http://www.stomptokyo.com/scott/infra-man/shaw_faq.html

Shaw Brothers Movie FAQ
Compiled by Keith Allison (kikaider@maple.circa.ufl.edu)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



=============================================================================

THE SHAW BROTHERS KUNG-FU MOVIE FAQ, edition 1.1

compiled and written by kikaider@maple.circa.ufl.edu (Keith Allison)

=============================================================================



PART ONE: SHAW HISTORY AND STARS


INTRODUCTION
Lots of people post lots of stuff about lots of Hong Kong movies, but
only a few people post a little stuff about films that came before PROJECT A.
Many recent converts to Hong Kong movie fandom completely ignore the past,
often because they don't know a lot about it and don't get much info on it, but
also because some people are too snooty and stuck up to watch the older films.
But make no mistake about it--you aren't fully understanding what is
going on today if you don't know something about what was going on last week.
Most of the things that go on in HK cinema today are certainly not new. John
Woo's slow-motion bloodbaths are not innovative; he is merely doing what his
teacher, Chang Cheh, did twenty years ago, but he's doing it better and with
better technical knowledge.
So in order to rectify the situation, we have here the Shaw Brothers
movie FAQ. It will be followed by a later, similar list detailing non-Shaw
Brothers films, which in turn will probably be followed by a list of films which
pretty much started the whole thing--samurai films.
This list is by no means complete, or anywhere close to being complete.
Thus all readers are welcome...make that encouraged...to send me addiitonal
titles, reviews, information, and descriptions of films.
Okay, you aren't reading this for the introduction, so we'll move along
now...



CONTENTS
--------
1. Shaw Studios--what is it, anyway?
2. Shaw Brothers stars
3. Movie descriptions and reviews
4. Additional notes, thanks, and whatnot.

*******************************************************************************
This entire document is copyright (1994) by Keith Allison, who gives you and
anyone else permission to cut, paste, print, and distribute in any damn way you
want, although it'd be mighty nice if you kept in something that gave me credit
*******************************************************************************

1. THE STUDIO
Just who are these Shaw Brothers and where do they come from? How many
of them are they and what do they want with our planet?
The Shaw Brothers are several, but the most signifigant of them are
Runme Shaw and Sir Runrun Shaw (he was made a knight by the queen of England,
but it didn't seem to do much of anything for him). The reason they are impor-
tant is simple--they began Hong Kong's oldest film studio.
Runrun was a pioneer in Hong Kong filmmaking, as well as filmmaking in
general. He produced Hong Kong's first movie with sound, and he even bailed out
Macey's one of the times it was about to go belly-up!
Shaw Brother studios became the hub of activity during the 1960s and
1970s, when they started producing swordsman and kung-fu films that took the
world by storm. Many of the world's greatest action stars and directors began
at the Studio, which at the time was one of the largest, most advanced in the
East (only the studios in Japan could compare).
The studio itself was huge, and it contained, among other things: a
complete backstage town, several large sound stages, dormitories for the
people who lived and worked there (they often worked on incredibly demanding
schedules, so most stars and technical crew actually lived at the studio), and
complete facilities for post-production work. Many of the stars were trained
in acting and martial arts classes that were conducted by the studio.
Currently, Shaw Studios is inactive, but there are indications that the
sleeping giant is about to awaken once again. We'll just have to wait and see.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------



2. THE SHAW BROTHERS STARS
Shaw Studios produced many well-known martial arts stars, and several of
them are still very active and famous today. While this is by no means a
complete list of them, at least it's a list.
NOTE: In China and many other Asian countries, the names are slightly
differently organized. They commonly list the family name (in
the West, we call it your "last name") first, followed by the
first name. For instance--Chen Kuan-tai. By Western name
organization he would be Kuan-tai Chen, or Mr. Chen, or "my
good friend, Kuan-tai."


CHANG CHEH
Class: Director
Chang Cheh is one of the greatest, most prolific directors in Hong Kong
movie history. Aside from directing scores of his own films, he
also trained many of today's great stars (including John Woo,
Wu Ma, and Ti Lung). Chang's influence on modern films is
undeniable, especially his influence on the work of one of his
apprentices, John Woo. Slow motion action sequences, tragic
death, redemption, friendship, male bonding, loyalty, and tons
and tons of violence and blood--Woo learned to treasure these
things while working under Chang.
Films he has directed include: Vengeance, Five Shaolin Masters/Five
Masters of Death, Death Chambers, 7 Blows of the Dragon/Water
Margin, 7 Soldiers of Kung-fu/All Men are Brothers, Deadly Duo,
Dynasty of Blood, Savage Five, The New One-Armed Swordsman,
Shaolin Martial Arts, Men From the Monastery/Disciples of
Death, Chinatown Kid, Brave Archer/Kung-fu Warlords 1-4, Five
Deadly Venoms, Crippled Avengers/Mortal Combat, Daredevils, The
Destroyers, Kid With the Golden Arm, Ten Tigers of Kwangtung,
Spearmen of Death, Masked Avengers, House of Traps, Shanghai
13, Super Ninjas/Five Element Ninja, Attack of the God of Joy,
Nine Demons, Weird Man, Ode to Gallantry, Magnificent Trio,
The Assassin, Trail of the Broken Blade, Golden Swallow.

CHENG SHAO CHIU
Aliases: Adam Cheng
Class: Actor
Adam Cheng isn't really a Shaw Brothers star, but he did get his start
there, in the Liu Chia-liang film CAT VERSUS RAT, and later
he became a big star after appearing in ZU WARRIORS.

CHEN KUAN-TAI
Aliases: Chan Kuan-tai, Chan Ku Tai
Class: Actor
Chen Kuan-tai was a martial arts lightweight champion in 1969, despite
the fact that he doesn't look very light-weight. Anyway, he was
also a master of Monkey kung-fu, although he would rarely
prance about doing twitching monkey impersonations. He became a
star at SB studios, often appearing along with Ti Lung and
David Chiang, but also appearing several times as a villain, as
well as on his own. He's a versatile actor and a powerful
fighter.
Films include: Killer from Shantung, Warrior of Steel/Man of Iron,
Flying Guillotine, Dynasty of Blood, Chinese Boxer, Crippled
Avengers/Mortal Combat, I Will Finally Knock You Down Dad,
Executioner of Death/Executioner from Shaolin, Challenge of
the Masters, Kung-fu Hellcats.

