The Return of Shanghai Joe (1974)

A new judge is on his way to Glenwood City, and that’s a major concern to town boss Pat Barnes (Klaus Kinski), who has used violence and crooked dealing to make a fortune there.

The concern grows when an effort to ambush the stage bringing the judge to town fails thanks to the intervention of Shanghai Joe (Cheen Lie) and his martial arts skills.

Then Barnes finds a new reason to worry. His former partner Pedro Gomez is returned to town dead; the reward on his head is claimed by a snake-oil salesman named Bill Cannon (Tommy Polgar) who tried to treat his wounds.

Barnes had pulled a double cross on Gomez, letting him take the fall for their shared crimes. What if Gomez whispered the truth to Cannon in the days before his death?

Shanghai Joe winds up rescuing Cannon two, and the two become partners in trying to get to the bottom of what’s going on in Glenwood City.

The new judge, meanwhile, is determined to dole out justice too, even if all signs of guilt point to the town’s most powerful ciiizen.

Review:

This is a sequel to “Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe” (1972) in name only. You’ll find very little of the violence the earlier film is known for and none of the racial injustice endured by the lead character.

The only racism mentioned in this outing comes via the romantic subplot featuring handsome young Mexican Manuel Garcia and pretty blonde judge’s daughter Carol Finney. They’re afraid their elders won’t approve of their budding romance, in part because Manuel’s father distrusts all gringos because of what he’s seen Barnes’ get away with.

So what are we left with?

Basically a buddy film, played for laughs. There’s even a segment where Shanghai Joe tries to teach martial arts to his rotund new friend.

It’s not a terrible film, if you don’t mind a heavy dose of silliness and kung fu fighting in your Spaghetti. But it’s not a film you’re likely to be eager to watch a second time.

On the plus side, Klaus Kinski’s billing matches his role in the film this time around. As the central villain, he makes much more than a cameo appearance.

Directed by:
Adalberto “Bitto” Albertini

Cast:
Cheen Lie … Shanghai Joe
Klaus Kinski …. Pat Barnes
Tommy Polgar … Bill Cannon
Karin Field … Carol Finney
Claudio Giorgi … Manuel Garcia
Fortunato Arena … Sheriff Wilson
Paolo Casella … Jeff, Barnes lieutenant
Tom Felleghy … Judge Finney
Roberto Dell’Acqua … Slim
Consalvo Dell’Arti … Ramon Garcia
Attilio Dottesio … Mexican peasant leader
Angelo Boscariol … Pedro Gomez

Runtime: 90 min.

aka:
Il ritorno di Shanghai Joe

Music: Mario Chiari
Song: “Shanghai Joe” sung by Dream Bags

Memorable lines:

Bill Cannon, being congratulated by a group of Mexican women after his divining rod finds liquid: “My rod never fails me.”

Wounded Mexican bandit Pedro Gomez: “I don’t want nobody opening my stomach. My stomach will get used to having a little bit of lead inside.”

Shanghai Joe to Bill Cannon: “Confucius say you do not answer with evil when you’ve been given good.”

Sheriff: “It’s always been a peaceful town.”
Judge: “Certainly, with Barnes, you either obey or get buried.”

Trivia:

Yep, that’s a different actor in the role of Shanghai Joe this time around and you’ll likely spend most of the film wondering what he’s doing roaming around the Spaghetti West. That question is answered in the film’s final scene.

Klaus Kinski also had a role in the original, as Scalper Jack. His next Spaghetti Western, “A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe” 1975), starring Terence Hill, would mark his last.

Director Bitto Albertini made just one other Western, 1970’s Fighters from Ave Maria. He graduated from this film to church out three Emmanuel films between 1975 and 1977, including “Yellow Emmanuelle,” under the name Albert Thomas.