EDITOR’S NOTE: As the journey through Cannon continues, this week we’re exploring the films of 21st Century Film Corporation, which would be the company that Menahem Golan would take over after Cannon. Formed by Tom Ward and Art Schweitzer in 1971 (or 1976, there are some disputed expert opinions), 21st Century had a great logo and released some wild stuff.

Cheung Da Gong (Henry Yu Young) is a journeyman martial artist, sometimes fighting on stage, other times as a bodyguard or someone who protects shopkeepers. The death of his father brings him back home to work on the farm. He refuses to sell it to criminal Mr. Wong (Tien Fang), who gets his men to burn it down, killing his mother and sister. As you can imagine, the grief makes him get revenge. Then he gets arrested and the police say, “You should have left retribution to the law.”

This is a downer.

Also released as Fury of the Black Belt, this was directed by Lung-Hsiang Fang. Woo-Ping Yuen coordinated the action and a young Jackie Chan even shows up, but you may not spot him. He has a mustache!

It’s a very serviceable revenge film, even if I dislike that it ends with an arrest. I think if the mob burns down your family, legally you should be able to destroy everyone.

You can watch this on Tubi.