“Master with Cracked Fingers” American Theatrical Poster
AKA: Cub Tiger From Kwan Tung
Director: Ngai Hoi Fung
Cast: Jackie Chan, Tien Feng, Shu Pei Pei, Hon Gwok Choi, Chen Hung Lieh, Kwan Chung, Gam Gwan, Shut-Ma Wa Lung, Ma Kim Tong, Wong Mei, Alan Chan, Chiang Kam, Chin Yuet Sang, Gam Lau, Kwan Yung Moon, Mars, Dean Shek Tien, Yuen Biao, Simon Yuen, Yuen Yat Chor
Running Time: 79 min.
By Numskull
This sorry excuse for a kung fu movie is a veritable treasure trove of unintentionally funny bits and dialogue snippets (much like New Fist of Fury, with its gems like “I hate the Japs!” and “The Japanese are the best!”). Most amusing is the guy who lays Jackie’s surrogate father, who would rather have his own daughter get raped than have Jackie lift a finger in her defense. Just imagine if this were re-dubbed to portray Jackie and his pop and sis (pallindromes!) as stereotypical backwoods types:
PAW: Now son, the Sherriff dun tole me that you been gittin’ into trouble again, pickin’ fights all ovah creation.
SON: But paw, them polecats was settin’ ta VI-O-late dear ole sis. That just ain’t the Lord’s way, paw. Ain’t nobody supposed to be settin’ their hands on her, ‘cept fer you an’ me of course cuz we is her kin.
PAW: Don’t you be givin’ yer paw no back-talk. I make the rules in this house, y’hear? It ain’t right fer you ta go beatin’ folks like your dear departed maw an’ I always beat you an’ yore sister. Now do as yer paw tells ya and catch these here flower pots an’ change the dirt.
SON: Aw, damn it paw, I dun changed it yesterday!
PAW: Now what did ah just say?!? You do as yore told, an’ you do it now. An’ remember, don’t go ’round spreadin’ no more VI-o-lence, and mind yer cussin’, else I’ll beat the shit outta ya. Now git goin’!
Hmmm…interesting. Now how about a Shakespeare version? We will commence anon:
OLD MAN. O my son, what is this talk that befalls mine ears concerning a brawl most shameful this very day?
JACKIE. Much to my shame, I didst partake in such frenzy. But lest you, father, think my act unjustified, I do hasten to illuminate the cause. It seems the drunken knaves with whom I did trade blows sought to deprive mine dearest sister of her maidenhood.
OLD MAN. You speak thus! But thy words are womanish, and in thy eagerness to leap upon the nearest Son of Adam for reasons slight, I should say my son doth wish himself a lecherous and sinful Daughter of Eve!
JACKIE. Woe and misery rain upon this scrotum, for if I were a man not unlike mine sister, verily I wouldst have two fine and sumptuous titties.
OLD MAN. Silence! One word more on the matter and I shalt force mine flower pots upon you and declare before God almighty that I have not a son!
JACKIE. Then make that declaration, old one, for it is mine view that thou’rt a jackass most unscrupulous, and the burden of resolving this unhappy lot doth fall into mine dutiful hands.
OLD MAN. O, how sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child!
EXEUNT.
I dunno. It could probably use some more of the Bard’s trademark utterly-meaningless-poetry-in-mid-sentence. We’ll try a typical Hollywood testosterone-flooded Jean-Clod Van Damme-style action flick and then wrap up:
FATHER: John! I just heard on the police scanner that some inner city motherfuckers just tried to gang-bang your sister, and that you used all those lethal fighting skills you picked up on the playground during grades K-4 to stop them! Is it true?
JOHN ASSKICKER: No dad, actually I just ran back to uncle’s restaurant, grabbed his M-60 from behind the counter, made it back just in time to keep her pubes from being shown to the audience, and mowed down every one of the creeps like so much grass. She’s safe now, but I still have to have a climactic showdown with the big bad guy. I’ll be back in time to clean your flower pots, OK?
All right, I admit that didn’t work. Fortunately, that’s not the only unfathomably stupid scene in this movie. There’s also the part where the mini-gang leader tells the bad guys to go burn down Jackie’s house. Then, as an afterthought, he says: “And another thing…when you’re done with that, kill him!” Of course, the bad guys know better than to question their boss, even though they know full well that they could save a hell of a lot of time and effort by just killing him first (after several failed attempts…). “All right, that’s enough,” he said, for all was indeed right, and that was in fact enough. The first rating is the serious one. The second is for the enjoyment you can get out of this movie by pulling a Mystery Science Theater 3000 on it.
