Leofwine_draca DIRTY HO is another film from renowned martial artist Liu Chia-Liang, a quite early effort from the director that dates from 1976. It's another film in the action comedy mould, with Gordon Liu and Wong Yue teaming up as a prince and a thief who get involved in a plot infused with political intrigue. You know the format of these Shaw comedy action films by now: the first half is all plot less broad comedy, while things get gradually more serious in the second half.It's one of the highest quality looking films I can remember seeing from Shaw in the visual sense, but I was a little disappointed by the lack of story in the early parts. The fight scenes are exemplary, as you'd expect from the director and stars, and the actors are good too, but the film seems to be treading water for a very long time before it starts to pick up. This is the only real criticism I have of it, as everything else is fine.Wong Yue is charming in a career-making performance and he gets the lion's share of the comedy. Gordon Liu sits back more, which is the nature of his character, and aside from that cheesy moustache he's cool. The usual round of familiar faces fill the supporting cast, including a nice cameo from a typically tough Wang Lung Wei, although I was disappointed that Kara Hui has very little to do. Best of all is the great Lo Lieh as the bad guy, who has some blistering moves come the climax. Inevitably the real star of the show is the director himself, who fills the screen with vivid, expertly-choreographed martial arts. My favourite scene? The set-piece in the windy valley with Liu in the cart, a direct reference to the Japanese LONE WOLF & CUB film series.

ckormos1 I am currently watching every martial arts movie made during the golden age from 1967-1984. Watching in chronological order has given me a better insight into how these movies developed.I have not been able to establish a definite date for the original theatrical release of "Dirty Ho", other than sometime between 1976 and 1979. Recently HKMDB added 8/4/1979 as the date but I can't confirm that at a second source. Until I am certain of a date I can't say for sure if some of the creative choreography first appeared in this movie. Regardless, the use of props, the "fighting while appearing to be stumbling", fighting by making the opponent look off balance, and using Kara Hui as a weapon, all this creative choreography of fighting without fighting was never or at least rarely seen before.The title has always raised eyebrows. To clarify in Chinese the literal translation is "rotten head Ho". Ho is the character played by Wong Yu. The "rotten head" occurs during his fight with Kara Hui. He receives a scratch to his forehead during that fight. Initially, though superficial, the wound is very painful so he seeks medical treatment. The medical treatment only makes it worse. This was planned by Gordon Liu all along to lead to the character's metamorphosis.

Chung Mo This is one of the films that sears itself into your mind forever unless kung fu films are a real turn off. Even when it was only watchable in poorly centered TV prints the brilliance of the action shined thru. Filmed towards the end of the golden age of the Shaw Brothers Studios, Dirty Ho rates as the top of the genre. The way the fights are choreographed is mesmerizing and I have spent hours rewinding the scenes to see exactly how the director orchestrated the camera and actors. It incredible how the movement progresses. I defy anyone to come up with something as subtle yet outrageous as the wine scene or the antique scene. The scenes in "House of Flying Daggers" are quite impressive but everything is computer assisted exaggeration. Here the only tricks are what could be done with editing and camera movement (O.K. maybe a few wires). You can see that most of the work is being done by the highly talented actors.When this is re-released, buy it!

InzyWimzy Funny kung fu comedy with Gordon Liu as a lover of fine antiques, good wine, and is hiding a secret. He wants to show Dirty Ho (Yue Wong) the error of his ways. I have to say, the antagonism between the two is great in the beginning and I enjoyed scenes with the two of them together. Good chemistry.Gordon Liu has some really weird, but very cool to watch, fight scenes which include wine cups and antique vases!! His fight with Johnny Wang is definitely worth watching. Towards the end, it's all action and the double attacks of Liu and Wong work well together. So for some laughs and lots of kicks, watch this one! And Gordon with a moustache, what more could you want??