The mid-80s delivered peak Hong Kong action. It marked an era of post-Bruce Lee film fandom that helped pave the way for stars to rise and become some of the biggest influences and staples of their industry. This inevitably included Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, whose careers would explode from the 70s and onward with the two joining up once more for 1985 action drama, Heart Of Dragon.
The story kicks off with an explosive action sequence that later reveals Chan’s role as Ted, a freshly-minted police detective. His job is one thing though, while it’s another to maintain not only his teetering relationship with his girlfriend Jenny and chasing his real dream as a sailor, but also the care and oversight of his brother, Danny, who has the mental capacity of a child and is often taken advantage of by his younger peers, and abused by adults as a result.
Hung’s performance and direction surely lend a raw reflection on society’s often flawed approach to mental health (and homophobia), even for a film made nearly forty years ago. It contributes to some certainly dramatic highs for both him and Chan to thrive off of as the story progresses and we see their relationship go through the wringer, with Danny subject to several degrading and exploitive situations by normative people, including an unscrupulous eatery owner played by late screen legend Wu Ma (Righting Wrongs).
With Ted beholden to scrutiny by his peers, the pressure begins to mount even further when Danny becomes unwittingly embroiled in a scheme involving a bag of stolen jewelry being sought after by a Triad boss, played by James Tien (Yes, Madam!), and goes missing when the police get involved. Making matters worse is when Danny gets kidnapped, forcing Ted and his colleagues in a desperate bid to bring the Triad down and protect his brother from an unforgiving criminal justice system, even if it means breaking the law themselves.
Heart Of Dragon was something just a little bit different for audiences then, and wasn’t as well received at the box office apart from its ceremony at the fifth Hong Kong Film Awards. Of course, that doesn’t diminish the film’s success as a memorable action drama among the cadre of stars that have been a highlight of Hong Kong cinema well into the nineties and onward.
Packed with star-studded talent, and bolstered with the kind of stylish, daredevil action and fight choreography that continues to galvanize fans to this day, you can currently nab a copy of Heart Of Dragon on disc wherever movies are sold. If you’re preferential to streaming, however, feel free to subscribe to Arrow Player today and catch the classic actioner in its pristine 2K-restored theatrical version with Cantonese audio and optional subs, as well as multiple other versions, extended and theatrical with Mandarin and English audio
