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Cast:
Liu
Chia-Yung
Dean
Shek
Leung
Kar Yan
Chong
Fat
Karl
Maka
Action:
Lam
Ching Ying
Yuen
Biao
Producer:
Lai
Yin Ren
Director:
Karl
Maka
Score:
 
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HIS
NAME IS NOBODY
AKA:
N/A
Year:
1979 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
It's
been a refreshing sight to see Mei Ah and other Hong Kong DVD
companies release many old school kung-fu films on this latest
format. Although few of these could really be called
'classics', it's nonetheless pleasant to see some forgotten
genre films finally reach a wider audience. 'His Name Is
Nobody' gained a moderate cult reputation years ago so its
arrival on DVD is certainly welcome.
After
being abandoned as a child, street urchin Nobody (Liu Chia-Yung)
turns to petty crime to support his meagre existence. As the
years pass and the town bullies continue to target the
helpless loner, he gradually uses his wilier skills to defend
what little he has. The chance to earn a higher standard of
living comes when he befriends a slick con-artist (Shek) who
agrees to teach him the tricks of the trade. With a few modest
cons under their belt, the duo are offered a chance to make
some big money when the teacher's brother (Maka) turns up with
a dangerous mission: the assassination of a vile hitman who is
the scourge of the town. Using the brother's wife to lure him
and an arsenal of weapons to achieve the task, the team carry
out their plan. However, the killer, Dreg (Chong Fat), is not
fooled and kills the wife while scaring the others off. Alone
again, Nobody manages to be accepted by another master, this
time a local fighter who teaches him kung-fu. Eventually a
twist means that the various parties meet once more and the
chance to defeat Dreg and gain revenge is on the horizon.
It's
surprising to report that, although Yuen Biao and Lam Ching
Ying are involved in the choreography, the action is good, but
not great. Though looking great on paper, none of the fights
could be described as spectacular and they mean that it will
not really satisfy ardent kung-fu fans. However, 'His Name Is
Nobody' is still a diverting production that manages to
challenge a few of the clichés of the genre. Foremost among
these is the teacher/student dynamic which is here given a
slightly different slant by director Karl Maka. As a
film-maker better known for comedy, Maka concentrates on
creating an atmosphere on genuine fun. Even the usually
annoying Dean Shek turns in a good performance; although he
starts out as his trademark odd-ball, Shek is endearing by the
end of the film. 'His Name Is Nobody' is not one of the best
of the genre - it wouldn't really stand-out from a crowded
field. Nevertheless it entertains throughout its duration and
despite the usual kung-fu comedy conventions turning up (the
usual moment where a local villager is harassed by three
bizarre bullies is played out three times!) it is a breath of
fresh air.
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