General overview of versions

Original version 1973: The Cub Tiger From Kwang Tung

Runtime: 85:26 min (NTSC)

The original, finished versoin of the film, only available for a few years again.
Contained on the Japan-DVD by JVD and the British and Canadian DVD (see cover on the left) by Rarescope.

Recut 1979: Master With Cracked Fingers

Uses a little less than half the original footage, was ramped up with own plot and many new scenes. Designed to be more humorous as Jackie gained fame with Kung-Fu-comedies Drunken Master and Snake in the Eagle's Shadow shortly before in Asia.
There are several versions of this one:


1. "Asian Version"

Runtime: 81:40 min (PAL)

The Asian version differs mostly in a completely altered final fight compared to all the other versions resp. the internationally released ones. They are being listed next.
Contained on the new German DVD (see cover on the left) by Voulez-Vous as main film titled Der Tiger von Kwantung and the new Spanish DVD by Manga Films, titled La Furia de Jackie.






2. "English version"

Runtime: 83:07 min (PAL) / 86:40 min (NTSC)

As mentioned earlier, the only main difference is the final fight, also there is of course an English dubbing.
Contained on the new German DVD by Voulez-Vous in the bonus section, named as mentioned above, the Japanese DVD by Pioneer (see cover on the left) and the US-DVD by Videoasia.







3. "International Version"

Runtime: ~ 78:30 min (PAL / NTSC)

This one was probably released the most internationally and contains a different English dubbing as the version mentioned before. Contrary to the "English Version", this one is missing some plot scenes in the middle of the film.
Contained on the old German DVDs by MiB and NUM, named Der Meister mit den Gebrochenen Händen and by MCP named Die Rache der Todesfaust, the British DVDs by Prism Leisure (see cover on the left, identical to the MiB-DVD save the texts), the US-DVDs by Madacy and Mill Creek and the Canadian DVDs by Family DVD Story/Cascadia as well as Telefilms International. In the US, also named Snake Fist Fighter and Ten Fingers of Death.







The uncut English version has been compared to the uncut Asian version (both represented by the German DVD-re-release by Voulez-Vous)

The Film

In 1971, Cub Tiger From Kwang Tung was supposed to be the first main role for then-17-year-old Jackie Chan. The cheap production was faced with several problems though, and if you believe e.g. Jackie's biography (which he didn't write himself), the work was never finished, let alone released.
This may not be the case, though, since there is a DVD available from Japan (by JVD), England and Canada (by Rarescope) for a couple of years now, which contains the original film, which has apparently also been released in a few Asian theaters in 1973.

More famous on a worldwide scale, though, is the result of some shifty producers, which got first released in 1979, titled Master With Cracked Fingers. After Jackie became a star one year earlier with Snake In The Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master, roughly half of the original footage was taken, a new plot was created and some scenes were reshot with an obvious Jackie-double. Only here you find Simon Yuen Siu-Tin, who became famous from the just mentioned blockbusters, as Jackie's master (mostly in scenes with a small child as Kid-jackie, otherwise in often rather unfitting cuts, in which he is standing in completely different surroundings compared to Jackie from the "real" footage) and Dean Shek is also allowed to present his Punch-and-Judy-show. All in all a doubtful pleasure, even though it does have a corny charme to it.
The following report deals with this new version, as there exist differing versions of this for the English and the Asian market.

The German DVD-re-release

Since May 20th, 2011, there is a re-release available in Germany by small label Voulez-Vous, which steals all the previous German and international releases' shows.
While the really catastrophal old German DVD by M.I.B., which was also released by several associated labels, comes with a strongly zoomed aspect ratio of 1.56:1 and lowest VHS-quality including soiling and other inelegances, the Voulez-Vous-release is available in remastered, really incredible image quality, anamorphous and in the original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. As a sidenote, the master was apparently taken from the new Spanish DVD.

