The Treasure Hunters

Fans of the international star Alexander Fu Sheng were aghast. Their idol had broken both his legs and was recuperating. Everyone wondered: would he be able to return to the action comedies for which he was so famous? This movie was the answer, and it left no doubt that he had made a full recovery. Liu Chia-yung, brother of preeminent martial arts moviemaker Liu Chia-liang, was famous in his own right for kung-fu comedies, and he out-did himself with this one. Imagine Bob Hope and Bing Crosby with the skills of Jet Li and Jackie Chan, and you’ve got an idea of the fun and fury inherent in this delightful tale of two con men vying for a horde of hidden gold. Add to the mix a Shaolin monk (played by “Master Killer” Gordon Liu Chia-hui), a powerfully brutal villain (Wang Lung-wei), and his equally dangerous mute sister (future director Yang Tsing-tsing), and you’ve got one of the most internationally loved kung-fu capers ever made.