Lau Kar-leung
Encyclopedia
Lau Kar-Leung is a famous Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

 martial arts
Martial arts film
Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...

 filmmaker, choreographer
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...

, and actor.

Lau Kar-Leung is best known for his movies which he made during the 1970s and 1980s for the 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...

. One of his most famous films is The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin , also known as The Master Killer and Shaolin Master Killer, is a 1978 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Liu Chia-liang and starring Gordon Liu....

 which starred his martial brother, Lau Kar-fai
Gordon Liu
Gordon Liu is a Chinese martial arts film actor. He became famous for playing the lead in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and its sequels...

, as well as Drunken Master II
Drunken Master II
Drunken Master II is a 1994 Hong Kong kung fu action film directed by Lau Kar-Leung and Jackie Chan, who stars as Chinese folk hero, Wong Fei Hung. It was Chan's first traditional style martial arts film since The Young Master...

 which starred Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...

.

History

Before becoming famous, Lau worked as an extra and choreographer on the black & white Wong Fei Hung
Wong Fei Hung
Wong Fei-hung was a Chinese martial artist, a traditional Chinese medicine physician, acupuncturist and revolutionary who became a folk hero and the subject of numerous television series and films. He was considered an expert in the Hung Gar style of Chinese martial arts. Wong is visibly the most...

 movies. He teamed up with fellow Wong Fei Hung choreographer Tong Gaai on the 1963 Hu Peng 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...

 picture South Dragon, North Phoenix. Their collaboration would continue on until the mid-1970s.

In the 1960s he became one of Shaw Brothers' main choreographers and had a strong working relationship with 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...

, working on many of Chang's movies as a choreographer (often alongside Tong Gaai) including The One-Armed Swordsman, as well as other Shaw Bros. wuxia pictures, such as The Jade Bow. After a split with Chang on the set of Marco Polo, Lau evolved into a director during the sudden boom of kung-fu movies in the early 1970s. He occasionally did choreography work for non-Shaw movies as well, such as Master of the Flying Guillotine
Master of the Flying Guillotine
Master of the Flying Guillotine is a 1976 Hong Kong wuxia film starring Jimmy Wang, who also wrote and directed the film. It is a sequel to Wang's 1971 film One Armed Boxer, and thus the film is also known as One-Armed Boxer 2 and The One Armed Boxer vs...

.

After Shaw Brothers collapsed in the 1980s, Lau moved on and continued directing and choreographing movies, among them Drunken Master II
Drunken Master II
Drunken Master II is a 1994 Hong Kong kung fu action film directed by Lau Kar-Leung and Jackie Chan, who stars as Chinese folk hero, Wong Fei Hung. It was Chan's first traditional style martial arts film since The Young Master...

. However, the film's star Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...

 and director Lau clashed over the style of fighting, resulting in Lau leaving the set before the filming of the final fight scene, which was then taken over by Chan. Most recently, Lau performed acting and choreography work for Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark , born Tsui Man-kong, is a Hong Kong New Wave film director and producer. He is viewed as a major figure in the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema .-Early life:...

's 2005 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...

 movie Seven Swords
Seven Swords
Seven Swords is a 2005 Hong Kong wuxia film adapted from Liang Yusheng's novel Qijian Xia Tianshan. It was produced and directed by Tsui Hark, and starred Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Charlie Yeung, Sun Honglei, Lu Yi and Kim So-yeon...

.

Mark Houghton opened the Lau Family Hung Kuen school Lau Family Hung Gar academy in HK/Fanling with the support of his sifu, Lau Kar Leung.
He gave his disciple the permission to spread the art of Lau Family Hung Kuen to chosen students. There are already branches in England,Philippines, and China.

Personal life

Lau Kar Leung was the third child of Lau Cham (Lau Jaam, 劉湛), a martial art master who studied under Lam Sai Wing
Lam Sai Wing
Lam Sai-wing , was a student of the Cantonese martial artist, healer and folk hero Wong Fei-hung.-Early life:...

, pupil of the legendary Wong Fei Hung
Wong Fei Hung
Wong Fei-hung was a Chinese martial artist, a traditional Chinese medicine physician, acupuncturist and revolutionary who became a folk hero and the subject of numerous television series and films. He was considered an expert in the Hung Gar style of Chinese martial arts. Wong is visibly the most...

