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Martial Arts movies & Kung Fu Movie History from a Fan's perspective
Thinking back to when I used to see
martial arts movies
in downtown Detroit at the Fox theater, I remember the first Kung Fu movie I saw was "Duel of the Iron Fist" starring Ti Lung and David Chiang. It was like walking into a new world somehow it seemed like I could relate to the experience that was happening in front of me. I felt like I was the star in the movie. The way he moved, and fought for what he believed in was something that I connected with. But I would grow up and live an adult life were there was no Kung Fu movie to see, and then, 20 years later it happened again", I was watching "Enter the Dragon" on one of Direct TV Channels for Kung Fu movies! And I feel in Love with the movies I use to watch as a child "AGAIN". But enough with my personal history… Going back to the beginning of martial arts movies in the 1930’s most films of that time were based on spirituality, magic and swordplay. A lot of the stunts were archaic compared to contemporary movies but they were the building blocks that created the foundation for all Martial Arts cinema. Movie makers included Run Run, Runme, and Runde Shaw; Hung Chung-ho; Ren Pengnian and wife Wu Lizhu. Post-war in the 1940’s, the first martial arts movies released were made by Ren and Wu husband and wife film making team. Ren shot the movies and Wu starred in them. Making one of the first female action heroines in the movie industry. By the end of the 1940’s and early 1950’s martial arts cinema created its first and most legendary character, based on historical figure Huang Feihong directed by Wu Pang. The Huang Feihong stories also created Kung Fu’s first legendary actor Kwan Tak Hing who played the role for over 50 years in 77 films. The 1950’s also marked a time when Hong Kong became the center of martial arts cinema. Film makers and marital artists like Wu pang, Yu Jim-Yuan ( Jackie Chan ’s teacher) Yip Man ( Bruce Lee ’s teacher), and Yuen Siu-tin (father of choreographer Yuen Wo-ping) would shape the style of today’s Kung Fu movie. OTHER PAGES YOU WILL LOVE:My Top 100 KungFu Movies List of all time My Top 100 KungFu Movie Martial Artists of All Time My Bruce Lee Quotes and Philosophy The Hot,the Cool,and the Vicious
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