The Deadliest Art: The Best of Martial Arts
Possibly the most entertaining martial arts film I've ever see. Recently released for the first time on DVD in the UK.
Before the internet existed, I used this film as guide to what Martial Arts films to try and find on video.
It's presented and narrated by John Saxon and also features interviews with Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton, Keith Cooke and Robert Clouse.
I've listed all the films featured in the excellent 1992 documentary The Deadliest Art: The Best of Martial Arts. I've also listed the fights/scenes used in the film. If the clip is used in the opening montage I'll put (OM) next to it.
Before the internet existed, I used this film as guide to what Martial Arts films to try and find on video.
It's presented and narrated by John Saxon and also features interviews with Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton, Keith Cooke and Robert Clouse.
I've listed all the films featured in the excellent 1992 documentary The Deadliest Art: The Best of Martial Arts. I've also listed the fights/scenes used in the film. If the clip is used in the opening montage I'll put (OM) next to it.
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- DirectorSandra WeintraubStarsJohn SaxonKareem Abdul-JabbarChris CasamassaA review about martial arts films as well as some of its biggest movie stars.
- DirectorWei LoStarsBruce LeeNora MiaoJames TienA young man seeks vengence for the death of his teacher.Bruce Lee Vs Henchmen in Dojo (OM)
Bruce Lee Vs Riki Hashimoto - DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungBiao YuenOlivia ChengIn early twentieth century China, various criminals with different goals are connected to a Shanghai train, with many rich people on-board.Yukari Oshima (with sword) Vs Henchmen (OM)
Yuen Biao Vs Dick Wei (OM)
Sammo Hung Vs Cynthia Rothrock
Richard Norton Vs Yasuaki Kurata
Sammo Hung (with double sticks) Vs Henchmen - DirectorCorey YuenStarsKurt McKinneyJean-Claude Van DammeJ.W. FailsJason, a Bruce Lee fan, sees his karate instructor/dad beaten by martial art thugs. They move to Seattle where, after humiliations, he trains with Bruce Lee's ghost so he can defend himself and others against thugs.Jean Claude Van Damme Vs Dale Jacoby (OM)
Jean Claude Van Damme Vs Peter Cunningham
Jean Claude Van Damme Vs Ron Pohnel - DirectorRobert ClouseStarsCynthia RothrockRichard NortonKeith CookeA police woman, expert and instructor in martial arts, leaves the city to stay with her dad, sheriff in a town with peace and quiet - or so she thinks. She gets plenty opportunities to show her martial arts skills.Keith Cooke Vs Henchmen (OM)
Cynthia Rothrock Vs Henchmen (OM)
Cynthia Rothrock (with staff) Vs Henchmen
Richard Norton Vs Henchmen
Richard Norton (with staff) Vs Henchmen - DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungRichard NgEric Tsang5 HK cops (4 horny males) on vacation in Pattaya, Thailand, are told to contact an informant there but he gets murdered. They return to Hong Kong to contact his girlfriend and protect her. 3 other colleagues are busy fighting criminals.Sammo Hung Vs Transgendered Henchwomen (OM)
Sammo Hung Vs Richard Norton (OM)
Sammo Hung (with two tennis rackets) Vs Yasuaki Kurata (with double sai daggers)
Yuen Biao Vs Philip Ko & henchmen - DirectorJackie ChanEric TsangStarsJackie ChanAlan TamLola FornerAsian Hawk (Jackie Chan) and his bumbling sidekick are sent on a quest through Europe to find a mysterious treasure held by a shadowy organization of monks.Jackie Chan Vs henchmonks (cave monastery) (OM)
Jackie Chan Vs Four Amazons (Linda Denley, Vivian Wickliffe, Alicia Shonte & Marcia Chisholm) - DirectorSiu-Tung ChingStarsNorman ChuDamian LauFlora Chong-LeenThe best sword master from China vs the best sword master from Japan. Who will win?All scenes are Wuxia sword fights:
Casanova Wong Vs Flying Ninjas (on the beach) (OM)
Damian Lau Vs Norman Chu (cliff top) (OM)
Japanese children practising Kendo
Damian Lau (with Flora Cheung) Vs Paul Chang
Norman Chu Vs Eddie Ko & Ninjas (river & forest)
Damian Lau & Flora Cheung Vs Ninjas (on the beach)
The instrumental theme music is used over the closing credits - DirectorCorey YuenStarsBiao YuenCynthia RothrockMelvin WongYuen Biao plays Jason Chan, a lawyer angry at the way the law seems to protect the bad guys. He decides to take the law into his own hands when a key witness and his entire family are murdered. But Cindy Si is soon on his case and it all spirals into a situation only a few will survive.Cynthia Rothrock Vs Karen Shepherd (OM)
Yuen Biao Vs Peter Cunningham (OM)
Yuen Biao Vs Cynthia Rothrock - DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungBiao YuenHaing S. NgorA group of Asian prisoners is recruited, trained, armed and sent to Vietnam to destroy a cache of American weapons left behind after the Vietnam War, before the Vietcong discovers its location.Joyce Godenzi (with knife) Vs Henchmen (OM)
Sammo Hung Vs Yuen Wah - DirectorRobert ClouseStarsBruce LeeJohn SaxonJim KellyA Shaolin martial artist travels to an island fortress to spy on an opium lord - who is also a former monk from his temple - under the guise of attending a fighting tournament.Bruce Lee (unarmed and with staff, double sticks & Nunchaku) Vs Henchmen in warehouse/cave (OM)
