Dirty Ho (Lan tou He) (1979)

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Popular Hong Kong martial arts star Gordon Lau headlines this entertainingly comic Shaw Brothers production from prolific action director Lau Kar-leung, who also choreographed the film's fight scenes. Lau plays Wang Chin-chin, who is both the 11th prince and an expert fighter. Wang has fun secretly… More Popular Hong Kong martial arts star Gordon Lau headlines this entertainingly comic Shaw Brothers production from prolific action director Lau Kar-leung, who also choreographed the film's fight scenes. Lau plays Wang Chin-chin, who is both the 11th prince and an expert fighter. Wang has fun secretly subverting a local con-man, the inept Ho Chi (Wong Yue), but blackmails the crook into becoming his student after making it look like a B-girl named Choi Hung (Kara Hui) has poisoned Ho and beaten him up in a nightclub. Prince Wang is on his way to the palace for the announcement of the heir, but doesn't really want to rule. His major function has been to prevent his brothers from falling victim to assassins, so Wang knows that there are forces who wish to see him killed before he reaches the palace. He brings Ho along with him, because, although his new sidekick can't fight very well, he could still prove useful in the event of an ambush. The two face various perils together, including a spectacularly staged attack in the wastelands near a village's typhoon wall and a group of comically effeminate attackers who seem to masochistically enjoy being beaten up. Eventually, Wang teaches Ho enough about kung-fu for the reforming con-man to protect him so they can get to the palace. Veteran supporting actor Lo Lieh co-stars with Johnny Wang, Hsiao Hou, and Peter Chan. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi