88 Films UK Blu-ray Synopsis: When timid police officer Tuba (Sammo Hung) – more interested in music than catching crooks, is put on a dangerous mission, he witnesses the killing of decorated hero Chow, who makes him promise to avenge his death. However, when he fails to live up to his promise, Chow returns as a ghost. This hilarious supernatural action-comedy, catapults us into a world of ghosts and mayhem. A must for fans of Hong Kong action flicks. (93 Mins)

 

Universe HK DVD Synopsis: Hung is a policeman, but because of his timid character, he spends his days in the Police Band as a tuba player. Inspector Chiang sees the potential in Hung and arranges him to investigating the case together. Unfortunately, Chiang gets killed at work, but his ghost helps Hung to crackdown on the villains and justice is brought back. Hung even wins the girl with his returned confidence! (92 Mins)

 

Views: After a highly-praised cop, Rambo Chow, is gunned down by a gang of criminals, his ghost returns to haunt one of his fellow officers, helping him track down the very people that killed him so that he can rest in peace. But the officer he has picked is not the super-cop he had hoped for. Instead, the timid Officer Tuba is a long-time member of the police band who hasn't seen a day of action in his life. Aided by a new recruit, Cheung, Tuba allows Rambo to possess his body so that he can take on the ruthless killers and exact justice for the killing of his new friend! What a fantastic film!! Recently restored and released on Blu-ray by 88 Films, Where's Officer Tuba? was a fresh new take on the popular British television show, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (1968), itself later remade in 2000 with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer while this little Hong Kong gem would get it's own remake (as such) just 4 years later as Look Out, Officer! (1990) – a equally entertaining and hilarious film starring the great Stephen Chow Sing Chi in the lead. Taking close to 17 million HKD during it's cinema run back in 1986, Where's Officer Tuba? has always been a bit of a marmite movie for Sammo Hung fans. Some love it for what it is – a well made and highly entertaining action-comedy – and some dismiss it due to the fact that it takes some time for Sammo's character to get into action (although others deliver until then). Personally, I think it's fantastic fun!

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While many critics and fans have always seen Sammo as a kick-ass martial arts performer, many ignore the fact that the man can actually act. We've seen it many times in his 200+ film and TV appearances; from action hero to romantic lover, ageing kung-fu master to caring father, and now as a bumbling officer on the beat. I think Sammo is undoubtedly one of the finest actors out there, and his performance here just confirms it. Playing like a blend of his character Kidstuff from the Lucky Stars films and Danny/Do-do from Heart of the Dragon, Sammo as Officer Tuba is both charming and funny. Of course, after he starts getting possessed by Rambo Chow (after the one hour mark), we start seeing the tough guy we all know and love, shining through. I feel like it's only fair to note that this was an incredibly busy time for Sammo, having just came off five huge productions the year before, 1986 would see him give us the epic Millionaires Express and fun Lucky Stars Go Places, with this jammed in-between, before prepping himself for the absolutely incredible Eastern Condors (1987). So, point being, for him to take a break from a full-on action role such as this in Where's Officer Tuba?, I think we can all agree it was well deserved! I did love the casting of Shaw Brothers legend David Chiang as Rambo Chow, the unfortunate super-cop who ends up haunting Tuba. This was one of his first real modern-action roles after leaving the famed studio after starring in a long list of kung-fu classics, and he does a great job – especially in the outrageous and impressive opening action scene which, as most UK fans may know, was reused as the opening scene of Police Assassins 2/Yes Madam (1985).

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Joining them both, and making his feature film debut, is the wonderful Jacky Cheung; popular singer/actor loved by many and one of the 'Four heavenly Kings' alongside Aaron Kwok, Andy Lau, and Leon Lai. I really enjoyed Jacky in this as the rookie cop, Cheung, who joins Tuba in his reluctant quest for justice. While mostly used for comic-effect for the majority of the film, the handsome young star really gets to show his worth alongside Sammo in the blistering final showdown – delivering some intricate and fun moves that do impress. Of course, Jacky fast went on to be a huge movie star in his own right and is still going strong today, joining Sammo again later in years on Seven Warriors (1989), Slickers vs Killers (1991), and Ashes of Time (1994) in a roundabout way! The lovely Joey Wong co-stars as Sammo's love interest, Joanne, another actor early on in their career at this stage. While she's really not got a lot to do, she wins us over by just smiling, looking pretty and putting up with Tuba's wild antics. Her father is played by the late-great Teddy Yip, a face familiar to many and the director of classics such as The Blade Spares None (1971), The Black Tavern (1972), Sleeping Fist (1979), The Thundering Mantis (1980) and more...

