I have seen this movie only once before on the big screen in the late 1970s and after that viewing I was convinced that it was an instant classic. 'Along comes a tiger' never received widespread release with the VHS/ BETAMAX boom in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and quite in vain I sought this very good addition to the Kung Fu movie genre. Seeing this movie now again after some 30 years simply confirms its status as a classic. 'Along comes a tiger ' borrows its plot from the Sergio Leone western' Once upon a time in the west', with a quite menacing Tommy Lee playing the Henry Fonda part and Wang Tao (in the best part of his career) playing the Charles Bronson role. As with its source, 'Along comes a tiger' has several flashbacks but this does not by any means represent a slavish reproduction of a western often considered as the best of all time. A young boy who follows 'Miracle Man' the Wang Tao character around for much of the movie, clearly represents the lost innocence and youth cruelly usurped by the Tommy Lee character, the leader of the morally bankrupt Black Dragon clan. The movie has more depth in its characterization than most others in the martial arts genre. The movie is riddled with violence, but tenderness pervades it intermittently. It is also amongst the best photographed martial arts movies. There are deceitful characters around each nook and cranny but the movie is not without its moments focusing on character growth and redemption. Women characters are given small but significant parts in developing the main theme of revenge versus forgiveness/ redemption. So all round it is a superior kung fu movie.

'Along comes a tiger' crackles along at a brisk pace and does not quite have any of those interminably long scenes as its inspirational source, 'Once upon a time in the West'. The movie plays out briskly while it has time to ponder on themes of forgiveness, the nature of heroism and evil.

As with other classics in which he was involved like 'Secret Rivals', '10 Brothers from Shaolin' and 'The Hot , the Cool and the Vicious', Tommy Lee as the fighting choreographer excels himself here. The fighting sequences are quite distinctive with much focus on the various hand technique styles on display. the final confrontation features a series of weapons all adroitly used by the protagonist and the antagonist. This eagerly awaited showdown between Tommy Lee and Wang Tao does not disappoint. Tommy Lee is the most underrated figure in the martial arts movie world. How many people are aware that it was he who choreographed the seminal 'Secret Rivals'? Either as an actor, often cast as a hunchback villain, or as choreographer the man deserves cult status.

The final showdown between Wang Tao and Tommy Lee is especially good, but it is the earlier showdown with Philip Kao Fei (in a scene stealing role) that in my view is the best scene. Philip Kao Fei portrays a menacingly ruthless killer replete with aristocratic habits and clothes.

Wang Tao as the 'mute' does his best work in this movie with a series of subtle and robust expressions that show much of his inner turmoil. In the absence of a co star like either Dorian Tam or John Liu, he shines and carries the movie in a difficult non- speaking part effortlessly. The movie is very well cast with several of the actors in lesser parts doing well like for instance Jimmy Lee. The latter plays a villainous character called Lo Lieh and this parody of a great Kung fu movie character serves to lighten things up in a movie that has as its principal subject the dark matter of revenge.

Stephen Tung as the cynical but ultimately tragic investigator is also very good in a role that equals that of the part he played in the brilliant'10 Shaolin Brothers'.

'Along Comes a Tiger' is arguably the best film that stars Wang Tao (and he has an impressive list of classics) and should easily earn its place amongst the top ten Kung Fu movies of all time. But this as much a Tommy Lee movie and his role cannot afford to be underestimated.

The world wide release of 'Along Comes a Tiger' on DVD is a major event in the history of the kung fu movie.