CHIANG TAI-WEI
Aliases: David Chiang, John Chiang, Garth Lo
Birthdate: 1947
Class: Actor.
David Chiang became one of the biggest stars of the 1970s despite his
rather small stature. He was 1/2 of the deadly duo that took
kung-fu movie world by storm (the other half is Ti Lung).
Chiang specialized in playing smooth anti-heroes, and he had
tons of charm and charisma.
Films include: Vengeance (1970), Savage Five (1979), 7 Blows of the
Dragon/Water Margin (1972), 7 Soldiers of Kung-fu/All Men are
Brothers, Duel of Fists, Duel of Iron Fists, The New One-Armed
Swordsman (1972), Dynasty of Blood (1973), Deadly Duo, Five
Shaolin Masters/Five Masters of Death (1975), Death Chambers,
Shanghai 13, Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires, Fight for Glory,
Slice of Death/Abbot of Shaolin, Deadly Mantis/Shaolin Mantis,
Heroic Ones/Shaolin Masters.
Non-SB films include: The Loot, Return of the Deadly Blade, Where is
Officer Tuba, Just Heroes/Tragic Heroes, Lost Kung-fu Secrets.

CHI KUAN-CHUN
Class: Actor
Chi Kuan-chun is another lesser-known of the Shaw Brothers stars, but
he is still interesting and made several good movies, usually
appearing alongside Fu Sheng.
Films include: Death Chambers, Five Shaolin Masters, Disciples of
Death/Men from the Monastery.

FONG, MONA
Class: Producer
Mona Fong is often called Runrun Shaw's second wife. Yeah, it's likely
they had an affair, but none of this is as interesting as her
role at the studio. She became one of the most powerful pro-
ducers of the time. While this is a good step for women, it was
also a bad one. Mona Fong was insanely jealous of other women,
and thought that a big female star might steal Runrun away from
her. Thus, she refused to alot any money for films which had
strong female leads. It wasn't until Liu Chia-liang became a
director that someone stood up to her and gave the other
women at the studio a chance to show what they were made of.

FU SHENG
Aliases: Alexander Fu Sheng
Birthdate: 1954 (?)
Died: July 7, 1983
Class: Actor
Fu Sheng was one of the first graduates of the on-studio training school
and he became one of the biggest, most well-loved stars to ever
Work at the studio. He often played a hotheaded hero with a
boyish charm and innocense. Fu Sheng was a great acrobat and
martial artist who wroked under both of the studios greatest
directors--Chang Cheh and Liu Chia-liang. He suffered an
accident during filming that broke both his legs, but he was
able to return to the screen in full slendor. However, in 1983
he was killed in a car wreck. Sorely missed, Fu Sheng is one of
brightest kung-fu stars ever to shine. He was 29 when he died.
Films include: Men from the Monastery/Disciples of Death, Martial Arts
of Shaolin, Five Shaolin Masters/Disciples of Death, Death
Chambers, Grand Master of Death, Chinatown Kid, Marco Polo,
Cat Versus Rat, Treasure Hunters/Master of Disaster, Legendary
Weapons of China/Legendary Weapons of Kung-fu, Brave Archer/
Kung-fu Warlords 1-4, 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, Hong Kong Play-
boys, Ten Tigers of Kwangtung.

HUI YING-HUNG
Class: Actor
Despite the great number of films and stars, SB studios had a precious
few female stars. This was partly because the biggest director
was Chang Cheh, who like John Woo, favored stories about male
friendship, where women were either non-existant, traitors, or
little more than symbols of something. Another problem facing
women at the studio was producer Mona Fong. Luckily, Liu Chia-
liang came along and gave women a chance. The result was one
of the first queens of kung-fu (the first is still Angela Mao
Ying), Hui Ying-hung. She was a great fighter and quickly
became a star. She worked as a dancer before Chang Cheh cast
her in the BRAVE ARCHER series, but it was Liu Chia-liang that
made a star out of her.
Films include: Instructors of Death/Martial Club, My Young Auntie,
8 Diagram Pole Fighter, Brave Archer 1-4, The Lady is the
Boss, Legendary Weapons of China/Legendary Weapons of

Kung-fu, Clan of the White Lotus/Fist of the White Lotus, Mad
Monkey Kung-fu.


I KUANG
Class: Scriptwriter
If Chang Cheh directed it, chances are I Kuang wrote it. 'Nuff said.

LI HSIU-HSIEN
Aliases: Danny Lee
Class: Actor
Danny Lee is well-known these days due to his appearence in THE KILLER
and recent Grade III psycho films. Come to think of it, THE
KILLER and CITY ON FIRE are pretty much his straightest films,
as he has starred in films about rapists, cannibals, giant
monkeys, and even in a softcore porn retelling of Bruce Lee's
life (his debut was as a Bruce Lee imitator, and this sleazy
little film was written by and starred Bruce's real-life
mistress). Of all the stars from SB studios, Danny certainly
has the most unusual filmography.
Films include: Savage 5, Inframan, Goliathon/Mighty Peking Man, Bruce
Lee: His Last Days His Last Nights.
Non-SB films include: The Killer, City on Fire, Untold Story/Human Pork
Buns, Doctor Lamb, Just Heroes, Triad Savages (cameo), Red
Shield.

LI LILI
Aliases: Lily Li
Class: Actor
Along with Hui Ying-hung, Lily Li was the biggest female star at the
studio.
Films Include: Kid With the Golden Arm, Brave Archer 1-3 (maybe 4),
8 Diagram Pole Fighter,

LIU CHIA-HUI
Aliases: Gordon Liu
Class: Actor
Liu Chia-hui is the adopted brother of the greatest Sb director, Liu
Chia-liang. He is almost always playing a bald-headed monk
of some sort. His martial ability is spectacular, and he's
just a generally likable guy. He is currently starring in a
television show in which he plays, of all things, a bald
headed monk (in this hairless way, he was sort of the pre-
decessor of Jet Li). He often appeared in films directed
by his brother, and these remain some of the best kung-fu
films ever made.
Films include: Master Killer/36 Chambers of Shaolin, Martial Arts of
Shaolin, Fist of the White Lotus, Challenge of the Masters,
Martial Club/Instructors of Death, Challenge of the Ninja/
Heroes of the East/Shaolin Challenges Ninja, Dirty Ho, Return
to the 36th Chamber/Return of the Master Killer, Legendary
Weapons of China/Legendary Weapons of Kung-fu, Master of
Disaster, 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, Executioner of Death (cameo),
Crazy Shaolin Disciples.
Non-SB films include: Fists and Guts, Fury in Shaolin Temple, Break
Out from Oppression, Warrior From Shaolin, Shaolin Versus
Wu Tang.