. He has a brother who makes a living in the film industry, actor/choreographer Lau Kar Wing
Lau Kar Wing
Lau Kar Wing is a Hong Kong martial arts film director, action choreographer and actor.-Background:Born in the Xinhui District of Jiangmen in Guangdong, China, Lau Kar Wing was the fourth child of Lau Cham , a martial arts master who studied under Lam Sai Wing, pupil of the legendary Chinese folk...

, as does Gordon Liu
Gordon Liu
Gordon Liu is a Chinese martial arts film actor. He became famous for playing the lead in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and its sequels...

, Lau's pupil and godson to Lau's father, Lau Cham. His nephew Lau Kar Yung (son of his older sister)is also an actor,choreographer and director. Another nephew, Lau Wing-kin (son of Lau Kar-wing) is also an actor, and assisted Lau Kar-leung with directing the action of Seven Swords
Seven Swords
Seven Swords is a 2005 Hong Kong wuxia film adapted from Liang Yusheng's novel Qijian Xia Tianshan. It was produced and directed by Tsui Hark, and starred Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Charlie Yeung, Sun Honglei, Lu Yi and Kim So-yeon...

.

Lau's wife is Mary Jean Reimer
Mary Jean Reimer
Mary Jean Reimer is a Hong Kong solicitor also known as actress Yung Jing-Jing ....

 whom he married in 1984. A former girlfriend of Lau is Kara Hui
Kara Hui
Kara Hui Ying-Hung is a Hong Kong actress of Manchu ancestry.-Biography and career:Hui's family moved to Hong Kong in 1966 and she started working at night clubs at fourteen. In her interview on Be My Guest, Hui revealed her family lost their savings from her father's business acquaintances...

. Lau currently resides in Hong Kong with his wife and their daughters Jeanne and Rosemary.

As director

  • The Spiritual Boxer (1975)
  • Challenge of the Masters
    Challenge of the Masters
    Challenge of the Masters is a 1976 martial arts-action film released in Hong Kong by Shaw Brothers, and directed by Lau Kar Leung.-Plot:After his father refuses to teach him kung fu and he is constantly being beaten around by rival school students, a young Wong Fei Hung must train under Luk Ah...

     (1976)
  • Executioners From Shaolin (1977)
  • 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)
  • Breakout from Oppression (1978)
  • Shaolin Mantis
    Shaolin Mantis
    Shaolin Mantis is a 1978 Shaw Brothers film directed by Lau Kar-leung. Starring David Chiang and Liu Chia Hui. Shaolin Mantis tells the story of a man who learns martial arts by observing a praying mantis....

     (1978)
  • Heroes of the East
    Heroes of the East
    Heroes Of The East , also known as Challenge Of The Ninja and Shaolin VS. Ninja and Shaolin Challenges Ninja is a martial arts film produced in 1978. It starred Gordon Liu and was directed by Lau Kar-Leung. Lau Kar-Leung has a cameo role as a master of Drunken Kung Fu...

     (1978)
  • The Spiritual Boxer II (1979)
  • Dirty Ho
    Dirty Ho
    Dirty Ho is a 1979 Hong Kong martial arts-comedy film directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring Gordon Liu and Wong Yue.-Plot:Master Wang is actually the 11th prince of Manchuria in disguise...

     (1979)
  • Mad Monkey Kung Fu
    Mad Monkey Kung Fu
    Mad Monkey Kung Fu is a 1979 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Lau Kar-leung.Later, the film is release on DVD in Dragon Dynasty.- Plot :...

     (1979)
  • My Young Auntie
    My Young Auntie
    My Young Auntie aka Fangs of The Tigress is a 1981 Hong Kong action film from the Shaw Brothers studio. The film is directed by Lau Kar Leung and stars Kara Hui, Hsiao Ho, Wang Lung Wei, and Gordon Liu. In a change from Lau Kar Leung's more serious martial arts films, My Young Auntie is a generally...

     (1980)
  • Return to the 36th Chamber
    Return to the 36th Chamber
    Return To The 36th Chamber is a 1980 Shaw Brothers Studio Hong Kong martial arts comedy film starring Gordon Liu. It is directed by Lau Kar-Leung and written by Ni Kuang...

