Kung Fu (TV Series) Besieged: Death on Cold Mountain (1974) User Reviews

Two-part story features Barbara Hershey

[kevinolzak · 6/10 · 13 June 2010]

Season 3 Episode 12- This was the last of 3 two-part story lines, and among the 5 third season episodes set in China before Caine has fled to the West. The second and third episodes directed by star David Carradine (after "The Demon God"), and co-starring opposite him was Barbara Hershey (then using the last name Seagull), his then-current paramour and mother of their son Tom (born October 6 1972). Their relationship was near its end at the time, but there were still moments where they were able to display their obvious affection for each other. This adventure begins with the arrival of Tamo (Victor Sen Yung), a powerful mountain hermit who has come to warn his Shaolin brethren of the Warlord Sing Lu Chan (Khigh Dhiegh), who has destroyed a neighboring Shaolin temple in search of the woman Nan Chi (Barbara Hershey), whom he wishes to take for a bride. Nan Chi befriends Caine and Master Po (Keye Luke), gaining sanctuary with the Shaolin but wishing to become one of them, against the orders of the strict Master Kan (Philip Ahn), who has allowed the half-Chinese Caine to become a disciple, but is unwilling to bestow the same privileges to a woman. These Chinese entries were a delightful opportunity to expand the roles of Masters Philip Ahn and Keye Luke, joined in this two-parter by fellow Charlie Chan veteran Victor Sen Yung, then better remembered for playing Hop Sing on the long-running BONANZA. Next up- "Besieged: Cannon at the Gates"

Directorial debut

[cranialsi · 9/10 · 9 February 2008]

In this 2-part episode of the third series, David Carradine makes his directorial debut. His casting for the leading role of his (yet again) love interest must have seemed like a match made in heaven, his partner Barbara Hershey hardly concealed in her chosen name of the time, 'Sarah Seagull'. This perhaps was shot during the time referred to in a special feature of the series when Carradine 'arrived on set having shaved his head! Can we blame Carradine for the story of humour, self-deception, septuagenarian fighting octogenarian (and losing), mistaken identity, courage, betrayal, love (of course), passion (ehem), and final tragedy(?). No it was probably dreamed up on some seventies pipe-dream and is immensely enjoyable and silly.

Barbara Hershey is a misplaced distraction

[dlracer2 · 1/10 · 17 November 2019]

David Carradine worked as an exception. The nature of Kwai Chang Caine as a half white Shaolin works because he made it work. Hershey is truly AWFUL. Her dialogue is insulting and her character is completely contradictory to the essence of the saga. There had been moments up to this one that the series suffered from bad performances, but Hershey is so horribly off-putting as a backtalking "Shaolin Nun" that watching these two episodes almost ruins the entire franchise.