LIU CHIA-LIANG
Class: Director, actor, choreographer
Liu Chia-liang, is arguably the best director that ever worked at the
studios, as well as one of the all-time great directors any-
where in the world. Nearly everything he made while working
at SB studios is a martial arts masterpieces, and many of his
films are ground-breaking in ways people don't even realize.
His skill as a director was matched by his skill as an actor
and martial artist. He started out his acting career playing
Wong Fei Hong (way before his adopted brother Liu Chia-hui
would play a younger Fei Hong, and way way way before this
Jet Li whuppersnapper started playing the guy. Of course, no
one has been doing it as long as Kwan Tak-hing, but I'll cover
him in the next FAQ). Liu Chia-liang is still very active as a
director and star in movies. Interesting note: Liu Chia-liang's
father was Liu Chan, a kung-fu student of Lin Shih Yung, who
was a student of the real Wong Fei-hong!
Films include: (most of the films he directed, he also appeared in, so
I am listing them all together) Shaolin Mantis/Deadly Mantis,
My Young Auntie, The Lady is the Boss, Master Killer/36th
Chamber of Shaolin, Return to the 36th Chamber/Return of the
Master Killer, Executioner of Death/Executioner from Shaolin,
Legendary Weapons of China, Dirty Ho, Spiritual Boxer, Spirit-
ual Boaxer II, Challenge of the Masters, Shaolin Challenges
Ninja, Dirty Ho, Mad Monkey Kung-fu, Martial Club/Instructors
of Death, Cat Versus Rat, 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, Disciples
of the 36th Chamber.
Choreography credits include: all of the above, South Dragon North
Phoenix, Jade Bow, Golden Swallow/Girl With the Thunderbolt
Kick, Deadly Duo, Five Masters of Death/Five Shaolin Masters.
Non-SB films include: The Mars Villa, New Kids in Town, Tiger on Beat,
Drunken Master II.

LIU CHIA-YUNG
Class: Actor, director.
Liu Chia-yung is probably the least famous of the famous Lius (there
are a couple more, although they appear mainly as extras and
background people), but this by no means diminishes his
accomplishments. Like his brothers, he is a great martial
artist.
Films include: Legendary Weapons of China, Master of Disaster (as
director).
Non-SB films include: Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon.

LO LIEH
Class: Actor
Along with Jimmy Wang Yu, Lo Lieh is one of the original Shaw Brothers
stars. He has appeared in tons of films, often as a bad guy
beneath tons of whispy white hair and eyebrows. He started out
as a hero, though, but at some point he got really ugly and
started playing villains.
Films include: Executioner of Death, Fists of the White Lotus, Golden
Swallow/Girl With the Thunderbolt Kick, The Assassin, Slice
of Death/Abbot of Shaolin, Temple of the Red Lotus, Twin
Swords, Sword and the Lute, Trail of the Broken Blade, Five
Fingers of Death, Ghosts Galore, Black Magic II/Revenge of the
Zombies, Dirty Ho.
Non-SB films include (there are a TON of these, and I know this list
is really incomplete, as are most lists we make): Fists and
Guts, The Greatest Plot, Moonlight Sword and Jade Lion.

MENG FEI
Class: Actor
Meng Fei, along with Fu Sheng, was one of the earliest on-screen Fong
Sai-yuk's. He appeared as a co-star in many of the best films
SB studios made, but was often overshadowed by stars like Ti
Lung and Fu Sheng (Fu Sheng was frequently his co-star).
Films Include: Five Shaolin Masters/Five Masters of Death, Death
Chambers, Disciples of Death/Men from the Monastery.
Non-SB films include: Prodigal Boxer, Prodigal Boxer II, Secret of
Shaolin Poles.

TI LUNG
Aliases: Delon Ti Lung
Birthdate: August 3, 1946
Class: Actor
Ti Lung began working at the studio in 1968, and quickly became one of
the biggest, most beloved and majestic of all martial arts
stars. He often appeared alongside David Chiang, playing the
straight-forward hero to David Chiang's wiley con-man
character. These days, Ti Lung is still incredibly popular,
having appeared in many of the past decades biggest films. Of
all the stars to be created at Shaw Studios, Ti Lung is perhaps
the brightest, and he shows no signs of letting up.
Films include: One-Armed Swordsman II, New One-Armed Swordsman, Five
Shaolin Masters, Death Chambers, Dynasty of Blood, Savage Five,
Duel of Fists, Duel of Iron Fists, Heroic Ones, 7 Blows of the
Dragon, 7 Soldiers of Kung-fu, Brave Archer III/Kung-fu War-
lords III/Blast of the Iron Palm, Ten Tigers of Kwangtung,
Deadly Duo, Shanghai 13, Vengeance, Black Magic II/Revenge of
the Zombies.
Non-SB films include: A Better Tomorrow I-II, Just Heroes, Drunken
Master II, First Shot, Legend of Wisely, Inheritors of Kung-
fu.

VENOMS
The Venoms got their nickname from their first film, THE FIVE DEADLY
Venoms, and are listed together because they were the Shaw Brothers
team, appearing together in several films. They were considered Chang
Cheh's second team, witht he first team being the FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS
gang. Unlike the first team, though, who rarely all appeared in the
same film after FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS, the Venoms were almost always
together. Seperately, they are:

KUO CHUI: usually the main hero. AKA The Lizard Venom. Kuo Chui later
became a director as well as actor.
CHIANG SHENG: He was nicknamed "cutie-pie" by fans, and he often plays
the humorous, acrobatic hero. In FIVE DEADLY VENOMS he plays
the student who learned a little of each style.
SUN CHIEN: the kicker. Best known as the Legless Man in CRIPPLED
CRIPPLED AVENGERS. Was he the Scorpion or the Centipede? I
can't remember.
LO MENG: The big, muscular guy. Aka the Toad Venom. Aside from his
team films, he appeared in SUPER NINJAS, LAST HURRAH FOR
CHIVALRY, and WEIRD MAN.
LU FENG: Either the Scorpion or the Centipede. In CRIPPLED AVENGERS he
was the armless villain, and often was the villain in the films
while the others played heroes.
THE FORGOTTEN VENOM: The Snake Venom. Someone out there know his name?
Often played the snivelling turncoat who felt bad later.

Venom movies include: Five Deadly Venoms, Crippled Avengers/Mortal Com-
bat, Destroyers, Daredevils, Masked Avengers, Ninja's Deadly
Trap, Brave Archer III/Blast of the Iron Palm, Unbeatable
Dragon, Ode to Gallantry, Shanghai 13, Kid with the Golden Arm,
Spearmen of Death, House of Traps.

WANG LUNG-WEI
Class: Actor.
It's possible that Wang Lung-wei has been in EVERY Shaw Brothers film.
He is the quentessential kung-fu villain. If you have seen a
Shaw Brotehrs film, you have seen him--beady eyes, moustache.
I have only seen him as a good guy once, in MARTIAL CLUB, and
even then he wasn't exactly a good guy. He has been a villain
to nearly every hero, but like most villains, people know the
names of the stars but not the names of their villains, who
often match the stars skill for skill. Wang Lung-wei may not
be the best known, but he's certainly one of the most im-
portant Shaw Brothers stars out there, and you gotta love a
man who is so good at being evil.
Films include: (I know I'm going to leave a lot out of this one) Five
Shaolin Masters, Death Chambers, Chinatown Kid, Ten Tigers of
Kwangtung, Disciples of Death, Five Deadly Venoms, Dirty Ho,
Dynasty of Blood, Heroic Ones.

