BACK ALLEY PRINCESS

(Hong Kong 1973) 

Original Title: Ma Lu Xiao Ying Xiong 馬路小英雄

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Directed by Lo Wei Produced by Raymond Chow Action by Han Ying Chieh, Mars Starring: Sam Hui, Polly Shang Kwan, Angela Mao Ying, Carter Wong, Feng Yi, Tong Liu, Han Ying Chieh, Tien Feng, Lo Wei, Billy Chan, Ma Wen Chun, Lee Kwan, Lam Ching Ying, Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Helen Ma, Wong Tao, Michael Hui Reviewing: Joy Sales/Fortune Star HK VCD release Genres: Drama / Comedy / Kung-Fu

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Rating - 3 / 5

VCD Synopsis: Chilli Boy and Embroidered Pillow are two rootless drifters with a talent for all sorts of naughty acts. In a public square, they help a group of itinerant performers led by elderly Kong, to attract the crowds. Later they join Kong's group and live with them in a slum building. They often help the neighbours there with their wits. Though they have some vices with them, they gain sympathy from a lawyer, Tang, and are saved by him from being arrested when they are pick-pocketing. Then Tang brings Chilli Boy home, hoping to give him a brand-new life. Meanwhile, a series of severe things happen in the slum building. Facing the triad force, people who live there unite together to fight against them. They finally succeed to down with the triad force. Overwhelmed by praises, Chilli Boy's reveal her identity, saying: Believe it or not, I'm a girl. (122 Mins)

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Views: The delightful and multi-talented Sam Hui started his film career when he signed with Golden Harvest in 1971. It wasn't long before he was left in the hands of the infamous producer & director Lo Wei, who cast him in two memorable roles in the same year. The first was The Tattooed Dragon with Jimmy Wang Yu and Sylvia Chang, with his follow-up role in Back Alley Princess – a wacky kung-fu comedy, set in modern-day (1970s) Hong Kong. Sam shares the screen with kung-fu queen, Polly Shang Kwan, who plays Chilli Boy – a guy with boobs (?). The two stars play con-artists, often staging fake fights so they can raise some money for medicine from innocent bystanders who fall for their elaborate set-up. While on the search for their next meal, the pair befriend a bunch of street performers led by Tien Feng from Young Master, The Fate Of Lee Khan, and King Boxer. Feng's troupe includes some major names such as the amazing Angela Mao Ying, Carter Wong, Chin Yuet Sang, Lee Kwan, and others. After a successful night performing and Polly proving her kung-fu skills in a rooftop match with Mao Ying and her master, the pair are asked to join the troupe and quickly accept. All seems to go well for them in their new venture until one of the younger girls of the troupe gets sold to a gangster. It all leads to Hui and Kwan stepping up to save the day and leading their new brothers and sisters on a fight-filled, rescue mission!

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While the plot for Back Alley Princess sounds simple enough, this Golden Harvest production is actually pretty nuts in many ways. The film opens with a crude animated-credit-sequence, much like a cheaper version of the classic Pink Panther movies, before jumping right into the gender-bender tale of Chilli Boy and Embroidered Pillow (Hui) that may seem a little dated today. For example, Polly is portrayed as a boy for most of the movie, but when she/he must go undercover to save her friend from a gangster, Chilli Boy disguises oneself as a girl to trick them. Then, in an odd turn of events, she gives away her big reveal at the end to show that she actually is a girl..!?! Anyone who doesn't know what they are watching or understands the long-time tradition of females playing males (and vice-versa) in Chinese theatres and movies, might just be a bit lost...

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Having been in the business from the late 1940s, one would have expected Lo Wei to have perfected the art of direction by this stage of the game. After all, only a year before this he provided the world with Bruce Lee's fantastic Big Boss, and Fist Of Fury, as well as a host of other classics. But he never really was the strongest director in the world. That said, it seems that 1973 was a busy year for him with no less than 5 fine features behind him – none of which were small in scale by any means, with Back Alley Princess being a prime example. Large on cast, with plenty of drama and locations, the film could have done with a trim here and there, but still proved successful enough to see Wei return with Sam and Polly a year later for its sequel, Chinatown Capers. On a good note, Back Alley Princess benefits from having plenty of comedy, lots of neat kung-fu fights, and a cast of who's-who in early 1970's Hong Kong cinema including the aforementioned troupe members and the likes of Lo Wei himself, and a young Billy Chan, Lam Ching Ying, Mars, Wong Tao, Shing Fui On, Michael Hui, Yuen Biao and Yuen Wah popping-up in the background through-out. In fact, I would go as far as to say that had Lo Wei used Jackie Chan in Sam's role, we may have seen a different back-catalog of our hero today. Of course, it would be another few years before Lo Wei and Jackie would start their working relationship, but I think this would have been a great launching vehicle for a young Chan. It was interesting to see just how many films Lo Wei had made with (the then young) Golden Harvest studios, before breaking off a few years later to direct Jackie Chan in a number of movies – albeit, with mixed results before Golden Harvest lured him away with a promising deal.

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While its middle may lag somewhat to allow for plenty of drama and some comedy situations, the last 30 minutes of Back Alley Princess makes for a fun ride as Polly and Angela set out on their rescue mission and infiltrate the mobster's brothel. This kicks-off with a few short scuffles leading to a lengthy and well-choreographed, end battle as they go up against some kung-fu veterans, led by the legendary Han Ying Chieh who plays the big-baddie of the show. Hing also served as the action-choreographer, with Mars helping on the stunt-work, and is a face known to many kung-fu film fans having starred in classics such as Dragon Inn, A Touch Of Zen, Fist Of Fury, The Big Boss, and many more. Although very chop-socky in style much suited to its time and era, the fights are a lot of fun to watch and provide some great moves – although without offering anything spectacular. The great Carter Wong only really gets to let-loose towards the end of the film as he takes on 6 or 7 armed men during a kidnapping, with the rest of the troupe and Sam, joining the action for the grand finale.

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Overall: While perhaps a little too long in its running time, Back Alley Princess is a fun watch nonetheless and packed with stars!