Shao Lin men (1976)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

John Woo

Writer:

John Woo (writer)

Release Date:

15 July 1976 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action

Plot:

A survivor of an attack on a rebel group opposing the Manchu invasion of China creates the Goose Fist fighting technique and tries for revenge on a traitor.

Plot Keywords:

Shaolin | Student | Martial Arts

Cast

Tao-liang Tan	...	Yun Fei (as Dorian Tan)
James Tien	...	Shih Shao-Feng
Wai Yeung	...	The Wanderer
Jackie Chan	...	Tan Feng (as Chan Yuan Lung)
Sammo Hung Kam-Bo	...	Officer Tu Ching
John Woo	...	Scholar Cheng
Lingfeng Shangguan	...	Autumn Moon
Carter Wong	...	Kien
Biao Yuen	...	Arrow Guard
Wah Yuen	...	Bodyguard

Also Known As:

Countdown in Kung Fu (Hong Kong: English title)
Countdown to Kung Fu (USA)
Hand of Death (Hong Kong: English title)
Strike of Death
The Hand of Death (UK)

MPAA:

Rated R for martial arts violence and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | Australia:M | France:U | Hong Kong:IIB | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Golden Harvest Company

Trivia:

This was the first film that Jackie Chan, 'Sammo Hung' and 'Yuen Biao' ("the three brothers") appeared in together. They all attended the same opera school in Hong Kong and would go on to work on several more films, including the highly successful "Lucky Stars" series.

Quotes:

Yun Fei: Men who beg are not heroes. They're cowards.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 9 (2002) (V)

Only John Woo Feature with Chan/Hung/Biao

Made during the martial arts period of his career, John Woo came up with one of his best films from this early Woo era. The story is about the Shaolin Temple who sents a young warrior who murder a traitor who has killed many of his compatriots. Shao Lin Men/Hand of Death(1975) features one of the early and most impressible performances from future Hong Kong action hero, Jackie Chan. Sammo Hung also appears as one of the main villains. The main actor Tao-Liang Tan has faded out of the Hong Kong film scene after appearing in this movie while Chan and Hung would go on to become big stars.

Bruce Lee co star, James Tien makes a memorable turn as the main villain. The last twenty minutes is the film's golden moments. The fight scene in the beach would be repeated by John Woo in both Heroes Shed No Tears(1985) and Mission:Impossible 2(2000). Uses many themes that would become popular in the director's heroic bloodshed pictures. The story of Shao Lin Men(1975) interestingly enough is reused in Mission:Impossible 2(2000).