Happy Birthday, Lau Kar-leung! Born today in 1934, this Hong Kong-based Chinese martial artist, choreographer, actor and filmmaker is best known for the films he made in the 1970s and 1980s for the Shaw Brothers Studio.
Among his credits, Lau is best known for directing the 1978 Hong Kong kung fu action film 'Shao Lin San Shi Liu' ('The 36th Chamber of Shaolin', also known as 'Shaolin Master Killer' or 'The Master Killer').
The film follows young student San Te (Gordon Liu, a.k.a. Chia Hui Liu), who is urged to rise against the Manchu oppression in China. However, the revolution has disastrous consequences.
Escaping the massacre, Liu seeks shelter in the Shaolin Temple where the monks train him in their famous martial arts skills.
The film follows a highly fictionalized version of San Te, a legendary Shaolin martial arts disciple who trained under the general Chi Shan.
'The 36th Chamber of Shaolin' is widely considered to be one of the greatest kung fu films and a turning point in Lau and Liu's careers. It was the first installment of the 36th Chamber film series.
The film was followed by the 1980 Hong Kong martial arts comedy/action film 'Shao Lin da Peng da she' ('Return to the 36th Chamber', 'Return of the Master Killer' or 'Master Killer II'), which was more comedic in presentation.
It featured Liu as the new main character, with another actor in the smaller role of San Te.
This was followed up with the 1985 Hong Kong comedy/martial arts film 'Pi li shi jie' ('Disciples of the 36th Chamber', 'Disciples of the Master Killer' or 'Master Killer III').
Lau is also known for co-directing the 1994 Hong Kong action/comedy kung fu film 'Jui kuen II' ('Drunken Master II' or 'The Legend of the Drunken Master'). Lau also co-starred as Fu Wen-chi.
Jackie Chan also co-directed, but went uncredited. However, he did reprise his role as Wong Fei-Hung.
Lau's most frequent collaborator is likely his "god brother" Liu, and he worked with Liu on a number of films.
Throughout his career, Lau only wrote four screenplays, but they were all for films that he himself directed. All of the films also starred or featured Liu is some role or capacity.
In 1995, Lau also won a "Best Action Choreography" award at the 14th Hong Kong Film Awards for his choreography in 'Drunken Master II'.
In 2005, 'Drunken Master II' was named one of the top 100 Best Films of All Time by Time magazine.
In 2010, Lau was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 29th Hong Kong Film Awards for his contributions to the martial arts film genre.
In 2015, the British Film Institute (BFI) selected 'Drunken Master II' as one of the 10 Best Action Movies of All Time.
According to his personal life, Lau began training students Hung Gar before the age of five and was already quite proficient in the style.
Bruce Lee treated Lau as an elder uncle and asked him for advice in regards to his film career.
Lau had been active from 1953-2013.
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