Dreadnaught

One of the best-known classic period films from Golden Harvest and veteran Hong Kong director Yuen Woo-ping, this surrealistic action-fantasy blends spectacular fight sequences with elaborate and flamboyant horror elements. Yuen Shun-yee plays the mad killer White Tiger, whose ferocious nature and cat-like cunning keeps him constantly one step ahead of the authorities. To conceal his easily recognizable facial birthmark, White Tiger joins an opera company which requires its members to don intricate and colorful makeup. When the opera company comes to one small village, fate plays a hand as White Tiger continues to encounter a shy young man nicknamed Mousey (Yuen Biao in his second starring role). Mousey's friend, Leung Foon (Leung Kar-yan), wants to help him overcome his timid nature and suggests that Mousey might best do so by learning kung-fu from his own master, the legendary Wong Fei-hung (Kwan Tak-hing). Despite Wong's best efforts (including a training sequence involving laundry which was later repeated in Batman Forever), Mousey still remains painfully afraid. It is only by learning to stand up against White Tiger's repeated attacks, notably a spectacular assault by the killer in a two-headed opera costume which fools Mousey by seeming to become two different attackers, that the young man finds the courage within himself. The film also contains numerous memorable fight scenes, an arresting production design, and a familiar supporting cast including Lily Li, Phillip Ko, and Fung Hark-on.