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IMDbPro

Shaolin Martial Arts

Original title: Hong quan yu yong chun
  • 19741974
  • RR
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
404
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
106,222
19,655
Kuan-Chun Chi and Sheng Fu in Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)
ActionDrama
When the ruling dynasty in China sends soldiers to destroy the Shaolin Temple, students use their martial arts to defend the school.When the ruling dynasty in China sends soldiers to destroy the Shaolin Temple, students use their martial arts to defend the school.When the ruling dynasty in China sends soldiers to destroy the Shaolin Temple, students use their martial arts to defend the school.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
404
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
106,222
19,655
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Cheh Chang
    • Writers
      • Cheh Chang
      • Kuang Ni
    • Stars
      • Sheng Fu
      • Kuan-Chun Chi
      • Yi Ling Chen
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Cheh Chang
    • Writers
      • Cheh Chang
      • Kuang Ni
    • Stars
      • Sheng Fu
      • Kuan-Chun Chi
      • Yi Ling Chen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos37

    Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)
    Kuan-Chun Chi and Yi Ling Chen in Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)
    Kuan-Chun Chi and Yi Feng in Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)
    Kuan-Chun Chi in Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)
    Sheng Fu and Siu-Tin Yuen in Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)
    Kuan-Chun Chi in Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)
    Sheng Fu in Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)
    Yen-Tsan Tang in Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)
    Chia-Hui Liu in Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)
    Man-Tzu Yuan and Yi Ling Chen in Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)
    Man-Tzu Yuan and Yi Ling Chen in Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)
    Man-Tzu Yuan in Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sheng Fu
    Sheng Fu
    • Li Yao
    Kuan-Chun Chi
    Kuan-Chun Chi
    • Chen Pao-yung
    Yi Ling Chen
    Yi Ling Chen
    • Lin Chen-hsiu
    • (as Irene Chen Yi-ling)
    Chia-Hui Liu
    Chia-Hui Liu
    • Ho Chen-kang
    Man-Tzu Yuan
    Man-Tzu Yuan
    • Ah-Hui
    Ka-Yan Leung
    Ka-Yan Leung
    • Pa Kang
    Lung-Wei Wang
    Lung-Wei Wang
    • Yu Pi
    Wen-Ju Cheng
    • Yu Lin
    Yi-Hsiung Chi
    Yi-Hsiung Chi
    Nan Chiang
    Nan Chiang
    • Ying-Jao 'Eagle-Claws' Wu
    Tao Chiang
    Tao Chiang
    Yi Feng
    Yi Feng
    • Yen Tung-ting
    Hark-On Fung
    Hark-On Fung
    Hsia Hsu
    Hsia Hsu
    Ha Huang
    Ha Huang
    Chen-Piao Li
    Yunzhong Li
    Yunzhong Li
      Chia-Yung Liu
      Chia-Yung Liu
      • Director
        • Cheh Chang
      • Writers
        • Cheh Chang
        • Kuang Ni
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

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      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        The story of Pei Mei as well as many of the real martial art techniques from Kill Bill 1 & 2 were first seen on screen in this film. The techniques used are close to Gordon Liu's heart as many are attributed to having been developed by his ancestors.
      • Connections
        Referenced in Nan Shao Lin yu bei Shao Lin (1978)

      User reviews5

      Review
      Top review
      Masterpiece of kung fu training from director Chang Cheh
      SHAOLIN MARTIAL ARTS (1974) is one of a handful of near-epic kung fu movies made by Chang Cheh in Hong Kong in the 1970s. At 111 minutes, it's also longer than most. This one is important because it is the first to focus the film's narrative on the heroes' martial arts training and the need to master certain styles in order to defeat an enemy's style. This structure would be adopted by many of the best kung fu films of the next six years.

      The plot highlights a group of students forced into a running conflict with a band of ruling Manchurian kung fu champs. Two students are sent off to learn particular styles in order to defeat the Manchu champs. When they fail, two other students are sent into hiding with reclusive masters for a period of years to study even more specific styles. One learns tiger and stork styles, while the other studies Wing Chun and has to learn to hit a massive iron bell from inches away with enough force to cause it to ring. In the end, they come back and defeat all four Manchu champs.

      The all-star 1970s kung fu cast includes Gordon Liu (MASTER KILLER) and Billy Tang (SHAOLIN AVENGERS) as the first two students and Alexander Fu Sheng and Chi Kuan Chun as the second pair of students--the main characters. The teacher who trains Fu Sheng in tiger and stork style is Simon Yuen (the original DRUNKEN MASTER). The main villains are Leung Kar Yan and Wang Lung Wei, two performers who were often paired as villains in 1970s kung fu films. They are joined in the final battle by two other formidable villains, Feng Ko-An (aka Fung Hak On) and Chiang Tao. Lau Kar Wing is in the cast also. The credits indicate that the film is 'introducing' Liu Chia Hui (Gordon Liu), Liang Chia Jen (Leung Kar Yan) and Wang Lung Wei. A year before he began directing films himself, Liu Chia Liang (aka Lau Kar Leung) was co-fight choreographer on this one.

      This film and DEATH CHAMBER (aka SHAOLIN TEMPLE, 1976, not to be confused with the Jet Li film), another all-star kung fu film of epic length, are arguably Chang Cheh's two most significant masterworks from his entire career. A trilogy of sorts is formed with the addition of FIVE MASTERS OF DEATH (FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS, 1975) which covers the activities of the characters following the burning of Shaolin. All three films circulate on poor quality bootleg VHS tapes. If there was ever a crying need for restored prints on letter-boxed DVDs, this is it.

      ADDENDUM: Since doing this review, I've acquired the Celestial Pictures R3 DVD of a restored, remastered edition of this film. That's the one to see.
      helpful•21
      1
      • BrianDanaCamp
      • May 6, 2001

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • August 3, 1974 (Hong Kong)
      • Country of origin
        • Hong Kong
      • Language
        • Mandarin
      • Also known as
        • Five Fingers of Death
      • Production companies
        • Chang's Film Company
        • Chang's Film
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

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      • Runtime
        1 hour 46 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 2.35 : 1

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