Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Book (43 page)

“Oh yes,” Chow admitted. “I saw Warner Brothers cartoons as a kid, and this sequence was inspired by it. It was originally a little longer — showing me jumping on a motorcycle and then crashing it — but I don’t think that part worked, so I took it out. I am actually very happy I did.”

He was also very happy to cast some of his childhood idols in supporting roles. He had always admired Bruce Leung Siu-lung
’s vertical kick — the one he used to great effect in
Kung
Fu Hustle
’s casino battle — and was overjoyed to discover that the popular star of
My Kung Fu 12 Kicks
(1979) and
The Fists The Kicks and The Evils
(1979) was not only still in good shape, but also bald.

“At first I thought he had better hair than I do,” he joked. “But then I found out he was wearing a wig. I was very relieved. I thought we’d have to cut his hair to make sure he didn’t look better than me.”

Chow completed his cast with his usual mix of striking faces (Bruce Lee
look-alike Danny Chan
), amusing attitudes (rotund sidekick Lam Chi-chung
), innocent female beauty (Eva Huang
) and great kung fu stylists (Yuen Wah
, Chiu Chi-ling
, Dong Zhihua
, Xing Yu
, and Fung Hak-on
). Initially, it was reported that Chow also sought out retired film star Yuen Qiu
, who appears as the landlady with the all-powerful “Lion’s Roar,” but in truth, the girl who saved James Bond
’s butt in
The Man with the Golden Gun
(1974) came to him entirely by accident.

“She had come with a friend who wanted to audition,” he recalled, “but when I saw her across the room with a cigarette dangling from her lips, she looked exactly like the character I had created in my mind. I was very happy she turned out to be who she was.”

He was also extremely happy to incorporate many different aspects of kung fu as well as a definitive Bruce Lee
homage. In addition to spotlighting Shaolin, iron arm, staff fighting,
Deadful Melody
-style lyre killing, toad style, and taichi
, he had the landlady make the exact same hand motions to the Axe Gang leader as Bruce made to the Italian mafia don in
Way of the Dragon
.

The final joke was on us.
Kung Fu Hustle
went on to become the most successful film in Hong Kong film history because nearly every scene either was, or contained, a satire of a specific Chinese action film … that virtually no Westerner living outside of Hong Kong had ever seen. That much was obvious to me when I was asked to interview Chow for the
Kung Fu Hustle
DVD, but by then I already knew that there were two Stephen Chows. There was the private Stephen, who I already had several great talks with, and the public Stephen, who, as soon as the camera light went on, wickedly grinned and clammed up.

Take a look at the DVD interview and guess which Stephen showed up (and watch for the moment late in the talk when he suddenly looks to the left and smiles while still talking … that’s because when, again, he knows the answer to my increasingly desperate, elaborate question, but refuses to elucidate, I silently mouthed “I hate you” at him). Even though we were under strict time constraints, it’s always great to talk to this remarkable filmmaker, even if, like most of his peers, he occasionally enjoys watching gweilo twist in the wind (all had learned that, while Asian fans usually say “what can I do for you,” American fans usually say “what can you do for me?”).

Actually, just about the only thing that makes Stephen Chow
unhappy these days is that he has too much time for hustle, but not enough for kung fu. “I don’t have as much time as I would like to practice,” he lamented. “But I love kung fu. [Famed, pioneering taichi sifu] William C.C. Chen
[www.williamccchen.com] is my ultimate master, and I respect him more than I can say. And now it’s time to start thinking out films about
Journey to the West
,
Taichi
, and
Kung Fu Hustle 2
. Got any ideas?”

Look who’s asking. Because “kung fu” actually means “hard work” or “concerted effort toward a specific goal,” good ideas will keep coming from the people who balance eternal, external, martial applications with interminable, internal, personal power. It’s just the nature of human physiology and psychology.
Kung fu is harder, more exacting, and takes longer to master than other martial arts, but the life-long rewards are worth it.

So are the films. Again, it’s like comparing all other dance movies to the films of Fred Astaire
and Gene Kelly
. No one can really recreate what those two dance giants did, but it is them who, and their films which, have stood the test of time. The same will be true for Bruce, Liang, Jackie, Jet, Donnie, Stephen, and all the others who take the time to do it right.

Why the kung fu film? Because it can excite, engage, inspire, and free an audience like no other genre. Because kung fu is, quite simply, the optimum in human development. There is no better, or more effective, way for a person to use their body and mind to set things right. Besides, when done correctly, it’s glorious to watch. Why? Because, whether you know it or not, the power in kung fu films is also in each and every member of the audience. Now that’s exciting to contemplate. And, as always and ever, watching films of fury is all about exhilaration.