Numskull’s Rating: 3/10, 7/10
By Alvin George
This is the movie where Jackie Chan had his first starring role. However, it happens to be pure shit. This film was never, repeat, NEVER completed. Jackie says that the director just walked out on the cast one night in the early ’70s. So what do some greedy producers do when Chan finally becomes a star years later? They “finish” the film using a lame lookalike. I must admit to not watching the whole movie. The video version I rented had multiple endings, so I just fast-forwarded to them. Guess what? They were ALL lame. The Cannon Group made better movies than this. Heck, I could make a better movie with a personal camcorder. As MPM would say, this flick sucks chunks!
Alvin George’s Rating: 0/10
By Marcia Franklin
I must be a mutant, looking at everyone else’s reviews, because I actually liked this film. Of course, it was one of the first, oh, five or so Jackie flicks I ever saw, so maybe it’s because I didn’t have anything with which to compare. Also, I would wager that the version one sees has an impact on one’s reaction — “Master with Cracked Fingers” has the little boy stuff all at the beginning (where it actually makes sense), while “Snake Fist Fighter” throws it in as flashbacks during the climactic fight — eww. In comparison to other Jackie films, it’s far from great, but I found it to be, if nothing else, an interesting look at the young Jackie in his first starring role. Not great cinema, but likeable.
Marcia Franklin’s Rating: 6/10
By James H.
This here is Jackie very first starring role. Some say that it has a certain charm to it. I don’t think it does. “Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow” has a certain charm, this is just a bad kung fu movie from the early 70’s. It has the same plot as every other bad kung fu movie from the 70’s. The production of the “movie” must have cost about $109.95, with each actor receiving their $11.49 for their work.
I saw the “special edition” of the movie, which has three different endings. Each one is stupider than the last. In retrospect though, I’d rather watch this than “The Protector” because there were some parts that were so bad they were laughable, while “The Protector” was just so bad. If you do end up renting this, buy some batteries for the VCR clicker, you’ll need them after you run down the old ones from using the fast-forward button.
James H’s Rating: 2/10
By Cody
Like some other critics on this site have said, this movie has a special charm about it. I can’t really put my finger on it though. Other than that this movie is really nothing special. The acting is dull, the story is obviously a remake of Bruce Lee’s “The Big Boss”, Jackie is wearing far too much eye-liner, and then there’s the fight sequences that are copying Bruce Lee (my uncle came in while I was watching this movie and he thought he was seeing Bruce Lee). The worst thing about movie is probably Jackie’s teacher.
This scene will explain my opinion on him:
BUM: Whats wrong little boy, you look sad?
BABY JACKIE: I want to learn how to fight (why!) but my father won’t let me! (boo hoo, sniff sniff)
BUM: Well I’ll teach you if you …
BABY JACKIE: HAH! all your good for is beggin’
BUM: WHY I OUTTA’! Look at this, this is my magic stick (gross!). And I’m one of the greatest martial artists in the land.
BABY JACKIE: You wanna see fighting, well I’ll show you! (baby Jackie does some mantis kung fu, but he falls flat on his butt)
BUM: HO HO HO HO HO HO HO HO!
BABY JACKIE: You better stop laghing or I’m gonna kick your @$$! (They start to “fight” Jackie loses)
BUM: So what do you think now, huh kid!
BABY JACKIE: TEACH ME!
BUM: Alright. Meet me in the woods tonight and come alone, or else! (later that night)
BABY JACKIE: I’m ready master.
BUM: Good, we’ll start by putting you in this full of magical poweres, but first you have to take off your clothes…
I stopped there because it was too sickening, you think about.
Cody’s Rating: 3/10
By Andrew
Not the best, and not the worst, but this is Chan’s first big picture, and it ain’t bad. Now it’s hard for me to say too much about the specifics of this fim, because I’ve seen two different versions and three alternate endings. (one of which wasn’t even an ending) I can say that there are different distinct parts of the film, and they are of varying effectiveness in conveying the overall story. So what is the story here? Of course the basic plot involves Chan growing up to someday fight to the death with the man who killed his father years before (don’t these guys get too old to fight?) but the real battle is for our hero’s moral values. Is it okay to fight, or must we only defend ourselves. Chan suffers terrible punishment from his step-father for defending others, but still knows that to avenge his fathers death he must fight his way up to the final confrontation. A young thief also must choose whether to help this noble young hero, or cooperate with the thugs who terrorize the village.
Ultimately, this is a mildly entertaining film, with the emphasis on comedy… or action. (depending on which edition you see)
Andrew’s Rating: 6/10
By Vic Nguyen
CRAP! I can’t believe I actually paid $.79 to rent this piece of crap! This is just another film made to cash in on Jackie’s rising popularity in America. Stay away from this film at all costs.
Vic Nguyen’s Rating: 0/10
