Eureka Blu-ray Synopsis: Angela Mao and director Huang Feng (The Shaolin Plot) were a superstar pairing that produced an incredible series of top tier kung-fu classics including Deadly China Doll, When Taekwondo Strikes, and the two films presented here – Lady Whirlwind and Hapkido. Perhaps her most iconic film, Lady Whirlwind(bizarrely re-titled as Deep Thrust in the US, to capitalise on the success of Deep Throat, which probably made its tag lines- “The Deadly Stroke of Bare Hand Combat” and “Mistress of the Death Blow” - a tad misleading) stars Mao as a deadly fighter out for revenge on the man who wronged her sister (played by Shaw Brothers veteran Chang Yi). After tracking the man down, she finds he is on his own vengeful path against a gang of Japanese thugs and agrees to help keep him alive – as long as she gets to take her revenge when it's all over! Eureka Classics is proud to present Lady Whirlwind on home video for the first time ever in the UK from a stunning new 2K digital restoration. (89 Mins)

 

Views: In the 40 years since this film was first made, I never had the pleasure of watching it until Eureka released this gorgeously presented 2K restored version alongside Hapkido – another Huang Feng directed film made the same year as this, which also stars the great Angela Mao Ying and Sammo Hung. Like most kung-fu dramas of this era, Lady Whirlwind came from a period when the genre was still trying to figure out just what it could do. This had been kicked-off by the late, great Jimmy Wang Yu only a couple of years earlier with The Chinese Boxer – quickly followed by Lo Wei's Big Boss and Fist Of Fury. And while the world had their eyes on Bruce Lee, whose movies were coming from the newly launched Golden Harvest studios, Raymond Chow was hiring even more new talent to dish out as many cheap and cheerful kung-fu movies as they possibly could (most of which were highly entertaining); in essence, helping to pioneer a new movement in Hong Kong and Taiwanese cinema that opened the doors for many new stars and amazing talent. It's worth keeping that in mind when watching a film such as Lady Whirlwind as it so often carries moments of crudeness on a production level, or quite openly shows fight scenes where we can clearly see some hits not even coming close to impact. Simply put, directors and choreographers such as Huang Feng and Sammo Hung were refining their styles, reworking their ways after decades of wuxia action, and bringing something a little different to the screen that would quickly become one of the most loved genres of all time!

 

Probably more recognised internationally as Bruce Lee's tough little sister in Enter The Dragon, Taiwanese born Mao Ying began her martial life in the Chinese Opera, as many stars of that era would have done. After a brief role in Gwan Jing Leung's Eight Robbers in 1968, Mao was signed on with a new Hong Kong movie studio called Golden Harvest where she would star in a host of classics for directors such as Lo Wei, Huang Feng, and King Hu with films such as The Angry River, Hapkido, When Taekwondo Strikes, The Fate Of Lee Khan, and many more with Mao Ying going on to star in a total of 45 titles through to the early 80s before retiring from the screen – although she would make an appearance in James Wu's Mr. Vampire in 1990 (no, not the Ricky Lau original) and Mark Long's Witch Edited in 1992 before leaving the film business altogether. Mao would then move to the US in a bid to devote herself to her family and open a number of restaurants. Of course, Lady Whirlwind was one such film that helped propel her to stardom and quite often appears in film fans lists of Angela Mao's top ten. Shot between South Korea and Hong Kong alongside Hapkido in 1972, the story is quite typical of many films around then focusing on the theme of revenge. After a young man called Ling Shih Hua is beaten and left for dead by a gang of Japanese thugs, he is nursed back to health by a young woman who soon falls for him. Once healed, Ling vows to take revenge and sets out on his mission. Meanwhile, another young lady called Tien Li Chun has arrived in town in search of the very man that jilted her sister, causing her to take her life. That man was Ling, and the pair soon cross paths on their search for revenge. Explaining his own mission of vengeance, Ling begs her to spare him until he gets his revenge to which Tien reluctantly agrees – eventually offering to help him so that she can exact her own revenge quicker. But in the end, as they two heroes come to blows, Ling is saved by his new girlfriend who begs the feisty female fighter for forgiveness...

