Kuan-Chun Chi
Boxer Rebellion
The “godfather of the kung-fu film”, Cheh Chang, was given one of the highest budgets to date to tell this sweeping war story of disillusionment and revenge. Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang and starring international favourite Alexander Fu Sheng, it rates as a revelatory masterpiece.
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Shaolin Temple
There is no place more hallowed in the world of martial arts than China’s Shaolin Temple, birthplace of a special brand of kung-fu developed centuries ago by monks opposed to the Manchu rulers of the Ching Dynasty.
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Marco Polo
When Shaw Studio decided to produce an epic about the famous Italian explorer Marco Polo and his meeting with Mongolian emperor Kublai Khan, they turned to one of their most famous and respected directors. Chang Cheh, who had already proven himself by making such sweeping sagas as All Men Are Brothers, co-wrote this adventure of four Han blood brothers and their quest to avenge their comrade's killing at the hands of three sadistic Mongol warriors. He then surrounded famed Caucasian actor Richard Harrison (as Marco Polo) with the best the Shaw Brothers kung-fu film units had to offer, including future lead 'Venom' Kuo Chue, 'Master Killer' Gordon Liu Chia-hui, and 'Thundering Mantis' Liang Chia-jen. The result is a splendid historical tale as well as a superlative martial arts thriller.
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Shao Lin wu zu
Fans thought that Chang Cheh couldn’t out-do his star-making box office hits "One-Armed Swordsman", "Vengeance", "The Water Margin", and "Blood Brothers", among many others. Once this landmark saga hit the screen, however, they had to raise their expectations once again. The story was simplicity itself: Shaolin renegade legend Hung Hsi-kuan had five comrades, each with an individual kung-fu skill. This is the story of that quintet’s fight against their Manchu oppressors and traitorous collaborators, played to the hilt by some of the finest martial arts actors who ever got their kicks. Revered choreographers Liu Chia-liang and his brother Liu Chia-yung were there to create one unforgettable bout after another, featuring Crossed Fist, Triple-Jointed Stick, Rolling Technique, Tiger-Stork Style, and Pole Attack. Each of the well-defined heroes takes on the clearly delineated villains for involving sequences of unparalleled effect.
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7-Man Army
Another iconoclastic work from the action auteur Chang Cheh, and winner of Honourable Mention for Dramatic Feature at the 13th Golden Horse Awards, 7-Man Army retells the legend of seven patriots during the Sino-Japanese War. 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.
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Magnificent Wanderers
The “godfather of the kung-fu film” Chang Cheh created this sweeping, all-action adventure of undercover, traveling patriots battling corrupt Mongol chieftains and their bloodthirsty henchmen. Choreographers Hsieh Hsing and Chen Hsin-yi guide a spectacular all-star kung-fu cast, led by international favorites Alexander Fu Sheng, David Chiang, Chi Kuan-chi and even Li I-min. With all of them fighting, plus more, there’s hardly a moment to spare as stolen gold, hostage villagers, raging soldiers, corrupt courts, and an ammo dump complicate matters until both exceptional martial arts and explosions fill the screen.
Apple TVShaolin Temple
There is no place more hallowed in the world of martial arts than China’s Shaolin Temple, birthplace of a special brand of kung-fu developed centuries ago by monks opposed to the Manchu rulers of the Ching Dynasty. A special place deserves a special epic, which is precisely what martial arts maestro Chang Cheh delivers in the aptly named, action-packed Shaolin Temple. It is a battle between a brave brand of Shaolin boxers and literally thousands of Ching troops, complete with betrayals, intrigues, and such novel fighting machines as 108 wooden robots. The human fighting machines prove just as lethal thanks to a cast that includes such legendary kung-fu stars as Ti Lung, David Chiang, and Alexander Fu Sheng.
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The Shaolin Avengers
The famous story of the Shaolin Temple’s betrayal by the White-Browed Hermit, and the subsequent revenge by Shaolin firebrand Fang Shih-yu, is the stuff of legend. It has been filmed many times by many directors, but few productions are remembered as fondly as this one. The potent combination of director Chang Cheh and international idol Alexander Fu Sheng caught lightning in a lens. Even so, many were concerned, since this was one of the director’s first Kung fu films without the collaboration of his long-time martial arts choreographer Liu Chia-liang. But with new action instructors Hsieh Hsing (future fighting star of "Master of the Flying Guillotine") and Chen Hsin-yi (who also choreographed Jackie Chan in "To Kill with Intrigue"), not to mention his talented co-director Wu Ma (future director of the groundbreaking "The Dead and the Deadly"), Chang continued his string of hits with this action-packed adventure.