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I have to admit, the trio of villains on offer here are another bonus – Yuen Wah, Chang Yi, and my old friend Hwang Jang Lee – all of whom have worked with Sammo many times over the years! Of course, with Yuen Wah, the pair had grown up together and learnt their skills in the Peking opera School, going onto stunt double, star with, and work on each others productions over the years. With Chang Yi, a young Sammo Hung would appear and help choreograph many of his earlier Shaw Brothers' works from The Bells of Death (1968) to A Taste of Cold Steel (1970), and other kung-fu classics such as Bandits from Shantung (1972), Lady Whirlwind (1972), The Traitorous (1976), The Victim (1980) and more. Their last film together would be the awesome Moon Warriors in 1992. And then we have the legendary Hwang Jang Lee, the super-kicker that had worked with most of Sammo's school brothers (from Jackie to Corey Yuen Kwai and more) with 1986 bringing he and Hung together for the incredible Millionaires Express and then this. Hwang would stick around Hong Kong for a few more years before finishing with Yuen Cheung Yan's Live Hard in 1989. Although their roles here aren't for the whole feature, the three of them impress in the stunts and fight department, as expected, especially in the closing chapter. The other fun thing with Where's Officer Tuba? is that it delivers cameo-after-cameo by many well known faces of Hong Kong cinema. From Corey Yuen Kwai and Lam Ching Ying as a couple of Taoist priests, to Alfred Cheung, Dennis Chan, David Wu, Billy Chan and Yuen Mo getting their brief moments, as well as David Lo, Chun Kwai Bo, John Shum, and Chan Ging – even A Rascal's Tale (1991) and The Gods Must Be Funny in China (1994) director, Dick Cho, pops up among many others. Finally, stars such as the late Stanley Fung, Paul Chun, Wu Fung, and Paul Chang show up as Hung's bandmates, while the great Melvin Wong pops-up as their Superior Officer.

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While there's not a lot of fight action, it does impress when it comes about; obviously! Choreographed by Sammo and his stunt team – which often included people such as Yuen Biao, Lam Ching Ying, Yuen Mo, Yuen Wah, Mang Hoi, Hsiao Ho, Fung Hak On, Billy Chan, Chin Kar Lok and others – the action is powerful, slick and exciting. Real-life cop-turned-actor/film-maker Philip Chan co-directs with Ricky Lau, the same guy that brought us Mr. Vampire (1985) and it's sequels. Prior to this, Lau directed Sammo in Two Toothless Tigers (1980) before following with Encounter of the Spooky Kind 2 (1990) and Ghost Punting (1992). Chan, on the other hand, had starred with Hung in Winners and Sinners (1983), Owl vs Bumbo (1984), and Pantyhose Hero (1990) for example, as well as having directed films that Sammo produced. The film was written by the late and prolific Barry Wong, the man behind most of Hong Kong cinemas biggest hits featuring Sammo, Jackie, Chow Yun Fat and others. It's a pretty clever script with comedy typical of that time, but doesn't get too distracted and proves to be well written overall. Andrew Lau, director of Young and Dangerous (1996), The Storm Riders (1998), and Infernal Affairs (2002) serves as the cinematographer of the piece while Dickson Poon presents Where's Officer Tuba? under the D&B studio banner – the popular production studio co-founded by Sammo himself. While maybe not perfect, this supernatural action-comedy is a gem from Hong Kong cinema's golden age and, thanks to it's new restoration and Blu-ray release from 88 Films, has never looked better!

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Overall: Funny, exciting and entertaining on many levels, Where's Officer Tuba? is a must for Sammo fans and worth checking out!

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88 Films Blu-ray Extras: 2K Restoration, Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng & F.J. DeSanto, English Opening & Closing Credits, Trailer, Image Gallery

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Universe DVD Extras: Biographies, Trailers