fu fests that are popular today. DIRTY HO solidifies Chia Liang Lui’s reputation as the second best Kung Fu director (after Chang Cheh, of course).

Gordon Liu gives a career performance as the multi-faceted eleventh Prince. In all his other films (like SHAOLIN DRUNKEN MONK, RETURN OF THE MASTER KILLER, or WARRIOR FROM SHAOLIN) Liu either plays the stereotypical role of a monk or a naïve Kung Fu student. Those films hardly present any opportunities to show his range. DIRTY HO, on the other hand, shows Gordon Liu in a whole new light, and demonstrates his charisma. His character of the eleventh Prince is a noble one, but the audience is not aware of this fact as the movie begins. Gordon plays the character of Mr. Wang as a rogue or a swindler. Mr. Wang poisons Ho Chi, and then demands that the young man become his disciple if he wants to live. We’ve never seen Liu act in such a negative manner, but it shows his depth. Even though Liu behaves like a con man, his every word and nuance projects humor into every scene. Wang Yu is not quite as successful in delivering the laughs, but together they possess great chemistry. Lo Lieh is his usual bad-ass self, but it’s a shame he didn’t get more screen time, as his martial arts skills are only hinted at (until he cuts loose in the last act).

The fight choreography is effective and mostly brilliant, such as the final confrontation in the Royal Palace. Then there is the confrontation in the valley of winds, where General Liang’s archers attack Ho and his mentor. Even though the Prince is in a wheelchair, he still proves how dangerous a martial artist he really is. When Gordon Liu is lured to the wine competition and antiques exhibition, he gets drawn into fighting his opponents in such a manner as to not give away his identity, or the fact that he even knows Kung Fu! These scenes are graceful and expressive, almost like a violent ballet. Chia Liang Liu makes use of some great props. Whether it’s swords, three-sectional staffs, or the usage of everyday objects such as teacups, the intricacy of motion is riveting. DIRTY HO opens with some breathtaking choreography, as Gordon Liu and Wang Yu are appropriately garbed as their respective characters, and trying to evade the arrows of some very acrobatic archers. All this takes place on an all-white soundstage while the credits roll in the foreground. This great title sequence foreshadows events to come in the film and immediately hooks the viewer into the storyline.