Arrow Video UK Blu-ray Synopsis (Book): Tam Tung, who had escaped to Hong Kong from Mainland China at the age of 18 or 19, helps his grandfather to run the orange-squash stall. One day, a triad called Tsui Ho and some friends of his, discover that Tam is a skilful martial artist, and so Tsui Ho challenges Tam to a kung fu contest. Tam accepts the challenge and wins, and Tsui's wife then asks Tam to rescue her cousin from the triad members' custody, promising to give him a quartz digital watch as a reward. Tam risks his life to rescue the girl from the rogues, but this incident leads to ill-feeling between Tsui Ho and Tam Tung, which culminates in a fight during which Tsui is injured at Tam's hands. Tam arranges to stow away on a ship bound for San Francisco, USA. Once there, Tam gets a job in Chan Fu's restaurant in Chinatown, San Francisco, where he meets a young fellow worker, Yang Jianwen, from Taiwan. Yang, a hard-working student, who earns his pocket money in his leisure by waiting on tables, is also a skilled martial artist like Tam. The Green Tigers Club, led by Wong Fu, rivals with the White Dragon Club, led by Siu Bak Lung, for control of a Chinatown extortion racket; both leaders are martial artists and immigrants from Hong Kong. Soon, Tsui Ho comes to San Francisco, where he conveys a secret message from his boss to Wong, urging him to expand his influence quickly in order to control the whole Chinatown area. One day, Tam thrashes several gangsters from the Green Tiger Club. This incident delights Siu Bak Lung, who later learns many things about Tam from his mistress. Later, Tam is sacked by his employer for having gone to the defence of Yang against threatening triad members of the Green Dragon Club. Siu Bak Lung then tries to win over the unemployed Tam by giving him food and shelter. A fierce battle breaks out between the Green Tiger Club and the White Dragon Club, resulting in the defeat of the Green Tigers and the death of Tsui Ho at the hands of Tam. After this victory, Tam lives in style in the company of sexy Sinwa, who was Wong's former mistress. Before long, Yang is shocked by the death of Tam, following a police raid on the Chinatown triad societies. (115 Mins) (Alternate 90 Mins)

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Warner Home Video UK VHS Synopsis: In this frenetic kung fu feast we follow the misfortunes of Tan Tung, a young martial arts expert. From Hong Kong to San Francisco Tan risks his life fighting against the corruption of the infamous deadly triads. When the triads try to expand their operations in San Francisco Tan becomes involved in a vicious gang war between the Green Tigers and the White Dragons- a fight that can only end one way... (108 Mins)

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Views: After getting into trouble with some local gangsters led by Tsui Ho, Tam Tung flees Hong Kong for San Francisco where he finds work in a restaurant and meets a new friend in Yang Jianwen – a student and taekwondo expert. Soon after, Tam finds himself in the middle of a turf war between two warring Chinatown gangs and is forced to pick a side. This new friendship drags him further into the underground, but at the same time, edges him away from the restaurant and Yang. Enticed by the riches he had always dreamed off, and quickly climbing the ranks, Tam soon has enough money to buy whatever he wants and send some back to his grandfather back home. When Tsui Ho and his gangsters arrive in San Fran's Chinatown a few weeks later, Fu Sheng finds himself in trouble once again and as things get worse, he must fight for his life with the help of his good friend Yang!

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While far from my favourite Fu Sheng or Chang Cheh movie, Chinatown Kid still has enough enjoyable moments throughout to warrant a watch. I don't know what it is, but as much as I want to love it, Chinatown Kid has never really done it for me. Even seeing it here on Blu-ray, restored in 2K as part of Arrow Video's Shaw Scope Vol.1 box-set (which wasn't as clean and perfect as I had hoped for), and in two different versions including the lengthy International Cut at 115 minutes and the 90 minute Alternate Version, I still wouldn't rush back to it. To be honest though, Chinatown Kid does get better as it moves along after its shoddy first 30 minutes and if I'm to take anything positive from the film, I'd have to admit that it does have some fantastic fights on offer as well as a great cast. The story was written by Chang Cheh himself, along with James Wong Jim - an actor who has appeared in many great titles such as Royal Warriors, Tiger On The Beat 1 & 2, Diary Of A Big Man, Twin Dragons, and composed music for titles like Shanghai Blues, Casino Raiders, Dragons Forever, Hard Boiled, Moon Warriors, and My Father Is A Hero – and by prolific writer Ni Kuang, the man who practically penned every major title for the Shaw Brothers studio since his debut with the One-Armed Swordsman in the late 60s including the most of (if not all of) Chang Cheh's films from there on in. But still, regardless of the names behind it there are still (plenty of) moments throughout that almost seem like this was written by a complete amateur who had no real understanding of natural interaction – not to mention some laughable decision making and silly dialogue such as the planting of drugs on Tam by Tsui Ho, or the luring of Yang into becoming a drug addict...