THE TOP 100 KUNG FU MOVIES 1966 - 2010

Come Drink with Me
(1966)

Directed by King Hu

Choreographed by Han Ying-chieh

Starring Cheng Pei-pei

King Hu
alerts the world that there’s more to kung fu films than meet the eye
.

The One-Armed Swordsman
(1967)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang, Tang Chia

Starring Jimmy Wang Yu

Chang Cheh
changes the way kung fu movies are made and watched.

Return of the One-Armed Swordsman
(1969)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang, Tang Chia

Starring Jimmy Wang Yu

Chang Cheh
reveals his desire to make snappy populist cliffhangers.

A Touch of Zen
(1969)

Directed by King Hu

Choreographed by Han Ying-chieh

Starring Ying Bai

King Hu
makes the first kung fu art film with symbolism to spare.

The Chinese Boxer
(1970)

Directed by Jimmy Wang Yu

Choreographed by Tang Chia

Starring Jimmy Wang Yu

Wang Yu
sets the stage for Bruce Lee
’s patriotism.

Vengeance
(1970)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Choreographed by Tang Chia

Starring David Chiang, Ti Lung

Chang Cheh
bridges Peking Opera
drama with his yang gang
bloodshed.

New One-Armed Swordsman
(1971)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang, Tang Chia

Starring David Chiang

Wang Yu
out, David Chiang
, Ti Lung
, and Liu Chia-liang
in.

The Water Margin
(1972)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang, Tang Chia

Starring David Chiang, Ti Lung

Chang Cheh
does for wuxia
epics what he did for yang gang
kung fu.

Fist of Fury
(1972)

Directed by Lo Wei

Choreographed by Han Ying-chieh

Starring Bruce Lee

No Dogs or Chinese? Not anymore.

Way of the Dragon
(1972)

Directed by Bruce Lee

Choreographed by Bruce Lee

Starring Bruce Lee

The purest Bruce ever.

Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan
(1972)

Directed by Chu Yuan

Choreographed by Simon Chui Yee-ang

Starring Lily Ho Li-li

Softcore erotica plus cool kung fu equals a unique classic.

Enter the Dragon
(1973)

Directed by Robert Clouse

Choreographed by Bruce Lee

Starring Bruce Lee

Real kung fu, meet the world. World, meet real kung fu.

Blood Brothers
(1973)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang, Tang Chia

Starring David Chiang, Ti Lung, Chen Kuan-tai

Finally, emotional drama matched up with great screen kung fu.

Five Shaolin Masters
(1974)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang

Starring David Chiang, Ti Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng

Five times the star power, five times the kung fu goodness.

All Men Are Brothers
(1975)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang, Tang Chia

Starring David Chiang, Ti Lung

The sequel to The Water Margin
completes the sweeping wuxia
story.

Master of the Flying Guillotine
(1976)

Directed by Jimmy Wang Yu

Choreographed by Liu Chia-wing

Starring Jimmy Wang Yu

Tacky, silly, crazy? Yes. Influential and entertaining? Also yes.

The Magic Blade
(1976)

Directed by Chu Yuan

Choreographed by Tang Chia

Starring Ti Lung

The best of Chu Yuan
’s eastern sword-slinger cliffhangers.

Killer Clans
(1976)

Directed by Chu Yuan

Choreographed by Tang Chia

Starring Chung Wa

The best of Chu Yuan
’s convoluted “no-trapdoor-remains-unsprung” thrillers.

Executioners from Shaolin
(1977)

Directed by Liu Chia-liang

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang

Starring Chen Kuan-tai, Lo Lieh

Master Liang’s epic story of hung gar
’s birth (and introduction of the evil Pei Mei).

Judgment of an Assassin
(1977)

Directed by Sun Chung

Choreographed by Tang Chia

Starring David Chiang

Crackerjack adventure with the best kung fu (but worst wig) David Chiang
has ever done (worn).

36th Chamber of Shaolin
(1978)

Directed by Liu Chia-liang

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang

Starring Gordon Liu Chia-hui

Master Liang’s masterful “love story with kung fu.”

Shaolin Mantis
(1978)

Directed by Liu Chia-liang

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang

Starring David Chiang

Master Liang’s story of mantis style’s birth, with nearly the best David Chiang
kung fu.

