This clip is the finale of Valley of the Double Dragon, a film I saw back in 1975, at East London Dalston Rio Cinema during the midnight all-night Kung Fu marathon. Dozens would arrive there before midnight and watch Kung-fu films until 5:00 am and get night buses or wait around for the underground to re-open at 7 am.

Valley of the Double Dragon takes place in World War II in Japanese Occupied China.

Starring Jin-pal Kim and Chin Chi Lin, the film features the unknown actor and martial artist William Sheila as Sylvester Williams.

Williams is a black pilot who is shot down over China and captured by the Japanese. He escapes and falls into the hands of Chinese guerillas who decide to help him get out of occupied territory. Along the way he is made a member of a Chinese Opera Company, disguised as the historic character Guan Yu (died 220 CE). As a member of the troop he has to learn Kung-fu. Guan Yu was a great general in Chinese history who played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han – founded by Liu Bei – in the Three Kingdoms period. Guan Yu's skin was said to be the color of the date-like jujube fruit, and so is usually portrayed with a reddish brown face.

Bob Baker, the Russian fighter from Bruce Lee's Chinese Connection, plays a Nazi Officer in this film

As old school martial arts films go this one was a lot of fun. We seldom see black characters in WWII settings like this, especially back in the mid 1970s.

Stay tuned. I have my sources in martial arts movieland from London to Hong Kong hunting this one up for us.