Norman Chui
Duel to the Death
Hvert tiende år gjør de fremste krigerne i Kina og Japans opp status om hvem som er den dyktigste av dem alle. Etter mange år med konkurranser har den japanske ninjaen Hashimoto og den kinesiske krigsherren Ching Wan kommet hverandre nær, og de har stor respekt for hverandre. Men til tross for dette vil de en dag måtte duellere mot hverandre. Æren deres settes på sin mest krevende prøve hittil når lovløse ninjaer bryter seg inn i et shaolintempel for å stjele et hemmelig kung fu-dokument, hvilket vil kunne bety begynnelsen på en krig.
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Soul of the Sword
Famed actor Ti Lung plays a lone swordsman trying to defeat the "Number One Swordsman” as part of his vengeance package in life in 'Soul of the Sword'. He quickly learns however, that sometimes wanting is better than having.
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Bastard Swordsman
Actor Lu Chin Ku really hit his stride as a director of mystical kung-fu epics, like “Holy Flame of the Martial World”, and this – truly one of the best of its kind. Hsu Shao-chiang (aka Norman Chu Siu-Keung) stars as a put-upon illegitimate son of a “Martial Arts World” master, who nearly sacrifices all to learn the “Silkworm Style” - making him a veritable “Spider-Swordsman”! That’s just the pay-off to this eye-filling, mind-bending kung-fu phantasmagorical which elicited cries of joyous disbelief in virtually all the cinemas where it was shown. Featuring a top notch cast including “Venoms” Lo Meng, Sun Chien, and Wang Li, this extravaganza truly warrants the description: “unforgettable”.
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Shaolin Abbot
After a remarkable career helming such diverse cult favorites as "The Flying Guillotine" and "The Mighty Peking Man", trusted director Ho Meng-hua started wrapping up his Shaw Studio career with this memorable kung-fu adventure starring internationally renowned David Chiang. While he was best known for his roles as a grinning, streetwise, fighter in many Chang Cheh-directed classics, David Chiang rarely played a noble warrior monk, making this production all the more notable. Here he portrays the great Chih Shim, the monk who saved the Southern Shaolin Temple from the Ching Government and traitors alike. Shaws’ first international star, Lo Lieh, returns to the role he also made famous – that of Shaolin renegade Pai Mei. Rounding out the superlative action cast is the “first lady of Shaw kung-fu,” Lily Li, as one of Monk Chih Shim’s best allies. They unite for a true martial arts epic of the first order.
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Full Moon Scimitar
No team of “Martial Arts World” sword-and sorcery epic-makers ever matched that of exceptional director Chu Yuan and best-selling author Ku Lung. This is one of their most powerful and interesting, giving screen idol Derek Yee one of his most challenging roles. Here, he is the ambitious, proud master of the “Meteor” style of swordsmanship, who is brought to the edge of suicide by betrayal. A good woman saves him and brings him to, literally, the Valley of Happiness. But even that’s not enough for the obsessed swordsman, who takes the title weapon (his father-in-law’s wedding gift) and goes on a selfish rampage of violence and sex. Master kung-fu choreographer Tang Chia guides a first rate cast (including king screen villain Wang Lung-wei as the “Immortal God of Eagle”) in one of their most memorable productions.
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Heroes of the East
Whether it’s known as "Heroes Of The East" or "Shaolin Challenges Ninja", this ranks as a special favorite among even the most avid fans of legendary director Liu Chia-liang. Ric Meyers, author of Great Martial Arts Movies, the premiere, groundbreaking book on the genre, dubbed it the “Kramer VS. Kramer of kung-fu films” -- only instead of drama, there’s action galore as a Chinese groom and Japanese bride create a loving “kung-fu family feud”. Watch, in appreciative awe, as one Nipponese expert after other tests the skills of Gordon Liu Chia-hui in one maginificent bout after another -- with swords, spears, pikes, karate, and even Sai Seui. The result is a dazzling delight featuring the great “Shoji” Kurata (Fist Of Legend).