     (1980)
  • Martial Club
    Martial Club
    Martial Club is a 1981 Shaw Brothers film directed by Lau Kar Leung, it is another of his lighthearted kung fu films starring Kara Hui, Hsiao Ho, Gordon Liu and Wang Lung Wei in a rare hero role.-Plot:...

     (1981)
  • Legendary Weapons of China
    Legendary Weapons of China
    Legendary Weapons of China is a 1982 martial arts fantasy film directed by Lau Kar-Leung. It takes place during the late Qing Dynasty when Empress Dowager Cixi dispatches her agents to various factions of the Boxer Rebellion in order find supernatural martial artists that are invulnerable to...

     (1982) (also writer)
  • Cat vs. Rat (1982)
  • The Lady Is The Boss (1983)
  • Invincible Pole Fighter (1984) (also writer)
  • Disciples of the 36th Chamber
    Disciples of the 36th Chamber
    Disciples Of The 36th Chamber is a 1985 Shaw Brothers Studio Hong Kong martial arts film comedy written, directed and choreographed Lau Kar-leung...

     (1985) (also writer)
  • Martial Arts of Shaolin (1986)
  • Tiger On The Beat (1988)
  • Mad Mission V: The Terracotta Hit (1989)
  • Tiger On The Beat II (1990)
  • Drunken Master II
    Drunken Master II
    Drunken Master II is a 1994 Hong Kong kung fu action film directed by Lau Kar-Leung and Jackie Chan, who stars as Chinese folk hero, Wong Fei Hung. It was Chan's first traditional style martial arts film since The Young Master...

     (1994)
  • Drunken Master III (1994)
  • Drunken Monkey (2002)

As martial arts choreographer

Year Title Awards
1966 The Jade Bow 
1967 One-Armed Swordsman
One-Armed Swordsman
One-Armed Swordsman is a 1967 Hong Kong wuxia film produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio. Directed by Chang Cheh, it was the first of the new style of wuxia films emphasizing male anti-heroes, violent swordplay and heavy bloodletting...

The Assassin 
1968 Golden Swallow
Golden Swallow
Golden Swallow may refer to:* Golden Swallow * The Golden Swallow, a Hero of Chinese folkloreIn film* Golden Swallow, a 1949 film by Shaw Productions* Golden Swallow , a 1968 film by Shaw Brothers...

1969 Return of the One-Armed Swordsman
Return of the One-Armed Swordsman
Return of the One-Armed Swordsman, also known as One-Armed Swordsman Return, is a 1969 Hong Kong wuxia film directed by Chang Cheh and produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio...

1970 The Heroic Ones 
1971 The New One-Armed Swordsman 
The Anonymous Heroes
The Anonymous Heroes
The Anonymous Heroes or Wu ming ying xiong is a 1971 Hong Kong Shaw Brothers action-comedy film directed by Chang Cheh.-Cast:*Ti Lung*Chan Chuen*Cheng Kang-Yeh*Cheng Lei*Chen Sing*David Chiang*Li Ching*Ching Miao*Chow Yun Kin...

 
1972 Boxer From Shantung
Boxer from Shantung
The Boxer From Shantung is a 1972 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh, and starring David Chiang and Chen Kuan Tai.- Plot :Boxer From Shantung follows Ma Yongzhen and Xiao Jiangbei...

The Water Margin 
1973 The Blood Brothers
Blood Brothers (1973 film)
Blood Brothers is a 1973 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh, with action choreography by Lau Kar Leung, and starring David Chiang and Ti Lung...

 
Police Force
1974 Heroes Two
Heroes Two
Heroes Two is a 1974 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh, and starring Alexander Fu Sheng and Chen Kuan Tai. It is also known as Bloody Fists and Blood Brothers.- Plot :...

 
Five Shaolin Masters
Five Shaolin Masters
5 Shaolin Masters aka 5 Masters Of Death is a 1974 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh, with action choreography by Lau Kar Leung and Lau Kar Wing.The film focuses on Shaolin's historic rivalries with the Qing Dynasty.- Plot :...

