The story has the oft-paired duo of Ti Lung and David Chiang as a couple of ne'er-do-wells who get into a scheme to steal a shipment of guns to help the revolution. Like a lot of Chang Cheh's work, there is much more behind the surface, as themes of brotherhood, loyalty, independence and the like are all touched on in this "chop-socky" -- a term which I will only use in an instance like this; just because it's a kung fu film, it doesn't mean it's any less valid as a form of cinematic expression. Anyway, the script is nothing mind-blowing, but it does allow for some nice character development, which is pushed forward via strong performances from the leads. Any one who can watch this movie and not think Ti Lung is a badass needs to switch to Sanka or something, because they're obviously impaired or "special".

Even if you don't dig the story or acting, the action here is great stuff. For a movie made over thirty years ago, The Anonymous Heroes can stand up and surpass many of the big-budget "blockbusters" cranked out now. Things start off innocuously enough with a couple of good-natured brawls between Ti and Chiang, but the ending is something that would make Peckinpah or Wong Jing proud, with lots of gunfire, sword slashes and spurting wounds.

The Anonymous Heroes does take a bit of time to get going, but once it does, it's a great ride. It's an intelligent film with a good deal of action. Even though other directors have managed to absorb a lot of this into their own movies (the ending for this movie is startlingly similar to John Woo's Hard Boiled), perhaps they can take a few more cues from this sadly too often passed-over and ignored director and actually make action movies that have characters that people will care about.

Set in the early twentieth century at a time when China was divided by military warlords, the story follows the exploits of two young ruffians, played by David Chiang and Ti Lung, who join a revolutionist plot to steal rifles from the local army general. They are joined by Cheng Lee, as the daughter of one of the officers in the general's army, but her role is rather superfluous as a love interest for David Chiang.

Chang Cheh's attempt to recreate the wild west is a nice departure from the swordplay films for which the two stars had become best known. The plot, while relatively straightforward, does allow for some tense drama and there are a couple of scenes where wits become the main weapons. For the most part the film lives up to the usual standard set by the Shaw Brothers although fight scenes set on a moving train look a little unrealistic in terms of the painted background and the models used for a train crash are a little obvious. However this can be overlooked given that the rest of the film is so entertaining and actually, the scenes on the train were the first time that anything of the like had been attempted in Hong Kong cinema.

The film builds up to a superb battle where the heroes hold off a small army in a 'Butch Cassidy' style showdown. This is another of Chang Cheh's typically blood splattered climaxes. The action, under the expert guidance of Lau Kar Leung and Tong Gai, has been expertly crafted to make the viewer believe that the two protagonists really can hold off an army. In its more modern setting the fighting styles have been designed to be more realistic although we are still treated to some great moves from Ti Lung and David Chiang. Thats not to say that the film isn't without some more fantastical moments however such as when the pair somersault through the air over a troupe of soldiers. Its moments like those that make Shaw Brothers films all the more enjoyable.

After striking gold with THE HEROIC ONES (1970), VENGEANCE (1970), and THE DUEL (1971), the fabulous foursome of David Chiang, Ti Lung, Ku Feng, and director Chang Cheh joined forces again for another Shaw Brothers action epic, THE ANONYMOUS HEROES. I use the terms "action epic" instead of "Kung Fu movie", because THE ANONYMOUS HEROES is more about action and suspense than a showcase of martial arts demonstrations. The movie is not without its moments of hand-to-hand combat, however. Joining the fab four are Shaw Brothers luminaries Ching Li (THE FOUR RIDERS, ANGRY GUEST, LEGEND OF THE BAT), Wang Chung (DUEL OF FISTS, THE WATER MARGIN, THE SAVAGE FIVE), and Cheng Miu (MAGNIFICENT SWORDSMEN, THE MAGIC BLADE, COBRA GIRL) who essays his usual role—that of the cunning lead villain. Is that enough star power for you? No? How about appearances by Lo Meng, Fung Hak On, Chen Sing, Lau Kar Wing, Hon Gwok Choi, Philip Ko, and future director Yuen Woo Ping. Even if you don’t enjoy THE ANONYMOUS HEROES itself, you can get a kick out of spotting all the greatest talents in the Hong Kong film industry! Celestial Pictures presents THE ANONYMOUS HEROES as a full-blown special edition DVD as part of their distribution deal with IVL.

