Kung Fu (1972) (TV)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Jerry Thorpe

Writers:

Howard Friedlander (writer)
Ed Spielman (story)

Release Date:

22 February 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Western | Action

Plot:

After avenging the death of his teacher, a Shaolin monk flees China to the American West and helps people while being pursued by bounty hunters.

Plot Keywords:

Shaolin | Shaolin Monk | Kung Fu | Caucasian Actor Playing Asian Character | Shaolin Temple

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

David Carradine	...	Caine
Barry Sullivan	...	Dillon
Albert Salmi	...	Raif
Wayne Maunder	...	McKay
Benson Fong	...	Han Fei
Richard Loo	...	Master Sun
Keye Luke	...	Master Po
Philip Ahn	...	Master Kan
Victor Sen Yung	...	Chuen
Robert Ito	...	Fong
James Hong	...	Hsiang
Radames Pera	...	Young Caine
Roy Jenson	...	Fuller
John Leoning	...	Master Teh
David Chow	...	Little Monk

Also Known As:

The Warrior (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Television

Trivia:

According to Bruce Lee's wife, Linda Lee Cadwell, the concept of the Kung Fu series was conceived by Bruce, and met with the producers for countless hours to shape the show. But the producers did not offer the role to Bruce Lee since they did not feel that the American audience (at that time) would accept a Chinese actor as a lead, therefore looked for a Caucasian actor to fill the role.

Quotes:

Caine: I seek not to know the answers, but to understand the questions.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fight Club (1999)

a story of a past,a present, and an uforseeable future

Kung Fu can be watched as a series, but this pilot-movie, at a length that is perfectly agreeable as a self-contained project and only contains the vaguest of to-be-cont'd endings. It was unlike any other show in America at the time, and introduced many to kung-fu who hadn't possibly seen any of the underground movies of the Shaw brothers or just before Bruce Lee really became huge. And, sadly, Bruce Lee was turned down from this show. Maybe it was the right decision not because of the ethnicity barrier (I think a show could have at least been attempted with an Asian lead), but because its focus is rather unique: it's a 'white man' as it were who is a Shaolin monk, Caine, who in a moment of unintentional fury killed a nobleman and had to flee from China to America, where he is often mistaken in the 19th century "old-west" as a "Chinaman".

It works, too, that David Carradine has a certain Asian aura about him. This isn't offensive him playing this character (it certainly isn't derided like, say, Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's). The producers and writers of the show actually pay more respect and adherence to the ways of martial arts and its teachings and real professing of non-violence more than other kung-fu movies from China at the time. In fact, one could almost argue it's too respectful, that there's a lack of fun. But, as this pilot shows, which goes between the origin story of Caine in the Shaolin temple and his first real encounter with collective horror and stupidity in man working on a railroad, there's lots of excitement and even philosophizing to be had in the series. And when there is a battle, watch out! It's not bloody, sure, but it is for its time well choreographed and shot for maximum (TV) effect.

And what else can be said about David Carradine? The man was just *on* all the time. There's scenes and moments he looks like he's staring off into space, and one isn't sure if it's the character just observing or if Carradine is in some kind of trance. But it's sincere, dedication and craft with a character that makes it count. He's like Eastwood's Man-with-no-name character who says little and makes it count when he does. You simply don't f*** around with the guy, but many do, and it's that archetype that Carradine taps into and mines for all it can be worth for him. It's not the most original story ever, but its got a great twist to it, with (in this case of direction) creative storytelling not unlike techniques started in Point Blank of cutting back and forth in time. Plus a superb lead, and a dependable supporting cast of Chinese-American players.