The Godfather Of Hong Kong


Given more freedom than most at the studio, he went to Taiwan in the early 70's and set up his own film company Chang's Films, which would open the door for a number of talented actors and acrobats in Taiwan. Armed with the (2) best choreographers in the business Tang Chia and Liu Chia-Liang, he would begin filming a number of films known as the "Shaolin" series. These films would go on and set precedence, over (basically) all films shot during this time. Audiences loved anything to do with Shaolin and its training and he give them as much, as they could stand.

He was instrumental is introducing us to the likes of David Chiang, Ti Lung, Wang Lung-Wei, Chi Kuan-Chun, Chen Kuan-Tai, The Venoms, as well as taking Fu Sheng to Superstardom (ironically Chang's (2) favorites - Fu Sheng and Chiang Sheng died in their prime). Indeed, anyone who's anyone owes something to this man. His movies delight, shock, excite, and entertain us like almost no one else's. It's no doubt that he will always be remembered for his filmmaking style and as being one of the innovators (if not the innovator) of the kung-fu film. Many have tried for years to capture what he did onscreen, and thought some found their niche as a director, they still had a long way to go to equal what he's done on film.

Online, I've read stories questioning of all things, his Sexuality. If he was gay or not, because the vast number of his films dealt with "Male-bonding" and there was an absence of females in his films. I read an article by his wife, stating that by him being (19) years older than her, they didn't base their lives on a sexual relationship. He was more interested in filmmaking (and gambling) than a number 
He had explained, that in a great deal of older films women had dominated basically every aspect of films. They played men as well as their own (female) roles, whereas, his films only utilized females when there was a need for them. His films were about Action and there were about 2% of females at that time that were capable of handling action, but the more physical the action got, the less women could keep up. During these times men had to "double" for the females, so he felt, why use them at all, if he had to double them for parts that most men could handle with ease. There were a number of women in his films, but I guess those who make statements like that, haven't been paying close attention to the females, that were in his films. 

His contributions to the genre are so vast it's unreal. He helped define millions of people's hobbies, what they would watch, collect, and write. He helped to give us a new trend, something to entertain us, keep us out of trouble, helped us to dream, think, and find a part of ourselves, that brought out the best in us (as a whole). For any kung-fu fan, he has helped to shape the world we lived in -- every time we stepped into a movie theater or watched one of his films. His sexuality (regardless of what that may have been), means nothing to me. The art form he helped to create and the joy his films have brought me over the last (40+) years, is what I concentrate on. 


When he died in (2002), I'm sure a small piece of every true kung-fu fan around the world, felt a little numb. Yet, when you think of all that he's left behind for us to enjoy, there'll be one underlying factor that no one can ever erase - his body of work and his influence on the martial-arts genre. It's just a shame he couldn't have stuck around a little longer to see his films resurface and help a new generation of people discover his work. He was an innovator, who help to define the Kung Fu genre and will surely be missed. Even though most of us knew him through his films, it's those films that have held us together through some trying times and will always be the backbone of our childhoods - at the movie theaters. 

[ 36 Most Influential ]

© Beijing Video. All rights reserved.