1980 – Force Of
The Shaolin Boxer (Twin Dragon Films)
[Philippines release
date 25th April 1980, original title "Pedrong Palaka"/"Pedro
The Frog"; released internationally by Cinex Films/F. Puzon Film
Enterprises Inc, listed on the Greek VHS cover as "Forge Of
Shaolin Boxer"]
TAGALOG VERSION
CREDITS: Director “Reginald King”/Rey Malonzo Producer
[uncredited] Rey Malonzo Cinematography Ver Dauz Music Snafu Rigor
Editor Joe Mendoza Sound Effects Editors “Jhun”/Jun Cabrales,
Rudy Cabrales Sound Supervisor Rolly Ruta Assistant Editors Rogelio
Betez, Bonnie de Guzman
Cast Rey Malonzo
(Pedrong Palaka [export version: Pei Fong]), Boy Fernandez, John Chan
(export version: Cobra Po Chan), Christina Diaz, Don Pepot (export
version: Lee Wong), Katherine Santos, Danny Rojo (Cobra's Fighter),
Dante Javier
EXPORT VERSION
CREDITS: Director "Reymond"/Rey Malonzo Cinematography Ver
Dauz Music Snafu Rigor Editor Joe Mendoza Sound Effects Editors
“Jhun”/Jun Cabrales, Rudy Cabrales Sound Supervisor Rolly Ruta
Assistant Editors Rogelio Betez, Bonnie de Guzman
Cast “Reginald
King”/Rey Malonzo, Johnny Leoncio, Arthur Simon, Sandra Dee, Sheryl
Monario?, Dante Javier
Mini-review by
Andrew Leavold
Cinex Films' export
credits highlight shots of a cobra in the jaws of a frog, the
powerful metaphor at the heart of the not-so-powerful kung fu feature Force Of The Shaolin Boxer, a product of martial arts specialist Rey
Malonzo, also in the producer's and director's chairs, delivering a
by-the-numbers goon-fu flick with generic action thrills and vague
exotic touches. Malonzo plays Pei Fong - Pedro in the original
Tagalog version - a slightly-built Shaolin Temple initiate known for
his lightning speed, frog-like leaps and as a "crusader for
Good". The night he's made a Golden Master (possibly your only
chance to see a naked Malonzo in metallic paint), his mother is left
for dead by evil cousin Cobra Po Chan (Taiwanese kung fu star John
Chan), also the killer of Pei Fong's father, who steals not only the
family fortune but Pei Fong's fiancé San Ling. Pei Fong sets out on
an epic voyage to avenge his family and to rescue San Ling, a journey
which finds him shipwrecked on an island ruled by a primitive tribe,
and bound and marked for execution as a dreaded "outlander".
The Great Chief's daughter Kalia takes pity on him and arranges his
escape, but not before she becomes pregnant with his child; caught
once more, Pei Fong manages to battle it out with Kalia's betrothed
Lawin to secure his freedom, and if fate allows it, promises to
return to her one day. Further along the road he inadvertently
stumbles into a kung fu tournament, wins, and is taken in by fight
promoter Lee Wong (comedian Don Pepot) as his new champion. Sure
enough, Lee Wong's rival is the dreaded Cobra, and after tearing
through Cobra's stable of fighters - Malonzo's battle to the death
with a mean-looking, spike-gloved Danny Rojo in a
warehouse-cum-funhouse is easily the film's highlight - he sets out
to liberate both San Ling and the pregnant Kalia, and face off
against Cobra: frog stealth versus snake venom. Recommended for goon
fetishists and Malonzo completists only.
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