WANG YU
ALIASES: Jimmy Wang Yu
Class: Actor, director
Jimmy Wang Yu, along with Lo Lieh and Cheng Pei-pei was
one of the first martial arts stars of the Shaw Bros. era. Despite his
average martial arts ability, Wang Yu was able to exploit his ability to
the fullest, and thus appeared in many of the best, most influential
kung-fu films of all time.
He eventually left Shaw Studios and joined Golden Harvest,
and his career was never quite the same. After a few good films, the
quality of his work quickly plummetted, and Wang Yu decided it would be more
fun to become a triad boss. It was Wang Yu who faced off with armed men
in order to protect Jackie Chan from being killed in the 1980s by an
angry Lo Wei. To repay the debt, Jackie appeared in ISLAND OF FIRE.
Wang Yu is still active in film-making, having appeared in
several films throughout the 1980s.
FILMS INCLUDE: Golden Swallow/Girl with the Thunderbolt Kick, Temple
of the Red Lotus, Twin Swords, Sword and Lute, Trail of the Broken Blade,
One-Armed Swordsman, Chinese Boxer.
NON-SHAW BROS FILMS: Millionaire's Express, Fantasy Mission Force,
Island of Fire, Man Called Tiger, One-Armed Boxer, One-Armed Boxer II/Master
of the Flying Guillotine, Point the Finger of Death, Iron Man, Knight
Errants, Furious Slaughter, Bloody Struggle, Beach of the War Gods, Return
of the Chinese Boxer, Invincible Sword.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's the list so far. Naturally, it will be updated constantly.
Considering Ti Lung alone has been in over 70 films, I know the filmographies
are woefully incomplete. It is my hope that otehr readers will email additional
titles and credits to compliment my own discovery of new movies. With the
combined knowledge of everyone, we juct might get something close to complete
on some of this stuff. I'm sure worthy people were also left off the list, so
by all means email additions and anything else.


**********************************************************************

SHAW BROTHERS KUNG-FU MOVIE LIST

**********************************************************************


The following is an incomplete, ever-growing list of kung-fu films produced
at the Shaw Studios in Hog Kong during the 1960s through the 1980s.

If you have corrections, updates, or corrections, they should be mailed
to kikaider@maple.circa.ufl.edu

Also welcome are any additional reviews (the more viewpoints, the more
accurately someone can consider the film), as well as any interesting
stories related to the films or their stars.


SPECIAL THANKS:
The following people need to be thanked for their contribution
in one way or another to this FAQ. More of you will appear in the second
addition (I already have stuff rolling in, but this document was typed
before I had time to make additions, so all net contributors will start
appearing next edition, which I hope to post in less than a month)
Thanks to: Jeff Hum, Damon Foster, Richard Meyers, Fong Whye Koon,
tboot@well.com (can't find real name!)

Much of the techical info, such as release dates was gathered from
Richard Meyer's excellent book, FROM BRUCE LEE TO THE NINJAS: MARTIAL ARTS
MOVIES, which is an excellent guide to Hong Kong and Japanese martial arts
films up to around 1983. Special order it today!
Another good source of information is Damon Foster's ORIENTAL CINEMA
and VIDEO. If you can suffer through Damon's boring rambles about how
great he is, he provides a lot of useful information.


ABOUT RELEASE DATES: I am uncertain as to which dates correspond to Hong Kong
releases and which dates correspond to US releases, although neither
should be that far off from one another.


FILM LIST------------------------------------


ABBOT OF SHAOLIN see SLICE OF DEATH

ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS see 7 SOLDIERS OF KUNG-FU

APARTMENT FOR LADIES
Release date: 1970
Starring: Lily Li

ASSASSINS
Starring: Jimmy Wang Yu, Lo Lieh

ATTACK OF THE GOD OF JOY
Release date: 1983
Director: Chang Cheh

BAMBOO HOUSE OF DOLLS
Plot: Something about women's prison.

BIG BROTHER CHENG
Release date: 1975
Starring: Chen Kuan-tai

BLACK MAGIC

BLACK MAGIC II see REVENGE OF THE ZOMBIES

BLACK MAGIC III
Alternate titles: Black Magic Queen, Black Magic Terror

BLAST OF THE IRON PALM see BRAVE ARCHER III

BLOOD BROTHERS
Release date: 1973
Alternate titles: Dynasty of Blood
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Chen Kuan-tai, Ti Lung, David Chiang
Plot: Three friends are torn apart as greed and power corrups one of
them. Sort of a dynastic version of BULLET IN THE HEAD, huh?
Based on actual events and people.

BLOOD MONEY
Release date: 1974
Starring: Lo Lieh

BLOODY FISTS see HEROES TWO

BOXER FROM SHANTUNG
Release date: 1972
Alternate titles: Killer from Shantung
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Chen Kuan-tai

BOXER REBELLION
Release date: 1975

BRAVE ARCHER
Release Date: 1978
Alternate Titles: Kung-Fu Warlords
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Alexander Fu Sheng, Hui Ying-hung, Tien Niu, Li Hsiu-hsien
Producer: Runrun Shaw
Plot: based on a Louis Cha novel. That's all I know right now.

BRAVE ARCHER II
Release Date: 1978-79 (???)
Alternate Titles: Kung-fu Warlords II
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Fu Sheng, Lily Li, Hui Ying-hung.
Plot: ???

BRAVE ARCHER III
Release date: 1979
Alternate titles: Kung-fu Warlords III, Blast of the Iron Palm
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Fu Sheng, Hui Ying-hung, Ti Lung, Lily Li, Lo Meng, Chiang
Sheng.
Plot: Kuo Tsing (Fu Sheng) and his companion (Hui Ying-hung) go in
search of an old master (Ti Lung), while being pursued by
the minions of the Iron Palm clan, led by Lo Meng. Before
they can see the master, the duo must past a number of tests
of intelligence and skill. They pass each one, talk to the
old master, and then everyone get's together for a big
fight.
Reviews: Very interesting looking film. Unfortunately, it seems like
no real master copies are left (the film and the others in
the series fell victim to a fire at the studio), so all that
remains are fair-poor quality pirate copies. Still, it's a
very interesting film, with plenty of action and wit.

BRAVE ARCHER IV
Release date: 1979
Alternate titles: Kung-fu Warlords IV, Brave Archer and his Mate.
Starring: Fu Sheng, Hui Ying-hung, ???

BRUCE LEE: HIS LAST DAYS, HIS LAST NIGHTS
Release date: 1975
Alternate titles: I Love You, Bruce Lee
Starring: Danny Li Hsiu-hsien, Betty Ting Pei
Plot: Sleazy, softcore porn retelling of Bruce Lee's life.
Review: So horrible that it must be seen. Low on kung-fu, high
on Betty Ting Pei stripping down and having sex with Danny
Li. Lots of nudity and sex. Betty Ting Pei was Bruce Lee's
real-life mistress (they found him dead at her apartment),
and this film not only stars her, but was written by her.
It's laughably bad. I can't believe they actually made this,
but there it is.

