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Wang Yu Revisited

The Chinese Boxer

Wang Yu

Hong Kong197085min 35mm Color

Synopsis

The Chinese Boxer was the first feature film Jimmy Wong directed and appeared as a leading role at The Shaw Brothers after he left Chang Cheh. It is credited as the first Hong Kong martial arts film that kick started the unarmed combat genre. Since The Chinese Boxer, it was the unarmed combat genre movies that were produced in a large number, rather than martial arts films. Bruce Lee's work is in the extension of The Chinese Boxer. In this film, Wong unashamedly copies Macaroni Western and uses it on Hong Kong unarmed combat movies, in particular in terms of plot development and musical nuance. The main storyline of The Chinese Boxer, the main character hurt and wounded by hostility and violence by two competing martial art schools, practices and refines his skills for the revenge and eventually beats all his enemies, was a recurrent plot in almost all Hong Kong martial art film afterwards. Later, Wong himself repeated the story in One-armed Dragon.

Diretor

Wang Yu

Jimmy Wang Yu was born in 1944 as Wang Zheng-quan. He joined Shaw Brothers in 1963. In 1964, he got the lead role of Tiger Boy (released in 1966) by winning a public audition. His effort paid off and his performance in the movie was widely acclaimed. He soared to stardom with Temple Of The Red Lotus. The success of this movie gave Shaw Brothers a lead in the martial arts genre over its competitors. Wang gave us his most stunning performance yet in One-Armed Swordsman, in which he has defined the image of the archetypical martial arts hero. Movies he starred in during this period, included The Twin Swords, The Magnificent Trio, Golden Swallow. Over a career that spanned 30 years, Wang has starred in or directed 59 martial arts films. He was one of the most influential figures in the genre in the 60s and 70s. He was regarded to be a truly remarkable talent who sparked off the martial arts era.