Yi Yuan
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Biography
One of the most recognizable faces in kung-fu films, he was more of an Independent contracted star, who worked from job-to-job without a major contract with any one studio. He went up against everyone from Jimmy Wang-Yu to Wen Chiang-Long, and everyone in between. A menacing technician, who can fight and will get the job done, he's starred in more than enough films that show what he's capable of as an actor and a fighter.
He's not as efficient with his legs as he is with his fists, but that hasn't stopped him from turning in some fine performances in some very good movies. In Furious Slaughter, he played the top villain who was proficient in attacking pressure points. He reminds me of fighter/actor Chen Sing, though he's not in the same league, he can be quite entertaining. He got one of his earliest notices, as the vicious Japanese battling Tien Peng, in The Tongfather and Barry Chan, in The Chinese Mechanic.
Some of his better films have been under the direction of Joseph Kuo - Blazing Temples, Hero Of Kwangtung, Shaolin Kung Fu, and my personal favorite - Revenge Of Fist Of Fury; all showing him at his villainous best. A Karate-man by trade, he is best when portraying a villain than the hero (which isn't very often). Yet, whatever he plays, rest assure, Blood & Mayhem are sure to follow. I liked him in Shaw Bros' obscure clasic - Shanghai Lil' & the Sunluck Kid and the Independent Iron Swallow (though his role wasn't as big, as it should've been).
In the film Ever Victorious Hall, he got to play a heroic characters (something he hadn't played with conviction, since Fearless Fighters). This was quite different, from other non-villainous roles, like in The Cavalier (where he didn't get to do much). Though, it was a nice change of pace, I think most prefer him as a villain, that way his range is tested more. With his villainous looks, it would have been much harder for him, to play anything else.