 

The wonderful Chang Yi stars as the man caught in the middle, Ling Shi Hao. Many say that this was somewhat of a rare thing to see Yi play the good guy when, in fact, he had done so numerously throughout his career. It just so happens that his roles as a bad guy stood out a lot more (and were more often in the latter side of his work). By the time he had appeared in Lady Whirlwind, Chang Yi had already starred in over 20 productions since his debut role in The Thundering Sword only 5 years earlier. Fast cementing his place in the Shaw Brothers studios, Yi starred in classics such as King Cat, The Bells Of Death, and Brothers Five as well as Zatoichi & The One-Armed Swordsman, The Fast Sword, Bandits From Shantung, and many more. Of course, the latter would see him star alongside the legendary Sammo Hung who would also double-up as the martial arts director – a dual role he would continue in Lady Whirlwind the very same year. With the action on offer here, it's fair to assume that young Sammo may have taken some inspiration from the Shaw Brothers hit King Boxer, which would have come out earlier that year. Either him or director Huang Feng. Focusing less on martial arts styles and going for a hasher street-fighter type, basher style of choreography, Sammo delivers a host of fun beat-downs that come pretty rapidly and often prove to be quite enjoyable. The man himself plays a pestering henchman who gets more than a few fights to enjoy, each of which see him taking on one embarrassing wound after another until Mao puts him down for good after she crushes him in amongst some trees. He plays the sister of wicked brothel madam and whip-cracker Tiao Ta Niang, played by Anna Liu Ah Na in (what seems to be) her one and only role. Both siblings are part of Tung Ku's gang; a brutal tyrant played by the wonderful Pai Ying who made his feature film debut in King Hu's classic Dragon Inn. Over the years he would work with many of his co-stars and director Huang Feng in titles such as The Invincible Eight, The Angry River, Bandits From Shantung etc, and much like Chang Yi, Pai had starred in a good 20 productions before Lady Whirlwind. 1972 would see him star in no less than 10 films, one of which was the awesome Hapkido and Pai would quickly go on to be one of the most recognisable and sought after stars of Hong Kong and Taiwanese cinema from there on in – starring in a number of King Hu classics before moving into the Shaw Brothers studios, as well as stealing the scenes in a number of independent flicks such as Militant Eagle, 72 Desperate Rebels, and A Fistful Of Talons. Working right through until the turn-of-the-century, Pai Ying also showed up in many modern Hong Kong hits including Royal Warriors, Braveful Police, Dragon From Russia, and Born Wild with Louis Koo and Daniel Wu. The fun Chin Yuet Sang also makes a fun appearance as a Japanese fighter, and regular faces of the time – such as Yeung Wai, Wilson Tong, Law Kei, Martin Chui, and Cham Siu Hung – help fill out the remaining cast, with director Huang Feng making a cameo as a casino owner.

 

I quite enjoyed Lady Whirlwind. Although he only directed 14 in all, Huang Feng has certainly delivered a number of classic titles over the years, and many of which saw the participation of Sammo Hung and Angela Mao Ying in one way or another. From The Angry River to Hapkido, and When Taekwondo Strikes to The Tournament, it's hard to deny that any of Huang's films don't offer something wonderful or entertaining in their running time. Cliched and typical to the modern viewer, Lady Whirlwind is a genuine classic of kung-fu cinema and Mao Ying's career, and while it may have its flaws, the film still proves to be as exciting today as it did upon release. Lady Whirlwind has never looked better than it does now thanks to this 2K restoration, which makes it even more enjoyable to see it as it was intended!

 

Overall: Packed full of great kung-fu battles and classic clichés, Lady Whirlwind gives Angela Mao Ying a great showcase for her talents and is worth checking out!

 

Eureka Blu-ray Extras: 2K Restoration, Audio Commentary with Frank Djeng & Michael Worth, Audio Commentary with Frank Djeng & Bobby Samuels, Audio Commentary with Samm Deighan, Interview with Angela Mao Ying & Thomas King (Mao's Son), Alternate English Credits, Stills Gallery, Trailers, Radio Spot

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Watch my unboxing video of this Eureka Video release HERE