The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)
"Shao Lin san shi liu fang" (original title)

The anti-Ching patriots, under the guidance of Ho Kuang-han, have secretly set up their base in Canton, disguised as school masters. During a brutal Manchu attack, Lui manages to escape and... See full summary »

Director:

Chia-Liang Liu

Writer:

Kuang Ni

Stars:

Chia Hui Liu, Lieh Lo, Chia Yung Liu

Cast

Credited cast:
Chia Hui Liu	...	San Te
Lieh Lo	...	General Tien Ta
Chia Yung Liu	...	General Yin
Norman Chu	...	Lu Ah-cai (as Hsu Shao-Chiang)
Yung Henry Yu	...	Hung Hsi-kuan (as Yang Yu)
John Cheung	...	Lord Cheng (as Chang Wu-liang)
Wilson Tong	...	Tang San-yao (as Tang Wei-cheng)
Hang-Sheng Wu	...	Tung Qian-jin
Yue Wong	...	Miller Six (as Yu Wang)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tung-kua Ai	...	Abbot in charge of Head Chamber
Billy Chan	...	Soldier
Lung Chan	...	Abbot in charge of Staff Chamber
Shen Chan	...	Abbot in charge of Wrist Chamber
Szu-Chia Chen	...	Yien Pin
Wah Cheung	...	Shaolin disciple

Storyline

The anti-Ching patriots, under the guidance of Ho Kuang-han, have secretly set up their base in Canton, disguised as school masters. During a brutal Manchu attack, Lui manages to escape and devotes himself to learning the martial arts in order to seek revenge. In a short period of time he masters the deadly use of his fists, feet and palms, along with such weapons as swords, sticks, and lances. With his learning complete, he takes on the Manchus.

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Plot Keywords:

revenge | weapon | martial arts | training montage | buddhism | 

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Taglines:

Starring Martial Arts Master Liu Chia Hui!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Release Date:

June 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

36th Chamber

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shaw Brothers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite the US title for the film (The Master Killer), the idea of taking a life would be abhorrent to a real Shaolin or Bhuddist monk.

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Connections

Referenced in Kebab Connection (2004)

User Reviews

Also known as Master killer, one of the best training Shaolin Kung Fu movies ever made featuring Chia Hui Liu (Gordon Liu) as the Master Killer.

Most people who watched old Kung Fu movies know this movie simply as "Master Killer". This is one of a select few non Chang Cheh directed Kung Fu movies that I really, really like. This movie is a reference point of the old training kung fu flicks.

This movie is famous for its rigorous training scenes performed by Chia Hui Liu (Gordon Liu). Somehow you get a feel for how being a student in the Shaolin Temple was really like. All of the teachers are Monks and they sport the usual bald heads accompanied with almost mysterious wisdom. Master Killer seems to be a well directed movie so you become engulfed in the students plight.

Noteworthy about this movie is how as a viewer at first you don't take Master Killer seriously as a fighter, he just doesn't look tough. When he struggles with his kung fu as he goes from one chamber to the next it is uplifting as he slowly becomes better. Master Killer starts off as a huge underdog in this movie, and as much as you laughed at him when he first started to learn, you are amazed at his skill as he progresses. This I feel is what makes Master Killer stand out as one of the best training kung fu movies.

There are many memorable training chambers. One chamber tests his sight, there are 2 burning posts on each side of his head. If he moves his head even the slightest, the sides of his head will be badly burned. He watches an object move from side to side, faster and faster, the object is to move your eyes and not your head; eventually Master Killer master all of the chambers.

Before he can leave the Temple he has to fight one of the Head Monks at the temple, initially he is no match for the monk, but Master Killer invents a "new" kind of fighting weapon, and takes on the head monk again and is able to be victorious. The fight scenes with Gordon and this monk are very good. Many different weapons are used as well as hand to hand combat, this is an excellent example of the essence of Shaolin Kung Fu.

Anyone who loves old kung fu flicks will certainly be taken in by Master Killer (also called "Enter the 36 Chambers). I can't explain it but this is certainly Gordon Liu's signature film; he certainly was made to play..... the Master Killer.