Shaolin Prince

Shaolin Prince (Chinese: 少林傳人) aka Death Mask of the Ninja, Shaolin Death Mask, Iron Fingers of Death is a 1982 Hong Kong martial arts-action film released by Shaw Brothers and directed by Chia Tang. It is one of the Shaolin Temple themed martial arts films and featured Ti Lung, Derek Yee and Jason Pai Piao.

Plot

The 9th Prince aka "Iron Fingers" conspires to become emperor. To do so, he must kill the current emperor and his two newborn sons, elder brother Tao Hing and his younger brother, Wong Szu Tai, who are protected by their bodyguards, Gu Long and Li Chin. After the emperor is killed, Gu Long and Li Chin escape with the boys, but end up separated after a run-in with the 9th Prince and his two assassins, "Fire Man" and "Water Man". Tao Hing is taken to Shaolin Temple and placed under the care of the "3 Holy Fools" while Wong Szu Tai is placed under the care of Prime Minister Wang (Ku Feng). Growing up, they become unaware of each other's whereabouts or existence. Tao Hing is raised by the 3 Holy Fools, who are forbidden to come out of their dwelling due to corruption in Shaolin Temple. He learns the secret Yijin Jing kung fu style, however, he is naive and knows nothing of his lineage though he carries the emperors royal seal. He constantly gets into fights with a traitorous monk, Dao Kong, who secretly works for the 9th Prince but bests him in every scuffle. Wong Szu Tai however, being raised by the Prime Minister and Gu Long is well aware of the existence of his brother (though he does not know who or where he is), and the treachery of the 9th Prince. Gu Long tells him the only way to beat the 9th Prince is to go to Shaolin and get the Yijin Jing manual. The 9th Prince hears of the existence of Wong Szu Tai and visits the Prime Minister. He attempts to test if Wong knows kung fu but Wong holds back as he realizes he cannot beat the 9th Prince.

After an arranged exorcism by monk Dao Kong goes haywire and leaves Tao Hing to fend for himself, a passing Wong Szu Tai rescues and befriends him. Tao Hing offers to escort Wong Zu Tai to Shaolin, which angers monk Dao Kong as they arrive. Wong Szu Tai fights his way into Shaolin to get the Yijin Jing manual, but he is thwarted by the monks who make him fight through their tests in order to read it. Dao Kong goes to apprehend Tao Hing, but he is defeated as usual. Tao Hing rescues Wong Szu Tai, discovers the corrupt monks, and helps Wong Szu Tai to pass the "18 Buddhas". They are no match for the Buddhas until the 3 Holy Fools intervene, whose house arrest is about to expire. They also allow Tao Hing and Wong Zu Tai to take the Yijin Jing manual. The 9th Prince and Dao Kong go to intercept Tao Hing and Wong Zu Tai at an inn, but Dao Kong is ambushed and killed by Tao Hing. Tao Hing goes with Wong Szu Tai to kill the 9th Princes' puppet emperor, but after eavesdropping on him, Tao Hing realizes the "emperor" is a good man that is just being manipulated by the 9th Prince. This causes a rift between him and Wong Szu Tai after Wong attacks the puppet emperor and Tao Hing is forced to protect him, using the Yijin style on Wong. An angered Wong departs until he's intercepted by Fire Man and Water Man, however Tao Hing arrives, helps him defeat them, and they make amends. They return to the Prime Minister's house but everyone is dead except the Prime Minister and Gu Long. Tao Hing kneels to help Gu Long and accidentally drops the royal seal, which sparks the curiosity of Gu Long thus prompting him to say "we found him!" before he dies. Tao Hing and Wong Szu Tai realize they are brothers and go back to Shaolin to defeat an awaiting 9th Prince. After the 9th Prince is defeated, Wong Szu Tai returns to reclaim his lineage and Tao Hing becomes a senior monk at Shaolin alongside the 3 Holy Fools.

Cast

Ti Lung – Tao Hing/Dao Xing
Derek Yee – Wong Szu Tai/Wang Zi Tai
Jason Pai Piao – 9th Prince/Lord 9th/Iron fingers
Yuen Wah - Li Chin/Li Zheng
Chan Shen aka Alan Chan - Abbot of Shaolin temple
Yue Tau Wan - holy fool monk Wu Li
Yuen Bun – Water General
Lam Fai Wong – holy fool monk Wu Ming
Elvis Tsui aka Elvis Tsui Kam Kong - Monk Wu Ren
Ku Feng - Prime Minister Wang
Alan Chan Kwok-Kuen - holy fool monk Wu Zhi
Lee Hoi-sang - Monk Dao Kong
Tong Gai - Chief of Lohan with two swords
Chiang Tao - Fire General
Ngaai Fei - Emperor
Kwan Fung - Gu Long/Master Gu
Ku Kuan-Chung - Puppet Emperor
Chan Leung - Soldier in first attack
Wong Pau-Gei - General who attacks the palace
Cheung Kwok-Wah - 9th Lord's Personal Guard
Lau Yuk-Pok - Xia Suqin
Shum Lo - Master Xia
Cheung Chok-Chow - Master Xia's servant
Wong Chi-Ming - Soldier / Palace Guard / Monk
To Wai-Wo - Palace Guard
Lee Fat-Yuen - Palace Guard
Wong Chi-Wai - Guard Tu / Soldier
Yeung Chi-Hing - Innkeeper
Ma Hon-Yuen - Shaolin Lohan Monk / Shaolin Guardian
Lee Hang - Palace Guard / Monk
Lung Ying - Shaolin Guardian / Soldier
Wong Wai-Tong - Shaolin Guardian / Monk present during the exorcism
Choi Kwok-Keung - Shaolin Guardian
Kong Chuen - Soldier / Palace Guard / Shaolin Guardia
Wong Chi-Keung - Soldier in 9th Lord's Army
Chui Fat - Soldier in 9th Lord's Army
Tam Bo - Soldier in 9th Lord's Army
Tam Wai-Man - Soldier in 9th Lord's Army
Tang Yuk-Wing - Soldier in 9th Lord's Army
San Kuai - Soldier in 9th Lord's Army
Chan Siu-Gai - Shaolin Lohan Monk / Monk
Ng Yuen-Fan - Monk
Stephen Chan Yung - Snr Monk
Fei Gin - Soldier / Monk
Ling Chi-Hung - Palace Guard / Lohan Monk
Ho Chi-Wai - Soldier / Monk
Lam Foo-Wai - Soldier / Monk
Chu Kong - Shaolin Lohan monk
Chan Ming-Wai - Shaolin Lohan monk
Jacky Yeung Tak-Ngai - Shaolin Lohan monk
Kong Long - Monk
Lam Tit-Ching - Prime Minister's servant
Lau Cheun - Prime Minister's servant
Au Chi-Hung - Monk
Wan Yiu-Cho - Soldier
Jeng Yee - Shaolin monk
Chan Shiu-Wa - Shaolin monk

External links

Shaolin Prince at IMDb
Shaolin Prince at the Hong Kong Movie DataBase