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Mystery of Chess Boxing

Director: Joseph Kuo Run Time: 90 min. Format: 35mm Rating: NR Release Year: 1979

Starring: Jack Long, Mark Long, Yi-min Li

At long last, THE DEUCE takes you to the 42nd Street palace of sword-and-sandal rejects and chop-socky imports: the Empire Theater! This month, guest curator DAN HALSTED (of Portland’s Hollywood Theatre) sends over his very own print (the only one in existence!) of Joseph Kuo’s classic THE MYSTERY OF CHESS BOXING, aka NINJA CHECKMATE!

Plus: The famous ‘DEUCE Raffle’ and music by DJ BONES! Hosted and presented by THE DEUCE JOCKEYS: Jeff, Andy, and Joe!

The original ‘Ghostface Killah’is on the loose!! A vicious villain with an unstoppable five element technique, Ghostface is killing off all his old rivals. Meanwhile, a young student studying kung fu is taken under the wing of an old chess master. The basics of chess prove to be the same as the basics of fighting, and eventually our heroes must fight Ghostface Killer, who verbally insults his opponents as he annihilates them. A true classic (and obvious favorite of the Wu Tang Clan), directed by Joseph Kuo, Chess Boxing will be presented on the only known 35mm print!

Joseph Kuo directed dozens of low-budget kung fu films in his native Taiwan, with minimal sets and bad wigs off-set by creative plots and exceptional fight choreography. In the 1970’s and early-80’s, Kuo crafted a number of bone-shattering martial arts classics, including Seven GrandmastersThe 18 BronzemenBorn Invincible and his masterpiece, The Mystery of Chess Boxing.

Complimentary drinks at the after-party courtesy of Bronx Brewery.

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