CAT VERSUS RAT
Release date: 1982
Director: Liu Chia-liang
Starring: Fu Sheng, Adam Cheng, Liu Chia-hui
Plot: Two wacky rivals while away the days trying to outdo one
another.
Review: Very Chinese, and as such, people who just watch movies and
don't know a whole lot about Chinese traditions or cultures
may find it absurd. It looks a lot like Peking Opera in some
spots, but generally, I enjoyed it.

CHALLENGE OF THE NINJA
Release date: 1979
Alternate titles: Shaolin Challenges Ninja, Heroes of the East
Director: Liu Chia-liang
Starring: Liu Chia-hui, Yuko Mizuno, Shoji Kurata
Plot: A Chinese man marries a Japanese woman, and they spend a lot of
time arguing about what is better--kung-fu or karate. They
compete a lot, and Ho (Chia-hui) beats her every time until
she uses ninjitsu. He doesn't like ninjitsu, and eventually
she leaves and goes back to Japan. Realizing that he loves
her a lot, he tries to get her back by writing a letter in
which he talks about how Japanese martial arts and Chinese
martiala rts are related. Her brothers, however, interpret
the letter as a challenge, and travel to China to fight Ho.
Ho's wife follows soonafter, realizing what has happened.
Ho and the ninjas battle, and he manages to beat each one. At
the end, Ho and the Japanese have come respect and like one
another.
Review: Possibly one of Liu Chia-liang's most ground-breaking films.
The Japanese aren't evil, the interracial couple (to people
in the US they may all be Asian, but in Asia there are very
distinct racial lines) is a positive thing. Plus, this may
be the only kung-fu film where no-one is killed. There is a
ton of fighting though. But the hostilities are a result
of a misunderstanding between cultures, and by the end, the
two cultures realize that more than fighting, they simply
need to talk and understand one another. A definite high-
point for Liu Chia-liang, whose career is almost nothing but
high points.

CHALLENGE OF THE MASTERS
Release date: 1976
Director: Liu Chia-liang
Starring: Liu Chia-hui, Liu Chia-liang, Wang Lung-wei, Lily Li, Hui
Ying-hung
Plot: The Wong (as in Fei-hong) family kung-fu school is abused by a
rival school so Wong Fei-hong goes to learn kung-fu from his
father's master. After the rival school's main villain kills
some people, Fei-hong trains even harder, and then returns for
revenge.
Review: It's great. Wong Fei-hong is young and brash, not the cultured
and reserved man most people think he is based on Jet Li's
portrayals of him recently. I mean, you put the three big Liu's
in a film, and how can you go wrong?

CHINATOWN KID
Release Date: 1977
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Alexander Fu Sheng, Wang Lung-wei, Sun Chien, Lo Meng, Kuo
Chui
Plot: After getting in trouble with local gangs, a young man (Fu
Sheng) flees to San Francisco, where the same gangs are
still causing problems. He becomes a part of one gang,
and eventually decides to play them against each other in
order to clean up the town.
Reviews: One of my personal favorites. Fu Sheng is a great fighter,
and I like the story a lot. All sorts of moral messages
about greed, drugs, and violence, and well as lots of
scenes of drugs, greed, and violence.

CHINESE BOXER
Release Date: 1970.
Alternate Titles: Hammer of God.
Producer: Runme Shaw.
Writer, Director: Jimmy Wang Yu
Starring: Jimmy Wang Yu, Lo Lieh, Wang Ping, Chao Hsiung, Fang Mien,
Cheng Lei.
Plot: After being run out of town, a vicious kung-fu teacher seeks
revenge against his adversaries by hiring a number of
Japanese karate experts to kill everyone. They do. Well,
almost everyone. One man, Jimmy Wang Yu, survives. He trains
a lot, dons a surgeon's mask, and seeks revenge, killing
off everyone that needs such treatment.
Reviews: This is one of the earliest kung-fu films of the modern age,
whatever that means. It has allthe elements you would expect
in a Wang Yu film--brutality, evil Japanese, training, and
secret styles. Not a bad film, especially for as old as it is.

CHINESE SUPER NINJAS see SUPER NINJAS

CLAN OF THE WHITE LOTUS see FISTS OF THE WHITE LOTUS

CONDEMNED, THE
Release date: 1976
Director: David Chiang
Starring: David Chiang

CRAZY SHAOLIN DISCIPLES
Starring Liu Chia-hui, Lo Meng
Plot: Some wise-crackers get invovled with some revolutionaries.

CRIPPLED AVENGERS
Release Date: 1978
Alternate titles: Mortal Combat
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Kuo Chui, Chiang Sheng, Lo Meng, Sun Chien, Lu Feng, Chen
Kuan-tai
Plot: A seemingly noble man is driven mad when his family is butchered
his son has his armed chopped off. He gets his son iron arms,
and becomes a ruthless thug. Years later, he cripples the
wrong four guys, as they all team up, learn special kung-fu
and decide to end the man's reign of terror.
Review: Possibly my favorite of all the Venom films. Spectacular
fights, and the scene of the four crippled heroes limping and
carting out of town is pathetically humourous. The crippled
avengers are: the deaf and dumb man (Lo Meng), the blind man
(Kuo Chui), the idiot (Chiang Sheng--aka "Cutie Pie"), and the
legless man (Sun Chien). Lu Feng plays the armless man, and
Chen Kuan-tai joins the venoms as the ruthless father.

DAREDEVILS OF KUNG-FU
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Lo Meng, Kuo Chui, Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng, Sun Chien
Plot: Several revolutionaries plot to kill a general.
Review: As with all venom films, tons of great action and fighting,
making an altogether fun romp.

DEAD END
Release date: 1968
Starring: Ti Lung, David Chiang.

DEADLY BREAKING SWROD
Release date: 1979
Starring: Ti Lung, Fu Sheng

DEADLY DUO
Release date: 197?
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Ti Lung, David Chiang
Plot: Ti Lung and David Ciang are a pair of heroes protecting a prince
from Mongol invaders during the Yuan dynasty.
Review: A lot of interesting moments, but also a lot of incredibly
dull moments, like the scene where people sit around for
hours talking about ways in which to traverse a dangerous
bridge, only to all fail miserably and die when they try. The
end result is funny, but the road there is painful. The end
of the film is great, though.

