This movie ranks as one of the best Kung Fu action films of Chuck Norris’ career and was certainly the basis for his very successful series character “Walker, Texas Ranger”. With this movie we saw Chuck change from his old image of the blond, California boy to the dark haired, bearded, tough guy Chuck we know today. Chuck’s movies took on a slightly tougher edge from this film forward (i.e. Invasion USA, Code of Silence). And who can fault the addition of “grasshopper” himself David Carradine to the mix? A major casting coup for the film, Carradine camps it up as a drug smuggling, karate champ who taunts and ultimately tries to kill Texas Ranger McQuade. The dialogue and action are typical of the genre but for some reason this film stands the test of time like some of the John Wayne westerns of old. Chuck clearly wished to set himself in that “lone, lawman, hero” mold of Wayne with this film.
There is one shot in the opening sequence where McQuade walks into frame in silhouette with the sun behind him that is right out of the classic westerns of the 1950s. Robert Beltrane (of “Star Trek: Voyager” fame) does a nice, early career stint here as the hapless partner who spends his time nipping at McQuade’s heels, but who saves the day in some small way. Much like Tyne Daly did to Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry in “The Enforcer”. The movie also has a superb spaghetti western style score from Francesco Da Masi,veteran of dozens of Hercules type movies from the 1960s.
And you just can’t beat the final showdown between Carradine & Norris, which ranks right up there with Chuck’s other famous duel with Bruce Lee. It’s Kung Fu Cinema Gold.

**Video no longer available. Denver Pyle and Harrison Ford guest star! Caine finds himself in a fight being waged against the railroad. The railroad wants to settle and give amnesty to the Youngblood gang. Unfortunately, the Pinkertons, originally hired to wipe out the group, want to finish what they were hired to do.
“One cannot always keep a friend when that friend believes that one has wronged him. . . . Each man has the right to choose his enemies and his friends. He may choose unwisely. But the decision is his alone to make. Then he must live with the consequences. And so must his enemies and his friends.”
This is too sad for words: David Carradine, you will be missed.

**Video no longer available. Jodie Foster guest stars! Caine gets caught up in a stage hold-up and an honest young girl thinks she sees him shoot a man. On her eyewitness testimony, he is sentenced to hang. In flashbacks the young Caine, who is sent on a mission with a 400 year old scroll, is tricked by a magician.

“‘Long ago Chuang Chou dreamed he was a butterfly. He was very joyful as a butterfly, well pleased with his lot, his aims fulfilled. He knew nothing of Chou the man. But shortly he awoke and found himself again to be Chuang Chou. And he could not tell whether as Chou he had dreamed he was a butterfly or whether as a butterfly he had dreamed he was Chou.’” – Young Caine reading from a “400 year old scroll.

This is too sad for words: David Carradine, you will be missed.