Tiger vs. Dragon (1972)

An undercover agent sent to infiltrate the slave trade in Shanghai discovers a Japanese plot to smuggle strategic maps out of China to be used in an impending invasion.

Chan Sing and Yasuaki Kurata are at each other’s throats again in Tiger vs. Dragon, another in a long line of Japanese vs. Chinese kung fu flicks that features more plot than usual.

Its roughly 1930 and Chan Sing is a Chinese police officer sent to Shanghai in order to infiltrate and bring down a new gang who is in the business of kidnapping, smuggling, and selling women overseas. His partner is Michael Chan who falls in love with one of the victims played by Irene Ryder. Sing impresses the gang boss with his Chinese boxing skills and along with Michael, is invited to join the gang. Yet two of the gang leader’s guests are suspicious. Yasuaki Kurata and his bodyguard are visiting from Japan. Unbeknownst to the gang leader or Sing, Kurata has been sent by the Japanese government as a spy to prepare the way for a full scale invasion. Kurata attempts to uncover Sing in hopes that the gang leader will kill him, but the plan fails after Hon Gwok Choi, a local shoeshine and friend intervenes. The tables soon turn when one of Kurata’s contacts is intercepted with a map of Chinese military bases. Sing’s growing suspicions about Kurata are proven and he begins a desperate chase to stop Kurata before he can escape to Japan.

Tiger vs. Dragon was the last of at least seven films in the early ’70’s that starred both Chan Sing and Yasuaki Kurata. Most of the cast from The Rage of Wind (1973) is also present including Irene Ryder who plays an Russian immigrant and the wonderfully acrobatic Hon Gwok Choi, who nearly always played the naive goofball. This film also contained, arguable one of the best fights between Chan and Kurata as the climax.

While there are some small issues such as the inability of the film to resolve the slave trade subplot, the story is actually quite good. Kurata’s superiors have told him to keep a low profile so as not to draw attention. Thankfully, this eliminates some of the tiresome and stereotypical Japanese smugness that most villains throw around. In fact, once Chan discovers the truth, Kurata makes a run for it instead of sticking around to fight. After a car chase and a series of lesser fights between Michael Chan and the Japanese bodyguard, Chang Sing finally corners Kurata, who is now forced to fight.

What really makes this film and especially the ending work is the very apparent desperation of both men. Unlike so many similar characters in similar films, I felt that Chan and Kurata both had legitimate reasons for fighting. This isn’t about a warrior’s honor or trying to steal some kung fu style. Chan is trying to save his country while Kurata is trying to save his life and complete his mission. Knowing this makes the last battle all the more enjoyable as both Chan and Kurata become absolutely frantic in their efforts to kill each other. These guys are both intense performers and again, this may very well be their finest duel.