Da tie nu (1974) - full transcript
The movie starts with murder and robbery. Chin Kang (Kam Kong) has a criminal record as a thief but has served his time and now earns an honest living as a blacksmith. He is the dumb ox in the title and this role was made for him. Leung Siu-Chung (Bruce Leung's father) is one of the action directors. His strength is making the fights solid and realistic. The story is a twist on the revenge plot with Chin Kang being falsely accused. There is quite a bit of drama in this movie but it is all done well and serves to spice up and not drag down the action.This movie has a few titles depending on country of release. In 2015 I watched a German version based on the title screen "Shaolin - Der Todesschrei des Panthers" (Return of the Panther). This copy was dubbed into English. The movie is also known as "The Dumb Ox" or "Kung Fu Strongman" or "Chinese Kung Fu". "The Dumb Ox" is considered the original title. That copy played as 4:3 video with both sides of the picture cut off. (Back in the VHS days that was how it was done. Chop!) Since then I came across a wide screen version. Wide screen versions of these movies from the 1980s and earlier are hard to find. It was dubbed in English but overdubbed in Russian. I suspect this to be a fan edit. Thank you, Russian fan, but I don't speak Russian and cannot remove that audio.I originally reviewed the movie and rated it 8/10 and ranked it as one of the best martial arts movies of 1974. I also recommended it for viewers beginning to get into this movie genre.This year I watched the movie again. I played the muted video of the wide screen and synchronized it with the audio of the English dubbed 4:3 version. It's always interesting to watch a movie again after many years to see if I feel the same way about it.Kam Kong or Chin Kang was a student of the Korean martial artist Dorian Tan (Tan Tao-liang). His first movie lead was alongside the great Kurata Yasuaki in 1973 "One by One" which I also reviewed here. Other than his birthdate of August 26, 1936 and his movie credits I have not been able to find information about his life. I have watched almost all of his 61 movies and rate most of them above average for the year and genre. "One-armed Boxer vs. the Flying Guillotine" with Kimmy Wang Yu is my favorite. Chin Kang's fighting skills are supreme in this movie. He does twelve or more moves without a cut and versus multiple opponents in many fights. He demonstrates power and accuracy with his strikes and parries. His posture and all the small details of fighting are spot on. Plus, he has concurrent facial expressions in his fights that match the choreography and add to the visual experience.I totally enjoyed my second viewing of this movie. My opinion, rating, and recommendation of this movie is the same as it was four years ago. I rate this movie as one of the best martial arts movie made in 1974 with a score of 8 out of 10.Only the Shaw Brothers series of Shaolin Temple movies rate higher.Typically I only recommend these movies to other fans of the genre. This time, in addition to that, I also recommend this movie to anyone who is thinking about watching a movie of this genre to see if you like it. It is a fine movie to introduce new viewers to the genre.
hey listen
as soon as i get back
i'll take some dough and then go and pay
a little visit to my girlfriend that's
just tough you're so scared of your wife
you wouldn't die try anything get lost
hey hey let's hurry there's been bandits
operating around here let's get going
huh huh how was there is huh
look i'd like to meet those guys i mean
to say there's a reward out for them i
could get my hands on that i'd really
have it made then think of all the women
i could have huh
it won't happen we won't be robbed after
all we come from king village i mean
they wouldn't dare
hey
[Music]
i got a job to do
you stay in the village until i get back
and when will that be
um
maybe
maybe five or six weeks
and remember
be careful while i'm gone
don't you worry i'm always careful
i hope so
if you need me to know where i am
sure
[Music]
here
mustard
[Music]
hey
[Music]
oh
you must be a stranger
you're wasting your time with him he
doesn't talk
you see he's the village dermocks
and he never talks to anyone around here
hey
what's this place
king village
hey
and what brings you here
oh nothing
any hotels
hmm
well now there's a couple of ends
but still if you want comfort
then come to my place
well now i'd like to
but i've no dough
we don't need any more penniless bums
hmm
[Music]
away
[Music]
try your
[Music]
stupid food
[Music]
[Applause]
[Applause]
let me show you how
[Applause]
you're doing a good job we've improved a
