Chiang Sheng
Encyclopedia
Chiang Sheng was a martial art actor, one of the Venom Mob
, renowned for their acrobatic and martial arts skills. He joined the Chang Cheh
's Cohorts as an actor, and also worked with Chang Cheh as an assistant director and choreographer. Along with Alexander Fu Sheng, Chiang Sheng was one of the Chang Cheh's favourites.
He was a boy of vivid and somewhat mischievous nature and eventually was expelled from school for smoking in the principal's office. But he had learned enough to start working as a stuntman.
In the mid 70's the renowned Shaw Brothers Studio
's director Chang Cheh
went to Taiwan looking for new talents. He met Chiang Sheng, Kuo Chui and Lu Feng there. In the 1976 those three together with Lo Mang took part in their pre-starting movie Shaolin Temple (not to be confused with the movie with the same title released in 1982 starring Jet Li
). Two years later, in 1978, Chang Cheh presented the film Five Venoms, starring Chiang Sheng, Kuo Chui, Lu Feng, Lo Mang
, Sun Chien and Wei Pai. All of them were still newcomers in HK movie industry, Chang Cheh didn't include any great stars of the time in the cast, introducing new faces to the audience and the new formula of martial art movies - in this and subsequent movies not only one hero fights well, but any person of the main cast has his own style and great ability to fight.
The movie had a great success in Hong Kong and also in the West. Since then the first five actors are known as "Venoms". (Wei Pai played The Snake, but he is referred as "sixth venom" because he took part only in a few subsequent "venom" movies, while Chiang Sheng became an integral part of the troupe. He played a disciple learning all five styles and referred as the "hybrid venom" )
The team continued with the formula. Chiang Sheng, Kuo Chui and Lu Feng, all with Chinese opera background, became action directors for Chang Cheh's movies. Soon Chiang Sheng also started working as an assistant director. The cast, including the Five venoms, and also Wong Lik, Yu Tai-Ping, Johnny Wang, Ku Feng
, sometimes together with Alexander Fu Sheng, Ti Lung
and others, appeared in more than a dozen films. Among them there are "kung fu classic" like Crippled Avengers
, Shaolin Rescuers
, Legend of the Fox
, Rebel Intruders
, filled with great martial art performance and wuxia
entourage. Chiang Sheng could not only enrich the movie with breathtaking acrobatic exercise, but also bring the comic relief to it.
The Venom mob disbanded in 1981. Three of them - Kuo Chui, Chiang Sheng and Lu Feng - founded a new production company in Taiwan. Chiang Sheng acted and choreographed the action scenes in their debut film "Ninja in the Deadly Trap
" (aka "Ruthless Tactics")
Soon Kuo Chui went back to Hong Kong and wanted Chiang Sheng to go with him, but Chiang Sheng's wife insisted on his staying in Tawan.
Chiang Sheng could not get worthwhile job in Taiwan, later on he divorced his wife, he felt depressed, and became a hard drinker.
One day in August 1991 an old friend of Chiang Sheng, Ricky Cheng Tien Chi, came to see him, but found him dead. It is said that he was lying dead for three days before being found. He died from a heart attack. But Kuo Chui once said "it was more of a broken heart".
Venom Mob
The Venom Mob is a group of actors from the Shaw Brothers Studio, popular creators of martial arts films in the 1970s and 1980s. Most were friends since childhood and attended the Peking Opera School in Taiwan before meeting director Chang Cheh and moving on to the Shaw Brothers studio in Hong...
, renowned for their acrobatic and martial arts skills. He joined the Chang Cheh
Chang Cheh
Chang Cheh was Shaw Brothers Studio's best known and most prolific film director, with such films as the Five Venoms, the Brave Archer , the The One-Armed Swordsman, and other classics of wuxia and kung fu film.-Career:Referred to as "The Godfather of Hong Kong cinema", Chang Cheh directed over 100...
's Cohorts as an actor, and also worked with Chang Cheh as an assistant director and choreographer. Along with Alexander Fu Sheng, Chiang Sheng was one of the Chang Cheh's favourites.
Biography
Chiang Sheng was born in Taiwan in 1951. His family was too large and his parents could not take care of all the children, therefore he was sent to the Fu Sheng Opera School in Taipei, Taiwan. Chiang Sheng met his life-long friends like Lu Feng, Kuo Chui and Robert Tai in the school.He was a boy of vivid and somewhat mischievous nature and eventually was expelled from school for smoking in the principal's office. But he had learned enough to start working as a stuntman.
