The Shaolin Plot (1977) — Blu-ray version

Featuring Sammo Hung in his first leading role, “THE SHAOLIN PLOT” is released on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from a brand-new 2K restoration as a part of the Eureka Classics range.

ORDER your copy of this old-school, kung fu classic which is available from today, 20^th June 2022 NOW, from Eureka Video or Amazon!

Trailer

Cast

Taking a leading role for the first time, a true legend of Hong Kong, martial arts cinema, Sammo Hung choreographs the action and plays a villainous “Rogue Monk”.

In a career spanning six decades, he has worked with some of the best in the business, from Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan. His work as a performer, choreographer and director helped to reshape and evolve modern screen fighting action as we know it.

From his earliest works such as “Iron Fisted Monk”, “Warriors Two”, “Knockabout”, “The Prodigal Son”, to his comedies and collaborations with his fellow “Fortunes” opera brothers, including “Encounters of the Spooky Kind”, “My Lucky Stars”, “Eastern Condors”, “Wheels on Meals”, to modern-day hits such as “SPL/ Kill Zone”, “Call of Heroes”, “Ip Man”, “Paradox” and “The Bodyguard”, there are very few others who have delivered such a variety of action to consistently high quality levels over such a long career.

A veteran of Hong Kong movies, appearing in over seventy productions, James Tien plays “Little Tiger”. Well known for his appearances alongside Bruce Lee in “The Big Boss” and “Fist of Fury“, he also featured in classics such as “Hand of Death“, “The Iron-Fisted Monk”, “Spiritual Kung Fu”, “Magnificent Bodyguards”, “The Fearless Hyena“, “The Prodigal Son”, “Dragon Fist”, “Yes Madam”, “Millionaires Express“, “Winners and Sinners”, “Eastern Condors”, and many more.

Korean kicking legend, Casanova Wong stars as “Warrior Monk”. A real-life taekwondo expert, Wong demonstrated his exemplary skills in films such as “The Iron Fisted Monk”, “Warriors Two”, “Story of Drunken Master”, “Rivals of Silver Fox”, and “Avenging Boxer”.

Singaporean actor Chen Hsing plays the villain “Prince Daglen”. He is best known for his appearances in many of director Chang Cheh‘s films and Shaw Brothers productions including “Return of the One Armed Swordsman”, “The Invincible Fist”, “Have Sword, Will Travel”, “The Heroic Ones”, “The Bloody Fists” and “Shanghai Thirteen”.

9^th Dan Taekwondo Black Belt, Kwan Yung Moon plays Casanova Wong’s fellow “Warrior Monk”.

Playing mostly supporting or “henchmen” roles, he became a recognisable face with his high-kicking skills in movies such as “The Heroic One”, “Master With Cracked Fingers”, “Killer Constable”, “Return to the 36^th Chamber”, “My Young Auntie”, “Dragon Lord”, “Ninja in the Dragon’s Den”, “The Dead and the Deadly”, “Duel to the Death”, and “Project A”.

Keep an eye out for legendary stunt performers such as Cheung Fat/Mars, Yuen Wah, Yuen Biao, Mang Hoi, Lam Ching Ying, and Fung Hak On, who would all become staple performers in Sammo’s later movies.

Plot

A tyrannical dictator aims of to collect all existing Chinese martial arts manuals in order to attain ultimate power.

After obtaining the Wu Tang manual, he sets his sights on the Shaolin Temple and the secrets of their fighting style.

Two Shaolin Monks must team up with a rival Wu Tang fighter if they are to have any hope of defeating the villainous despot.

Action

Full on Punches and Kicks

With Sammo Hung’s status growing as a leading action director in 1977, we see early on in the fighting some of his trademark flourishes. There are a few acrobatics and handstands in there as you might expect from Chinese Opera performers-turned stuntmen. With Sammo also playing a leading role, the punches and kicks all look full on, with long takes capturing some fluid combinations of blows.

The Martial Arts Scenes Feature Weapons, Swords, Spears & Metal Whips Chains

Being set in the early Qing dynasty, traditional weapons including swords, spears and even metal whip chains are incorporated into the martial arts scenes.

One unique feature is a pair of flying cymbals that can behead an opponent, resulting in a fair bit of gore and bright red theatrical blood. Fans of the Flying Guillotine films will enjoy it!

The Shaolin Plot Clip

Veteran star, James Tien has one of his best action scenes when he takes on numerous Shaolin monks. Each monk represents one of the different methods of the mythical Bodidharma’s Shaolin Luohan Eighteen Hands.

As in many of his film roles, Tien himself fights mainly using a longfist style, but also gets to demonstrate his prowess with a pair of Butterfly Swords.

The Shaolin Plot “Flying Cymbals Battle” Clip

Korean martial artists are renowned for their supreme kicking skills, and this is perfectly showcased in the film’s finale when Casanova Wong and Kwan Yung Moon confront Chen Hsing as the villain.

Casanova Wong in particular, demonstrates the sublime precision, skill and flexibility that would make him one of the legendary super kickers of Hong Kong kung fu films.

Summary

Fans of the 1970’s old school of kung fu movie will find plenty to enjoy in “The Shaolin Plot”. It takes many familiar elements of period films from that era, but presents them with some impressive cinematography and of course Sammo Hung beginning to really hit his stride as action choreographer.

Considering the age of this movie, it is a rarity in that it takes time to cultivate the plot, pushing the running time to nearly two hours.

The restoration job on this Blu-ray really does justice to the colourful costumes and beautiful Korean locations that double for Qing dynasty China.

Extras include informative new feature length audio commentaries by Asian film experts Frank Djeng and Michael Worth, and also from action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema.

The packaging and artwork are to Eureka’s usual high standards, as is the limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver.

This is a classic kung fu flick that also serves as a demarcation of the “post-Bruce Lee era”, when Asian cinema’s martial arts choreography started to move up to another level in the films that followed it.

Trivia

• An expert in taekwondo, Casanova Wong was well known for his spin kicks and was nicknamed “The Human Tornado” in the Republic of Korea Army.
• The Korean countryside and Buddhist temples stand in for Qing Dynasty China and the legendary Shaolin Temple.
• After completing “The Shaolin Plot”, Sammo Hung made his full directorial debut with “The Iron Fisted Monk”, which featured many of the same action performers.

Film Rating: 7/10

THE SHAOLIN PLOT is out is on Blu-ray today 20^th June, so order your copy NOW from Eureka Video or Amazon!

Have you been enjoying Sammo Hung’s restored classics? Which are your Top 3, all-time favourite Sammo Hung action or fight scenes? Let us know in the comments below; Like, share and join in the conversation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter & Instagram!

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