lot
you sure know your job
thanks but you've got some pretty good
men here they work hard
dad what's this
kung fu is very popular now i know and
i'm determined that king village is
going to be the best at kung fu that's
why i hired you
your son's coming on well
[Applause]
i was testing him and it seems to me he
didn't do very
well you're fast
and i must admit
you really had me there
but still
i warn you never try that again unless
you're serious
fighters tend to have fast reflexes and
you just might get hurt by mistake
i didn't mean any harm when was your
sense of humor
now stop that you just watch your
manners
brother dad was saying how good you are
come on let's try one
now listen forget it
i might hurt you
mess up your face hey if i did that who
would marry her
oh
[Applause]
dad and how was that
mischie's very good
a real tomboy never learned to behave
like a lady
might have a heroin on your hands
[Laughter]
sounds like a good thing in theory but
on the other hand could be uncomfortable
[Music]
you want some more
[Applause]
now look let's call it quits
[Laughter]
[Applause]
listen
faster
faster
[Music]
it's trouble
what's wrong
it's mr chair's youngest son
and the two t brothers
you see
they've been on business haven't they
that's right
now they've been killed
[Music]
where
over there
right come on come on
[Music]
i'd like you to come too
i might need you of course
be pleased to help
we'll both come along right let's go
i'm coming too you can stay at home
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
hey tell me what's going on here
sir
as you're on your own here take my
advice
you better move on why
i'd rather not say just take my advice
get out of here
matter of fact i was thinking i might
like to stay here
it's just a crummy place why should you
stay
i tell you i like crummy places
now what's more i like trouble
some more wine all right but take my
word and don't get involved
there's a gang around here a gang of
bandits and they kill us
i tell you i've just been told they
killed three of our villagers
they were all good men been to town and
some business
took their money and killed them all it
was awful
and what's more last month there were
some professional escorts killed on the
way here
how were they killed
some of them were hung up in trees
others had broken necks
[Music]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Applause]
oh
[Music]
ah there you go
[Applause]
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
what's up
[Music]
dad
nothing couldn't find a thing
[Applause]
i'm sorry i brought you i wasted your
time
don't say that we're part of your
village too now
so we're involved
we've got to catch those guys all three
of them
hey listen who said there were three
well what are we going to do
we'll go back
we'll have to stay on our guard keep an
eye on all strangers and i'll get in
touch with the other villagers
hmm a good idea
if we can all unite
we'll soon catch those guys sure
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
another robbery
there's been a lot of robberies around
here recently
hey
not a bad business huh
[Music]
there's no capital involved
and easier money than working as a
blacksmith
wouldn't you say
you know what
you look kind of familiar to me
i'm sure i know you
where'd you come from
oh right
you make something and i unbox
but still i want a strong one
to hold a real tough fella yeah like an
ox like you
i won't
[Music]
you can tour
and why not
wasted time
you couldn't catch a kid
let alone a grown man better save your
dough
hey save your breath
[Music]
hold it
where are you going where are you a
traveler i just thought i'd go up and
see those guys who were killed
is that all right
you like corpses
my young lady
you're pretty rude
and why should i be polite i warn you we
don't want any more trouble here
trouble
listen
if you got troubles
well
it's your own people
[Music]
what does that mean
well
better ask him
hold it
[Music]
all right miss let's not fight one of
these days you'll understand
[Music]
do
[Music]
and what's your name then where you from
my name is yang chung
a traveler
what brings you here
nothing
you could say
curiosity
hey
i warn you
you better mind your own business
and if i don't care to do that
now young man i warn you don't try to
throw your weight around here
do you own this place then
mr wong is the leader of king village oh
mr wong
so that's who you are
well then i will make trouble
hold it
sounds to me you know who the bandits
are
your own people
listen
ignore him i think that he's abandoned
himself
that's so is it written on my face you
full
teacher
oh you're an instructor
well let me instruct you
the most unlikely people turn out to be