In the mid 70's the renowned Shaw Brothers Studio
Shaw Brothers Studio
The Shaw Brothers Studio , owned by Shaw Brothers Ltd., was the foremost and the largest movie production company of Hong Kong movies.From their distribution base in Singapore where they founded parent company Shaw Organization in 1924, and as a strategic development of their movie distribution...
's director Chang Cheh
Chang Cheh
Chang Cheh was Shaw Brothers Studio's best known and most prolific film director, with such films as the Five Venoms, the Brave Archer , the The One-Armed Swordsman, and other classics of wuxia and kung fu film.-Career:Referred to as "The Godfather of Hong Kong cinema", Chang Cheh directed over 100...
went to Taiwan looking for new talents. He met Chiang Sheng, Kuo Chui and Lu Feng there. In the 1976 those three together with Lo Mang took part in their pre-starting movie Shaolin Temple (not to be confused with the movie with the same title released in 1982 starring Jet Li
Jet Li
The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
). Two years later, in 1978, Chang Cheh presented the film Five Venoms, starring Chiang Sheng, Kuo Chui, Lu Feng, Lo Mang
Lo Mang
Lo Mang is a Hong Kong based veteran martial artist who was born as Lo Hin Lam in Hong Kong on 23 July 1956. Primarily known for starring in Shaw Brothers kung fu movies in the latter part of the 1970s and beginning of the 1980s...
, Sun Chien and Wei Pai. All of them were still newcomers in HK movie industry, Chang Cheh didn't include any great stars of the time in the cast, introducing new faces to the audience and the new formula of martial art movies - in this and subsequent movies not only one hero fights well, but any person of the main cast has his own style and great ability to fight.
The movie had a great success in Hong Kong and also in the West. Since then the first five actors are known as "Venoms". (Wei Pai played The Snake, but he is referred as "sixth venom" because he took part only in a few subsequent "venom" movies, while Chiang Sheng became an integral part of the troupe. He played a disciple learning all five styles and referred as the "hybrid venom" )
The team continued with the formula. Chiang Sheng, Kuo Chui and Lu Feng, all with Chinese opera background, became action directors for Chang Cheh's movies. Soon Chiang Sheng also started working as an assistant director. The cast, including the Five venoms, and also Wong Lik, Yu Tai-Ping, Johnny Wang, Ku Feng
Guk Fung
Ku Feng is a Hong Kong-based actor. He has appeared in dozens of films, many of which were produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio.-1960s:-1970s:-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:-External links:**...
, sometimes together with Alexander Fu Sheng, Ti Lung
Ti Lung
Tommy Tam Fu-Wing, also known as Ti Lung , or Dik Lung, is a Hong Kong actor.-Background:He studied Wing Chun under the martial arts master Chu Wan. In 1969, Ti was found by the Shaw Brothers and cast in Return of the One-Armed Swordsman opposite Jimmy Wang Yu, a role which would launch his career...
and others, appeared in more than a dozen films. Among them there are "kung fu classic" like Crippled Avengers
Crippled Avengers
Crippled Avengers is a 1978 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh and starring four members of the Venom Mob. It has been released in North America as Mortal Combat and Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms....
, Shaolin Rescuers
Shaolin Rescuers
Shaolin Rescuers aka “Avenging Warriors of Shaolin” is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh. It is one of the Shoalin Temple themed martial arts films and the adventures of the Shaolin hero Hung Si-Kuan starring the Venom Mob and Jason Pai Piao....
, Legend of the Fox
Legend of the Fox
Legend of the Fox, also known as Legend of a Fox, is a 1980 Hong Kong film based on Louis Cha's novel Other Tales of the Flying Fox. It was produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, directed by Chang Cheh and starred the Venom Mob...
, Rebel Intruders
Rebel Intruders
Rebel Intruders aka “Killer Army” is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh and starring the Venom Mob.-Plot:China is ripped apart by a civil war, and thousands of displaced refugees swarm into towns not yet ravaged by war. Three such refugees arrive in one town...
, filled with great martial art performance and wuxia
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
entourage. Chiang Sheng could not only enrich the movie with breathtaking acrobatic exercise, but also bring the comic relief to it.
The Venom mob disbanded in 1981. Three of them - Kuo Chui, Chiang Sheng and Lu Feng - founded a new production company in Taiwan. Chiang Sheng acted and choreographed the action scenes in their debut film "Ninja in the Deadly Trap
Ruthless Tactics
Ruthless Tactics aka Ninja in a Deadly Trap is an independent martial arts film directed by Kuo Chui, starring the main three Venoms and Ti Lung...
" (aka "Ruthless Tactics")
Soon Kuo Chui went back to Hong Kong and wanted Chiang Sheng to go with him, but Chiang Sheng's wife insisted on his staying in Tawan.
