GOLD SNATCHERS is a 1973 Hong Kong kung fu film that came out right at the beginning of the genre's popularity. It stars Chen Sing as the film's hero, a man who comes into possession of some buried gold only to have it fall into the greedy hands of his own stepbrother, as played by Lung Fei. The rest of the film is a battle of the fists between the two brothers as each attempts to put the other in his place.
Chen Sing was best known for his villainous turns in various Shaw Brothers films during this era. The dark, scowling actor was typecast as a henchmen more often than I care to say, so it's a delight to see him get the chance to play the good guy for a change and he runs away with it. I can imagine fewer delights than seeing the floppy-haired Sing working his way through various thugs in his fight for justice. Lung Fei was another familiar face from action cinema and he makes his villain impactful and full of menace.
GOLD SNATCHERS has a simple story and plenty of action to recommend it. The direction is well thought out and the staging nice, utilising appealing locations for the various battles; the bridge fight is a stand out. Even Yasuaki Kurata shows up to kick backside at one point. The climactic cart race is good fun in a low rent BEN HUR kind of way and the constant action means that this film is never boring, unlike so many of the cheapies made during these early years.
Chen Sing was best known for his villainous turns in various Shaw Brothers films during this era. The dark, scowling actor was typecast as a henchmen more often than I care to say, so it's a delight to see him get the chance to play the good guy for a change and he runs away with it. I can imagine fewer delights than seeing the floppy-haired Sing working his way through various thugs in his fight for justice. Lung Fei was another familiar face from action cinema and he makes his villain impactful and full of menace.
GOLD SNATCHERS has a simple story and plenty of action to recommend it. The direction is well thought out and the staging nice, utilising appealing locations for the various battles; the bridge fight is a stand out. Even Yasuaki Kurata shows up to kick backside at one point. The climactic cart race is good fun in a low rent BEN HUR kind of way and the constant action means that this film is never boring, unlike so many of the cheapies made during these early years.