Go West, Young Alexander Fu Sheng
Chinatown Kid is a 1977 martial arts movie released by Shaw Brothers, directed by Chang Cheh and starring Alexander Fu Sheng as the titular character.
Tan Tung (Alex) is a young martial arts street fighter born and raised in the mean streets of Hong Kong, but after getting into trouble with the local Hong Kong triads, he's forced to escape to San Francisco to seek refuge with his friend, Jian-Wen (Sun Chien). Deciding to start anew halfway across the globe, Tan Tung initially tries helping his friend out in the Chinese restaurant Jian-Wen works, but later on Tan Tung discovers the Chinatown area to be under the control of a feared triad organization led by one White Dragon boss (Philip Kwok in a rare villain role). And Tan Tung's new friend, Xu Hao, appears to be involved in the mob as well in some ways...
It's worth noting that Alexander Fu met his future wife, Jenny Tseng, during the making of this movie.
Tropertown Kid:
- Agonizing Stomach Wound: Tan Tung suffers one of these in the final fight when the White Dragon whips out a concealed dagger and shoves it into his stomach. He does live long enough to kill White Dragon in a Taking You with Me moment, before he succumbs.
- All Chinese People Know Kung-Fu: While the movie took place in San Francisco, every scene is set in the Chinatown area, with practically every named major character (either good or bad) being Chinese. note And ALL of them are capable fighters, including Jian-Wen the nerdy restaurant worker.
- Back-to-Back Badasses: Tan Tung and Jian-Wen against the triads' punks in the finale. In classical Shaw Brothers-beat 'em up.
- Big Bad: The White Dragon Leader, who's the boss of the local Chinatown triad. He's surprisingly played by Philip Kwok, the "Golden Child" of the Five Venoms Mob who usually portrays the hero.
- The City vs. the Country: With Tan Tung the country boy from rural Hong Kong trying to eke a living in San Francisco's Chinatown.
- False Friend: Xu Hao, a local Chinatown pimp who befriends the titular kid early in the film after becomin gimpressed with Tan Tung's fighting skills. Turns out he's using Tan Tung as a scapegoat in a local Chinatown war.
- Fish out of Water: Tan Tung, being a kung fu expert in his native China... only to end up in San Francisco with only his knowledge in fighting serving him. The best way he can put his skills into making a living is by squeezing oranges as a juice-seller.
- Floating Head Syndrome: Majority of the film's posters (including it's initial theatrical release) would have Alexander Fu's giant head dominating the streets of Chinatown.
- Frame-Up: After deciding Tan Tung is no longer of any use to him, Xu Hao decide to use him as a scapegoat for a drug deal and leave him to be arrested.
- Gasoline Dousing: The triad punks tries intimidating the restaurant where Tan Tung works at by bringing out a jerry can and spilling it's contents in the restaurant's dining area, but Yang Ching kicks the can aside before it can be ignited. He willingly gives himself up so as to prevent the thugs from setting the fuel alight.
- Good Old Fisticuffs: Basically how Tan Tung fixes 90% of his problems, is by punching his way out.
- The Hero Dies: In typical Chang Cheh fashion. The film literally ends the very moment Tan Tung succumbs to a stab wound in the stomach.
- Lodged-Blade Recycling: The final battle ends with Tan Tung getting stabbed in the guts by White Dragon, just as Jian-Wen who's busy beating up the last few mooks comes to his assistance. As Jian-Wen restrains White Dragon, Tan Tung, in his dying throes, rips the knife in his stomach and stabs White Dragon dead.
- Nerd Glasses: Worn by Tan Tung's new friend Yang Jian-Wen, a fellow waiter in the same restaurant who is quite socially inept and introverted, but tries his best to provide for Tan Tung. He's never seen without those thick-rimmed specs of his at any point of the movie.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Tan Tung, for beating up a group of triad punks threatening two women in front of his restaurant, ends up having the restaurant owner firing him since the restaurant is under the local triads' protection.
- Smooch of Victory: After Tan Tung saves a couple of woman from being harassed by triad punks (by beating the snot out of them, of course), one of them (the white one) gives Tan Tung a "thank you" kiss, much to his delight. Unfortunately, Mood Whiplash follows (see No Good Deed Goes Unpunished).
- Talking in Bed: Tan Tung and his local Chinese-American friend Yang Jian-Wen had a conversation discussing their later lives in Chinatown, given their lack of knowledge in education.
- The Triads and the Tongs: The local Chinatown Tongs which controls the entire area like a protection racket serves as the villains of the film.
- Screw the Money, I Have Rules!: One of the reason why Tan Tung refuse to join the drug-dealing triads, despite being offered a hefty bribe to be one of their enforcers.
- Walking Shirtless Scene: Tan Tung trains bare-chested while he's showing off his skills in a local dojo. And in practically all his fight scenes, while he's wearing a coat, his chest is bare the whole time.
