Following his major breakthrough in “Snake in the Eagle's Shadow” and the success of “Drunken Master”, Jackie Chan seized the opportunity to finally be able to take over directing duties for a project. Apart from his experience as an actor, his collaboration with director Yuen Woo-ping had given him complete freedom over his stunts, resulting in the blend of martial arts and comedy which would become his trademark as a performer to this day. Thus, in a year which also saw him star in such features like “Dragon Fist” and “Master with Cracked Fingers”, Jackie Chan directed “The Fearless Hyena”, which he also wrote, continuing his ongoing journey of becoming one of the most beloved martial arts stars of his generation.
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The story takes place during the Qing dynasty, when a young fighter names Ching Hing-lung (Jackie Chan) lives with his grandfather (James Tien) in a remote village in rural China. Unknown to his grandson, Ching Pang-fei is the master of the Xing Yi-technique and had been persecuted by a vicious clan and its leader, the powerful master Yam Tin-fa (Yam Sai-kwoon), many years ago. While he instructs Hing-lung in martial arts, following a strict regiment of exercises and training, he also urges him to watch out in public and not to create a fuss, fearing these kinds of actions might raise the attention of those who once eradicated his pupils. However, when his grandfather also asks him to find a suitable job and not spend his time gambling, he ignores the advice.
After failing at several jobs, Hing-lung finds he can make a fortune, collaborating with Tee Cha (Lee Kwan) and his goons, who have started a martial arts school, without being able to actually teach the craft. As compensation for teaching his few students and compete on his behalf with the fighters of other schools, Cha gives Hing-lung a percentage of his earnings. As the young man becomes increasingly reckless in showing his skills, he also attracts unwanted attention since his grandfather's enemies have taken notice of the young fighter, and are closing in on the location of the one person who had escaped their wrath many years ago.
Known either as “The Fearless Hyena”, “Revenge of the Dragon”, “Superfighter 3” or “The Shadowman”, depending on which country you are from, Jackie Chan's directorial debut indeed perfects the formula which would make him an international star. After countless arguments with other directors about specific details of each project he worked on, especially stunts and overall action scenes, giving Chan more creative freedom and control proved to be quite rewarding, making “The Fearless Hyena” one feature which stands out among the massive movies the actor starred in during the 1970s. As Ching Hing-lung, he once again stars as a martial arts-student, who, much to his master's annoyance, is prone to gambling and showing off whatever skills he has, which, of course, leads his enemy right at his doorstep. Despite his undeniable talent and infantile antics, there is something deeply relatable about this young man who merely wishes to escape the confinements of his home and make a name for himself.
On the other hand, there is the martial arts itself, which serves the blend of action and humor Chan was after, but also a distinct dramaturgy, reminiscent of the careful staging and planning in many of Bruce Lee's fight scenes. There is, for example, a clear distinction between a sparring fight like the one with his second master, during which Hing-lung has to balance a great amount of pots and cups, or the one which he performs as part of his business arrangement with Tee Cha, which, despite being great in terms of acting and choreography, are not quite the test of character that would change the protagonist into the man (and fighter) he has to become. Quite fittingly, the balance and representation of his four moods in the final fight is what emphasizes the journey the character has gone through in the course of the movie. Aside from Chan's performance and his writing, this kind of development also works quite well thanks to the actors like Ching Pang-pei and later on Chan Wai-lau, as the mysterious “Unicorn”, who train the main character and represent valuable stages in his transition from immaturity to adulthood, and thus the titular “Fearless hyena”.
In conclusion, “The Fearless Hyena” is a great debut for Jackie Chan as a director. Along with the perfection of the blend of action and humor which still is Chan's trademark, the feature also shows a deep understanding of e character's journey, represented through him increasing his level of skill in martial arts.
