By Kim August === David* “Da Wei” Chiang remains one of Shaw Brothers most beloved performers for his superb acting skills and whimsical, acrobatic martial arts. David Chiang’s ease on camera can be traced back to his cinematic beginnings as a child star in the 50s and...
By Kim August === Where else but in a Chang Cheh movie would frenemies comment on each other’s knife skills as they slice through their targets like butter? The fight in question happens early in The Duel as rival gang bloodshed turns inward toward the Ren clan. Brothers...
By Kim August In 1982, director Chang Cheh unleashed one of his greatest examples of super-heroic mayhem with Five Elements Ninjas. Calling back to a favorite theme of China vs. Japan, this no-holds-barred example of Peking Opera acrobatics and traditional Japanese ninjutsu remains a fan favorite...
“I don’t feel like messing around with you. Please excuse me!” In this Robin Hood style early Chang Cheh wuxia, none of our heroes are who they seem to be. Lily Li’s Miss Jiang is not quite the damsel in distress she seems-despite her crying- Miss...
Love abounds in Shaw Brothers movies. Below are a few favorites featuring sword-crossed fighters, and modern-day innocents who may or may not find their heart's desire. Have Sword Will Travel (1969) by Chang Cheh. Yun Pao Pao’s (Li Ching) devotion to fiancé Siang (Ti Lung) only...
生日快樂 Sir! With so many grim elements in Sun Chung’s Shaw Brothers wu xia & period filmography, this Shaw Brothers director took every opportunity to slip in some comedy. Here are a few characters and funny moment(s) that make for a delightful tonal contrast. Judgement of An...
If you’ve watched Ti Lung’s wuxia performances for director Sun Chung, you’ll note a fascinating common thread in how each of these men thrives or dies in their environment. For this piece, the focus is on two opposites: Instructor Tong from the harrowing The Master...
生日快樂, 陳觀泰! Happy Birthday Chen Kuan-Tai! Discovered by Shaw Brothers in 1969, this champion martial artist quickly ascended the studio’s productions, from extra (he’s one of the guards David Chang kills in Vengeance!) to leading man. Chen Kuan-Tai soon became a favorite of directors Chang...
生日快樂, 狄龍! Many happy blessings to Ti Lung on his birthday! Building upon last year’s celebratory article; this piece explores a few of the many martial arts forms and moves Ti Lung performed throughout his swordplay filmography at Shaw Brothers. Superb execution of kung fu is why...
Shaw Brothers’ master choreographer Tang Chia (Tong Gai) teamed up with Yuen Cheung-Yan to create the various fight styles on display in this early Chang Cheh wuxia. The aerial leaps and jumps aided by trampoline and light wirework are provided by David Chiang, a former...