bandits
you never would guess mr yang
if you know something tell us we've
simply got to catch these men
do you recognize that thing
what is it
what's it for
[Music]
that's just what he is
hey
dumbox
what do you think can i pick up this
one-handed
i guess so
oh
mr liu
i don't think you can
can you do you really think that you can
here
stomachs all right
damn it
good
that's good
dumbass
you had it all planned
hey
now come on you just couldn't do it not
strong enough it's that simple
so what he's an animal
miss joy
[Laughter]
huh why are you still here
miss troy who's that
he's just some nosy stranger
oh
listen
wouldn't you like to find out
find out just who the killers are
oh
you mean you know who the bandits are
maybe not
not for sure
but still
i have a good idea though
well tell us
what's that got to do with it
seen it before huh
yes of course seen it often before but
where though
of course down at the blacksmith's place
and this thing's the murder weapon
so he was the dumbox
i don't believe it
we've got the evidence
let's go get him
hey
i warn you you cut that out making
trouble here for innocent men i think
you look more like a murderer yourself
well maybe so
but you're wrong though
but you're far too young to know very
much
[Laughter]
[Music]
i've done my time i've paid my debt
won't they ever forget it
just because i went wrong once
will they always believe that i'm still
a crook
miss charlie let's go get him now
sister mr learn was saying they've got
the proof it must be deluxe there isn't
any definite evidence
you go home i'm going down there
listen
don't do anything yet not till there's
proof
anyway he's a real tough guy
you couldn't handle him ever you
wouldn't have any chance with him you
goddamn you listen hey
don't fight hi sam let's go
[Music]
hey hi son
i'll go get low
we can probably use him what for don't
be ridiculous
he's just a dumbass and i can handle him
by myself
all right well you go get him then
and kill him hm
right
[Music]
he came here two years ago
he looked like an honest man to me
so i gave him permission to settle down
here
how could i have known of this
now look
you mustn't blame yourself
you can never tell by looks
we're lucky mr yang spotted him
there's other things too
you don't know
he was in jail
some years ago
i think
that the only reason he came up here
was to avoid recognition
oh how come you know all this then
because it's my business
i'm a bounty hunter you see
what's more i'm a damn good one too
all right
[Applause]
why don't you get him
master
what's wrong
listen
your son's just gonna have to try and
get the dumb ox wouldn't listen
so i thought i better tell you
no good
what's wrong he can't handle him
it's a pity
he'll be on the alert now
i'll go
hey listen
we'll make sure he doesn't escape
we'll seal the roads
[Music]
look at him
listen what is this
hey
[Applause]
[Applause]
you blended lousy murderer
now look you come and accuse me give me
no chance to talk i should touch your
mouth
we should never let you stay here get
him
uh
faster
oh
huh
you're really a tough one
i'll be expecting a big reward for you
you're making a mistake
do you think i don't know about you
your background
i serve my time
that's it
nothing else
but still
you were crooked weren't you huh
um
i was stupid
nothing else
come on
you came up here to carry on like before
disguised as a blacksmith
well go on admit it now
do you recognize this thing
[Music]
so it was him
him
blaming someone else
but with your record
why should i believe you yeah that's
right
i've got a record huh
and so i can never be trusted
guess you're right
all that i deserve
well do whatever you want to
i won't blame you
hold it
who do you suspect
well tell me
[Music]
oh
my god get this lot
listen let's have no tricks or i'll kill
you
now look
give me a share
and then i can get through
damn you
lecherous bum
if you could think more about your job
instead of women
you wouldn't bungle this
and leave evidence behind
but it was good they think it was the
blacksmith now
yang isn't a fool
he knows his business he's an expert
pretty soon he'll be on to us
i think we should get all the money
together and go hey listen what now
don't want to leave the girls is that
what it is oh no
nothing like that
i was thinking of what the boss will say
you know what sort of temper the boss
has got
[Music]
that fella yang is convinced the democs
is the guilty one
maybe so
but the sooner we leave the better don't
you think
anyway wong still trusts us
and for us that's important it gives us
time
if things go wrong then we can kill yang
as well
claim they were partners
let's go right we'll do that
[Music]
hmm come on here
give me a kiss
