| In Wu Chia-xiang's 'Sweet is Revenge' (1967), Yueh Hua portrays Xiao Pao, a former circus performer who battles corrupt authorities in the old Chinese Republic (1911-1949, I think, judging by the cop uniforms). Aside from a few punches and kicks, 'Sweet is Revenge' is NOT a kung fu movie! The brawls are more like 'The Quiet Man' than 'The 5 Fingers of Death/King Boxer'. Xiao Pao relies more on acrobatics (none of it is really flashy), gadgets, wits, magic tricks (swapping clothes with a stranger in less than a minute) and sowing the seeds of mistrust among the antagonists than simply using fisticuffs. Aside from a few strong scenes of violence, don't expect the visceral bloodshed that one may find in a Chang Cheh flick or some of Lau Ka Leung's films. 'Sweet' may have been an influence on 'Iron Monkey' (1993), the one directed by Yuen Woo Ping. Xiao Pao, in a black suit with a black bandana over his nose and mouth, sneaks into the home of the greedy and corrupt Commander Zheng (Yang Chi Ching) and his wife (Angela Yu Chien). He steals some jewelry and he plans on giving it the poor and oppressed. Xiao Pao even disguises himself as Mr. Yang, a prestigious in-law of Commander Zheng so he can infiltrate the villains' homes. Xiao Pao, the masked thief, is no "super-human": the cops manage to capture and torture him in one scene. A soldier, played by Ku Feng, tries to trick Xiao Pao into drinking poisoned wine (like Vincini in 'The Princess Bride') and Xiao Pao turns the tables using his wits. Chen Hung Lien, who appeared as Jade Face Tiger in 'Come Drink with Me' and as a villain (lackey?) in 'Master with Cracked Fingers', appears as Ma Qian-li, a wealthy young man who covets Wang Dan Peng (lovely, somewhat pudgy Shaw Brothers "baby queen" Li Ching), the fiancee of Dr. Li Da Wei/David Li, Xiao Pao's friend. Ma Qian-li is willing to ruin lives if he can have Dan Peng as a "trophy wife"! When Li Da Wei suffers in a prison, Dan Peng thinks that Da Wei is dead, and authorities won't help, Xiao Pao must use his wits and strength to come to the rescue.
Despite its 85 minute running time, 'Sweet is Revenge' does move at a very smooth pace and it feels longer than a mere hour and a half. Is it just me or did the actor who played Deputy Wang sound like a Chinese Joe Pesci with his loud, scratchy voice? Oh, well. Li Ching's Dan Peng isn't watered down to window dressing, thank goodness, but she still doesn't amount to more than a damsel-in-distress. Yueh Hua does well enough as Xiao Pao, the masked thief. Yueh Hua is definitely an underrated HK actor (in the West, at least). Some people may remember an older Yueh Hua made a brief appearance in 'Rumble in the Bronx' (1995). I've only seen two other Wu Chia-xiang films before this one, 'Guess Who Killed My Twelve Lovers' and 'A Place to Call Home'.
I like this Wu Chia Xiang-directed film the most. Aside from its flaws, 'Sweet' wins some points for creativity. |
Viewer Comments:
