“Triple Threat: Three Films with Sammo Hung” from Eureka! Video has gathered three Sammo Hung films from three decades: The Manchu Boxer, Paper Marriage, and Shanghai, Shanghai.
As the title suggests, Eureka! presents three films featuring martial arts legend (and writer, director, and producer) Sammo Hung across his career. (Hung produced the last Eureka! release I covered, The Island and Paper Marriage, from this set as part of his company.) Nice to have three films from a variety with different styles, genres, and tones. While I’m not heavily versed in martial arts, I do appreciate Sammo Hung. Hung is one of the big three of Hong Kong martial arts with Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao, and I’m always glad to delve into their filmographies. Especially one like this that shows off a range of methods and acting choices for Hung.
The Films
The Manchu Boxer (1974), directed by Wu Ma and written by On Szeto
The weakest of the films is the first, but it’s also the one that features Hung the least. It also has the most action if that’s what you’re here for, so it’s give-and-take depending on your focus.
It’s a pretty standard Hong Kong (if not filmed in South Korea with much of the cast made up of Koreans) martial arts flick; an iffy plot in order to set up for a variety of fight scenes; obviously made for a limited budget and push. A young man, played by Lau Wing is forced to leave home, travelling about, meeting family, fighting folks, and coming into a crooked martial arts tournament. Hung himself isn’t the hero, but a 2nd tier villain, a henchman to the main baddies. He also serves as the fight coordinator. But the fights are the draw, and they are plentiful and fantastic. The final battle particularly packs a wallop. Manchu Boxer isn’t a bad movie, not at all, but it’s a pretty basic example of its genre. It does have Tony Liu as well, which is awesome.
In a weird note: the film starts with Pink Floyd’s Time on the soundtrack. But nothing else like it later. Strange.
Paper Marriage (1988) directed by Alfred Cheung and written by Hing-Siu Leung & Keith Long
A very different film from the other two on set, less about fighting set-ups and sequences, but of the comedy plot and characters. In fact, outside of a few sparing matches, there is no action until the very fun climax, as a mall is used in a long sequence akin to the use of space in Chan films. Hung plays a woman-hating man in Los Angeles (played by Edmonton, Canada), who agrees to take a green card marriage to a Hong Kong immigrant to help a friend (director Cheung!), and, more importantly, satisfy his debts to loan sharks. It doesn’t take long before both of them are in each other’s heads with his loan sharks, the people her sponsor (who is set to marry her in two years), immigration, and others are closing in, and they are forced to try ot make something work with the bickering, cultural differences, and the “will-they/won’t-they” plotting. Paper Marriage is a perfectly acceptable Saturday afternoon flick, something you can settle in and enjoy on TNT on a lazy Saturday in 1997. I mean that in a good way. Hung is fun to watch as a bumbling loser; he has good chemistry with co-star Maggie Cheung, playing fish out of water very well. But she’s a well-traveled, committed actress with so many credits in well-loved movies, so that’s not a surprise. The humor and situations are strong enough. It could use fewer rape jokes. Like, say, none at all.
Shanghai, Shanghai (1990); Directed by Teddy Robin Kwan; Written by Raymond To
My favorite of the three. As the title suggests, we’re in Shanghai this time in the 1920s.
It’s a highly energetic and highly entertaining cops and criminals flick as various forces try to control the city, including the big bad played by Hung in his first lead villain role. It has wonderful production design, lighting, and fascinating characters; mainly following Yuen Baio’s “Little Tiger,” brother to a police officer who works with British colonizers, who gets involved with a bunch of incredible feat performers. Some folks are looking to start a revolution, others are trying to get as much money as they can through various means, and all keep coming into contact and conflict. In a comedic take, a group at the British base is working on a flying machine. To be honest, there were times when I was a little confused over just exactly what was going on, who was who, and all that. But I shrug it off; it’s not that kind of movie. Like Paper Marriage, it’s a solid afternoon, relax and hang out flick. Again, I note that as a positive. Not everything has to be life-changing; it can just be a good time. On the action end, there are plenty of sequences, all well done with some impressive dance choreography that looks like a fight, a cool sequence with the acrobats, and the finale is a whole lot of whooping fun. 
The Package
The films are collected over 3 discs in a single plastic case. Discs 1 and 2 are in a flip plastic insert, and the third set is in the case itself. Disc 1 contains Manchu Boxer and Paper Marriage. Disc 2 is Shanghai, Shanghai. Disc 3 contains the extended editions of Manchu Boxer and Shanghai, Shanghai. The sleeve has the original art for all three films, plus a synopsis/features listing for the 4th panel. The set has a slip case with new art by Sam Gilbey.
The set is limited to 2000 copies and plays Regions A and B.
The Presentation
All three films have 2k restorations. The extended cuts as well for Manchu Boxer and Shanghai, Shanghai.
The Manchu Boxer is very crisp, with great detail. It’s mostly filmed outdoors, with the wide landscapes, and the presentation is beautifully suited. Paper Marriage looks as good as it can; keeping clear and good looking, but it doesn’t go over the hump of its creation; the soft mid-80s style of the time dates it to its era. Honestly, I kinda like that; returning to the world of 80s pastels and fuzz. It got me in the nice, nostalgic mindset. Shanghai, Shanghai as the film seems to have the highest budget and overall production value, looks the best. I kept remarking during my watch at just how damned good it looked. Kwan’s impressive noir look with plenty of rain, color, and darkness pops in presentation.
The theatrical cuts of all three films have several audio options: original Cantonese mono audio tracks, English dub, and the commentaries. The only subtitles are in English, newly translated. I popped on dub a little, and if you do so, be aware that the spoken and written lines are very different. Generally, the dub is more direct and simpler, and the subtitles are more nuanced and have a charming humor that doesn’t often come through vocally.
The extended cuts of Manchu Boxer and Shanghai, Shanghai do not have English dubs.
The Features
Eureka’s special features collection is a little light. One would think a set specifically about a player in all three would have a sort of retrospective or other features specifically about him. You’ll have to check the previous Sammo Hung box set from Eureka for that.
Commentaries – each film has a commentary, new to this release
“Manchu Boxer” – East Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and martial artist & filmmaker Michael Worth.
The pair are very appreciative of the film, and made me more so in listening. As noted above, this genre isn’t my forte, so I learned a great deal of the whos and hows; where this falls into the canon, and anything around. They do speak to the more generic terms of the film itself, but have fun with it. Having a martial arts expert on hand allows a better appreciation of the technical, too.
“Paper Marriage: –
Asian cinema experts Arne Venema & Dominie Ting have a blast talking about the humor and hijinks of Paper Marriage. They joke a lot and talk about the film creation, with lots of love for Hung and his career. It’s nice not to have a dry this is that, etc. It’s wide-ranging and engaging.
“Shanghai Shanghai”- Frank Djeng, but now with producer/writer FJ DeSanto
A very energetic, flowing commentary of two fans, well-versed and wide-ranging. They dig into the production and the care put into the film. It’s a joy as they delve in, and like Manchu setting up where this falls in genre canons and the sort of film it is.
Happily Ever After
Director Alfred Chung looks back at making the film and working with Sammo Hung. Interesting to hear how they approach in style, humor, and working in Canada and back in Hong Kong on the film and in his career. He gets into what makes a film work for him and his approach. In English. (22 m)
Extended Cuts
If you count additional cuts of the films as a special feature, you get both of those for Manchu Boxer and Shanghai, Shanghai; both are about 5 minutes longer. I didn’t get the chance to watch these, sorry
Final Notes
Eureka presents a solid set of three films featuring fan favorite Sammo Hung. While light on the extras, the commentaries are fantastic, and just having a nice grouping of different styled Hung films makes it worthy of a pick up. “Triple Threat” is released by Eureka!, due on disc December 9th, 2025. A nice gift for the Hung fan in your life.