Director: Jeong Chang-hwa
Screenplay: Jeong Chang-hwa
Starring: Shin Il-ryong, Chan Sing, Michael Chan Wai-man, Chao Hsiung, Shirley Wong, Chan Pei-shan, Sammo Hung
Country: Hong Kong
Running time: 99 min
Year: 1976
BBFC Certificate: 15

In 1976, Sammo Hung was on the cusp of stardom. A year later he would have his first lead role in Golden Harvest production Shaolin Plot, whilst his directorial debut, The Iron-Fisted Monk, would also be released. The rest, they say, is history with the likes of Millionaire’s Express, The Magnificent Butcher, Encounters of the Spooky King and many more to come.

But back to 1976, and Hung had yet to breakout when he had a small role in a film that until now has been difficult to see in the West, The Double Crossers. If you’re watching the film for Hung you’ll be disappointed, he is hardly in it; yet if you’re a Hung fan in general, there’s plenty to enjoy as, according to the booklet, he was the choreographer of the brief but tough and excellent action sequences.

The film, directed by Jeong Chang-hwa, follows Detective Lung (Shin Il-ryong), who discovers that his late father was killed by the leader of a smuggling ring which his parents were involved in. Lung resigns from the police force to take revenge against his father’s killer Wang (Chao Hsiug), teaming up with Chang (Chen Sing), who knew and worked with his parents. Along the way there’s plenty of action and violence, and we also discover the meaning of the title, (hint, Lung and Chang’s revenge doesn’t just involve violence but also getting involved in Wang’s nefarious ways to take him down). That’s the basic set-up for an action-packed and entertaining saga that is one of the more obscure titles that Eureka have released from the golden age of Hong Kong cinema.

Chang’s character drives the plot forward, as he’s looking for the right time and place to strike. In the background is a cat and mouse chase – Lung and Chang tracking down Wang, whilst they’re also being hunted themselves. Along the way, Lung has time to fall in love with a woman he meets whilst staying in Bali.

Performances are strong throughout, with Shin Il-ryong, who apparently hadn’t been in many features before this, in particular a very likeable actor, bouncing from tough and intense to light-hearted and romantic. There’s a rogue’s gallery of interesting villains and henchmen too who each play their parts well. Sammo Hung doesn’t appear until towards the end as a henchman who has no lines. Still, it’s great to see him in a small role in the knowledge he’d be big business very soon.

Several elements make the film stand out. The first is the realism of the violence. This is a gritty tale and requires more grounded action scenes than some, which means there’s less martial arts and more brief violent forays. It’s tough and well choreographed. There is also an excellent car and motorbike chase at the finale, and sections that have to be seen to be believed involving a bazooka in one, a blowtorch in another, and some casual throwing of dynamite in yet another. The action is frequently a high point of the film.

Another memorable element is the gorgeous locations. The film was filmed in Hong Kong, Bali in Indonesia and Singapore, and each is shown off to great effect. We spend most of our time in Indonesia, and it looks particularly gorgeous with beautiful greenery and oceans on one hand, but on the other the grittier side of the country is also shown as we see its oil fields. It’s not quite a travelogue picture, but is a film that shows off the beauty alongside very different sides of each of the shooting locations. Special mention also to Wang Yung-lung’s cinematography – there are some beautifully framed scenes – and Joseph Koo’s score, which complements the action sequences, particularly the finale, well.

The Double Crossers is a very entertaining action thriller, a revenge drama that mixes violence with titular double crossing. There’s plenty to enjoy, including a small role for Sammo Hung who also apparently choreographed the excellent fight sequences, a decent score and some gorgeous locations. It’s no lost masterpiece but is a lesser known film that is deserving of a new audience.

Film:

The Double Crossers is out now from Eureka Video on their Classics range. The 2K restoration is excellent with the colours looking rich, strong detail and no blemishes. I watched the Hong Kong theatrical cut and the soundtrack sounded great too, and I found no issues with the subtitles.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling

1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray of the original Hong Kong theatrical cut from a brand new 2K restoration

1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray of the original English language export cut from a brand new 2K restoration

Original Mandarin and optional classic English dub (Hong Kong theatrical cut)

Classic English dub (Export version)

Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release

Brand new audio commentary on the Hong Kong theatrical version by East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)

Brand new audio commentary on the export version by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema

Reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork

Trailer

A limited edition collectorā€™s booklet featuring new writing on the film by James Oliver

Both commentaries are on the Hong Kong theatrical cut and feature Eureka stalwarts.

The first with Frank Djeng starts by giving some insight into the original title of the film, Ghost Clan Double Heroes and what that means as well as other titles it is known as. We also hear about some of the stars, background to some of the crew including composer Joseph Koo, and locations – there’s particularly interesting anecdotes about the runway and hotelĀ featured at the start of the film. Djeng also outlines how the movie feels more like one that would have been made in Korea at the time, and highlights some of the technical elements. Djeng is always great to hear and packs in such a variety of different information, and this one is no different. A fabulous commentary.

Mike Leeder and Arne Venema’s commentary is also fantastic, the pair complementing each other well and enthusiastically talking about the film, providing a wealth of background information but also describing what we’re seeing on screen in an entertaining way. We learn plenty of background to the actors and crew, as well as the production itself – a particularly interesting section looks at how Golden Harvest worked with an Indonesian production company on the film. Another brilliant commentary.

Rounding out the on disc package is a typically action-packed trailer running almost four minutes.

The booklet essay is by another Eureka regular Jamie Oliver, whose articles are always good reads. This one runs for 20 pages, and is beautifully put together with stills images and promotional materials. It gives a good overview of the film, highlighting Hung’s role, some background to the actors and director, a look at the locationsĀ  and the film’s place in Hong Kong cinema – between the death of Bruce Lee and the rise of Jackie Chan. A great essay.

The Double Crossers may not be a lost masterpiece but it is a very entertaining action film, which should get a new appreciation thanks to Eureka’s new release. The audio-visual presentation of the disc is first class. Extras may seem slim, and it’s true that from a quantity perspective they are, but the two commentaries are top drawer, providing pretty much everything you could want to know about the film. Highly recommended for fans of classic Hong Kong cinema, particularly the fan who thinks they’ve seen them all.

Disc/Package:

The Double Crossers - Eureka Classics
Film
Disc/Package
3.5Overall:
Reader Rating: (0 Votes)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.