HELL’S WIND STAFF (aka DRAGON AND THE TIGER KIDS) was a breakthrough picture for one of it’s leads, Meng Yuen Man. He went on to star in THE MASTER STRIKES, DAGGERS EIGHT, and TRILOGY OF SWORDSMANSHIP, before a heart attack put him out of the martial arts scene in 1981. HELL’S WIND STAFF also stars another Meng, Meng Hoi, a stunt man and martial arts choreographer, who would go on to a successful career in mainstream Hong Kong fare such as LEGACY OF RAGE, YES MADAM, and HEART OF THE DRAGON. And of course HELL’S WIND STAFF is famous for the presence of the great Hwang Jang Li. This Korean martial arts champion has some of the best high-kicking skills in the entire realm of Kung Fu, but sadly he got typecast as a villain. Still, you can count on Hwang Jang Li to steal pretty much every scene he has appeared in, overshadowing such co-stars as John Liu (THE INSTANT KUNG FU MAN), Meng Hoi (BUDDHA ASSASSINATOR), Jimmy Liu (DRAGON’S CLAWS), and even Jackie Chan (DRUNKEN MASTER). Hwang Jang Li gives it his all in HELL’S WIND STAFF, and the movie is surely one of the best physical roles he’s ever done. CAV and World Video knew they had a winner when they secured HELL’S WINDS STAFF for DVD release on their classic Kung Fu series.

Dao Wu, the nephew of a respected martial arts teacher, Master Wong, rapes the daughter of another Kung Fu master. The father of the girl is naturally pissed, and plucks Dao Wu’s eye out in retaliation. Out of respect for Master Wong, the father leaves Dao Wu blinded, but alive. A dejected Dao Wu joins an underworld organization, led by the insidious Lu (Hwang Jang Li) and over a four-year span, Dao Wu becomes Lu’s top martial arts enforcer. Meanwhile, two young Kung Fu students, Stone Dragon (Meng Hoi) and Tiger Wong (Meng Yuen Man) stumble upon an underworld plot to provide slave labor. Lu is the mastermind behind this plot, which is carried out by a criminal gang called the Four Snakes. Tiger and Dragon beat the Four Snakes, which prompts Lu to dispatch Dao Wu to Master Wong’s school, where Tiger resides. Tiger is not at home, but Master Wong speaks up on behalf of his son, and is killed by Dao Wu. Tiger and Dragon soon return to his father’s school to find him dead. Tiger is devastated and is quick to plot revenge. Dao Wu returns with Lu and his gang to kill Tiger and Dragon. The two are helpless against such an onslaught, and barely escape with their lives.

Tiger and Dragon head for the hills and hook up with an crippled Kung Fu master, who has mastered the Dragon’s Claw style. Legends say that only the White Dragon Fist form can beat Lu’s Devil Stick style. Coincidently, the elder was crippled years ago in battle with Lu, so the old master is more than happy to impart his knowledge of Dragon’s Claw to his eager pupils. Tiger and Dragon undergo an extreme acrobatic regimen to boost their skills and prowess. Then the elder teaches them some anti-staff fighting techniques. The elder says when they can collectively beat him, they shall be ready to fight Lu. But a heartbroken Tiger cannot wait to get his revenge against Dao Wu, so he sneaks out under the cover of night to face his hated opponent. He heads into the village and confronts Dao Wu, and they fight till one of them is dead. When Dragon discovers his comrade has gone to seek revenge, he heads for the village to join him. En route to the village, Dragon discovers Lu and his goons. Thinking that Lu may have already killed Tiger, Dragon pitches himself into battle against Lu. Dragon easily beats Lu’s thugs, but has a much harder time against their boss, who wields his unbeatable wind staff. Just when it seems like Lu has Dragon in his sights, Tiger arrives. The stage is set for the final showdown—but just when you thought you’d seen it all, a mystery fighter enters the fray!

Though comedy in Kung Fu films peaked with DRUNKEN MASTER, there were several earlier efforts that paved the way for the success of Kung Fu and comedy. HELL’S WIND STAFF was one such film. Director Tung Wong specialized in combining both genres, but the comedy in HELL’S WIND STAFF is (thankfully) rather restrained. The first five-minute scene that introduces Meng Hoi and Meng Yuen Man is littered with humor, and then the next 90 minutes is dead serious (with exception of a few light moments). The comedy does not damage the drama or credibility of HELL’S WIND STAFF, but it does create a schizophrenic feel. Meng Hoi and Meng Yuen Man (along with Li Yi Min) are some unique players among the old school pantheon of actors, because all these men have charisma and can make the humor work when the script requires it. The plot is typical revenge fodder that does not bring anything new to the genre, but interestingly the script splits the typical protagonist character into two people (Tiger and Dragon). Since the movies focuses on several characters and villains, HELL’S WIND STAFF takes on the feeling of an ensemble epic, rather than the low budget flick that it is. Much of the credit for the success of the film can be attributed to the directorial craftsmanship of Tung Wong.

Credit must also go to the Yuen Clan for providing the break-neck fight choreography. If anything, the fights are so flashy that they tend to lack realism. Both Meng Hoi and Meng Yuen Man are agile acrobats whose moves are at times unreal. For instance at one point in the movie, Meng Hoi repeatedly curls himself up into a ball and batters his opponent like a bowling ball hitting a tenpin. In another great training scene, Meng Yuen Man stands on his hands and uses his feet to move a stack of bricks piece-by-piece. No cables or special effects here, it’s really Meng Yuen Man doing it in real time and without any cuts. It’s a shame he had to quit Kung Fu, as he certainly would have been a big star. Hwang Jang Li’s high kicking talents are under-utilized here, due to the fact that he fights with a staff through most of the movie. He does have one great fight scene, where he knocks down three of his enemies (in slo-mo) with one flying kick. Then Hwang Jang Li fights three-on-one during the final showdown, which is guaranteed to leave you exhausted just observing it. The fights and choreography are extremely violent. HELL’S WIND STAFF features eyeball violence, throat-crushing blows, snake attacks, and people falling into a pit of sharpened spikes. So despite the few light moments in the film, the dark moments more than compensate.