The Crane Fighter is set just after the majority of the Shaolin monks have been outlawed and killed by the, I think, Ching Dynasty. A few have escaped, and live secretly among the common people. One old guy has a daughter that he has forbidden to learn kung fu, but she does so anyway, by watching some other monks in a nearby temple.

Angelo Mao, Judy Lee and Barry Chen star in this tale of murder, intrigue and betrayal. When two separate imperial agents stay in the same room at different times are both offed, foul play is afoot. After passing his five challenges required to qualify for the mission, Agent Ho Kun is dispatched to the town where the murders took place, to stay in the aforementioned room and complete the mission bestowed upon his ill fated colleagues. Upon discovering that some of the local contacts are employed by the antagonist of this tale, things start to get complicated.

In 1933, 20,000 Japanese soldiers and 50 tanks invaded the Pa Tou Lou Tzu, a strategic key point of the Great Wall. With only seven men stationing, these heroes took on the entire army for five days before succumbing. Director Chang Cheh recreated this epic battle with his favorite cast including Ti Lung, David Chiang, Alexander Fu Sheng and Chen Kuan-tai, as a celluloid tribute to these nameless souls.