Biography
While, I've never seen him in anything that was "breath-taking" -- he has played in some pretty interesting films. Director Joseph Kuo brought him to the limelight and he was given the chance to star in a number of films, under Kuo's [Hong Hwa] banner (in the early 70's). Movies like - Revenge Of Fists Of Fury, The Iron Man, Triangluar Duel -- all show his talents, but (also) his flaws. Though, he never possessed the type of skill, that most of the genre's best screen-fighters had, he did carve out a decent career for himself. One of my favorite films by him was Forest Duel. I'm a sucker for the old "Swingy-arm" classics and this seemed to be the era, where he excelled. Often, sharing the screen with Yi Yuen or Shih Chung-Tien - he toiled away, in some heated battles. Films like - Shaolin Kung Fu, Hero Of Kwangtung, and Rickshaw Kuri, helped to make him a favorite, in both Taiwan and Hong Kong.
During the mid-70's, the tide began to change, as [more] talented performers, started to appear on the scene. While, he was still getting work, people like - Alexander Fu-Sheng, Gordon Liu, Bruce Li, and Bruce Liang; started garnering more notice (and fans). Bandits, Prostitutes, and Silver, was the turning-point in his carrer. He he was reduced to playing a much smaller role, than he was accustomed to and was overshadowed by Wang Tao and [virtually] everyone in the film (even the little kid). I truly believe, if he had been more dedicated to his art, his films would have been better, as well. If you look at most of the genre’s best, you’ll see a group of guys who were better at “Martial-arts” -- than they were at acting. I can’t [ever] recall him using a Weapon (staff, nunchaku, sword), with any dexterity at all. Everything was just Block & Punch. Some of his films showed great potential and just when he seemed to branch out, he quit making films.
During the mid-70's, the tide began to change, as [more] talented performers, started to appear on the scene. While, he was still getting work, people like - Alexander Fu-Sheng, Gordon Liu, Bruce Li, and Bruce Liang; started garnering more notice (and fans). Bandits, Prostitutes, and Silver, was the turning-point in his carrer. He he was reduced to playing a much smaller role, than he was accustomed to and was overshadowed by Wang Tao and [virtually] everyone in the film (even the little kid). I truly believe, if he had been more dedicated to his art, his films would have been better, as well. If you look at most of the genre’s best, you’ll see a group of guys who were better at “Martial-arts” -- than they were at acting. I can’t [ever] recall him using a Weapon (staff, nunchaku, sword), with any dexterity at all. Everything was just Block & Punch. Some of his films showed great potential and just when he seemed to branch out, he quit making films.
After an impressive start, he branched out with such mediocre films as Secret Message, Revengeful Swordswoman, and [my favorite] Shaolin Invincible Guys; here, he got to play a villain for a change. He came along at the right time (early 70's), where actors could gain stardom overnight and if one film made alot of money, producers made the a star. He actually got out of the movie business, because he said that they were full of Triads (gangsters), and that he didn’t want to pay “Protection-Money” to them.