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Chinatown Kid is still held by many as Alexander Fu Sheng's signature role, and it's easy to see why. While he wasn't the most handsome man around town, the actor was undeniably charming and a bit more athletic here than usual, delivering a memorable performance as the gangsters lackey who loses his soul for some easy riches. While he has often been referred to as the original 'clown prince of kung-fu' before Jackie Chan owned that title, I more often than not just found him to be irritating and annoying as opposed to funny – something that Jackie could deliver naturally for the most part. Still, I can't deny that over the last year or two with more and more Shaw Brothers titles hitting Blu-ray in a restored-original cut, I am growing to like Fu Sheng more and more each day. Although this had started shooting a year or two before, Cheh has put things on pause to direct films such as Shaolin Temple, The Naval Commandos, Magnificent Wanderers, and The Brave Archer – all of which starred Fu Sheng of course! Fu is joined by the wonderful Sun Chien who makes his feature film debut here, as student Yang Jian Wen. I have to say, for his first role the man does a great job and looks incredibly handsome in his thick-rimmed glasses, complete with bulging rock-hard muscles and slick moves. He soon followed this with a role in The Brave Archer 2 that would see him star alongside Fu Sheng once more, but it would be his 3rd role in Chang Cheh's infamous Five Venoms that would really take Sun to the next level. As the Scorpion Venom, Chien secured his place in kung-fu cinema and with the Shaw Brothers studio that would see him go on to star in a host of classics such as Crippled Avengers, The Daredevils, Kid With The Golden Arm, House Of Traps, Bastard Swordsman, and so much more. By the mid-80s, Sun would make a move into low budget ninja movies and martial-arts adventure films that saw his career take a bit of a dive, eventually retiring from the scene after a small role in the fun Jackie Chan produced Angry Ranger - of which he also co-directed alongside one of his Chinatown Kid co-stars, Johnny Wang Lung Wei. As one of Hong Kong cinema and Shaw's most popular villains, Wei plays the role of Tsui Ho with ease. Interestingly enough, he had only been on the scene for a few years since making his debut in 1974's Shaolin Martial Arts with Chang Cheh – going on to star in a bunch of classic titles through to Chinatown Kid. Wei would stay with Shaw Brothers for a good decade before moving on with other studios, as well as making his own directorial debut in 1985 with The Man Is Dangerous, which was quickly followed by Hong Kong Godfather and the brilliant Innocent Interloper, while starring in many great titles like Millionaires Express, Project A 2, Tiger Cage, Twin Dragons, New Legend Of Shaolin, and then some. The majority of Sun Chien's Five Venom co-stars help flesh things out such as the brilliant Philip Kwok Chun Fung who plays the White Dragon. The equally cool Lo Meng stars as his nemesis, the Green Dragon, with Lu Feng and Chiang Sheng playing fighters for each of them respectively alongside the likes of Dick Wei, Robert Tai, Wang Ching Liang, Jamie Luk, Lee Ka Ting, Lam Fai Wong, and others. The lovely Kara Hui cameos in her 4th role (non-action), along with the wonderful Susan Ýam Yam' Shaw, Shirley Yu, Teresa Ha Ping, and famous singer Jenny Tseng who went on to marry Fu Sheng.

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The fight-action is choreographed by Robert Tai and Lee Ka Ting, both of who co-star as gang thugs as mentioned. While Tai had been acting since 1970, this particular year would allow him to progress and turn his hand to action-direction on Chang Cheh's three films of the year such as The Naval Commandos, The Brave Archer, and this. Of course, Robert Tai would goon to become a famed director in his own right with Alexander Lo Rei classics such as Devil Killer, Shaolin Vs Ninja, Ninja Vs Shaolin Guards, Ninja The Final Duel, and many more. Lee Ka Ting had started just a few years before Tai, and began his work as a martial arts director in the early 70s with Tang Sheng's Cruel Killer and joined his co-director in the aforementioned Chang Cheh films the same year. Between the two of them, viewers are treated to some pretty exciting fight scenes that actually get better as they move along and also give Fu Sheng the chance to show a bit more physicality than usual. The final battle that pulls in all the talents of the famed Venom Mob is clearly the best of the lot, and makes for a great finale with plenty of incredible moves on offer. Although there is some social commentary from Chang installed in his tale, the story of Chinatown Kid has been told in many different ways over the years – both before and after the film was made – and regardless of its flaws, it definitely has plenty of moments to enjoy throughout. While there is definitely much more to say about it, I'd suggest listening to Terry Brady's audio commentary on the film as part of the Shaw Scope Vol.1 box set which gives listeners an amazing insight to Fu Sheng's life, notes on the production, and more!

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Overall: While it may not be the best of the Shaw Brothers catalogue, Chinatown Kid still manages to entertain and has plenty of great fight scenes of offer!

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Arrow Video Blu-ray Extras: 2K Restored International Version (115 mins), 1080p HD Alternate Version of International Cut (90 mins), Audio Commentary by Terrence J. Brady, Scene Select Commentary by Susan Shaw, Featurette on Fu Sheng, Trailers, TV Spots, Image Gallery

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Watch my unboxing video of this Arrow Video release HERE

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Buy your copy HERE