Dirty Ho is a 1979 kung fu movie directed by Chia-Liang Liu and produced by the Shaw Brothers.
Dirty Ho tells the story of Wang, the 11th Prince of Manchuria, who finds himself under attack from his 14 brothers. He disguises himself as an antique dealer and fine wine connoisseur and enlists the help of Ho, a jewel thief. Together, Wang and Ho defeat his would be assassins.
Chia-Hua Lei (aka Gordon Liu) may be one of the most underrated actors of his generation. While I’m sure that’s hyperbole to serious movie fans, anyone would have to allow that Liu is at least one of the most charismatic actors of his time.
In Dirty Ho, Liu plays what is largely a comedic role. He has a gift for blessing scenes with an easy, carefree manner that is uniquely precise. His characters are somehow both non-threatening and lethal and evoke a rare, genuine empathy.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Liu’s performance are the varieties of tempo he displays. Liu commands slower scenes with extended dialogue and can function as either the dominant or supporting actor during brilliant fight scenes.
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