Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (1984) Wu Lang ba gua gun (original title)

Director:

Chia-Liang Liu

Writers:

Kuang Ni
Chia-Liang Liu

Release Date:

17 February 1984 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Martial Arts | Buddhist Monk | Training | Kung Fu Classic | Revenge

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Chia Hui Liu	...	Yang Wu-lang
Sheng Fu	...	Yang Liu-lang
Lily Li	...	Mrs. Yang
Kara Hui	...	Yang Ba-mei (as Ying Hung Wai)
Ching-Ching Yeung	...	Yang Jiu-mei
Lung Wei Wang	...	Yelu Lin
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chan-Peng Chang	...	Yang Qi-lang
Yung-cheng Chang
Tiet Wo Chu	...	Ying Kuei
Hou Hsiao	...	Yang Si-lang
Te Hu Hsiao
Ho Chiu Kei
Phillip Ko	...	Abbot
King Chu Lee	...	Master Zhihong
Hao-ming Liao
Ke Ming Lin	...	General Pan Mei (as Ming Ku)
Chi Ming Liu
Chia Yung Liu	...	Yang Er-lang
Chia-Liang Liu	...	Hunter
Chun Liu
Hsueh-hua Liu
Tsun Liu
Han-yuan Ma
Te-Lo Mai	...	Yang San-lang
Wei-chang Mai
Yung-sheng Pan
Gong Shih
Shing-kuang Tseng
Ching Ho Wang	...	Innkeeper
Yue Wong	...	Yang Yi-lang
Chieh Kuang Wu
Hsi-chun Yang
Leng-kuang Yin
Tak Yuen	...	Yang loyalist with Golden Blade

Directed by
Chia-Liang Liu

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Chia-Liang Liu
Kuang Ni

Produced by
Mona Fong	....	producer

Original Music by
Chin Yung Shing		(as Stephen Shing)
Chen-hou Su

Cinematography by
An-Sung Tsao

Film Editing by
Hsing-lung Chiang
Yen Hai Li

Art Direction by
Ching-Shen Chen
Kuang-hsien Teng

Costume Design by
Chi-Yu Liu

Makeup Department
Ji-cheng Liu	....	makeup artist
Man-hua Pan	....	makeup artist
Yen-Lien Peng	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Li Hua Chen	....	unit production manager
Ka Hee Wong	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pa-Ching Huang	....	assistant director
Chen Yu Wen	....	assistant director

Art Department
Kuo-wei Huang	....	props
Yu Lai	....	props

Sound Department
Ping Kuang Hsu	....	sound recordist
Lan Li	....	dubbing editor: mandarin
Yi-chi Li	....	sound effects editor
Yu Ting	....	dubbing editor: cantonese

Stunts
Hou Hsiao	....	stunt coordinator
King Chu Lee	....	stunt coordinator
Chia-Liang Liu	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Hsiu Ou	....	lighting technician
Ting Bong Yuen	....	lighting technician

Other crew
Li-shan Chen	....	script supervisor
Han Chung Huang	....	production assistant
Tai-Heng Li	....	planner
Run Run Shaw	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Shaw Brothers

Distributors

• Crash Cinema (2002) (worldwide) (DVD)
• Dragon Dynasty (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Ground Zero (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Wu Lang ba gua gun" - Hong Kong (original title)
"Invincible Pole Fighter" - USA
"The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter" - USA (DVD title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Shaw Brothers

Trivia:

When Sheng Fu was killed in car crash during filming script was rewritten to make Yang No. 5 the hero.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the Jinsha battle scene, just before the Yang patriarch faces the Tartars' army of archers, the golden blade of his staff is (inadvertently) hacked off by one of the Tartar soldiers. In the next shot of Yang, the blade is still attached to his staff.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

8 Reasons to Watch "The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter" - Greatest of All Kung Fu Movies

8 Reasons to Watch "8 Diagram Pole Fighter"

Whether it would be your first time or 36th viewing, here are 8 reasons why you should watch, in my opinion, the greatest kung-fu movie of all time.

1) Liu-Chi-Liang/Lau Kar Leung --I grew up watching kung-fu films in decrepit New York City theaters as well as on Saturday 3PM on NY channel 5 - "Drive-In" feature. My favorite director of these action flicks was and still is Liu-Chi-Liang/Lau Kar Leung.

This legendary director is himself a marital artist (able to trace his mastery from demi-hero, Wong Fei Hung) and imparts adherence to the art of kung-fu in every movie he directs and/or choreographs. His greatest screen triumph comes in the form of "The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter" ("Invincible Pole Fighter").

2) A compelling storyline -- Mongols with the help of an insider, ambush the influential Yang Family, defenders of the dynasty. The Mongols must hunt down all Yang survivors so their insidious plot to overthrow the dynasty will not be uncovered.

3) An all-star cast -- Those who watch films of the Shaw Brothers will recognize the familiar faces of the charismatic dynamo Gordon Liu Chia Hui, kung fu babe Kara Hui Ying-Hung, legendary Lily Li, superstar Alexander Fu Sheng in his last screen role, all-time bad guy Johnny Wang Lung Wei, veteran Phillip Ko Fei, talented Hsiao Ho, technical Lau Kar Wing, heroic Wong Yu and Lau Kar Leung himself.

3) Unobtrusive use of "wire-fu" or special effects -- At least there are no quadruple flips and people flipping off swords (i.e. "Swordsman 2").

4) The greatest pole fighting sequence filmed -- Gordon Liu wants revenge. Phillip Ko Fei denies this bloodlust. Watch them engage in a fantastic duel of ethics and poles.

5) The climactic end sequence -- Words cannot describe the mayhem involved. Only the finale of films such as "Drunken Master 2" and "Thundering Mantis" can compare. Must be seen to be believed.

6) No gratuitous humor --While not everyone can have the sense of humor of a Jacky Chan or Sammo Hung, many martial arts films have comical segments/elements that take away from the overall picture.

Take Lau Kar Leung's masterful `Legendary Weapons of Kung-Fu.' The entire Alexander Fu Sheng subplot of the crackpot martial artist could've been done without the cross eyes and silly music.

Chang Cheh's `10 Tiger's of Kwangtung' had many memorable moments but a couple of comedic attempts such as the overly long 'torture training,' and the bystander who lounges about and watches a duel at close range, distracts.

In `8 Diagram Pole Fighter' there is no mixing of genres. What you get is a smash-mouth kung-fu action movie.

7) Themes -- This movie is not just about kung-fu and revenge. It deals with family honor. Loyalty to one's country. Loyalty to a group. Belief in one's self. And ultimately - belonging.

8) Gordon Liu -- As the main star of this movie, Gordon cements his place in kung-fu film history as one of the baddest-asses ever. Here's an elite warrior that goes to Shaolin Temple to IMPROVE his killing skills. In particular his first encounter against a Mongol outpost is the stuff of action film legend.



I feel so strongly about this movie that it not only is my favorite martial arts film, it currently ranks as my favorite movie. It stands above my other favorites (which include: The Godfather, Golgo 13, The Seven Samurai, On the Waterfront, 12 Angry Men, High Noon, Monty Python's Holy Grail), because it stands the test of repeated viewings and never fails to fill me with the full gamut of all emotions, leaving me more passionate about my life, my family and my destiny.

Maybe it's the coffee talking. Maybe I need to get out more. Nevertheless, I offer a toast to all other `8 Diagram Pole Fighter' fans around the world, new and old.