 
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires is a 1974 horror film produced by Hammer Studios and Shaw Brothers Studio. It was released in North America in an edited version as The Seven Brothers Meet Dracula, and alternatively known as The Seven Brothers And Their One Sister Meet Dracula.-Plot:Professor...

1975 Master of the Flying Guillotine
Master of the Flying Guillotine
Master of the Flying Guillotine is a 1976 Hong Kong wuxia film starring Jimmy Wang, who also wrote and directed the film. It is a sequel to Wang's 1971 film One Armed Boxer, and thus the film is also known as One-Armed Boxer 2 and The One Armed Boxer vs...

 
Bloody Avengers 
1976 Challenge of the Masters
Challenge of the Masters
Challenge of the Masters is a 1976 martial arts-action film released in Hong Kong by Shaw Brothers, and directed by Lau Kar Leung.-Plot:After his father refuses to teach him kung fu and he is constantly being beaten around by rival school students, a young Wong Fei Hung must train under Luk Ah...

 
1977 Executioners From Shaolin 
1978 36th Chamber of Shaolin
Shaolin Mantis
Shaolin Mantis
Shaolin Mantis is a 1978 Shaw Brothers film directed by Lau Kar-leung. Starring David Chiang and Liu Chia Hui. Shaolin Mantis tells the story of a man who learns martial arts by observing a praying mantis....

 
Shaolin Challenges Ninja 
1979 Mad Monkey Kung Fu
Mad Monkey Kung Fu
Mad Monkey Kung Fu is a 1979 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Lau Kar-leung.Later, the film is release on DVD in Dragon Dynasty.- Plot :...

Dirty Ho
Dirty Ho
Dirty Ho is a 1979 Hong Kong martial arts-comedy film directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring Gordon Liu and Wong Yue.-Plot:Master Wang is actually the 11th prince of Manchuria in disguise...

 
1980 My Young Auntie
My Young Auntie
My Young Auntie aka Fangs of The Tigress is a 1981 Hong Kong action film from the Shaw Brothers studio. The film is directed by Lau Kar Leung and stars Kara Hui, Hsiao Ho, Wang Lung Wei, and Gordon Liu. In a change from Lau Kar Leung's more serious martial arts films, My Young Auntie is a generally...

 
Return to the 36th Chamber
Return to the 36th Chamber
Return To The 36th Chamber is a 1980 Shaw Brothers Studio Hong Kong martial arts comedy film starring Gordon Liu. It is directed by Lau Kar-Leung and written by Ni Kuang...

Clan of the White Lotus
Clan of the White Lotus
Clan of the White Lotus is a 1980 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Lo Lieh, with action choreography by Lau Kar Leung, and starring Lo Lieh and Gordon Liu. It is released as Fist of the White Lotus in North America.- External links :...

 
1982 Legendary Weapons of China
Legendary Weapons of China
Legendary Weapons of China is a 1982 martial arts fantasy film directed by Lau Kar-Leung. It takes place during the late Qing Dynasty when Empress Dowager Cixi dispatches her agents to various factions of the Boxer Rebellion in order find supernatural martial artists that are invulnerable to...

 
Nominated - Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography
Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography
The Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography is an annual Hong Kong industry award presented to a choreographer or a group of choreographers for the best achievement in action choreography.-History:...

1984 Invincible Pole Fighter  Nominated - Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography
Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography
The Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography is an annual Hong Kong industry award presented to a choreographer or a group of choreographers for the best achievement in action choreography.-History:...

1985 Disciples of the 36th Chamber
Disciples of the 36th Chamber
Disciples Of The 36th Chamber is a 1985 Shaw Brothers Studio Hong Kong martial arts film comedy written, directed and choreographed Lau Kar-leung...

 
1992 Operation Scorpio 
1994 Drunken Master II
Drunken Master II
Drunken Master II is a 1994 Hong Kong kung fu action film directed by Lau Kar-Leung and Jackie Chan, who stars as Chinese folk hero, Wong Fei Hung. It was Chan's first traditional style martial arts film since The Young Master...

 
Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography
Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography
The Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography is an annual Hong Kong industry award presented to a choreographer or a group of choreographers for the best achievement in action choreography.-History:...