Chiang Sheng could not get worthwhile job in Taiwan, later on he divorced his wife, he felt depressed, and became a hard drinker.
One day in August 1991 an old friend of Chiang Sheng, Ricky Cheng Tien Chi, came to see him, but found him dead. It is said that he was lying dead for three days before being found. He died from a heart attack. But Kuo Chui once said "it was more of a broken heart".
Filmography
| Title, year | Role |
|---|---|
| Wild Tiger (1973)aka Kung Fu Revenger | extra |
| Fury in Storm (1974) | extra |
| Bruce Takes Dragon Town (1974)aka Dare You Touch Me? | extra |
| The Guy!! The Guy!! (1974) | extra |
| Traitorous (1976) | extra |
| The Hand of Death (1976)aka Grandmaster of Deathaka Strike of Death | extra |
| The Shaolin Avengers (1976)aka Incredible Kung Fu Brothers | actor |
| Shaolin Temple (1976)aka Death Chambers | actor |
| New Shaolin Boxers (1976)aka Demon Fist of Kung Fuaka Grandmaster of Death | actor |
| The Condemned (1976) | extra |
| Chinese Connection 2 (1977)aka Fist of Fury 2 | extra |
| The Naval Commandos Naval Commandos Naval Commandos is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh, who is famous for his martial arts cinematography, but ventured into military combat action with the production of this war movie based upon the War of Resistance/WWII .-Plot:... (1977)aka Navy Descentors |
actor |
| The Brave Archer (1977)aka Kung Fu Warlord | actor |
| Chinatown Kid Chinatown Kid Chinatown Kid is a 1977 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh, with action choreography by Robert Tai Chi Hsien and Lee Ka Ting, and starring Alexander Fu Sheng and the Venom Mob.... (1977) |
actor |
| Magnificent Wanderers (1977)aka Magnificent Kung Fu Warriors | actor |
| Shaolin Monk (1977) | actor |
| The Brave Archer 2 The Brave Archer 2 The Brave Archer 2, alternatively known as Kungfu Warlord 2, is a 1978 Hong Kong film adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The film was produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio and directed by Chang Cheh, starring Alexander Fu and Niu-niu in the leading roles... (1978)aka Kung Fu Warlord 2 |
actor, assistant director |
| Invincible Shaolin Invincible Shaolin Invincible Shaolin aka Unbeatable Dragon is a Hong Kong films of 1978 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh. It is one of Chang Cheh's tales of Shaolin's historic rivalries with the Qing Dynasty... (1978)aka Unbeatable Dragon |
actor, assistant director |
| Crippled Avengers Crippled Avengers Crippled Avengers is a 1978 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh and starring four members of the Venom Mob. It has been released in North America as Mortal Combat and Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms.... (1978)aka Avengers Handicapped |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| The Five Venoms (1978) | actor, assistant director |
| Life Gamble Life Gamble Life Gamble aka Life Combat is a 1979 Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh, starring the Venoms and Fu Sheng.-Plot:Life Gamble is a complex story about a stolen piece of jade which falls into the hands of a habitual gambler played by Wang Lung Wei and his arrogant anti-hero body guard play by... (1979)aka Life Combat |
actor, assistant director |
| Ten Tigers of Kwantung (1979) | actor, assistant director, action director |
| The Magnificent Ruffians Magnificent Ruffians Magnificent Ruffians aka “The Destroyers” is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Chen, starring the Venom Mob.-Plot:In another partially-available Venoms film, Lu Feng is the boss of a local town who uses the golden sword technique, however his kung fu is worthless as no one in the town knows... (1979)aka The Destroyers |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| Kid with the Golden Arm Kid with the Golden Arm Kid With The Golden Arms is a 1979 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh and produced by Mona Fong. It is one of the few Venom Mob films to include Wei Pai .- Plot :... (1979) |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| Shaolin Rescuers Shaolin Rescuers Shaolin Rescuers aka “Avenging Warriors of Shaolin” is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh. It is one of the Shoalin Temple themed martial arts films and the adventures of the Shaolin hero Hung Si-Kuan starring the Venom Mob and Jason Pai Piao.... (1979)aka Avenging Warriors of Shaolin |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| The Daredevils Shaolin Daredevils Shaolin Daredevils aka Magnificent Acrobats aka. The Kings of Kung Fu is a 1979 Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh, starring the Venoms.... (1979)aka Shaolin Daredevils |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| Heaven and Hell (1980)aka Shaolin Hell Gate | actor, assistant director |
