Roar of the Lion A.K.A. Lion vs. Lion • 南北獅王 (1981)

Roar of the Lion (1981), also released as Lion Vs Lion, was originally released as 南北獅王 (南北狮王 / Nan Bei Shi Wang / Naam Bak Si Wong). Directed by Hsu Hsia and Chin Yuet-Sang for Shaw Brothers Studio, this distinctive martial arts comedy stars Lo Meng, Wong Yu, Johnny Wang Lung-wei, Yang Pan-pan, Sharon Yeung, and Chin Yuet-Sang. Combining traditional kung fu, comedy, anti-Qing intrigue, and spectacular Northern and Southern lion dancing, the film stands apart from many of Shaw Brothers Studio's more familiar Shaolin and swordplay productions. Its extensive lion dance sequences are particularly notable for showing the contrasting techniques of Northern and Southern lion dancing on screen.

STORY OVERVIEW

During the Qing Dynasty, members of the anti-Qing resistance are desperately trying to protect a secret list containing the names of their fellow revolutionaries. When the list is entrusted to a woman known as the Red Lady, she encounters a straightforward lawman named Ah Yun and secretly uses him to help move the dangerous information before Qing loyalists can seize it.

Along the way, Ah Yun becomes involved with the clever and opportunistic Ah Cun, while the two men struggle to make a living through their martial arts skills and eventually become involved in a lion dance competition. As the Qing authorities close in and the people connected to the list are placed in increasing danger, Ah Yun and Ah Cun are forced to reconsider their own priorities and become involved in the resistance without revealing the film's conclusion.

MARTIAL ARTS HIGHLIGHTS

Roar of the Lion is best known for its extensive presentation of traditional Chinese lion dancing, particularly the contrast between Northern and Southern styles. The film combines lion dance performance with hand-to-hand kung fu, acrobatics, weapons work, and energetic fight choreography. Lo Meng and Wong Yu bring very different physical and comic styles to the action, while the film's elaborate lion sequences give it a distinctive place in the Shaw Brothers martial arts catalog.

WHY COLLECTORS PICK IT

Collectors appreciate Roar of the Lion for its unusual combination of kung fu comedy, revolutionary intrigue, and traditional lion dancing. Lo Meng's appearance makes it especially interesting to fans of the Venom Mob, while Wong Yu's comic performance gives the film much of its personality. The movie is also notable because its lion dance sequences provide a rare cinematic comparison of Northern and Southern traditions rather than treating the performances simply as background spectacle.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Released in 1981, Roar of the Lion was part of Shaw Brothers Studio's continuing effort to capitalize on the popularity of kung fu comedy. The film has particular historical interest for its detailed presentation of Northern and Southern lion dancing, with contemporary descriptions noting it as an important cinematic showcase of the differences between the two traditions. Its mixture of traditional performance, martial arts action, and comedy makes it one of the more unusual Shaw Brothers productions of the early 1980s.

• Verified AKAs:
  • Roar of the Lion – U.S. English title
  • Lion Vs Lion – International English title
  • 南北獅王 – Original Traditional Chinese title
  • 南北狮王 – Simplified Chinese title
  • Nan Bei Shi Wang – Mandarin romanization
  • Naam Bak Si Wong – Cantonese romanization
• Directors: Hsu Hsia, Chin Yuet-Sang
• Producer: Mona Fong
• Screenplay: Hsu Hsia, Chin Yuet-Sang
• Action Directors: Hsu Hsia, Chin Yuet-Sang
• Music: Chen Yung-yu
• Editor: Chiang Hsing-lung
• Studio: Shaw Brothers Studio
• Distributor: Shaw Brothers Studio
• Country: Hong Kong
• Genre: Martial Arts, Action, Comedy, Drama
• Martial Arts Focus: Kung Fu, Lion Dance, Traditional Weapons, Hand-to-Hand Combat
• Starring: Lo Meng, Wong Yu, Johnny Wang Lung-wei, Yang Pan-pan, Sharon Yeung, Chin Yuet-Sang
• Format: DVD
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Subtitles: None
• Region: All Regions
• Running Time: 104 Minutes
• Release Year: 1981

Carefully researched and prepared for collectors of classic martial arts cinema by ClassicKungFuMovies.com.