Long Arm of the Law

A group of criminals from mainland China, known as the Big Circle Gang, cross into Hong Kong hoping for a quick and easy robbery. The plan falls apart, and with the police hunting them, the gang is forced into hiding while the situation grows steadily worse. Accused of killing a police officer during their escape, they find themselves pursued on both sides of the law.

Released in July 1984, Long Arm of the Law was directed by Johnny Mak Tong-Hung from a screenplay by Philip Chan and produced by Sammo Hung, Jessica Chan Pui-Wah and Mak himself. The cast includes David Lam Wai, Wong Kin, Kong Lung, Chiang Lung, Chan Ging and Lee Ying-Git among its 29 credited performers. The film is set in the early 1980s and follows the gang from their arrival in the city through the collapse of their plans.

On IMDb, the film holds a rating of 7.1 from around 1,200 votes, while on TMDB it has a rating of 6.9 from about 48 votes. Both figures point to a generally positive response that has held up over the years, though the far larger sample on IMDb makes that score the more reliable indicator.