Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin
Encyclopedia
Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin is a 1978
Hong Kong action film
directed by Chen Chi Hwa and starring Jackie Chan
. It was released by the Lo Wei Motion Picture Company, a subsidiary of Golden Harvest
. Along with Tu Wi Ho, Chan was also the film's stunt co-ordinator.
masters shortly before their disappearance, and Hsu is suspected of killing them, or at least knowing what happened. In reality, Hsu is looking for the man responsible for the masters' disappearance, whom he will know by a certain mark.
After several fights, and encounters with the leaders of many fighting clans (all of whom want the book and are willing to offer a variety of things for it), Hsu is betrayed, hurt, and eventually captured. He escapes with an unlikely ally in tow, while the rest of the clan leaders, having put aside their differences, search high and low for him. Eventually Hsu finds the man with the mark, the other clan leaders learn the fate of the Shaolin Masters, and in an epic fight involving the Snake and Crane style, Hsu defeats the villain.
Hong Kong films of 1978
A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 1978:.-1978:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 1978 at...
Hong Kong action film
Hong Kong action cinema
Hong Kong action cinema is the principal source of the Hong Kong film industry's global fame. It combines elements from the action film, as codified by Hollywood, with Chinese storytelling and aesthetic traditions, to create a culturally distinctive form that nevertheless has a wide transcultural...
directed by Chen Chi Hwa and starring 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...
. It was released by the Lo Wei Motion Picture Company, a subsidiary of Golden Harvest
Golden Harvest
Golden Harvest is a film production, distribution, and exhibition company based in Hong Kong. It played a major role in becoming the first Chinese film company to successfully enter the western market for an extended period of time, especially with the films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan...
. Along with Tu Wi Ho, Chan was also the film's stunt co-ordinator.
Plot
Chan stars as the wanderer Hsu Ying Fung, who quickly makes it known (with some help) that he possesses the "Eight Steps of the Snake and Crane", a martial arts book illustrating the ultimate kung fu style. The book was written by eight ShaolinShaolin kung fu
Shaolin Kung Fu refers to a collection of Chinese martial arts that claim affiliation with the Shaolin Monastery.Of the multitude styles of kung fu and wushu, only some are actually related to Shaolin...
masters shortly before their disappearance, and Hsu is suspected of killing them, or at least knowing what happened. In reality, Hsu is looking for the man responsible for the masters' disappearance, whom he will know by a certain mark.
After several fights, and encounters with the leaders of many fighting clans (all of whom want the book and are willing to offer a variety of things for it), Hsu is betrayed, hurt, and eventually captured. He escapes with an unlikely ally in tow, while the rest of the clan leaders, having put aside their differences, search high and low for him. Eventually Hsu finds the man with the mark, the other clan leaders learn the fate of the Shaolin Masters, and in an epic fight involving the Snake and Crane style, Hsu defeats the villain.
Cast
- Jackie ChanJackie ChanJackie 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...
- Nora MiaoNora MiaoNora Miao ); born February 8, 1952 ) is a Hong Kong actress who appeared in many kung-fu films in the 1970s. She was contracted to Golden Harvest, and spent her time making films in Hong Kong and in Taiwan, where she starred in several romance movies....
- Kam Kong
- Lee Man-Tai
- Lam Tung
- Shi Chen
DVD releases
- On 15 February 2001, Seven 7 released the French theatrical cut, entitled Le Magnifique. The film had the original aspect ratioAspect ratioThe aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by just two measurements,...
of 2.35:1, but contained no English-language options or subtitles. - On 17 September 2001, Eastern Heroes released the film in the UK. This version was a shorter cut, and was cropped from 2.35:1 into 1.85:1. It also contained an English dub only.
- On 12 March 2002, Columbia Tri-Star released the film in the US in 2.35:1 with both an English dub and the original Mandarin soundtrack. However, this version was dubtitleDubtitleDubtitle is a term for a show recorded in which the subtitles are merely transcriptions of the new alternative dialogue spoken on the dubbed soundtrack rather than a translation of the original dialogue and was popularized by anime and kung fu film fans to refer to this practice....
d and missing over 5 minutes of footage. - On 24 February 2006, Universal Japan released the film in Japan. It was uncut for the first time on DVD, and in 2.35:1 ratio, with a Mandarin soundtrack. However, this release featured no English subtitles.
- On 14 May 2007, UK company Hong Kong LegendsHong Kong LegendsHong Kong Legends was a United Kingdom DVD distribution company, based in Hertfordshire and operating from the UK and Australia between 1999 and 2007...
released the most complete English-friendly version of the film to date. It was fully uncut, presented in 2.35:1, and included an English dub and the original Mandarin soundtrack with newly-translated English subtitles. However, the Mandarin "mono" is a downmixDownmixingDownmixing is a general term used for manipulating audio where a number of distinct audio channels are mixed together to produce a lower number of channels...
from the 5.1 remix. - On November 15th, 2008, Media Movies and More released the film in Pan and scanPan and scanPan and scan is a method of adjusting widescreen film images so that they can be shown within the proportions of a standard definition 4:3 aspect ratio television screen, often cropping off the sides of the original widescreen image to focus on the composition's most important aspects...
format with English dubbing. The movie was recently available at certain WalgreensWalgreensWalgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
in mid-2010 for $1.99 - Dragon DynastyDragon DynastyDragon Dynasty is a joint venture started by The Weinstein Company and Genius Products. The company was created on May 23, 2006 for the sole purpose of distributing East Asian films on DVD in the US, whose licenses are held by, or will be acquired by The Weinstein Company...
had intended to release a Region 1 DVD of the film, but the release has been postponed indefinitely.