don't be so cheeky
come on in here
i can't no time i'm going off for a
little while for two or three days just
drop past to say goodbye hey one kiss
go on
don't be so silly people will see you
imagine what they'll say about you
right
see you
oh
and what brings you along here then
you said
you had the best accommodation in the
whole village
and that's very true too
hmm
but still
it's rather expensive though
hey
tell me
dumb ox what do you think of him
you mean you think i've been to bed with
him
well
he's tough
but still
don't think he's a crook
and what about lang
when it comes to bed
all the men are the same
also that's it
he's a customer too is that right
he's got dough that's all that's all i
want
hey how long have they been here he and
his partner
they came together some time ago
oh but lo
he's a real creep
well
what was their job before they came here
you're nosy
why all these questions
what are you trying to find out
i think
i think you could help me i've asked
everyone
but no one knows anything
in fact
you're the only one who knows liam
i mean
he must have talked to you
huh
all right
he told me once
he'd always been a drifter
um and he said
he'd move soon wouldn't stay long
he just wanted to get some money
when he had
then he'd take me with him
as a teacher
he wouldn't get paid much woody
um don't know
still
he's real generous to me
hey
why do you want to know this
one last thing
do you know this
learn's got one too
just who are you
never mind
let's just forget it
keep this it's for you i'm going
hey
hmm
and so then you're quite lucky don't you
think
hey come back soon
[Music]
uh
listen
i knew you'd do it try and steal the
money listen i
i just needed some dough the traveling
expenses
hmm you're going to screw this whole
thing up you stupid idiot listen
get going
go tell the chief we need him here
sure
[Music]
saw
pulling out
[Music]
i nearly blamed the wrong man
you're going to be sorry you didn't
[Music]
[ __ ]
[Music]
ah
oh
[Music]
what do we do now
make use of the body
huh
far as long as concerned
yang believed dumbox was abandoned
so then it looked like they had a fight
well
then you are a fool
it's damned obvious
what we do is take the body
i'd leave it near the village and then
we tell mr wong
that dumbox killed him
after that there'll be no more doubt
they'll know he's the bandit
and in that case
with one stone
it's all very tidy
[Music]
[Music]
so
[Music]
so
[Applause]
[Applause]
three
[Music]
my
[Music]
so
[Music]
what's wrong
and the ox is digging a grave i saw him
a grave that's right for burying yang
he's killing lizzy killer
go tell dad i'm going
huh
miss charlie
[Music]
cut the acting it's useless
now i know why you decided to kill him
he knew all about you about your
background but i know it too and so do
lots of others so kill me and then kill
all the rest of them
well
you don't dare
you only dare to kill poor unarmed
villagers
but you dare face me
now listen save your breath
hey listen don't do this
oh
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
oh
listen let me explain
why
[Applause]
miss chewie let me talk stop this
well now you're getting scared
ah
[Applause]
[Music]
come on
[Music]
gone
[Music]
oh
come on
[Music]
hey
don't push me
god
listen
if i hadn't wanted to come along
i wouldn't tell my be here
[Music]
let's hang
in here
[Applause]
all of you know now
he's got a record
a crook
been a jail
mr wong that's right i was in jail
i admit it still
i've done nothing since
dad he's lying
well then
what now and into the courts
dad he's a killer let's just hang him
get back
mr lowe
gonna kill me
a crook like you deserves to die i'm no
crook
but you are
you stupid fools
you don't scare me i'm not scared to die
but i know who the real crooks
are uh
uh
ah
like this right
do anything foolish now
back go on
mr lowe dad he isn't abandoned if he
were one he'd have tried to get away
and instead he stayed here
turn out get back
look at your brother he broke his leg
well maybe he did then i'd send him to
court let the law decide on it after all
that's what the law's there for
and if you must kill him at least untie
his hands and give him a chance
you shut up
hey
you're all in this together now wait
listen
why didn't you try to stop him he'd have
killed him that's why
[Music]
oh
[Music]
dad
[Laughter]
god damn you you
you wanna die just yet
[Music]
[Applause]
where is she
sit down
talk want to see dumbox what's up
we don't need him but master lo is
holding your father
go get the law hurry up
hi sir
you take a rest
don't worry it's gonna be all right
but trust me now
[Music]
hey look there's low
[Music]
all right what's been going on
it's finished and as for the money
dumbox has got it ah
