The late Wu Ma was one of the most unpredictable actor-filmmakers in HK, a kind of genius you can see everywhere as character actor and/or director: from Shaw's classic swordplay like Return of one-armed swordsman, 1969, to police actioners like The golden triangle, 1975, to the Jackie Chan-Sammo Hung Gongfu comedies like Wheels on meals, 1984, or Heart of the dragon, 1985. His funny Elf-type face popped-up in five decades of Hong Kong cinema. Here he's the director and co-star (alongwith Henry Yue Young) of an action comedy about two thieves going into a heist bigger than they can handle, eventually battling against the legendary HK villain Shih Kien of Enter the Dragon fame. The budget and tech-values are low, but not the rythm, the ideas and the action (courtesy by coreographer Yuen Wo Ping). Inspired by Sergio Leone's Duck you sucker! (Giù la testa), this Wits to wits was a b.o. failure in HK where it lasted 3 days only (from May 22 to May 25 1974), but it was rediscovered later as a pioneer in that kind of martial arts farce that we learned to know so well from Jackie Chan on. By the way Jackie's comrades Yuen Bun, Yuen Tak, Yuen Biao and Corey Yuen Kwai served in this as stuntmen. Also known as Con Man and the Kung Fu Kid, Duel of the Dragons, Dirty Partners. A little gem from the good old days of indie martial craze.