Meng Kang (David Chiang) and Tieh (Ti Lung) are shallow thrill seekers and friends whose goal it is in life to merely have a good time. These reckless youths are recruited to the side of the Chinese revolution by Wan (Ku Feng shedding his gray wig and mustache in a rare heroic role). Meanwhile, Marshall Chin (Cheng Miu), a high-ranking army official, secures a cache of 3000 rifles delivered from the nation of Japan. Marshall Chin intends to use these weapons to crush the rebel forces. Wan convinces Meng and Tieh to assist him in stealing the rifles away from the army. The task seems hopeless however, since Marshall Chin is aware of the spies in his midst and places the rifles under heavy guard. Three men alone cannot defy an entire army. Help arrives in the form of the beautiful and spunky Pepper (Ching Li), whose father is a captain of the guard. Pepper meets up with Meng and Tieh and offers her assistance. She immediately is attracted to the charms of Meng Kang. The three men at first turn down her help, but when she acquires trucks and weapons from her father, our heroes see how valuable she can be after all. But with the odds still against them, the guile of Wan comes up with a plan. He provides military uniforms to Meng and Tieh in an effort to penetrate the ranks of Marshall Chin. Our heroes successfully go undercover and attempt to steal the guns. Marshall Chin is on to their plan and the sends his the army against the reluctant revolutionaries.

The strongest asset of THE ANONYMOUS HEROES is the ingenious script which is typical of I Kuang. The plot involves more intrigue and suspense (and less Kung Fu) than one would usually expect from a Shaw Brothers action vehicle. The performances match the thrill-packed storyline and precise direction of Cheng Cheh. The only flaw with the casting is that David Chiang and Ti Lung play the same type of character they usually do in the Chang Cheh martial arts epics. You know, Chiang is once again the charming rogue and Ti Lung is his comparatively stoic straight man. However, both characters are confident that they can outwit and outfight their military opponents. Ku Feng steals the show once again as the revolutionary leader who is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for his noble cause. Ching Li projects a lot of personality into her spoiled character, Pepper. She doesn’t get involved in the combat but instead prefers to sit on the sidelines using a pistol to take out enemy soldiers. THE ANONYMOUS HEROES boasts an enormous body count and a real downer of an ending (as only Cheng Cheh can deliver). However, the serious mood established by the director is often undone by the smirking David Chiang and the arrogant characterization of Ti Lung. People constantly speculate about the connection between Spaghetti Westerns and Kung Fu films. THE ANONYMOUS HEROES is one of the most Western-based Chinese motion pictures I’ve ever seen. Though the film takes place in China during World War 2, Cheng Cheh incorporates plenty of traditional Western elements, such as heroes on horseback, gunfights, and steam locomotives. Kung Mu To’s colorful cinematography also conjures images of mountain valleys and other scenic bits of nature.

SIGHT
Celestial presents THE ANONYMOUS HEROES in the original 2.35.1 Shawscope ratio, with no 16x9 enhancement. Keeping in mind the 1971 vintage of the movie, Celestial have delivered another truly amazing transfer. The image delineates all the picture information without any loss of film-like quality. Chang Cheh makes excellent use of exteriors with the lavish interiors, and they all look quite beautiful on film, bursting with dark hues such as blues, browns, and greens. Liu Chia Liang’s choreography incorporates guns into the combat scenes and the transfer captures all the kinetic mayhem. Chang Cheh packed this picture with violence and death and its all presented with disturbing vividness. Flesh tones are full and blacks are deep. The easy-to-read subtitles are presented below the black letterboxed area. Outside of some film grain, this is another outstanding effort from Celestial.

SOUND
Celestial has forsaken the original mono soundtrack in favor of a souped up Dolby Digital 5.1 remix. Yes, this is going to piss a lot of folks off, but viewing these old classics in an all-encompassing sound field with true stereo separation is truly a pleasing acoustic experience. The soundfield for THE ANONYMOUS HEROES brims with rumbling trains, heavy trucks, echoing gunshots, and rioting brawls. Also heard are ambient noises like chirping birds, ricocheting bullets, and rushing winds. The disc includes the original Mandarin dubbed dialog track, which is crystal clear fidelity. The score is by Shaw Brothers ace composer, Chen Yung Yu. So while its disappointing that the original mono track is missing, and there’s no English language option, the sound field is nothing short of outstanding. Just next time Celestial, be sure to include the original optional mono soundtrack.

