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Circle of Iron (1978)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
25 July 1978 (France) moreTagline:
The Challenge Of A Lifetime... morePlot:
A young martial artist, Cord the Seeker, competes for and loses the right to go on a quest for the Book of All Knowlege held by a wizard named Zetan... more | add synopsisAwards:
1 nomination moreNewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Circle of Iron Blu-ray Review (From TheHDRoom. 15 July 2009, 3:33 AM, PDT)
DVD Playhouse--July 2009
(From The Hollywood Interview. 14 July 2009, 12:00 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
The meaning of martial arts more (38 total)Cast
(Complete credited cast)| David Carradine | ... | The Blind Man / Monkeyman / Death / Changsha | |
| Jeff Cooper | ... | Cord | |
| Christopher Lee | ... | Zetan | |
| Roddy McDowall | ... | White Robe | |
| Eli Wallach | ... | Man-in-Oil | |
| Anthony De Longis | ... | Morthond (as Anthony de Longis) | |
| Earl Maynard | ... | Black Giant | |
| Erica Creer | ... | Tara | |
| Michael M. Vendrell | ... | Martial Artist (as Michael Vendrell) | |
| Leo Whang | ... | Martial Artist | |
| Donnie Williams | ... | Martial Artist | |
| Robert Gardner | ... | Martial Artist | |
| Tom Ascensio | ... | Martial Artist |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
102 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
Iceland:16 | Canada:G (Quebec) | UK:15 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-16 | Norway:18 | USA:R | Norway:15 (DVD rating)Filming Locations:
Bet Shean, IsraelFun Stuff
Trivia:
According to a recent biography of Bruce Lee the film was intended to be shot in 1969 with Lee playing the 4 roles of The Blind Man, Monkeyman, Death and Changsha, and the lead role of Cord was offered to Steve McQueen. McQueen however turned down the role after remarking that he wasn't prepared to make Lee a star, and instead it was offered to 'James Coburn'. Disagreements over location shooting (Lee preferred India) led the film to be abandoned until after his death when the rights were acquired by David Carradine. Originally karate champion Joe Lewis was offered the role of Cord but declined as he was unwilling to work with Carradine. Jeff Cooper, a friend of Carradine's, finally took the part and Lewis ended up supervising the re-shooting of some of the fight scenes. moreQuotes:
Chang-sha: Have you eaten? Where's your drink? Your hand is empty.Cord: Peace.
Chang-sha: [laughs] Don't wish it on me. The whole world is in commotion and you wish me peace! I don't know what peace is, I don't want it. Don't you listen to the desert? Even when there's no wind the sand sings.
Cord: My name is Cord.
Chang-sha: Ha! You see? Cord!
[laughs]
Chang-sha: Play a Cord, strike a Cord? Even your name is a noise! What do you want, Cord? You want us to play on you? My wives can make your skin sing.
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This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (38 total)
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"Circle of Iron" is a movie that looks beyond the action of martial arts into the mystique and philosophy associated with it. It was originally intended to be made by Bruce Lee, but he died before it could be brought to the screen, so David Carradine steps in to fill the role.
How well the movie accomplishes it's goal depends on how seriously you take eastern philosophies. It's all too easy to watch a few minutes of it and dismiss it as some weird barbarian movie with lots of karate. It is decidedly low budget.
However, if you watch the movie and *listen* to what it's trying to tell, it's extremely engrossing, as it addresses questions and concepts that all of us wonder about at some time or another.
The man making the journey in this movie, "Cord," is acceptable, if a rather generic role. David Carradine plays several roles, but his most striking is that of an eerie blind man who fights off his opponents with a hollow staff that whistles as he twirls it.
This is a hard movie to find, but it does crop up sometimes on late night TV or cable, and is worth checking out.