Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2014) |
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow | ||
---|---|---|
Hanyu Pinyin Shé Xíng Diāo Shǒu | | |
Yue: Cantonese | ||
Jyutping | Se4 Jing4 Diu1 Sau2 |
Choi Gai-gwong
Tsai Chi-kuang
Chen Chuan
Yuen Siu-tien
Hwang Jang-lee
- 1 March 1978
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (
Right after this film, Yuen Woo-ping directed
Plot
Chien Fu, an orphan adopted by a
Chien practices the lessons and learns to avoid being hurt by the school's bumbling teachers. When the school is invaded by the
Chien meets Shang Kuan, who inquires about the old beggar, claiming that he was a colleague of Pai's. As a show of 'proof', he easily fends off Chien's attacks. Chien realises that his Snake-style fighting is no match for the style practiced by the stranger, and thus creates a new style from watching his pet cat kill a cobra.
Later on the Eagle Claw conspirators track down Pai, who manages to kill Su Chen. He returns to Chien for hiding, but it is then shown that Ah-Wu is also an Eagle Claw conspirator as he puts poison into their tea. Chien rushes to fetch Sheng Kuan, but sensing danger, Pai flees, with his enemy in pursuit. As Chien hurries after them, he finally learns the truth behind the conspiracy upon defeating the fake missionary, and eventually challenges Sheng Kuan to single combat after Pai is brought down. Apparently at a disadvantage in the initial phase, Chien brings his new 'Cat Claw' technique—against which Sheng Kuan knows no defense—to bear, killing him. When Ah-Wu shows up after the fight and reveals his true allegiance, Chien and Pai feign defeat, and then, after fatally injuring Wu, reveal that they have by chance avoided ingesting the poison.
Afterwards, the two friends wander off to refine Chien's new technique, giving it its titular name.
Cast
- Jackie Chan – Chien Fu (as Cheng Lung)
- Hwang Jang-lee – Sheng Kuan
- Yuen Siu-tien – Pai Chang-tien (as Simon Yuen)
- Dean Shek – Teacher Li
- Fung Hak-on – Master Chao Chi-chih
- Tino Wong – Ah-Wu
- Peter Chan – Teacher Lian
- Hsu Hsia – Su Chen
- Charlie Chan – Master Hung
- Roy Horan – Missionary/Russian
- Fung Ging-man – Teacher Chui
- Chiang Kam – Ah Kwai
- Chen Yao-lin – Master Hung
- Lung Chen-tien – Three Provinces Champ
- Chan Lung – Substitute Instructor
- Gam Yam – Chang
- Yuen Yat-choh
- Chiu Chi-ling
- Choi Fai
- Chan Laap-ban
Crew
- Producer: Ng See-yuen
- Executive Producer: Chang Chuan
- Screenplay by: Hsi Hua-an, Tsai Chi-kuang, Ng See-yuen
- Asst. Directors: Hsiao Lung, Ho Tien-cheng
- Film Editing: Pan Hsiung-yao
- Cinematography: Chang Hai
- Lighting: Lin Wei
- Music: Chou Fu-liang, Jean-Michel Jarre, Didier Marouani (both uncredited)
- Costume Designer: Kung Chuan-kai
- Set Design: Union Design
- Art: Ting Yuan-ta
- Props: Yang Shih-cheng
- Costume: Pao Kuo-lan
- Sound Effect: Wu Kuo-hua
- Sound Recording: Universal Recording Co.
- Fighting Instructors: Yuen Woo-ping, Hsu Hsia
- Asst. Fighting Instructors: Yuen Chen-wei, Yuan Hsin-yi, Yuan Kuei
- Director: Yuen Woo-ping
Production
Prior to Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, Chan had worked for director Lo Wei who wanted to make him into the new "Bruce Lee" in films like New Fist of Fury. However, those films yielded relatively poor box office returns. When producer Ng See-yuen decided to make a comedy with Chan as the star, the concept did not initially meet with approval from the film distributors. However, Ng and Chan persevered and together with Drunken Master, this film launched Jackie Chan into national stardom.
The combination of comedy, martial arts, stunts and acrobatics had been done before, in Lau Kar-leung's 1975 film Spiritual Boxer. However, the release of Snake in the Eagle's Shadow heralded a new direction for Hong Kong action movies.