Heroes of the East
(1978)

Directed by Liu Chia-liang

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang

Starring Gordon Liu Chia-hui

Master Liang’s groundbreaking kung fu Kramer vs. Kramer.

Five Venoms
(1978)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Choreographed by Lu Feng

Starring Kuo Chui, Chiang Sheng, Lo Mang, Lu Feng, Sun Chien

The first, and many say best, of what were to become known as the Venoms movies.

Crippled Avengers
(1978)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Choreographed by Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng

Starring Kuo Chui, Chiang Sheng, Lo Mang, Lu Feng, Sun Chien, Chen Kuan-tai

Lively, clever, Venoms follow-up, with arguably their best kung fu.

The Avenging Eagle
(1978)

Directed by Sun Chung

Choreographed by Tang Chia

Starring Ti Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng

Sun Chung
brings grandeur and superior cinematic mise en scene to his best loved kung fu film.

Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow
(1978)

Directed by Yuen Wo-ping

Choreographed by Yuen Wo-ping, Hsu Hsia

Starring Jackie Chan, Simon Yuen

Jackie Chan
alerts the film world to his ascension.

Drunken Master
(1978)

Directed by Yuen Wo-ping

Choreographed by Yuen Wo-ping, Hsu Hsia

Starring Jackie Chan, Simon Yuen

Jackie Chan
becomes a superstar with this milestone kung fu comedy.

Dirty Ho
(1979)

Directed by Liu Chia-liang

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang

Starring Gordon Liu Chia-hui, Yung Wang-yu

Unfortunate, misleading title, but superlative kung fu in this class warfare landmark.

Mad Monkey Kung Fu
(1979)

Directed by Liu Chia-liang

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang

Starring Liu Chia-liang, Hsaio Ho

Master Liang takes center stage in this monkey style showcase.

Kid with the Golden Arm
(1979)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Choreographed by Lu Feng,

Starring Kuo Chui
, Chiang Sheng, Lo Mang
, Lu Feng
, Sun Chien

The Venoms make a fun “comic book style” Jiang Hu
adventure.

The Magnificent Butcher
(1979)

Directed by Yuen Wo-ping

Choreographed by Yuen Wo-ping, Sammo Hung

Starring Sammo Hung, Kwan Tak-hing

Great Sammo Hung
showcase, but it’s Master Yuen’s Huang Fei-hong scene that makes this eternal.

Knockabout
(1979)

Directed by Sammo Hung

Choreographed by Sammo Hung

Starring Yuen Baio, Sammo Hung

The height of Jackie’s Peking Opera
schoolmates’ kung fu comedy film work.

Return to the 36th Chamber
(1980)

Directed by Liu Chia-liang

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang

Starring Gordon Liu Chia-hui

The love affair with kung fu continues.

Clan of the White Lotus
(1980)

Directed by Lo Lieh

Choreographed by the Liu Chia family

Starring Gordon Liu Chia-hui, Lo Lieh

Influential villain icon Pei Mei returns, along with a wickedly fun “acupuncture-kung-fu” style.

The Master
(1980)

Directed by Lu Chin-ku

Choreographed by Hsu Hsia

Starring Chen Kuan-tai, Yuen Tak

Shaw Brothers
try their hand at Jackie-style kung fu comedy, with entertaining results.

The Young Master
(1980)

Directed by Jackie Chan

Choreographed by Jackie Chan, Fung Hak-on

Starring Jackie Chan

Jackie’s ultimate statement in his initial style of kung fu comedy.

Encounter of the Spooky Kind
(1980)

Directed by Sammo Hung

Choreographed by Sammo Hung, Lam Ching-ying, Yuen Baio

Starring Sammo Hung

Sammo thrillingly combines his best kung fu with China’s ornate supernatural mythology.

My Young Auntie
(1981)

Directed by Liu Chia-liang

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang

Starring Kara Hui Ying-hung

Master Liang’s kung fu My Fair Lady
.

Martial Club
(1981)

Directed by Liu Chia-liang

Choreographed by Liu Chia-liang

Starring Gordon Liu Chia-hui

Master Liang’s crowning Huang Fei-hong achievement.

Masked Avengers
(1981)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Choreographed by Kuo Chui, Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng

Starring Kuo Chui, Chiang Sheng, Lo Mang, Lu Feng, Sun Chien

The Venoms have wicked, bloody good fun with nasty three-bladed tridents.

The Prodigal Son
(1981)

Directed by Sammo Hung

Choreographed by Sammo Hung, Yuen Baio, Lam Ching-ying