Theme music is used over opening montage - DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungCorey YuenStarsJackie ChanSammo Kam-Bo HungBiao YuenThree successful Hong Kong lawyers are hired by a chemical company of questionable ethics and must eventually make a difficult decision when their employer's motives become clear.Jackie Chan Vs Benny 'The Jet' Urquidez (& Yuen Wah) (OM)
Jackie Chan Vs Sammo Hung Vs Yuen Biao (OM)
Jackie Chan Vs Henchmen (on a boat)
Yuen Biao Vs Henchmen (in a warehouse) - DirectorJackie ChanStarsJackie ChanPai WeiBiao YuenA talented martial arts student goes after his expelled brother, who get into bad company.Whang In Sik Vs henchmen (OM)
Kung Fu Class - DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungCharlie ChinStanley Sui-Fan FungMuscles, cop from Hong Kong, is in Japan chasing a bad HK cop. His cop partner gets taken by the ninja gang. Muscles gets his 5 old no-good friends from the orphanage to help find the bad cop. Lots of comedy and kung-fu fighting follows.Sibelle Hu Vs Michiko Nishiwaki (OM)
Sammo Hung Vs Michelle Yeoh - DirectorRobert ClouseStarsCynthia RothrockRichard NortonKeith CookeThis time China O'Brien has trouble with a dealer who puts a prize on her head because she had spoiled an important drug deal of his. But all the world's criminals will not be enough to catch up with China, one of the masters of the martial arts.Keith Cooke Vs Henchmen (OM)
Behind the scenes footage - DirectorWei LoChia-Hsiang WuStarsBruce LeeMaria YiJames TienA young man sworn to an oath of non-violence works with his cousins in an ice factory where they mysteriously begin to disappear.Bruce Lee Vs Han Ying Chieh (OM)
Bruce Lee Vs Henchmen in Ice Mill
Bruce Lee Vs Tony Liu - DirectorJackie ChanSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsJackie ChanSammo Kam-Bo HungBiao YuenFighting against pirates at the turn of the 20th century, the Hong Kong navy are failing miserably. It's up to Sergeant Lung (Jackie Chan) to take matters into his own hands.Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao & Mars Vs Dick Wei (OM)
Jackie Chan Vs henchmen (bicycle chase) - DirectorBruce LeeStarsBruce LeeChuck NorrisNora MiaoA man visits his relatives at their restaurant in Italy and has to help them defend against brutal gangsters harassing them.Bruce Lee warm up before Chuck Norris fight
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsKa-Yan LeungHo WangSammo Kam-Bo HungA bank cashier discovers a plot to kill the mayor. His attempt to warn the mayor is foiled, and he almost gets killed, but a mumbling Shaolin disciple rescues him and takes him to his master to teach him a formidable form of kung fu.Leung Kar Yan practising Wing Chun
Leung Kar Yan teaching Casanova Wong the principles of Wing Chun - DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsJackie ChanBiao YuenSammo Kam-Bo HungTwo Chinese friends, who operate a food truck in Barcelona, Spain, use their martial arts expertise to help their private investigator friend protect the pickpocket Sylvia, who's been targeted by a ruthless gang.Yuen Biao & Jackie Chan practising on a Wooden Dummy
Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung & Yuen Biao Vs Jose Sancho
Yuen Biao Vs Keith Vitali
Jackie Chan Vs Benny 'The Jet' Urquidez - DirectorFeng HuangStarsAngela MaoCarter WongSammo Kam-Bo HungThree graduated Hapkido students return to China from Japanese-occupied Korea in order to set up their own school. However, problems start to arise when a local Japanese martial arts school tries to run the new school out of town.Angela Mao, Sammo Hung & Jae Han Jie Hapkido demonstration/class
- DirectorWoo-Ping YuenStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungTak-Hing KwanBiao YuenA hot headed young butcher, who is also a kung fu disciple, gets embroiled in a feud with a rival shaolin temple.Yuen Biao Vs Lam Ching Ying
Sammo Hung practising/training - DirectorWoo-Ping YuenStarsBiao YuenKa-Yan LeungShun-Yee YuenA foul-tempered mute fugitive hides out amongst a theater troupe after his criminal wife got killed by the police. He sets his sights on a cowardly laundry man, and will not rest until he kills him, while donning a theatrical face paint.Yuen Biao practising while doing laundry
Leung Kar Yan Vs Yuen Shun Yee
Kwan Tak Hing Vs Fung Hark On - DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungFat ChungLung ChanA rickshaw driver's wife and his rich client are secret lovers, and they decide to get rid of him without being implicated, so they hire a powerful sorcerer to kill him, but the sorcerer's colleague intervenes to protect him.Sammo Hung Vs Lam Ching Ying & Henchmen
Sammo Hung Vs Huang Ha - DirectorFeng HuangStarsAngela MaoYi ChangYing BaiA young woman determines to help a man who is being pursued by gangsters, so that she would have the pleasure of killing him herself as revenge for causing the death of her sister.Angela Mao Vs Sammo Hung & henchmen in tavern