DEADLY MANTIS
Release date: 1978
Alternate titles: Shaolin Mantis
Director: Liu Chia-liang
Starring: David Chiang, Huang Hsing-hsiu, Liu Chia-yung, Lily Li
Plot: A Ch'ing spy (Chiang) is assigned to infiltrate a family
suspected of being Ming revolutionaries. Chiang becomes a
teacher for the family's daughter, whom he eventually falls
in love with. Plans for marriage are complicated when Chiang
discovers the family is part of the revolution, and the family
discover's Chiang's true identity. Chiang and his new wife
fight their way through the family, but she is unable to
fight to her full potential against her own brothers, and
ends up being killed. Chiang goes to the woods and learns
mantis fist by watching an actual mantis. He returns and kills
the family, thus returning home to be the hero of the day. Amid
the celebration, however, his own father kills him, revealing
that he (Chiang's father) was also a revolutionary, and hated
his son for killing heroes of the cause. The emperor then kills
the father, and thus, everyone ends up completely unhappy and
dead.
Review: It starts out looking like a comedy, then becomes a very bitter
tragedy with constant unexpected twists. Interesting because
David Chiang plays a Ch'ing spy, making this possibly the
only movie with a Ch'ing hero--they are almost always the
villains (this is similar to Liu Chia-liang's other film,
CHALLENGE OF THE NINJA, which is one of the only films to
feature non-evil Japanese). Chiang is actually a villain, at
least historically, so Chia-liang has broken yet more ground
by providing a villain who is fully developed and thus,
becomes the good guy. Usually, the villains just laugh a lot
and kill.

DEATH CHAMBERS
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan-chun, Ti Lung, David Chiang, Wang Lung-wei
Plot: I don't know if this was advertised as a prequel to FIVE SHAOLIN
MASTERS, but it is, beginning with Fong Sai-yuk's (Fu Sheng)
admittance into Shaolin temple. He andhis pals train a lot and
wonder about the mysterious rebels (Ti, Chiang, and Wang) who
are staying in the temple. Sai-yuk leaves the temple for a
while, then discovers the monks have been sold out to the
government. He returns in time for the climactic, lengthy
battle with the soldiers with ultimately ends with the Temple
being burned and the cast of FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS running off
into that film.

DEATH MASK OF THE NINJA
Starring: Ti Lung
Plot: Two babies are rescued from murder, and one is raised by three
mad Shaolin disciples. HE eventually meets up with his
brother again, and they seek revenge against the conniving
prince who murdered the rest of their family.
Review: I like it a lot. Lots of action, and guys who are called the
"three holy fools of Shaolin."

DESCENDANT OF THE SUN
Starring: Cherie Chung

DESTROYERS
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Kuo Chui, Lo Meng, Chiang Sheng, Sun Chien, Lu Feng
Plot: Several kung-fu heroes are hired by a shadey man. They befriend
a struggling escort, whom they are tricked into killing,
and then seek revenge.
Review: It stars the Venom. They always deliver the goods.

DIRTY HO
Release Date: 1979
Director: Liu Chia-liang
Starring: Liu Chia-hui, Yung Wang-yu, Lo Lieh
Plot: The 11th prince (Chia-hui) tries to keep from getting killed
by the 4th prince, who fears the 11th prince will become
king instead of him. To kill the prince, he hires a ruthless
general played by Lo Lieh.
Review: A great film, with tons of funny stuff and great kung-fu,
especially the scenes where people do kung-fu while trying
to look like they aren't doing kung-fu.

DISCIPLES OF DEATH see MEN FROM THE MONASTERY

DISCIPLES OF THE 36th CHAMBER
Director: Liu Chia-liang
Starring: Liu Chia-hui, Hsiao Ho

DRAGON CREEK
Release date: 1966
Starring: Lily Li

DUEL OF FISTS
Starring: David Chiang, Ti Lung
Plot: Something about Thai boxing

DUEL OF IRON FISTS
Starring: David Chiang, Ti Lung
Plot: After his father is murdered, Ti Lung takes the rap for the good
of the gang and leaves town, only to return when he discovers
the gang has been taken over by corrupt people. He teams up
with a young friend and the Rover (Chiang), a hired hitman
who Ti Lung discovers was the one to actually perform the
murder. They fight the brains behind the plot, then know
they are destined to fight each other in the end.
Review: I like it. Ti Lung kills about eighteen million people, and
nothing good happens to him. His girlfriend is forced to be
a prostitute, and then kills herself. His brother becomes a
drunk after the gang is taken over. His best companion is
the guy who killed his dad. At times, it is a bit silly, but
it is also action-packed and incredibly violent.

DYNASTY OF BLOOD see BLOOD BROTHERS

EIGHT DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER
Release date: 1983
Alternate titles: Magnificent Pole Fighters
Director: Liu Chia-liang
Starring: Liu Chia-hui, Hui Ying-hung, Fu Sheng, Li Li-li, Wang
Lung-wei, Ku Ming
Plot: A heroic family is double-crossed and massacred on the
battle field. Only two brothers--Liu Chia-hui and Fu Sheng--
survive the slaughter. Fu Sheng returns home to his mother and
sisters, but has been driven insane by witnessing the slaughter
of all his brothers and father. Chia-hui escapes to a monastery
where his bloodlust and warlike demeanor put him at odds with
the monks. The family mother (Li Li-li) sends the elder
daughter (Hui Ying-hung) to look for the lost brother, but she
is captured by the villains. Chia-hui eventually leaves the
monastery to rescue her.
Review: This may ver well be my favorite kung-fu film. The fights are
brilliant. The mood is bleak, angry, and depressing due to the
fact that Fu Sheng was killed in a car accident during the
filming of the movie. The final battle is spectacular, not to
mention a bit disturbing, as monks rip out whole sets of
people's teeth. A must-see.

EIGHT MAN ARMY
Release date: 1976
Starring: Ti Lung, Fu Sheng

EMPRESS DOWAGER
Release date: 1975
Starring: Ti Lung

EXECUTIONERS FROM SHAOLIN
Release date: 1977
Alternate titles: Executioners of Death
Director: Liu Chia-hui
Starring: Chen Kuan-tai, Lo Lieh, Lily Li
Plot: Picking up where MEN FROM THE MONASTERY left off, Hung Hsi-kuan
(a role being revived once agan by Jet Li, who seems to want to
play every character from Chinese history, ever), played by
Chen Kuan-tai, escapes the carnage that ended that movies and
trains to defeat the white-haired hermit (Lo Lieh). Hung has
a son who also trains. Hung is killed, but not before
discovering that the villain does have a weak point--the only
problem being that the weak point floats around to different
locations on his body. The job of revenge is left to Hung's
son.
Review: Where most films about Shaolin characters are more about
Shaolin than people, Liu has put a lot of work into characters.
Still, I personally find the movie a bit dull, and the final
fight ends ridiculously, with Hung's son punching the hermit,
then a freeze-frame, and a narrator going, "And eventually,
he was victorious."

