𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 (𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟕)

Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997) is a martial arts action-adventure film directed by Sammo Hung and starring Jet Li in his iconic role as Wong Fei-hung, a legendary martial artist and folk hero in Chinese history. This film is the sixth installment in the Once Upon a Time in China series, and it brings Wong Fei-hung and his companions to the American West, blending Eastern martial arts with the Western frontier.

This installment is notable for its unique setting and its combination of Chinese historical drama with the tropes of Western films, offering a fresh spin on the franchise while maintaining its core themes of justice, honor, and cultural identity.

The story follows Wong Fei-hung (Jet Li), his romantic partner “13th Aunt” Yee (Rosamund Kwan), and his loyal disciple Seven (Xiong Xin-xin) as they travel to America to help establish a Chinese medical clinic in the Wild West. Upon their arrival, they encounter hostility and racism from the locals, who are distrustful of Chinese immigrants.

While journeying to a nearby town, Wong Fei-hung is separated from his group during an ambush and suffers a head injury, causing temporary amnesia. He is rescued by a Native American tribe, who take him in and nurse him back to health. As Wong slowly recovers, he demonstrates his martial arts skills, earning the tribe’s respect.

Meanwhile, 13th Aunt and Seven try to locate Wong while contending with anti-Chinese sentiment and conflicts in the town. When Wong eventually reunites with his companions, they become entangled in a feud between the townsfolk, bandits, and the Native Americans. Using his martial arts expertise and sense of justice, Wong Fei-hung works to resolve the conflict, protect the oppressed, and restore harmony.

Once Upon a Time in China and America received mixed to positive reviews upon release. Critics praised Jet Li’s performance and the film’s inventive action sequences but noted that the story occasionally felt disjointed and less cohesive compared to earlier entries in the series. The shift to an American setting was seen as both a bold and risky choice, with some viewers appreciating the cultural fusion and others feeling it diluted the series’ traditional focus on Chinese history and identity.