THE INVINCIBLE KUNG FU TRIO is a 1974 Kung Fu epic that also known goes by DRAGON’S FATAL FIST. The film is helmed by veteran Taiwanese director Lo Chi (Joe Law), who also directed such martial arts classics as THE MAGNIFICENT FIVE, THUNDERBOLT, and THE ASSASSINATOR. Shockingly, THE INVINCIBLE KUNG TRIO lists Chen Kuan Tai as the star, but he is not even in the film. This overlooked credit error never stopped the various home video companies from advertising the film as a Chen Kuan Tai picture! However, THE INVINCIBLE KUNG FU TRIO does feature the talents of Meng Fei (SILVER SPEAR, EVERLASTING CHIVALRY, GREEN JADE STATUETTE), John Liu (DEATH DUEL OF KUNG FU, THE INSTANT KUNG FU MAN, INVINCIBLE ARMOR), Angela Mao (THE HIMALAYAN, MOONLIGHT SWORD AND JADE LION, DANCE OF DEATH), and villain specialist, Kam Kong (SHAOLIN INVISIBLE STICKS, MASTER OF THE FLYING GUILLOTINE, and IRON MONKEY 1977). So, despite the absence of Chen Kuan Tai, there is no shortage of talent and martial arts action. Tai Seng released THE INVINCIBLE KUNG FU TRIO on DVD in 2000, as one of their initial forays into their Martial Arts Theater line.

THE INVINCIBLE KUNG FU TRIO opens with this descriptive narration:

To combat the secret faction of revolutionaries called The Brotherhood, the Manchurians enlist the aid of the Wu Tang temple, who have a rivalry with the Shaolins throughout history. The High Priest of Wu Tang (Kam Kong) is easily manipulated by the Manchurians, but he fears no one because of his mastery of the unbeatable Butterfly Fist. During a celebration, the Wu Tang guards attack the revolutionary named Lu Ah-Choi (John Liu). His fellow member in the Brotherhood, Hung Sze Kwan (Lee Chung Kin) immediately seeks to get even with the Wu Tang. The wise Fong Sai Yuk (Meng Fei) warns Hung Sze Kwan not to do anything rash; to do so will surely risk exposing the Brotherhood. Hung Sze Kwan sneaks out later that night and infiltrates the Wu Tang temple. The Wu Tang’s guards are no match for his cat-like agility. Angrily, Hung Sze Kwan demands those that assaulted his compatriot stand forth. The High Priest of Wu Tang quickly responds, and they begin to duel. The Wu Tang Master surprises his opponent with the dreaded Butterfly Fist. The proud Hung Sze Kwan is incapacitated by the blow, and completely demoralized.

Hung Sze Kwan stumbles out of the Wu Tang temple, and a peasant hides him in the nearby village. A Wu Tang search party follows, and Wu Tangs corner him inside a barn. Just as Hung Sze Kwan is about to receive more punishment, Fong Sai Yuk arrives to even the odds. Hung Sze Kwan, helpless from the Butterfly Fist, is unable to defend himself, but Fong Sai Yuk chases away the Wu Tang soldiers. Fong Sai Yuk then intrudes upon the Wu Tang temple, and tries to convince the High Priest of Wu Tang to turn against the Manchurians. When the Wu Tang Master refuses, Fong Sai Yuk demands a cure to the Butterfly Fist. The High Priest of Wu Tang promises the cure if Fong Sai Yuk can beat him in Kung Fu. The battle is joined, and after a tremendous showing, the Wu Tang Master overpowers Fong Sai Yuk with the Butterfly Fist. That’s when Lu Ah-Choi shows up to rescue his imperiled comrade.

As the Brotherhood is desperate to learn how to counteract the Butterfly Fist, Fong Sai Yuk graciously suggests they consult his elder Uncle (Liu Ping), who is skilled in both the martial arts and medicine. The Uncle and his lovely daughter, Yau Chun (Angela Mao) tend to Hung Sze Kwan, while the High Priest of Wu Tang sets in motion his plan to crush the Brotherhood. First, they abduct Lu Ah-Choi, which prompts the Uncle and Yau Chun to follow the trail back to the Wu Tang temple. The High Priest of Wu Tang springs his trap, and forces the Uncle into a martial arts showdown. Soon as the Uncle overpowers his opponent, the Wu Tang Master uses his Butterfly Fist to stun the old man. Fong Sai Yuk and a rejuvenated Hung Sze Kwan swear vengeance on the High Priest of Wu Tang for all the pain and misery they have has caused. Before they assault the Wu Tang, they liberate Lu Ah-Choi so the Brotherhood is now at full strength. They prepare to beat down their enemies, unaware that the High Priest of Wu Tang is anticipating their every move. The crafty Wu Tang Master has placed an impostor among them, and members of the Brotherhood are untrusting of the other…

There are literally hundreds of Kung Fu films detailing the Shaolin Vs. Wu Tang wars, and THE INVINCIBLE KUNG FU TRIO is one of the better efforts in the genre. The story has just enough twists, turns, and curiosities to keep the viewer hooked into the intrigue. Especially interesting is how the High Priest of Wu Tang carries out his plan to infiltrate and destroy the brotherhood from within. How he got around to creating those duplicates of the Brotherhood is never revealed—but its implied that he used some bizarre, sorcerous method to conjure them up. Director Lo Chi capably balances the plot framework with the fight choreography. Lo Chi is an underrated director of Hong Kong genre productions, who doesn’t quite aspire to the level of Cheng Cheh, but neither does he sink to the depths of a Robert Tai or Godfrey Ho. Lo Chi is more entrenched in the middle with his contemporaries Joseph Kuo and Yuen Woo Ping.

Lo Chi controls the pacing of THE INVINCIBLE KUNG FU TRIO by continually slipping into action sequences after every exposition scene. Just when one of the heroes looks to get polished off, an unexpected arrival usually saves the day. The fight choreography is very good, with Kam Kong employing the fictitious brand of Butterfly Fist. However, a martial arts veteran Kam Kong can make any bogus style look like the real thing. Hung Sze Kwan, Fong Sai Yuk, and Lu Ah-Choi prepare to combat the High Priest of Wu Tang by practicing the Crane Fist technique. In the explosive conclusion, Kam Kong (who dominates everyone throughout the film) must face the combined fury of Meng Fei, John Liu, and Lee Chung Kin.

Meng Fei is charismatic as Fong Sai Yuk, a role he knows all too well as he played the legendary Chinese character before in PRODIGAL BOXER. In the confrontations with the Wu Tang, Meng Fei delivers his lines with humorous glee, to antagonize his opponents (other than this there is no humor in THE INVINCIBLE KUNG FU TRIO). John Liu has a good presence, and fights really well here. He doesn’t rely on high-kicking moves like he did later in his career. Lee Chung Kin is good as the hot-headed Hung Sze Kwan, but he doesn’t have as much ability as Meng Fei or John Liu. Kam Kong really steals the show in his over-the-top performance as the High Priest of Wu Tang. He injects into his character the crazed, paranoid pageantry of a villain from the old BATMAN TV series. Sadly, Angela Mao is pretty much wasted in this film. Though her character Yau Chun is an accomplished martial artist, she never joins her compatriots in battle. Remember this was back in 1974 when it was still very rare to have a strong female character that would show up the males. Mao later went on to forever change how women would be perceived in Kung Fu cinema, and paved the way for the likes of Michelle Kahn and Maggie Cheung.