| Legend of the Fox Legend of the Fox Legend of the Fox, also known as Legend of a Fox, is a 1980 Hong Kong film based on Louis Cha's novel Other Tales of the Flying Fox. It was produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, directed by Chang Cheh and starred the Venom Mob... (1980) |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| Rebel Intruders Rebel Intruders Rebel Intruders aka “Killer Army” is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh and starring the Venom Mob.-Plot:China is ripped apart by a civil war, and thousands of displaced refugees swarm into towns not yet ravaged by war. Three such refugees arrive in one town... (1980)aka Killer Army |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| Two Champions of Shaolin 2 Champions of Shaolin 2 Champions of Shaolin is a 1982 Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh. It is one of the Shaolin Temple themed martial arts films and feuds with the Wu Tang Clan starring the Venoms... (1980) |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| War of the Shaolin Temple (1980)aka Monks Go Crazy | actor |
| The Flag of Iron Flag of Iron Flag Of Iron is a 1980 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh and starring the Venom Mob.- Plot :The master of the respectable and honored Iron Flag Clan is murdered by the mysterious Spearman, an assassin hired by the elder brother of the clan Chow Feng... (1980)aka Spearmen of Death |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| Masked Avengers Masked Avengers (1981 film) Masked Avengers is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh and produced by Mona Fong. It is one of the later Venom Mob films which no longer starred Sun Chien or Lo Mang, who were replaced by new Venom members Wang Li and Chu Ko. It also gave a starring role to younger member Chin Siu-Ho... (1981) |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| The Brave Archer 3 The Brave Archer 3 The Brave Archer 3, alternatively known as Blast of the Iron Palm, is a 1981 Hong Kong film adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The film was produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio and directed by Chang Cheh, starring Alexander Fu and Niu-niu in the leading roles... (1981)aka Blast of the Iron Palm |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| Imperial Sword, Crouching Devil (1981) | actor, action director |
| The Thrilling Sword (1981)aka Heaven Sword | actor, action director |
| Ninja in the Deadly Trap Ruthless Tactics Ruthless Tactics aka Ninja in a Deadly Trap is an independent martial arts film directed by Kuo Chui, starring the main three Venoms and Ti Lung... (1981)aka Hero Defeating Japsaka Ruthless Tactics |
director, actor |
| Sword Stained with Royal Blood Sword Stained with Royal Blood (1982 film) Sword Stained with Royal Blood is a 1982 Hong Kong film produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, directed by Chang Cheh and starring the Venom Mob. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Louis Cha... (1981) |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| The Brave Archer and His Mate The Brave Archer and His Mate The Brave Archer and His Mate, also known as The Brave Archer 4 or Mysterious Island, is a 1982 Hong Kong film adapted from Louis Cha's novels The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes... (1982)aka Mysterious Island |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| Ode to Gallantry Ode to Gallantry (film) Ode To Gallantry, also known as Hap Haak Hang, is a 1982 Hong Kong film based on Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The film was produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, directed by Chang Cheh and starred the Venom Mob... (1982) |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| Ninja Kids (1982) | actor |
| House of Traps House of Traps House of Traps is a 1982 Shaw Brothers film directed by Chang Cheh, starring the Venom Mob.-Plot:When a corrupt prince arranges for the theft of a highly valuable jade antique the emperor dispatches his best men to retrieve it. The only problem is that the prince has hidden the antique in the... (1982) |
actor, assistant director, action director |
| Raiders (1982) | actor |
| Sword with the Windbell (1983)aka Warriors from Shaolin | actor |
| Attack of the Joyful Goddess (1983)aka The Ghost | director, actor, action director |
| Five Fighters from Shaolin (1984)aka Possession of Ghost | actor |
| Shanghai 13 (1984)aka All the Professionals | actor, assistant director, action director |
| Fight Among the Supers (1984) | actor |
| The Demons (1984)aka The Nine Demons | executive director, actor, action director |
| Exciting Dragon (1985)aka Drunken Dragon | actor |
| Ninja in USA (1985) | actor |
| Ode to Gallantry Ode to Gallantry (1985 TV series) Ode to Gallantry is a Taiwanese television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The series was broadcast on CTS in Taiwan in 1985.-Cast:*Max Mok as Xiaogouzi / Shi Zhongyu*Chao Yung-hsin as Ding Dang*Chao Chia-jung as A'xiu... (1985) |
actor |
| Vampire Kid II (1988) | actor |
| The Legend of the Condor Heroes The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1988 TV series) The Legend of the Condor Heroes is a Taiwanese television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The series was first broadcast on CTV in Taiwan in 1988.-Cast:*Howie Wong as Guo Jing, Guo Xiaotian*Idy Chan as Huang Rong, Feng Heng... (1988) |
actor |