Ng See-yuen and Yuen Woo-ping checked over many actors for the part of the old, eccentric, wandering Kung Fu master, before Ng suggested casting Yuen's own father, Yuen Siu-tien. Yuen would continue to reprise the role of Beggar So several more times before his death in 1979.
According to his book
Music
As well as original music by Chou Fu-liang, the film also features
Film producer Serafim Karalexis got the rights to distribute the movie in America in the 80s, retitled "The Eagle's Shadow". It had a new score made due to copyright issues with the original score. The U.S. film and its promotional materials billed Chan as "Jacky Chan."
Box office
At the Hong Kong box office, Snake in the Eagle's Shadow earned
Separate sequel
In 1979, a film titled Snake in the Eagle's Shadow II a.k.a. Snaky Knight Fight Against Mantis (or Snaky Knight Fights the Mantis) was released. It was directed by Chang Hsin-yi and starred Wang Tao. However, the film was not a true sequel, rather it was an attempt by the studio to capitalize on the success of the original film. Footage including a montage and a fight scene from Snake in the Eagle's Shadow were spliced into the film. Chan's image was also used on the cover of some versions.
Home releases
- On 7 February 2000, animal cruelty. The Chinese credit sequence is used (reverting to 2:35:1 during this section). The English dub is one created by US studios during the film's release there (under the title "The Eagle's Shadow") to avoid copyright issues with music, but everything else is the same as the export dub commissioned by Seasonal Films.
- On 18 June 2002, legal DVD in the United States. Despite having uncut status and a full 2:35:1 image in the correct Cantonese language, it still contains dubtitles. The English dub (and credit sequence) is the export one and intact.[8]
- On 16 February 2004, Mei Ah Entertainment released a remastered DVD in Hong Kong. It has uncut 2:35:1 anamorphic video. Audio include Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1, Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual Mono and Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual Mono. Subtitles include Traditional, Simplified Chinese and English. Special features are limited to Cast and Crew Info and Synopsis.
- In May 2021, 88 Films released the film on Region B Blu-ray in the UK.[9] This edition presents the film in 2.35:1, and features Cantonese, Mandarin, and English audio tracks. Bonus features include two audio commentaries (one by Mike Leeder and Arne Venema; the other by John Kreng and R.P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien), an hour-long interview with Roy Horan, and an interview with George Clarke.[10]
Cultural impact
The film established the blueprint for Jackie Chan's kung fu comedy style, which he further developed with
See also
- Jackie Chan filmography
- List of Hong Kong films
- List of martial arts films
References
- ^ Jackie Chan. "Jackie's Aches and Pains: It Only Hurts When I'm Not Laughing". Random House. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- Hong Kong Movie DataBase. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Official exchange rate (HK$ per US$, period average)". World Bank. 1978. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "【ジャッキーチェン興行成績】 第8回:香港での興行収入" [(Jackie Chan Box Office Results) 8th: Box Office in Hong Kong]. KungFu Tube (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "【ジャッキーチェン興行成績】 第10回:韓国での興行収入". KungFu Tube (in Japanese). 5 September 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Asian Culture Quarterly". Asian Culture Quarterly. 11–12. Asian Cultural Center.: 20 1983.
The average admission fee in 1979 was 1,000 won for national films and 1,500 won for imports. (In 1982, the average increased to 2,000 won, or US$3.)
- ^ "Official exchange rate (KRW per US$, period average)". World Bank. 1979. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Snake in The Eagle's Shadow : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video". Dvdtalk.com. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
- ^ "88 Films: Snake in the Eagle's Shadow Detailed for Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. 1 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow AKA She Xing Diao Shou AKA Eagle's Shadow AKA Bruce Vs Snake in Eagle's Shadow (Blu-ray) (1978)". dvdcompare.net. 28 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2 October 2021.
- ^ Taylor, Dawn. "Quick Reviews: Snake in the Eagle's Shadow". The DVD Journal. Archived from the original on 10 August 2002. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
External links
- Snake in the Eagle's Shadow at IMDb
- Snake in the Eagle's Shadow at AllMovie
- Snake in the Eagle's Shadow at Rotten Tomatoes
- Hong Kong Cinemagic