Out of all the movies director Chang Cheh made in the late 60s, this is easily his best. “The Invincible Fist” is a manhunt movie which takes place in less than a day, quick and well-focused. Another robbery has taken place, gold is stolen from a resident and the hunt is on for the local constable and his men. The whole movie is a wide journey which starts off on a hot summer day, to a rainy late afternoon, then a late night duel and by next dawn it's all over.
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Lo Lieh is our hero constable Tieh Wu Ching, also known as ‘The Invincible Fist'. However, he uses a sword rather than his bare fists. The Chinese title ‘Tieh Soa Wu Ching' means ‘Iron Fist of No Compassion', it makes more sense because it's a word play referring to his name since Tieh means ‘iron' and Wu Ching means ‘no compassion'.
Chang Cheh is spot on for casting Lo Lieh as his leading man here; he has such a great cool screen presence and is a delight to watch him as the tough law enforcer. Conversely, he handles the romantic parts well too at the end of the movie. The love interest here is provided by Baby Movie Queen, Li Ching who plays Kuei Ku, a blind girl whose father is the boss of the bandits. Her role adds the much needed softness and human touch to the otherwise action packed violent story. Interestingly, her blindness doesn't stop her from planting a garden full of beautiful flowers.
Fang Mian is Ma Wai Jia, the boss bandit who uses an umbrella and a metal brush with string attached as weapons. He's a tragic character caught between looking after his blind daughter and running from the law. However, he provides a tense duel with our hero constable which is exciting to watch. In fact, the weapons in this movie are both creative and interesting. One bandit uses the abacus which shoots out those deadly beads and doubles as a three sectioned stuff. The fight choreography is directed by Liu Chia Liang and Tang Chia, wires are used but overall it's well executed and not too overly bloody.
The supporting actors are equally interesting; Ku Feng is a bandit who plays the pipa on the country road side but uses it as a weapon while under attack. Wu Ma is likable as a waiter at a small teahouse.
Most of the action takes place in areas covered in tall grass, a contrast to the usual studio constructed forest setting. Together with Chang Cheh's use of extreme closeups of eyes and faces, it creates an atmosphere full of claustrophobic tension. Visually, the whole movie looks fantastic and heavy string music is used for during these sequences.
David Chiang has a memorable, meaty supporting role here as Tieh Er Long, brother to Tieh Wu Ching and he shines. Accordingly, he moved on to much bigger roles working under Chang Cheh and together with Ti Lung, they became the ‘Iron Triangle' of Shaw Brothers. Interestingly, Lo Lieh also plays the leading man role in Chang Cheh's “The Flying Daggers”; unfortunately both movies didn't set the box office on fire and thus ends their relationship in making more movies together.
Overall, this is a Lo Lieh movie and he carries it remarkably well, it's good to see him doing it solo and not under the shadows of other big Shaw Brothers stars or sharing screen time.
