Miracles (1989, aka. Mr. Canton and the Lady Rose) is the film in his resume that Jackie Chan always says is his personal favorite, the one he is most proud of, and for good reason. It may not have the action splendor of Police Story 3: Supercop or Drunken Master 2, the pacing and gags of Project A 1 & 2, but it has a huge heart and, technically, it is Jackie's best showcase as a director. Inspired by Frank Capra's 1961 film Pocketful of Miracles, which was a retelling of a previous 1933 Capra film Lady for a Day, Jackie approached the broad style, period setting, sentimental comedy with his typical HK flair for action and stunts, elaborate sets, and an all star cast.

Chen Wah Kou (Jackie Chan) is an innocent country bumpkin who moves to the big city to seek his fortune. His dreams are quickly squelched. This rube realizes that his expectations fall short next to the harsh reality- he is conned out of his savings and he cannot find work. After spending the last of his money on a rose from an impoverished flower peddler, he soon finds his fortune takes a turn for the better. After a gangland scuffle and shoot-out in the streets, he aids the dying crimelord of the Black Dragon gang, and the dying boss anoints Kou as his successor. Aided by the gangs main advisor, the kind Uncle Hai (veteran Wu Ma), Kou is molded into the gangs new leader. Kou is a superstitious, good-hearted, and bears the weight of taking control of the gang, dealing with Tiger (Ko Chuen-Hsiang) , a rival mob bass, as well as the snooping policeman, Inspector Ho (Richard Ng), and an unscrupulous gang member, Fei (Lo Lieh), who is out to take his place.

He attempts to legitmize the gang by opening a nightclub. The nightclub is a success due to the addition of a singer, (Anita Mui), but Kou also attributes the fortune to the lucky roses he now picks up from the flower peddler on a daily basis. When he finds that the flower peddler's daughter is set to arrive and she fears her daughter will be embarrassed by her poverty, possibly even lose a prospective husband, Kou mounts a plan to pass her off as a rich socialite and throw a gala ball at the club with high societies best in attendance. Trouble is, he has to try to pass off local gangsters as the socialites and on the eve of the event Tiger and Fei make their move to take him out.

The semantics regarding credits on Drunken Master 2 and Operation Condor aside, Miracles is the last film that Jackie Chan directed solo, and despite his previous large period undertakings like Project A, it was the most detailed film he had approached and a true labor of love. After Miracles, Jackie got caught up working with new HK directors like Wong Jing, Tsui Hark, Gordon Chan, Kirk Wong, doing his string of Stanley Tong crowd pleasers, and then focusing on his move to the US market. And, despite his success, I've always thought it was a real shame he hasn't really directed another film. Originally Jackie always said that was what his post acting career would be, but he hasn't slowed down, and hasn't made mention of directing another film in awhile. So, for now, Miracles is the last example of Jackie's personal vision, and truly what catapulted him to fame, his eye and sense of what can capture and audiences attention and imagination.

Admitedly, the more ravenous HK action./Jackie fans may find Miracles to be disappointing because it is light in the action and stunts department, instead playing up the saccharine sweet comedy and lavish period details. Really there are only four action scenes, two brief ones at the beginning, and then the big finale which has two typical Jackie, jaw dropping, frantic, energy filled action scenes back-to-back. The perilous rope factory finale, with Jackie going toe-toe with Billy Chow, is one of my favorite Jackie fights. He has done far more elaborate and riskier fights, but the rope factory fight so well timed and coordinated, it is a staggeringly great scene. But, really the action is a minor point, the film focuses on the elements of 1930's and 40's American films that Jackie fell in love with- its all there, the little guy blessed with fortune plotline, screwball comedy, tommy-gun toting gangsters, men in dapper suits and hats, vintage designs, and a full scale musical number. Visually, Jackie's palette has never been better. The films has some great sets and fine camerawork, showing that there is much more to him than just an action director and stunt artist. The main cast and various cameos is a virtual who's who of HK cinema, past and present. From Lo Lieh (Five Fingers of Death), to Amy Yip (Sex and Zen), Anita Mui (Heroic Trio, Rouge), Wu Ma (Dead and the Deadly, Chinese Ghost Story), Richard Ng (Millionaires Express, Private Eyes), Mars (Police Story), Yuen Biao (Dragons Forever, Righting Wrongs), and far too many more to name.

The DVD: Columbia/Tristar

First, it is a flipper. It offers two versions of the film: the edit 106 min version in Full-screen on one side and the extended 127 min cut in Widescreen on the other. The menu design is really ugly.

Picture: I wont bother commenting on the full-screen version. The Anamorphic Widescreen presentation is okay. It is fair enough, but unfortunately it could be much better. I own the UK Hong Kong Legends edition which cleaned up the film with great care and attention. That is something this edition lacks. It is just a weak print, plain and simple. The colors are on the brownish red side and make the film appear muddy, literally. Likewise, the sharpness details are not all that they could be and often the image is quite soft and lacking.

Sound: Cantonese or Mono English audio tracks with optional English, French, or Spanish subtitles. Well, it is mono and it shows. I'm not always for remixes, but in Miracles case it could use a little push. The audio on both tracks is pretty thin. Listenable, but thin.

Extras: Chapter Selections— Bios— Isolated Music Score.

Conclusion: If you are not import friendly, then this is the best you'll get stateside. Great film, but the presnentation is strictly b-grade. It is fair enough and certianly watchable, but the elements could all be better.