FISTS OF THE WHITE LOTUS
Release date: 1980
Alternate titles: Clan of the White Lotus
Director: Lo Lieh
Starring: Lo Lieh, Liu Chia-hui, Hui Ying-hung
Plot: A sequel to EXECTUIONERS FROM SHAOLIN.

FIVE DEADLY VENOMS
Release Date: 1978
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Lo Meng, Kuo Chui, Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng, Sun Chien
Plot: A master has trained five men in secret kung-fu styles--snake,
centipede, scorpion, lizard, and toad. Fearing that some of
the students are evil, he sends a sixth disciple to find them.
None of them know each other. The 6th disciple, who has been
trained in bits of all the styles, discovers some venoms are
good, while others are indeed bad. They fight.
Review: A classic, as far as I am concerned. Lots of strange kung-fu
including the lizard running up walls.

FIVE ELEMENT NINJA see SUPER NINJAS

FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH
Release date: 1970-71 (?)
Alternate titles: King Boxer (there is another film called KING
BOXER, so be careful)
Starring: Lo Lieh
Plot: The bad kung-fu school brutalizes the good kung-fu school, and
the lone survivor must endure the pains of hell as he trains
for revenge.
Review: One of the earliest of the "brutal" kung-fu films, and still
one of the most relentlessly brutal, violent kung-fu films
out there. Highly recommended.

FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS
Release date: 1975
Alternate titles: 5 Masters of Death
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Fu Sheng, Ti Lung, David Chiang, Meng Fei, Chi Kuan-chun,
Wang Lung-wei
Plot: After the infamous burning of Shaolin Temple by Ch'ing Dynasty
troops (an actual, histprical event), five of the surviving
monks vow revenge against the troops, as well as against the
monk who betrayed the temple.
Review: A classic. Lots of great fighting and action, as well as a
great story.

FIVE SUPERFIGHTERS

FLYING GUILLOTINE
Release Date: 197?
Starring: Chen Kuan-tai
Plot: The emperor is getting paranoid, and orders a loyal subject to
invent an undefeatable weapon. The result is the infamous
flying guillotine (did this thing really exist?). Of the
soldiers training to use it, Chen Kuan-tai is the best, much
to the jealously of the second-best at using it. Second best
tries to frame Kuan-tai, who eventually leaves himself when
he figures out the emperor is mad and killing innocent people.
Kuan-tai starts a new life, complete with wife, but can't
escape his past forever. His enemies come looking for him,
and he must find a way to defeat the dreaded hatbox with
teeth.
Reviews: Some people think it is stupid. I sort of like it. Not a
lot of kung-fu, but plenty of decapitation and blood-
letting.

FOUR RIDERS
Release date: 1972
Starring: Ti Lung

FRIENDS
Release date: 1974
Starring: Lily Li

FULL MOON SCIMITAR
Director: Chu Yuan

GENERATION GAP
Release date: 1973
Starring: David Chiang

GOLIATHON see MIGHTY PEKING MAN

GHOSTS GALORE
Starring: Lo Lieh
Plot: Taoists wizards battle Japanese ninja.
Review: Loads of fun. Lots of silly jokes, Lo Lieh, and a battle in
the end between traditional Chinese and Japanese spirits
and actors.

GIRL WITH THE THUNDERBOLT KICK see GOLDEN SWALLOW

GOLDEN SWALLOW
Release date: 1968
Alternate titles: The Girl With the Thunderbolt Kick
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Jimmy Wang Yu, Lo Lieh, Cheng Pei-pei
Additional notes: choreographed by Liu Cia-liang
Plot: Silver Roc, a walking death machine, takes on the Dragon gang and
kills what appears to be everyone in the entire universe.
Review: Tons of killing. Wang Yu kills with a sword more people than
John Woo kills with guns. Despite the wholesale carnage, this
isn't nearly as exciting as the previous excurtion into
blood-drenched swordsmanship, ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN. Best thing
about this is that Wang Yu's incredible sword technique seems
to be that he swings the sword back and forth and guys run
into it in waves.

GUERILLAS see KILLER ARMY

HAMMER OF GOD see CHINESE BOXER

HAVE SWORD, WILL TRAVEL
Release date: 1969
Starring: Ti Lung

HEAVEN AND HELL
Release date: 1980
Starring: Fu Sheng

HEAVEN SWORD AND DRAGON SABRE
Director: Chu Yuan

HEAVEN SWORD AND DRAGON SABRE II
Director: Chu Yuan

HEROES OF THE EAST see CHALLENGE OF THE NINJA

HEROES TWO
Release date: 1974
Alternate titles: Bloody Fists
Starring: Alexander Fu Sheng, Chen Kuan-tai

HEROIC ONES
Release date: 1970
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Ti Lung, David Chiang, Lily Li
Plot: a warring clan laughs a lot, drink a lot of wine, and fight the
Ch'ings.

HOLY FLAME OF THE MARTIAL WORLD
Starring: Kuo Chui
Plot: A lot glowing and flying in this tale of kung-fu cults. One guy
guy has a super-laughing power.

HONG KONG PLAYBOYS
Starring: Fu Sheng

HOUSE OF TRAPS
Release date: 1981
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Kuo Chui, Chiang Sheng, Lo Meng, Lu Feng, Sun Chien
Plot: An evil man hides incriminating evidence inside a pagoda that is
booby-trapped to the teeth, and some heroes brave the bizarre
death-maze to get the evidence. This was the final film
featuring the complete "Venom" team working for Shaw Brothers.

I LOVE YOU, BRUCE LEE see BRUCE LEE: HIS LAST DAYS, HIS LAST NIGHTS

INFRA-MAN
Starring: Danny Li Hsiu-hsien
Plot: In the future, the earth is attacked by a blonde Chinese woman
named Princess Dragon Mom, who uses an army of mutants to
wreak havok. The relatively useless defense team of the
earth creates Infra-man, a super-powered costumed hero, to
defeat the creatures.
Review: Shaw Brother's only (that I know of) excurtion into sci-fi
is a load of fun, especially if you are also a fan of Japanese
sci-fi shows like KAMEN RIDER and ULTRAMAN. Lots of kung-fu
and outlandish creatures and romping about in silly outfits.
Must be seen to be believed.

INSTRUCTORS OF DEATH see MARTIAL CLUB

INVINCIBLE KUNG-FU BROTHERS
Director: Chang Cheh

Starring: Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan-chun
Plot: Another of Fu Sheng's Fong Sai-yuk films, this one being about
he and his brother teaming up with some other guy to seek
revenge against a murderous horde.
Review: Interesting because it begins with the final fight and tells
the story leading up to that moment through a series of
flashbacks.

INVINCIBLE ONE
Starring: Fu Sheng.
Plot: Fu Sheng arrives in town, and is soon part of a movement
fighting unfair labor practices in the local factory. The
owners appreciate this spirit so much they kill everyone,
leaving revenge to Fu Sheng's brother.
Review: FIST OF FURY/BIG BOSS, only not as good. Boring as hell until
the very end. My Least favorite Fu Sheng film.

