Subgenre Sampler
Martial Arts: 374 Films to Buy & Rent
Clans of Intrigue (Chu liu xiang) (1977)
- Dir. Che Yuan
Feat. Ti Lung
- Another collaboration between dir. Yuan and the charismatic Ti Lung, in a historical detective story set around a legendary swordsman who tries to…
Death Duel (San shao ye de jian) (1977)
- Dir. Che Yuan
Feat. Derek Yee, Chen Ping, Yu An-an
- A Shaw Bros. extravaganza that benefits from its pared–down take on the swordplay–and–intrigue formula and impressive visuals,…
Mighty Peking Man, The (Hsing Hsing wang) (1977)
- Dir. Meng-Hwa Ho
Feat. Danny Lee
- A hilarious Shaw Brothers riff on KING KONG, with an earthquake disturbing the slumbers of a giant ape in the Himalayas who then heads into India to…
18 Bronzemen (Return of the 18 Bronzemen) (1976)
- Dir. Joseph Kuo
Feat. Tien Peng, Carter Hwang, Polly Shang-Kuan
- Two friends must fight their way out of a Shaolin temple – and 18 formidable bronze warriors – in this celebrated kung fu classic.…
Challenge of the Masters (Huang Fei-hong yu liu a cai) (1976)
- Dir. Liu Chia Liang
Feat. Gordon Lau, Chan Koon Tai, Lai Lai Lee
- One of the great exponents of shaolin kung fu cinema, dir. Chia Liang, here casts his attention on the Chinese legend of Fei–hung.
Played by…
Hand Of Death (Shao Lin men) (1976)
- Dir. John Woo
Feat. Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Biao Yuen
- Fairly standard HK action fare with a young Shaolin martial–artist given the difficult task of avenging the death of a member of his order.…
Magic Blade, The (Tien ya, ming yueh tao) (1976)
- Dir. Che Yuan
Feat. Ti Lung, Ching Li, Lo Lieh
- Excellent action tale from the prime era of "Wu Xia" cinema, this has three rival swordsman in medieval China compete for possession of a secret…
Shaolin Temple (1976)
- Dir. Chang Cheh
- This stands alongside ENTER THE DRAGON in terms of both its elaborate kung–fu theatrics and its influence and success in the Western…
Shaolin Wooden Men (1976)
- Feat. Jackie Chan
- Jackie Chan cut his teeth on these cheap fist–and–feet–fests. More intentionally serious than his later star–turns, but…
Web of Death, The ( Wu du tian luo) (1976)
- Dir. Yuen Chor
Feat. Yang Chiang, Ching Li, Norman Chu…
- Shaw Brothers 'wu xia' at its ripest and most expressive, injecting a tale of ancient clan rivalry with great action, creative polish and bizarre…