The Rise of Jackie Chan: The Drunken Master and the History of Chinese Cinema

The Death of the King of Kung Fu (1973)

With Bruce Lee's death in 1973, the kung fu film genre also started to die and become stale. Everyone tried to imitate Lee: Bruce Li, Bruce Lo, and Bruce Rhee. Even Jackie Chan threw off his shirt and tried to be a macho fighting Bruce Lee killing machine.

The Rise of Jackie Chan

However, no one looked right pretending to be Bruce like. However, Jackie would re-think and re-invent the kung fu film by creating the underdog as hero and throw in some slapstick comedy. He almost gave up and moved to New Zealand to be with his parents.

Along the way, he perfected kung fu comedy. Later Stephen Chow would also create some funny kung fu heroes.

In 1978, Jackie Chan became bigger than Bruce Lee, at least in Asia. "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" and "Drunken Master" grossed more than any Bruce Lee film in Hong Kong.

Shaw Brothers Cinema Dies

Shaw Brothers again missed the chance to have the greatest Asian star in its lot. They did not sign Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee. Golden Harvest signed him on and allowed him to make films with unlimited budgets, artistic control and time. Something unheard of in any film industry.

The kung ku comedy film had arrived. However, Jackie Chan soon realized that Asian audiences had tired of the genre. He quickly moved away from pure kung fu comedy cinema. Indeed, his films began to make fun of the genre. Therefore, he added more action and more stunts and more comedy.

Jackie as Wong Fei Hong: The First Kung Fu Hero

Kwan Tak Hing

Wong Fei Hong practice Hung Fist. Over a hundred films have been made about this real kung fu hero. These films usually starred Kwan Tak Hing, who made 99 Wong Fei Hong films. He was himself a martial artist. For many Hong Kong movie goers, Wong Fei Hong films are the origins of kung fu films.

Indeed, both Jackie Chan and Jet Li would make successful Wong Fei Hong films in their careers. More importantly, Wong Fei Hong represented Hong Kong and southern kung fu styles. Hung Gar, the style of Wong Fei Hong, orginated in Shaolin but was modified and became its own art.

Lau Kar Leung

Lau Kar Leung, who directed such classics as 36th Chamber of Shaolin, is a Hung Gar martial artist. Indeed, his great grandfather trained with Wong Fei Hong. In a sense, the spirit of Wong lives in Shaw Brothers films. These films possess a greater sense of meaning and authenticity than Hollywood action hybrids.

When you watch "Spiritual Boxer II," you are watching authentic Hung Fist and its Shaolin elements.

Story of Filial Piety: SuperHerio Jackie

Return to your childhood and become the child of the East in the Hong Kong Slums.

Death to the Child. Sacrifice to others!

Your family is poor. As a child, you are to be buried alive in order to feed a dying grandmother. One can have another child, but one cannot have another grandmother.

Respect your elders. So die!

You agree!

Second Chance! Chan is the man!

As you dig your grave, Jackie Chan saves you!

He promises to raise you in the New Chinese Orphan Academy!

Jackie Chan was given to Chinese Opera and became the greatest Chinese star of his generation, more famous than Bruce Lee.

Now it is your destiny to be great!

Thank you so much.

My son grew up and loved Jackie Chan. Thank you for reading. I taught a course at a university on Jackie Chan cinema. I worry about Jackie, he doesn't look healthy now, for he has broken ever bone in his body and even has a hole in his skull from a movie fall. Even Jet Li is not well now.

Who will become the new King of Kung Fu?

Thank you Jackie!

Thank you Jackie! Thank you

Jackie!