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Swordsman and Enchantress
Master kung-fu choreographer Tang Chia leads the king and queen of Shaw Brothers’ swordplay, Ti Lung and Lily Li, to the amazing "Deer Sword" and escape from the insidious maze-like "Toy Land".
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Shaolin Mantis
Liu Chia-liang is arguably the best martial arts film director of traditional style kung-fu action and was a pioneer in focusing on authentic martial arts techniques and training procedures in his films. This is why stars in his movies looked more like kung-fu experts rather than actors simply going through the motions. So although David Chiang had starred in over 40 films as a martial arts hero, in Shaolin Mantis, where he plays a man who learns martial arts from a praying mantis, then seeks revenge for his wife's death, the movie contains some of Chiang's best fight scenes ever. By casting his brothers Liu Chia-yung and Gordon Liu Chia-hui into the mix, Liu further ensures that the pugilistic mayhem will be even more outstanding.
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The Brave Archer 2
This magnificent martial arts saga takes up where the renowned original left off. Our hero Kuo Tsing is winning the hand of fair maiden Huang Yung. However, almost immediately, clan rivalries in the “Martial Art World” lead to Kuo being wounded by Ouyang Feng and Huang being named the new leader of the Beggar Clan. All this is mounted with sparkling energy by three kung-fu choreographers and a star-packed cast. International favorite Alexander Fu Sheng is back as Kuo. Niu Niu shines in her show-stopping role as his fiancée. In addition, the mystical martial arts mayhem serves as a showcase for “My Young Auntie” Hui Ying-hung, king of villains Johnny Wang Lung-wei, and “Venoms” Kuo Chue, Lo Meng, and Sun Chien as well as other famous action stars literally too numerous to mention!
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The Vengeful Beauty
Of all the many kinds of films Ho Meng-Hua directed for the Shaw Brothers, quite possibly his most internationally popular was The Flying Guillotine. While he did not direct its like-titled sequel, he did helm this great flying guillotine follow-up, which critics considered among his best. It was also one of his last for the studio before continuing his filmmaking career in Taiwan. It stars the gorgeous Chen Ping as the sole survivor of a despotic emperor’s latest foray into decapitation. Fearlessly she takes on the entire flying guillotine gang, despite the fact that she’s pregnant! Lo Lieh, Shaw Brothers’ first international superstar, is brilliant as the vindictive gang boss, while revered action choreographer Tang Chia mounts stupendous battles between the soaring beheaders and an astonishing wushu woman warrior with child.
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The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
There have been many kung-fu movies set in the famed Shaolin Temple, but none have captured the monastery’s martial arts world quite like "The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin". Liu Chia-liang, a legendary director of the genre, made a star of his brother Gordon Liu Chia-hui in this look at anti-Ching Dynasty rebels and their revolt against the Manchus. Gordon Liu Chia-hui attains the ultimate knowledge of kung-fu by arduously mastering one chamber after another, eventually reaching the fabled 36th chamber. Armed with this knowledge, the monks engage in some of the most exciting battles ever staged in the history of martial arts movies. The film was Shaw Brothers’ number one hit of 1978, and won the Best Martial Arts Award at the 24th Asian Film Festival.
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The Mighty Peking Man
King Kong comes to Hong Kong in "The Mighty Peking Man", a uniquely Shaw Brothers spin on the ageless theme of beauty and the beast. The beast, seven stories high and hailing from the Himalayas, makes his way to the jungles of India in the wake of a violent earthquake. The beauty is Russia starlet Evelyne Kraft, a sexy blonde Tarzanette who is the Mighty Peking Man’s best friend. Both are discovered by Danny Lee, a handsome young explorer who brings the odd couple back to Hong Kong, where Evelyne is almost raped and the monster runs amuck. Instead of the Empire State Building, the special effects laden climax takes place at the Connaught Centre, then Hong Kong’s tallest building. Plenty of action, location shooting in India, and an inter-racial romance make this one of Shaw Brothers’ most unique motion pictures. "Variety"’s verdict: “High camp, Chinese style.”
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