Tag: kung fu

Dirty Ho

Dirty Ho is a 1979 kung fu movie directed by Chia-Liang Liu and produced by the Shaw Brothers.

Dirty Ho tells the story of Wang, the 11th Prince of Manchuria, who finds himself under attack from his 14 brothers. He disguises himself as an antique dealer and fine wine connoisseur and enlists the help of Ho, a jewel thief. Together, Wang and Ho defeat his would be assassins.

Chia-Hua Lei (aka Gordon Liu) may be one of the most underrated actors of his generation. While I’m sure that’s hyperbole to serious movie fans, anyone would have to allow that Liu is at least one of the most charismatic actors of his time.

In Dirty Ho, Liu plays what is largely a comedic role. He has a gift for blessing scenes with an easy, carefree manner that is uniquely precise. His characters are somehow both non-threatening and lethal and evoke a rare, genuine empathy.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Liu’s performance are the varieties of tempo he displays. Liu commands slower scenes with extended dialogue and can function as either the dominant or supporting actor during brilliant fight scenes.

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The Tarantino Influences: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is a 1978 kung fu movie starring Gordon Liu. The movie’s beautifully designed fight sequences and vibrant look and sound were influences on Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin tells the story of San Te, a student who is coerced into resisting the brutal Manchu regime. After surviving a vicious Manchu attack, San Te escapes in pursuit of the Shaolin school, where he is determined to learn martial arts. After a year of performing menial tasks, San Te begins his training and gains wisdom and skills through enduring the school’s 35 chambers. Upon completing the 35 chambers, San Te is given a choice of which chamber he wants to lead. He breaks from Shaolin tradition by wishing to introduce a 36th chamber, one that would provide Shaolin teaching to the outsiders being victimized by the Manchus. San Te is forced from the Shaolin school and returns to his home, where he leads a band of rebels against the oppressive Manchu forces.

You can see the influence the movie had on Tarantino through its various training sequences. San Te progresses through the school’s 35 chambers and performs tasks and skills similar to Beatrix in Kill Bill. In particular, the knife skills shown in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin are a heavy influence, as well as starring actor Gordon Liu’s ubiquitous presence in both movies.

I’m not ashamed to admit it: I had no idea Gordon Liu played both roles in Kill Bill.

There’s a great scene early in San Te’s training where he is attempting to balance on logs floating in water. He is soaking wet and starving and his teacher taunts him with a bowl of rice, which is continually dropped. Hunger is a great motivator, as San Te learns his first lesson on the importance of speed, balance and weight. The scene is a great full-circle moment later found in Kill Bill, when Beatrix is struggling with the chopsticks and Liu’s Pei Mei throws her bowl to the ground in disgust. Liu is excellent as a young San Te, who is impulsive and clumsy, yet eager to learn. His personal growth through the movie is formulaic yet it’s rewarding to watch him emerge as a master.

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