INVISIBLE FIST
Release date: 1969
Starring: Lo Lieh

IRON BODYGUARD
Release date: 1973
Starring: Lily Li

I WILL FINALLY KNOCK YOU DOWN, DAD
Starring: Chen Kuan-tai
Plot: A young hotshot battles his own father in this kung-fu comedy.
Review: It has break dancing kung-fu.

KID WITH THE GOLDEN ARM
Release date: 1979
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Kui Chui, Chiang Sheng, Lo Meng, Lu Feng, Sun Chien
Plot: A drunken hero (Kuo Chui) defends a wagon of gold meant for
famine relief against a legion of bizarre villains.

KILLER ARMY
Alternate titles: The Guerillas
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Kuo Chui, Chiang Sheng, Lo Meng, Lu Feng, Sun Chien
Plot: Evil government officials plan to pin their backstabbing on a
group of refugees, but the refugees have other plans.

KILLER FROM SHANTUNG see BOXER FROM SHANTUNG

KILLER CLAN
Director: Chu Yuan

KILLER SNAKES
Plot: A young loser befriends a bunch of snakes, which he rescues
from the restaurant next door, and uses them to kill his
rivals.
Review: A non kung-fu horror film that has some interesting moments,
but ultimately fails to impress me.

KING BOXER see FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH

KING GAMBLER
Release date: 1976
Starring: Chen Kuan-tai

KING WITH MY FACE, THE
Release date: 1967
Starring: Lily Li

KNIGHT OF KNIGHTS
Release date: 1966
Starring: Lily Li

KUNG-FU HELLCATS
Starring: Chen Kuan-tai
Plot: Some guys try to convince a heroic general to return to duty.
He does, and a lot of people must die.

KUNG-FU INSTRUCTOR
Release date: 1979
Starring: Ti Lung

KUNG-FU MASTER
Plot: A Wong Fei-hong film.

KUNG-FU WARLORDS 1-4 see BRAVE ARCHER series

LAST TEMPEST
Release date: 1976
Starring: Ti Lung

LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA
Release date: 1982
Alternate titles: Legendary Weapons of Kung-fu
Director: Liu Chia-liang
Starring: Liu Chia-liang, Liu Chia-yung, Liu Chia-hui Hui Ying-hung,
Fu Sheng, Hsiao Ho
Plot: Mystic kung-fu cultists are experimenting with ways in which
to make oneself immune to the new threat of bullets. This is
resulting in a lot of deaths. One instructor, played by Liu
Chia-liang himself, refuses to line his pupils up to die,
and retires, going into hiding to avoid retribution from the
cults. The cult sends a young fighter (Hsiao Ho) after the
old master, as well as a monk (Liu Chia-hui, of course), and
the master's own brother (also the director's own brother, Liu
Chia-yung). Also on the master's trail is a young woman who
wants to warn him (Hui Ying-hung). Hsiao Ho becomes
disillusioned with his mysticism and winds up fighting for
the old master. The monk is deafened by the master, and also
repents. Only the master's brother remains. They battle one
another with 18 weapons, with Lei Kung--Chia-liang's character
emerging victorious in each bout. He spares his brother in the
end.
Review: This often vies with ENTER THE DRAGON as "best kung-fu film
ever made." This is a ridiculous comparison, as this movie
completely blows away Bruce Lee's international effort. But
I guess Bruce, like Brandon Lee, is dead, so no one really
wants to say anything bad about them. I like Bruce Lee a lot,
but comparing ENTER THE DRAGON (not even Lee's best film, if
you ask me) to this is not a good idea. While I wouldn't say
this is THE best kung-fu film ever made, it's certainly up
there. It's multi-layered--with the first layer being a very
exciting, well-made kung-fu action film. Below that is a
second level dealing with kung-fu films--this film examines
their strengths as well as their short-comings (short-comings
are explored terrifically in Fu Sheng's scenes, where he is
hired to impersonate Lei Kung and fakes all manner of martial
arts seen in other films). Below that, it is a movie that is
about China entering the modern age--or refusing to enter the
modern age (similar in that way to MY YOUNG AUNTIE), as well
as a film about dragging Hong Kong filmmaking into the modern
age (it came at a time when people were tiring of the same old
Chang Cheh stuff, but right before Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan and
Yuen Biao would revolutionize film with PROJECT A). Above all,
it's a movie about martial arts. With most "kung-fu" films,
you could really substitute any form of fighting in--they were
war stories or adventure films that had kung-fu in them. But
this was a film that analyzed kung-fu itself. A must-see.

LEGEND OF THE BAT
Director: Chu Yuan

LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES
Alternate titles: 7 Brothers Versus Dracula
Starring: David Chiang, Peter Cushing
Plot: Dracula assumes the identity of a Taoist priest and flees to
China, where he reserrects an army of zombies. Hot on his
tail is Dr. Van Helsing, who is aided by a family of kung-fu
heroes.
Review: Interesting co-production between the Shaw Brothers and
England's Hammer Films. Despite some glaring continuity
errors (Dracula escae's Van Helsing's prison, and 100 years
later the chase in China occurs. Peter Cushing is old, but
this would make him seomthing like 150 years old), this is
an entertaining kung-fu horror film with a goodly amount of
blood-letting. The only big problem is that various kung-fu
villains have to stand around in order to make the white guy
look like he is a good fighter, which he isn't.

LI'S FLYING DAGGER
Director: Chu Yuan

LOVE SONG OVER THE SEA
Release date: 1970
Starring: Lily Li

MAD MONKEY KUNG-FU
Release date: 1979
Director: Liu Chia-liang
Starring: Liu Chia-liang, Hui Ying-hung, Hsiao Ho, Lo Lieh
Plot: A street performer and his sister run afoul of a lusty villain
who kills the sister and frames the performer for rape. The
performer (played bu Chia-liang) teams up with a pickpocket
to beat the villain
Review: Good because, although Chia-liang appears in almost all of
his own films, this one of the few in which he has the starring
role. However, all else considered, this is a fairly run-of-
the-mill film, although it's light years better than most other
run of the mill films.

MAGIC BLADE
Release date: 1976
Starring: Ti Lung

MAGNIFICENT TRIO
Alternate titles: Heroic Three
Staring: Jimmy Wang Yu, Lo Lieh

MAN OF IRON see WARRIOR OF STEEL

MARCO POLO
Release date: 1975
Director: Chang Cheh
Starring: Fu Sheng

MARTIAL CLUB
Relea

Avatar?
E-Boogs and Nayi

MANHOODLUM
Most sig'd okp.
No Aliases.

MANHOODLUM via Twitter
MANHOODLUM@live.com
MANHOODLUM@yahoo.com
Tommy Moran @ Facebook
MANHOODLUM@tmo.blackberry.net