Die Eisenfaust

THE PROUD TWINS (1979) is, like so many Shaw Bros. films directed by Chor Yuen, a fairly convoluted swordplay adventure based on a novel by Ku Lung, author of many martial arts fantasy adventures set in Old China. It's a little better than most because it has a broader sense of humor and provides kung fu star Alexander Fu Sheng with one of his best comic roles. He's genuinely funny here and his antics provide the glue that holds it all together. He also gets to use his kung fu skills on a regular basis.

The plot has Fu Sheng as Xiao Yu Erh, separated from his twin as a baby, after his parents are murdered, and taken by a family friend to "Villains Valley," where he's raised to be a "villain" by a host of outlaws, each of whom has a special skill. (The scenes of the put-upon toddler undergoing strict training tactics straddle the borderline between adorable and abusive.) When he's old enough (and grows up to be Fu Sheng), he devises clever means to trap each of his "uncles" and escape the valley to head off into the outside world. A chance encounter with a beautiful girl dressed as a man leads to a treasure hunt and eventually a confrontation with the Princess of Yi Hua Palace, the one who'd murdered Xiao's parents in the first place. Eventually, a reunion with his twin occurs, although I was kept guessing about the twin's identity until near the end.

There are a lot of characters in play, including some interesting women, although most of the actresses were unfamiliar to me. Candy Wen Hsueh-erh plays the young woman he meets during his journey and she's quite an attractive and engaging presence. (I've also seen her in THE BRAVE ARCHER AND HIS MATE, SWORDSMAN AND ENCHANTRESS and THE SWORD STAINED WITH ROYAL BLOOD, all of which I've reviewed on this site.) There's a female fighter called the Green Fairy, who intervenes regularly in the action, and the brutal Princess of Yi Hua Palace. Several Shaw Bros. regulars are on hand, including Tang Ching, Ku Kwan Chung, Yang Chih Ching, Ching Miao, Jamie Luk, and Chan Shen, although it's not the most star-studded of casts.

What's most interesting about the film, though, is Fu Sheng's character and the way he seeks to learn the difference between good and evil as he makes his way through a maze of corrupt characters. Despite his upbringing in Villains Valley, he has an innate sense of right and wrong and is pretty aggressive in acting on it. When he finally does meet his twin, who is set up to oppose him, he has an intuitive sense that this is not his enemy. At the same time, he has a great sense of mischief and often uses clever means to turn the tables on those seeking to stop or punish him.

It's not the best of the Chor Yuen-directed Ku Lung adaptations (those would be THE MAGIC BLADE and KILLER CLANS, also reviewed on this site), but it's certainly better than average, thanks chiefly to Fu Sheng's central performance. At 106 min., this is longer than normal for a Shaw Bros. kung fu film. The same story was adapted for an earlier film, THE JADE FACED ASSASSIN (1970), directed by Yen Chun, in which the lead role was played by an actress, Lily Ho, giving the most delightful performance of her career. I enjoyed that one a great deal, maybe slightly more than this one, and I've reviewed it on this site as well.

I was first exposed to the story of the Proud Twins as adapted in The Force of Buddha's Palm comics. It is a sweeping tale of revenge full of almost operatic characters and many twists and turns leading to the eventual climax. What I really love about this Chor Yuen directed feature for Shaw Brothers was the inclusion of the comedic talents of Alexander Fu Sheng. The highlighting of the comedic aspects really helps balance the overall story, which at its core is quite grim and dark. Another thing I really loved in this adaptation was the use of sets and the production design going into them. Many of the the scenes feature some stunning set pieces that lend an air of idealized realism, much like sansui landscape paintings, to the world, really making the story feel like it lives in some ethereal and magical realm. While they may look dated to modern eyes, it still holds charm to my eyes.

The basic storyline follows two brothers separated due to circumstances revealed as the story unfolds, Jiang Xiaoyu, played by Alexander Fu Sheng, and Hua Wuque, played by My Wai Kwok. Xiaoyu, raised by The Ten Villains in an abusive environment eventually outwits and escapes his captors, and makes his way out into the world seeking revenge for the death of his parents. Wuque, raised by Hua Palace and unaware of Xiaoyu's relationship with himself, has been tasked by the leader of Hua Palace to hunt down and kill Xiaoyu. With many twists and turns, betrayals and reveals, the story progresses to climactic battle in the mountains as the two brother's stories unfold.

Alexander Fu Sheng really holds the story together, really playing up the mischievous and playful side of Xiaoyu while also showing his superb athleticism and Kung Fu skills. Had Fu Sheng not tragically passed away in 1982, this film would have been excellent proof to show him as a prime competitor to Jackie Chan in making Kung Fu comedy.

While The Proud Twins may not be Chor Yuen's best adaptation of a Wu Xia novels for Shaw Brothers, it certainly is the funniest and most charming.