FEATURES
In addition to remastered video and audio quality, Celestial includes an wealth of bonus materials. From the Special Features menu, you can select the Behind the Scenes option, which takes you on set of the 1971 production of THE ANONYMOUS HEROES in the form of Black & White sideshow complete with English subtitles. You can also view the original Chinese theatrical poster and the access a gallery of Photo Stills. Don’t forget the Production Notes and short Bios for Cheng Cheh, David Chiang, and Ti Lung (in English yet!). Also included are remastered original language widescreen trailers for these recent Celestial DVD releases: THE ANONYMOUS HEROES, THE MAGIC BLADE, KIDNAP, HONG KONG RHAPSODY, and HOUSE OF 72 TENANTS. Film critics Jude Poyer and Miles Wood provide insightful audio commentary (in English) for THE ANONYMOUS HEROES and shed a lot of light on the production and cast members. Clearly, the thing that will fascinate Kung Fu fans most is the killer interview with David Chiang. He still looks great and talks about his career with the Shaw Brothers studio for over 20 minutes! Also worth mentioning is an interview with Lo Mang (here billed as Tubo Law) who has a brief role in the movie as well. While not as insightful as David Chiang, hearing from Golden Arms himself is a real treat. Rounding out the interview section is an examination of THE ANONYMOUS HEROES by Chinese film critic Po Fung. All these interviews feature English subtitles!

CONCLUSION
THE ANONYMOUS HEROES will disappoint those Shaw Brothers fans who have grown accustomed to non-stop martial arts sequences every five minutes. This is not CHINESE SUPER NINJAS, AVENGING EAGLE, or KID WITH THE GOLDEN ARMS. But it is a superior action flick that is guaranteed to entertain enthusiasts of Hong Kong cinema. The story, cast, and cinematography are top notch. As for the DVD itself, it’s another solid job from the folks at Celestial/IVL. They are getting better with the extras and the David Chiang interview is worth the price of the disc alone.

REVIEW:
It’s not often that a Shaw Brothers film deserves the kind of cult status generally reserved for the likes of Kelly’s Heroes or The Dirty Dozen, but Anonymous Heroes is one such film. Ti Lung and David Chiang are supremely charismatic as roguish scrappers turned rebels with a cause while the film is perfectly balanced by director Chang Cheh’s violent male chivalry and the incredible martial arts choreography of Lau Kar Leung and Tong Gaai.

In the 1930’s, warlords are dividing up China in an attempt to control the country while rebels struggle to unify the country. A local warlord has just received a shipment of 3000 new bolt action rifles which will give him a tremendous advantage. In a rare role where he’s both a good guy and bereft of age enhancing wigs, character actor Ku Feng is a rebel looking for someone to aid him in stealing the rifles. He finds David Chiang and Ti Lung who play two wild and crazy guys quick with their minds, even quicker with their fists, and ready and willing to take on all comers. Apart from providing Shaw with a prerequisite pretty face, Ching Li joins the trio by offering to get her father, an officer in the warlord’s army to give her two trucks to carry the stolen rifles to a waiting train. Our heroes kidnap another officer and fake their way into the warlord’s armory. The mission nearly fails when procuring falsified authorization to take the arms nearly fails, but the weapons are finally loaded on the train. The warlord discovers the truth and is hot on their tracks until they derail, hide the goods, and slip into a neighboring city to meet their contact. After getting the goods to the rebels Ti, Chiang, and Ching make their final stand against the warlord’s forces.

Anonymous Heroes is the kind of rousing adventure film that you’ll want to watch over and over again. David Chiang and Ti Lung are amazing and it’s no surprise. They starred in dozens of films together, many under the direction of Chang Cheh, but mostly in traditional period kung fu or swordplay films. This is one of few films they all worked on in a 20th century environment. These fellows are in top form and it’s obvious that they work well together. One early scene depicts a rambunctious fight between the two that nearly brings their modest abode down on their heads. The combat involving some traditional kung fu with less emphasis on particular styles is outstanding and only gets better and more furious as the film progresses. Ti Lung is the more competent of the two when it comes to martial arts combat, but they both make terrific action leads that exude confidence.

Ching Li is one of the great kung fu queens of Hong Kong . She’s not in a fighting role, but is no less charming as the friend of Chiang and Ti. Ku Feng has probably never had a bad role thanks to his versatility and lack of overly distinctive traits. He fits right in as always with his slightly wizened demeanor.