What makes this release stand out in comparison to said Spanish DVD (aside the for local audiences probably important German dubbing) is the nice choice of versions in the bonus section. To get into more details, the following alternatives are offered:

- Main film: Asian version
The remastered and thus quality-wise by far best version. Footage, that was until now not available in Germany was fortunately dubbed.

- English version
All the old German DVDs were based on this version, but were additionally cut for about 5 minutes. Scenes that were up until now not released in Germany resp. were not dubbed for the DVD-release in the first place are, contrary to the main film, kept in English language with optional subtitles.
As a master, it is probable that either the Japanese DVD by Pioneer or the US-DVD by Videoasia has been used. Either way, the film is also presented in the original format (unfortunately not anamorphous, though) and is superior to the M.I.B.-version by far, but compared to the main film, the quality is worse.

The English version

For whatever reason the English and Asian versions differ a lot in the end: There is a completely alternative final fight shown.

For the English, and thus internationally most known, version the rather slow variant was used, that has an emphasis on slapstick and in which the fat henchman presents his non-skills.
The Asian version on the other hand offers an all in all slightly shorter, but more spectacular fight located somewhere else. At least part of it was found on the old German DVD in the bonus section as an "alternative ending".
Redundant to mention, but: Both scenes show, of course, only the Jackie-double and therefore smart explanations of why the protagonist was blindfolded were cooked up...

The Asian version on the DVD is filled with small film tears, which mostly remain below 0.5 sec and therefore don't make any relevant footage disappear. In total, this means about 30 sec of additional runtime difference. Twice, this is a little longer and therefore got mentioned in the report.



Runtimes are ordered as follows:
English version in PAL-speed / Asian version in PAL-speed

28:02-28:03 / 27:53

A slightly longer film tear: You see the guy in the hat a little longer after his offer and then Jackie earlier.

+ 1 sec

36:39-36:40 / 36:25

After the tracking shot to Jackie, the Asian version misses a short view of his sister as well as another close-up shot of Jackie before you see the shards.

+ 1.6 sec

73:34-83:07 / 73:09-81:40

After Double-Jackie has done some final excercises with his master in the cave, the alternative ending takes place.

English Version

The fat henchman and the Master of the Golden Mask go to the meeting while Jackie's master, in a certain distance, takes a seat on a bench he brought.
The fat guy presents his ridiculous new style and his attempt to finish Jackie by himself, of course, fails miserably. After about 3 minutes full of little sillinesses, the master finally joins in. As a challenge, they agree on fighting blindfolded (why may that be...) and Jackie's master reminds him that he is going to fight his father's murderer.
In the longer and also a little more respectable fight, Jackie is able to gain the upper hand, a.o. with a trident. In the end, he remembers his master's tipp to finish the enemy as he feels safe. With attacks against the larynx, the Master of the Golden Mask finally dies and Jackie's master hands him a flag.

Asian version

There are actually two scenes taking place here.

First a fighting scene during daylight - this is probably supposed to be the evil master's training.
Two men in white shirts are fighting each other as they are being observed by the Master of the Golden Mask, he then attacks the crowded group, though, and takes a few people down before the scene ends abruptly.

We continue with Jackie at night, he trains blindfoldedly (sure...) a few fighting steps. Two henchmen appear and lure him further into the forest. Jackie follows them without removing the blindfold.
He first has to fight the two now armed henchmen, which he naturally manages blindfoldedly.
Then the evil master attacks and recommendts taking the blindfold away. Jackie's master prohibits it immediately, though, resp. he apparently believes Jackie can do it like that or he simply wants to keep the double hidden. Here, Jackie seems relatively inferior, flees in between times and "wins" the fight spontaneously after the evil master has slipped on a stone. As a consequence, he slides to a cliff and Jackie kicks him so he falls to his death.

Both fighting scenes show flashbacks to single actions from the real Jackie from the previous harbor-brawl.

English version 61.3 sec longer




Image comparison

New German DVD - main film / Asian version

New German DVD - English version

Old German DVD

Canadian DVD - Cub Tiger From Kwang Tung