FAQ

Yes. The key roles are:

Meng Lo, the Toad in Cinq venins mortels (1978) is Golden Arm, Che Sa Gang Chief number 1.

Feng Lu, the Centipede in Cinq venins mortels (1978) is Silver Spear, Che Sa Gang Chief number 2.

Pai Wei, the Snake in Cinq venins mortels (1978) is Swordsman Li Chin-Ming.

Chien Sun, the Scorpion in Cinq venins mortels (1978) is Iron Feet / Yang Hu-Yun.

Phillip Chung-Fung Kwok, the Lizard in Cinq venins mortels (1978) is Agent Hai To.

Sheng Chiang, Yang Tieh (the last pupil) in Cinq venins mortels (1978) is Fang Shih / Short Axe.

Lung-Wei Wang, the judge in Cinq venins mortels (1978) is Iron Robe, Che Sa Gang Chief number 3.

Note that the five main lead roles in Cinq venins mortels (1978) do not all play Che Sa Gang chiefs in The Kid with the Golden Arm (1979). The Che Sa Chief kung-fu gimmicks are as follows:

Golden Arm, Chief #1, is the best fighter. His kung-fu style relies on hand techniques and solid stances, and his arms are apparently immune to any kind of physical harm. It is unknown if the rest of his body is equally resilient as nothing has ever gotten past the flawless defense of his arm techniques.

Silver Spear, Chief #2, is second only to Golden Arm. He is acrobatic and aggressively proficient in the use of a specially crafted spear made wholly out of a silvery-like metal.

Iron Robe, Chief #3 (actually played by the Judge in Cinq venins mortels (1978) ), is next. Skillful in the use of a steel fan with razor edges, he wears a robe covered with iron studs that acts like armor in battle.

Brass Head, Chief #4 (played by Hsiung Yang, who did NOT star in Cinq venins mortels (1978)), is the least skillful fighter as far as the chiefs go; nonetheless he is no pushover, as his aggressive kung-fu style includes the use of head butts made lethal by a solid brass helm he wears.

Iron Feet is simply expert in a style of kung-fu that strongly emphasizes kicking techniques. He masquerades as the leader of an escort service while waiting for an opportunity to eliminate Golden Arm and become the leader of his own gang of outlaws.

Hai To's gimmick is that while a government agent, he is also a drunkard who is loyal to nobody and nothing except the wine, and that he fights best while drunk.

Pai Wei as Swordsman Li Chin-Ming is simply proficient in the Chinese two-edged sword.

Sheng Chiang as Fang Shih uses paired hand axes in battle. He is always seen fighting alongside his partner, Yin Chu, who wields a poleaxe in battle. Yin and Fang are known together as Long Axe and Short Axe.

A minor 'gimmick' role in this movie is the Sand Palm, a fighter whose hands are covered in a sandy substance that administers a contact poison to whoever he strikes.