I have not watched The Once Upon a Time in China films in a very long time, but as best as I recall they are a very mixed bag. The first two directed by Tsui Hark and starring Jet Li are considered to be classics by most, the third in the series, still directed by Tsui Hark and starring Jet Li was a step down - how much Lion Dancing is too much Lion Dancing. Then there was apparently a disagreement between Tsui Hark and Li, so for the fourth and fifth films in the series Zhao Wen-zhou took on the role of Wong Fei-hung. These two films are ok and Zhao is a terrific martial artist and was to go on to play Wong Fei-hung in a popular TV series - but generally these two films are ignored in a discussion of the series. The ones without Jet Li just don't count. Which brings us to Once Upon a Time in China and America. A misbegotten mess.


Jet Li had played Wong Fei-hung one time after OUATIC III - in the silly Wong Jing directed 1993 Last Hero in China. To some degree Jet Li had taken over the identity of the historically true character from Kwan Tak-hing who had portrayed Wong Fei-hung in over 70 films decades before. So, four years after the fifth in the series, Wong Fei-hung was brought back again with Jet Li. Li was in a career down place. He was making fewer films and none resonated like his earlier ones - The Scripture with No Words, Black Mask and Hitman. He was also getting ready for his move to Hollywood. A film that takes place in the American West with marketing appeal outside of Hong Kong likely seemed a good idea.


It didn't work out that way. It did fine in Hong Kong, fourth at the box office for the year, but I think most Westerners were aghast at the broad and clearly ridiculous depiction of the Old West. Sammo Hung is the director and choreographer of the film and as much as I love Sammo, the film makes little sense and the martial arts action against Native Americans and gunslingers feels second level. I have to admit though not having seen Jet Li as Wong Fei-hung, Rosamund Kwan as Aunt Yee and Xiong Xinxin as Clubfoot in over 20 years, when I first spot them in a stagecoach, I felt a glow of contentment. I had never seen this one before. A hole that needed to be fixed.


I just wish it was a better film. Wong, Aunt Yee and Clubfoot (called Seven here) have come to America for the opening of a Po Chi Lam clinic, an offshoot of the one Wong Fei-hung has in Canton. A long ways to come in the middle of nowhere. On the way, they pick up a man stranded in the desert, Billy (Jeff Wolfe - Knock Off), likely to be Billy the Kid but never said. They are attacked by a band of Natives and their coach ends up in the river. Yee and Seven make it to shore safely and get to the town, but Wong is knocked on the head and loses his memory. He is found by a friendly tribe and after he fights off another tribe, he is welcomed to be part of them. Especially, by one of the women.


Meanwhile, back in town Aunt Yee and Seven are searching for Wong and the large contingent of Chinese - miners supposedly though they never seem to work - are being badly treated by the white townspeople. Lots of rules as to what they are not allowed to do or go. Chinese women are not allowed so they are thrilled to see Aunt Yee and she is adorable with her cowboy hat on. Billy turns out to be handy with his guns and sides with the Chinese. He bets a saloon full of men that Seven can beat them all in a fight - at the same time. No surprise who wins that bet. The film gets sillier as Wong shows up, still not knowing who he is - even after seeing Yee or fighting Seven - nice touch when the Chinese play his theme song, A Man Should Strengthen Himself - until he is engulfed by water.



Then it all comes back to him and he becomes the rather stuffy Master extolling Chinese identity and pride - which puts everyone to sleep. One more action set piece when bank robbers come to town and Wong has to go against the main villain who earlier cut himself to attract wolves that he then kills with a knife. But as in all the action, it is too wire enhanced and much too edited into small pieces. And it is against Gweilos. There isn't a moment of legitimate martial arts without the use of fast cuts. It made me long for a dose of the Shaw Brothers. A disappointing film on most levels, but always great to see Li, Rosamund, Xiong and a couple other Hong Kong actors.

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