My review was written in June 1991 after watching the movie on Imperial video cassette.
Chopsocky expert Cynthia Rothrock is given an oay showcase as "China O'Brien", a direct-to-video release that was made three years ago.
Project actually dates all the way back to 1978 for writer-director Robert Clouse and his producers, who were fortunate to get Rothrock to topline. The blonde Pennsylvanian martial artist has a long way to go in the acting department, but she is very convincing in the high-kicking genre.
As corny as a '50s Western, pic concerns big-city cop China O''Brien (Rothrock), who teaches martial arts after hours and quiets the force after accidentally shooting a youngster. China heads home to Utah where daddy is a hapless sheriff dealing with gangster elements led by Steven Kerby.
When her father is brutally murdered, China runs for sheriff. With the aid of buddies Richard Norton and Nijel, she cleans up the town.
Clouse was important to the careers of both Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, but this pic is one of many Rothrock efforts over the past few years that failed to penetrate the American market.
Her physical antics are impressive here, though Clouse overdoes speeded-up footage (very obvious) to try and punch up the fight scenes. Norton is a comfortable co-star, having teamed several times on screen with Rothrock. Camerawork by Kent Wakeford, who shot Martin Scorsese's classic "Mean Streets", is unimpressive.