Shaw Brothers puts on a good show when it comes to the actual production. 1930’s or ‘40’s era trucks and motorcycles are used while dozens of soldiers with rifles and bayonets, and even a train are put to good use. Admittedly, models used to depict the train derailing look pretty hokey and a few outdoor scenes are obviously indoors, but these complaints are negligible in the wake of the film’s greatest asset, the action. The use of guns is cleverly limited to allow for the maximum amount of hand-to-hand or bayonet combat. By the end, our heroes are holding off an entire army ordered to take them alive. Probably taking longer than they should have, a decision to open fire is finally made after countless solders are shot by our heroes. The film’s tone gets progressively more dire and tense as the odds become impossible. And like nearly all Chang Cheh films, a spectacularly bloody finale awaits the viewer. Lau Kar Leung distinguished himself in independent and latter Shaw Brothers classics featuring more lovingly authentic kung fu, but his masterful efforts on this early classic is noticeable. Likewise, Tong Gaai who excelled at large scale combat scenes featuring weapons use has a field day with masses of soldiers bearing bayonets on rifles.

This film is simply a blast. Chang Cheh’s later films with the venoms crew may be more popular in the West due to greater circulation up to this point, but early efforts like this one have the same examples of heroic bloodshed that influenced a generation of filmmakers, fine leads like Ti Lung and David Chiang, the highest production standards Shaw Brothers ever had, and superior action direction. With a veritable dream team of filmmakers, stars including Chan Sing, and miscellaneous extras including Yuen Wo Ping and Fung Hak On working on Anonymous Heroes, it’s no wonder that the film is so great. This is a must have for any action fan and a fine introduction to the Chang Cheh style of filmmaking for those new to the genre.

Anonymous Heroes is one of the films in the new batch of Shaw Brothers releases that very few people have seen since its initial theatrical release, which has proven to be a real shame. The Iron Triangle of Ti Lung, David Chiang, and director Chang Cheh are in prime form here in a film that may not be a classic but sure is a heck of a lot of fun. You know, if people dying by the dozens constitutes your idea of fun.

David Chiang plays an impish con man, which of course he did in about a thousand other movies as well. Ti Lung is his friend, a guy you can't really call a hothead since he always seems to be having such a good time when he starts fights. Along with their female sidekick Pepper, the trio of rascals are recruited to help a revolutionary steal a giant cache of weapons from the local warlord, who like all wrlords during this period in Chinese history, has a handlebar mustache. Given the prominence of a train in the film, I was waiting for him to twirl the stache and tie Pepper to the tracks. WHich might not have been entirely out of place since Anonymous Heroes possesses a very "Western" feel to it, and I mean "Western" as in cowboys and The Wild Bunch. Or Amitabh Bachchan and "Sholay."

In fact, comparisons to The Wild Bunch seem especially apt. Both films plant their anti-heroes in a pivotal time when lawlessness is giving way to petty warlords, which are n turn struggling to maintain their power against the rising national tides that would eventually bind the country together. Both have high bodycounts. Both feature the protagonists outwitting a bunch of soldiers for most of the film. The main difference, besides the clothes of course, is that ANonymous Heroes lacks the emotional punch and bleakness of Sam Peckinpah's ultra-violent western. Chaing and Ti Lung are simply too playful for most of the movie for there to be any real emotional impact. Plus, this being a Chang Cheh film written by I Kuang, you have a 99% chance of guessing the eventual fate of the heroes anyway. Our hindsight into this probably saps it of some power as well.

But that doesn't stop it from being a tremendously enjoyable. Ti Lung and David Chiang shine with charisma, and even during some of the more contrived scenes (it sure is easy to steal 3000 guns from the army), their charm will win you over. The action consists mainly of our two heroes fighting a hundred people at once while Pepper stands in the corner and shoots the occasional officer (which is more than most women in a Chang Cheh film get to do). As is oftent he case with these films, the set-up makes it esy to suspend your disbelief and just go with the flow. It doesn't matter that "this would never happen in real life." You want to watch a movie full of things that could happen in real life? A movie full of people making Hot Pockets and filling out tax forms? Be my guest. I'm much happier watchign David Chiang and Ti Lung fend of entire regiments while armed with nothing more than a pistol, fists, and some hats they can continuously flip on and off their heads to look cool.

While Celestial has yet to really dip into the classic kungfu films like Five Masters from Shaolin or Master Killer, seeing more obscure gems like this is a real treat. This is going to be a good couple of years to be a kungfu film fan, and Anonymous Heroes is a fine example of why.