Sy Shy
The Lady Hermit
Martial arts star Pei-Pei Chang and versatile director Ho Meng-Hua were a great team, who elevated this tale of a virtuous swordswoman’s revenge on the Black Demon who injured her to one of the best of both their careers.
Apple TV
The Proud Youth
Sun Chung started exploring the kung-fu genre with this fascinating tale which mixes music and martial arts. It’s a tale of conflicting clans and a mysterious song called 'The Proud One' which leads to slowly blossoming love as well as sudden death.
Apple TV
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. 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.
Apple TV
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.
Apple TV
The Thunderbolt Fist
A vicious judo expert sets out to prove that the Chinese are the 'sick people of Asia'. There’s only one thing which will set things right; the powerful Thunderbolt Fist kung-fu technique, taught by Shih Szu ('The Lady Hermit') and learnt by Chuan Yun ('Imperial Swordsman')!
Apple TV