Shao Lin men (1976)

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.

Director:

John Woo

Writer:

John Woo

Stars:

Tao-liang Tan, James Tien, Wei Yang

Cast

Cast overview:
Tao-liang Tan	...	Yun Fei (as Dorian Tan)
James Tien	...	Shih Shao-Feng
Wei Yang	...	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
Yuen Biao	...	Arrow Guard
Wah Yuen	...	Bodyguard

Storyline

Superkicker Dorian Tan Tao-liang plays a Shaolin student who must find a Manchu traitor responsible for the murder of the abbot. Jackie Chan is a spear fighting expert who decides to help Tan because the traitor killed his brother. Part of their mission is to help a scholar make it safely across the river without getting killed from the Manchus.

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Plot Keywords:

shaolin | student | spear | attack | disarming someone | 

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Genres:

Action

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for martial arts violence and brief sexuality

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Release Date:

15 July 1976 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Strike of Death

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company Credits

Production Co:

Golden Harvest Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jackie Chan knocked himself completely unconscious while doing a stunt.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Featured in The Best of the Martial Arts Films (1992)

User Reviews

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).