On July 20th 1973 the world lost one of the most iconic action stars to have ever been. A star that shone so bright that it was bound to burn out rather than fade away. He would be the standard by which the action genre would be judged and would see many a prince lay claim to his crown, but to this day he remains king, with his name synonymous with Martial Arts action, even to those not familiar with such films. There was a time before Bruce Lee and a time after, and the world would never be the same again.
Upon the passing of Bruce Lee, the race was on to find another star capable of filling the galactic void left behind, and whilst Hong Kong and Taiwan would throw such Bruceplotation clones as Bruce Li, Bruce Le and Dragon Lee onto the Jade screen, Japan already had a star waiting in the wings, one that had proved himself time and time again in such films as Yakuza Deka (aka Gangster Cop) and TV Dramas like Key Hunter, he had proved himself to be a sound investment for Toei, with his cheeky grin and physical presence from years of gymnastics, it was now time for the world to know the name Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba.
Sonny Chiba may not have had the same level of physical prowess as Bruce Lee (but honestly, who does?), but he more than made up for this with charisma and charm that could melt an iceberg. Bruce Lee was cool because he was great, and Sonny Chiba was cool because he was cool.
Each film in this series is a joyful delight, with as many quips as there are kicks, and enough sass to rival a diva queen’s weekend gathering.
The Street Fighter series was Sonny Chiba’s introduction to the world on a global scale, playing well in the drive-ins and flea pit theatres of 42nd Street, there was another action star to place on the marquee, and the way Toei churned out films when they had a winning formula was nothing if not relentless. This was something that really helped make Sonny Chiba the name he is today, amongst those in the know. All three films in this set were released in the calendar year 1974, and yet each one manages to capture a different flavour. A Neapolitan ice cream of films one might say.
The Street Fighter kicks things off in effervescent style, as mercenary Karate master Takuma Tsurugi (aka Terry, if you listen to the dub track, also included in this release) comes to the aid of a daughter of a recently deceased oil tycoon. Return of The Street Fighter has our anti-hero turn his attention to the Yakuza, as they use charities to launder their money. Finally, there is The Street Fighter’s Last Revenge, a tale of double-crossing Yakuza and what becomes of those that live long enough to regret their actions, because they just crossed the wrong man.
Each film in this series is a joyful delight, with as many quips as there are kicks, and enough sass to rival a diva queen’s weekend gathering. There is nothing here that reinvents the wheel, but that level of familiarity and juxtaposition make each entry effortlessly enjoyable. You may know what’s going to happen, but you still punch the air when it does, because we all love watching cool people doing cool things, and they don’t come much cooler than Sonny Chiba.
Arrow Video’s release is the quintessential version of this series. This series has never looked better (in the UK) and with a bounty of additional features and commentaries, The Street Fighter Trilogy is a must-have release for anyone that loves their action with an extra slice of cool on the side.
The Street Fighter Trilogy is out now on Arrow Video Blu-Ray
Ben’s Archive: the Street Fighter (1974)
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