Apple TVMarco Polo
When Shaw Studio decided to produce an epic about the famous Italian explorer Marco Polo and his meeting with Mongolian emperor Kublai Khan, they turned to one of their most famous and respected directors. Chang Cheh, who had already proven himself by making such sweeping sagas as All Men Are Brothers, co-wrote this adventure of four Han blood brothers and their quest to avenge their comrade's killing at the hands of three sadistic Mongol warriors. He then surrounded famed Caucasian actor Richard Harrison (as Marco Polo) with the best the Shaw Brothers kung-fu film units had to offer, including future lead 'Venom' Kuo Chue, 'Master Killer' Gordon Liu Chia-hui, and 'Thundering Mantis' Liang Chia-jen. The result is a splendid historical tale as well as a superlative martial arts thriller.
Apple TV
Shaolin Martial Arts
In the spectacular careers of Chang Cheh and Liu Chia-liang , many international fans feel that this film is the apex of their collaboration as, respectively, director and kung-fu choreographer. Add to that the starring role of Alexander Fu Sheng and the introduction of international Shaolin monk icon Gordon Liu Chia-hui, and you have an epic for the record books. A great choreographer in his own right, Tang Chia, is on hand as partner to Liu Chia-liang, while the titanic team of “king of the villains” Johnny Wang Lung-wei and “Thundering Mantis” Liang Chia-jen play Manchu assassins. But at the heart of this action-packed classic is relevatory training sequences in the Eagle Claw, Hung Hsi Kuan, and Yung Chun schools of kung-fu. In short: this is a must for any martial arts movie fan.
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Shaolin Martial Arts
In the spectacular careers of Chang Cheh and Liu Chia-liang , many international fans feel that this film is the apex of their collaboration as, respectively, director and kung-fu choreographer. Add to that the starring role of Alexander Fu Sheng and the introduction of international Shaolin monk icon Gordon Liu Chia-hui, and you have an epic for the record books. A great choreographer in his own right, Tang Chia, is on hand as partner to Liu Chia-liang, while the titanic team of “king of the villains” Johnny Wang Lung-wei and “Thundering Mantis” Liang Chia-jen play Manchu assassins. But at the heart of this action-packed classic is relevatory training sequences in the Eagle Claw, Hung Hsi Kuan, and Yung Chun schools of kung-fu. In short: this is a must for any martial arts movie fan.
Apple TVBoxer Rebellion
The “godfather of the kung-fu film”, Cheh Chang, was given one of the highest budgets to date to tell this sweeping war story of disillusionment and revenge. Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang and starring international favourite Alexander Fu Sheng, it rates as a revelatory masterpiece.
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Men from the Monastery
Shaolin firebrands Fang Shih-yu, Hung Hsi-kuan, and Hu Huei-chien are as famous in Asia as the Three Musketeers are in America and Europe. So when the “godfather of the kung-fu film” Chang Cheh decided to tell their stories with Alexander Fu Sheng, Chen Kuan-tai, and Chi Kuan-chun in the roles, it was cause for celebration. The resulting film is one of the most lauded and beloved in the director’s filmography, and remains a highlight in all the stars’ careers. Each hero is given his own story, but when they all come together in a final, day-long battle with hundreds of troops, the effect is unforgettable. Although known and loved by American fans as Disciples Of Death, that cropped, dubbed, edited version cannot compare to this magnificent original.
Apple TVApple iTunesThe Shaolin Avengers
The famous story of the Shaolin Temple’s betrayal by the White-Browed Hermit, and the subsequent revenge by Shaolin firebrand Fang Shih-yu, is the stuff of legend. It has been filmed many times by many directors, but few productions are remembered as fondly as this one.
Apple TVApple iTunesMagnificent Warriors
To menn hjelper en kung-fu-mester med å finne gullet hans.
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FilmoteketDisciples of Shaolin
It is little wonder why Chang Cheh is considered legendary. Not only did he usher in a whole new kind of “yanggang” (macho) cinema, but he was also one of the most prolific and consistent directors in the world. He made more than 70 films in the period between 1960 and 1975, but this was considered one of the most notable. A nominal sequel to the equally acclaimed "Shaolin Martial Arts", this powerful production came a year later and cemented Alexander Fu Sheng’s superstardom with a performance many proclaimed the best of the young lead’s career. It is also one of the last Chang Cheh films choreographed by Liu Chia-liang, who was becoming a legendary director in his own right. Together, they made this tale of the Shaolin vs. Manchu conflict -- played out at a textile mill -- one of the highlights in kung-fu film history.
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