damn it what are you trying to pull
hold it
this dumbarks fellow was he called the
battling ark some time ago
i know he was in jail once
um right that's him oh you know him
listen
we've still got one card their village
elder
we can get money for him
but still they've sent some men to get
the law
try to intercept them
why the night air
[Music]
he said he said what if he did and why
should we trust him
well don't shout at me he can help
father which is more than you can do now
don't forget you said he was a crook
because he was once in jail
wouldn't listen to him and attacked him
all self-righteous couldn't be wrong
all those words but you can't help your
father i'm doing something i'm reporting
to the law
oh so now you think of the law
but you didn't want to know about the
law before did you
all you wanted to do then was to hang
him eh well well shut up oh just calm
down now we must think this out make
some plans there's nothing we can do
except wait for them
wait till they contact us
just like ox said
we'll go and get in there
well i saw him a little while ago going
to that horse place
cheers
and all the time that i've lived here
you're the only one who's ever talked to
me
just you
all the others ignored me all of them
oh but still you wouldn't talk to me
i had to do all the talking never got a
word out of you
i know
but i did want to talk really
just felt ashamed
awkward
i mean because of my record
yeah you know how [ __ ] up
sure
don't die
i know exactly how you feel i get it all
the time
they're pigs all of them
hey
why'd you come to see me now of all
times
because i'm leaving today
and because you were nice to me
i know you don't know me
still
i do think of you as a friend
and so i dropped by
just to say goodbye to you
seems to me you're really quite a softie
you know what
there's something i've always wanted to
see
you really should settle down
and get yourself a nice husband
get out of this job
[Applause]
here here's to us
[Music]
hey hey mister
mister
hey our cat's broken
can you help us
lend us yours
can you do it
hey
huh can you help us
thank you
[Music]
why won't you talk
huh
[Music]
[Music]
halo bear on the car come on listen oh
my god what happened
[Music]
who would do that
oh
oh god
[Music]
ox
come to the cemetery
cause your brother's stupid
two good men are being killed
[Music]
[Music]
come to the cemetery
jen
it's him
[Laughter]
hey boss
do you think he will come
patience he'll come all right
i'm worried in case he's too smart for
us
[Applause]
[Laughter]
well if that fellow was really smart
he wouldn't have been in jail
hey
hey boss here he comes
[Music]
[Music]
well now
it's you it's been a long time eh hasn't
it now
[Laughter]
surprised to see me
see i'm still alive
don't be like that
listen brother look let's forget the
brother bit
what do you want
see you peace hurry up
you're just as stubborn as ever
haven't changed get to the point
right
i'm with the business
you my money where is it now
go on
well now
you give it to me and i'll give you a
half
if not
you'll know what'll happen then
of course
you'll start to get rough
you and your apes
right
what do you say
i want mr wong back
well all right
you'll get him back we get the cash
that's all the cash not some of it
that's a deal
but if you've harmed him at all
then you won't get a damn scent
[Music]
so
[Music]
oh you're alone and my dad it's all
right
don't you worry
made a deal
they'll be turning him loose tomorrow go
on it doesn't make any sense yet
i'll be meeting them on the hillside
adorn
your father will be all right
i can't trust you you may be one of them
listen
i
forget it
after all it's a lot of money
and what's my father to you
i'll handle this from now on
[Music]
all right you where is he
where's the dumbox
never mind about him i'm handling this
get lost
we want the money was no deal
i'm going to kill you even if i die
right i'll fix that
[Music]
uh
remarks
the marks
listen
my sister's going to challenge those
bandits
what the stupid fool you've gotta go and
help her
you will
[Music]
uh
[Music]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
don't you want the dough
hold it
where's one
where's the money we want to have that
money first
uh
[Music]
hey
[Applause]
[Music]
ah
[Music]
[Music]
hey
[Music]
um
hey boss
[Music]
[Music]
so
[Music]
[Music]
hey
hey
[Music]
my dad
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
so
[Music]
oh i see
so you want to find it out do you
hmm
i'll give you a half
that'll make you rich
[Music]
bye
[Applause]
[Music]
ah
god
[Music]
hey
is
[Music]
ugh
uh it's funny i really like you
still i got to have though
so then i got a choice
i i must kill you
[Music]
[Applause]
um
[Music]
away
[Music]
me
you