Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)

Director:

Chia-Liang Liu

Writer:

Kuang Ni (writer)

Release Date:

June 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

The Kung Fu Classic That Started It All!

Plot:

The anti-Ching patriots, under the guidance of Ho Kuang-han, have secretly set up their base in Canton...

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Martial Arts | Training | Ming Dynasty | Training Montage

Cast

Chia Hui Liu	...	San Te
Lieh Lo	...	General Tien
Chia Yung Liu	...	General Yin
Norman Chu	...	Liu Tsai (as Hsu Shao-Chiang)
Yang Yu
John Cheung		(as Chang Wu-liang)
Wilson Tong		(as Tang Wei-cheng)
Hang-Sheng Wu
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tung-kua Ai
Billy Chan	...	Ming official
Lung Chan	...	Monk
Shen Chan	...	Wrist Room monk
Szu-Chia Chen
Wah Cheung
Han Chiang
Nan Chiang
Yuet Sang Chin
Alan Chui Chung San
Ging Man Fung
Li Jen Ho
Kwok Choi Hon
Hou Hsiao	...	Monk
Lun Hua
Hoi Sang Lee	...	Senior Monk (as Li Hai Sheng)
Ke Ming Lin
Lao Shen
Austin Wai
Fat Wan
Ching Ho Wang
Han Chen Wang
Hung Wei
Yue Wong	...	Old Millet (as Yu Wang)
Siu Tien Yuen	...	Teacher

Also Known As:

36th Chamber (USA) (alternative title)
Disciples of Master Killer
Master Killer (USA)
Shaolin Master Killer (USA) (video box title)
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (Hong Kong: English title) (original subtitled version)
The Master Killer (USA) (dubbed version)
The Thirty-sixth Chamber

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Spain:13 | UK:18 | South Korea:15 | West Germany:16 (cut) | Germany:16 | Finland:K-15 | Australia:M | UK:15 (re-rating) | USA:R | Hong Kong:IIB | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Company:

Shaw Brothers

Trivia:

Despite the US title for the film (The Master Killer), the idea of taking a life would be abhorrent to a real Shaolin or Bhuddist monk.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Martial Arts Mayhem Vol. 2 (1998) (V)

Worth a place on your kung-fu video shelf.

Firstly, let me say that Chia Hui Liu (aka Gordan Liu) "MAKES" this movie. It would not be what it is without him. To be fair, I have to give notice that every movie with him and the director (who I understand is a relative) is good. Now, let me tell why. Liu gives effort and emotion to his parts. Every part and every movie I have seen him in, this has been the case. When there is anger, you see it in his face. When there is despair, you see it. He makes it almost tangible. Plus, he has "skills". Also, this movie has plot and believability. It's interesting and "absorbing". The one I watched was "English" dubbed, but the dubbing was good. Even the sound track was complimentary for the scenes.

I's unfortunate that the asian movie industry has been in the past just like the American sports industry was. The take talented young people, chew up their juices, and then spit them out all used up.

I wonder if Liu even suspected that he had attained "Classic" status with this movie as far as "old school Kung-Fu fans" in the North-east USA are concerned?