Lost legend of kung fu movies still packs a punch with the fans

She left Hong Kong's movie scene in the mid-1970s, and since then Angela Mao Ying has become something of a lost figure. Even now, it's taken over a month for this small news item to surface - even though she was one of the pioneer female martial artists at Golden Harvest, and even co-starred with Bruce Lee in Enter The Dragon.

In early December, Japan's Tokyo Filmex Festival hosted a single film tribute to the former kung fu star by screening her 1972 hit Hapkido, and flew the former actress from her home in Queens, New York, to Japan.

In her day, Mao starred in a string of hit action films, but they were rarely seen overseas - except to diehard Quentin Tarantino-like movie geeks. Her most prominent role, though, was playing Lee's doomed sister in his posthumous 1973 international hit.

Other than Lee's fighting, most viewers will probably remember Mao's butt-kicking moves early in the movie. Rumour has it she was paid just US$100 for her role in Enter the Dragon.

Anyway, the Tokyo screening proved quite emotional for the restaurateur and mother of three. According to the New York Post, when the 54-year-old arrived at the screening packed with audience members and press, an immediate cheer went up and Mao burst into tears. 'I am shocked so many people remember my movies after so long,' she was heard to say.

Think it's time Hong Kong did something for this lost legend too?