Eureka Classics have treated us once again to an absolutely exemplary Limited Edition Blu-ray of a classic Golden Harvest movie from the early 1970s. The Tattooed Dragon stars Jimmy Wang Yu, who, before the arrival of Bruce Lee, was Hong Kong’s most celebrated martial arts star, with a string of hits to his name. This release is a typical example of his work from the period.
Made in 1973 – the year of Lee’s death – this movie was designed to introduce Wang Yu to a kung fu-crazy global audience hungry for more of the action-heavy content that only Hong Kong could initially provide – and was only too ready to provide, but with varying degrees of success, as the 70s progressed. What The Tattooed Dragon had in its favour was not just the presence of a charismatic star but also the fact that it was directed by Lo Wei, the man who had helmed Lee’s first two successes, The Big Boss and Fist of Fury.
However, with the release of numerous similar movies worldwide at this time, many would have likely been overlooked by audiences, especially since they were often given new titles and faced censorship demands in various territories, which weakened their impact. They needed to hit hard and fast, and many missed the target.
In this particular movie, Wang Yu portrays the titular Tattooed Dragon, who is badly injured in an explosive opening fight scene with the henchmen of a local gangster (James Tien, also known for his appearances in Bruce Lee movies). Our wounded hero is hidden and helped by a local farmer and his girlfriend; when their village is taken over and an illegal casino is opened by Tien and his gang, the seed is set for a barrage of vengeance from Wang Yu. Peace is eventually restored, but not before some innocent lives are lost in the process
All this spectacular carnage is captured on camera beautifully, and this movie can never have been better presented than it looks here. As ever from Eureka, the film is accompanied by some informative featurettes and commentaries from Hong Kong movie specialists such as Frank Djeng and Michael Worth, who impress as always with their wealth of knowledge. The Tattooed Dragon is a prime example of martial arts cinema as it was in the early days of worldwide acceptance and comes highly recommended. Eureka promises much more to come, and that’s an enticing prospect.
THE TATTOOED DRAGON is released on Blu-ray by Eureka Classics on 21st July.