2002 Drunken Monkey 
2005 Seven Swords
Seven Swords
Seven Swords is a 2005 Hong Kong wuxia film adapted from Liang Yusheng's novel Qijian Xia Tianshan. It was produced and directed by Tsui Hark, and starred Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Charlie Yeung, Sun Honglei, Lu Yi and Kim So-yeon...

 
Nominated - Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography
Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography
The Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography is an annual Hong Kong industry award presented to a choreographer or a group of choreographers for the best achievement in action choreography.-History:...


As actor

  • Story of the White-haired Demon Girl
    Story of the White-haired Demon Girl
    Story of the White-haired Demon Girl is a three-part 1959 Hong Kong film adapted from Liang Yusheng's novel Baifa Monü Zhuan. The film was directed by Lee Fa and starred Law Yim-hing and Cheung Ying.-Cast:*Law Yim-hing as Lin Ngai-seung...

     (1959)
  • Temple of the Red Lotus (1965)
  • Challenge of the Masters
    Challenge of the Masters
    Challenge of the Masters is a 1976 martial arts-action film released in Hong Kong by Shaw Brothers, and directed by Lau Kar Leung.-Plot:After his father refuses to teach him kung fu and he is constantly being beaten around by rival school students, a young Wong Fei Hung must train under Luk Ah...

     (1976)
  • Shaolin Challenges Ninja (1979)
  • Mad Monkey Kung Fu
    Mad Monkey Kung Fu
    Mad Monkey Kung Fu is a 1979 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Lau Kar-leung.Later, the film is release on DVD in Dragon Dynasty.- Plot :...

     (1979)
  • My Young Auntie
    My Young Auntie
    My Young Auntie aka Fangs of The Tigress is a 1981 Hong Kong action film from the Shaw Brothers studio. The film is directed by Lau Kar Leung and stars Kara Hui, Hsiao Ho, Wang Lung Wei, and Gordon Liu. In a change from Lau Kar Leung's more serious martial arts films, My Young Auntie is a generally...

     (1981)
  • Legendary Weapons of China
    Legendary Weapons of China
    Legendary Weapons of China is a 1982 martial arts fantasy film directed by Lau Kar-Leung. It takes place during the late Qing Dynasty when Empress Dowager Cixi dispatches her agents to various factions of the Boxer Rebellion in order find supernatural martial artists that are invulnerable to...

     (1982)
  • Invincible Pole Fighter (1984)
  • Disciples of the 36th Chamber
    Disciples of the 36th Chamber
    Disciples Of The 36th Chamber is a 1985 Shaw Brothers Studio Hong Kong martial arts film comedy written, directed and choreographed Lau Kar-leung...

     (1985)
  • Evil Cat
    Evil Cat
    Evil Cat is a 1987 Hong Kong film directed by Dennis Yu.-Plot:The Cheung Family has been fending with the Evil Cat for eight generations. This time, the Evil Cat reincarnates and possesses a tycoon's body. Severe fights start in order to eliminate the Evil Cat...

     (1987)
  • Pedicab Driver
    Pedicab Driver
    Pedicab Driver is a 1989 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by and starring Sammo Hung, who portrays the leader of a crew of cycle rickshaw drivers in 1930s Macau.The movie features features guest appearances by Eric Tsang, Corey Yuen and Lau Kar-leung....

     (1989)
  • New Kids In Town (A.K.A New Killers In Town) (1990)
  • The Banquet
    The Banquet (1991 film)
    The Banquet , also known as Party of a Wealthy Family, is a 1991 Hong Kong comedy film...

     (1991)
  • The Twin Dragons (1992)
  • Operation Scorpio (1992)
  • Drunken Master II
    Drunken Master II
    Drunken Master II is a 1994 Hong Kong kung fu action film directed by Lau Kar-Leung and Jackie Chan, who stars as Chinese folk hero, Wong Fei Hung. It was Chan's first traditional style martial arts film since The Young Master...

     (1994)
  • Drunken Monkey (2002)
  • Seven Swords
    Seven Swords
    Seven Swords is a 2005 Hong Kong wuxia film adapted from Liang Yusheng's novel Qijian Xia Tianshan. It was produced and directed by Tsui Hark, and starred Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Charlie Yeung, Sun Honglei, Lu Yi and Kim So-yeon...

    (2005)

External links

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