How many opera trained kunf fu movie stars can you all name. Thanks.

[GOLDEN DRAGON YIN-YANG]

After watching the DVD titled Master Qi and the Monkey King the life story of Peking opera star Master Qi Shu Fang this got me thinking.

There were many legends of kunf fu cinema who were trained in classic Peking opera or other styles.

Could you all list those great kung fu movie stars who studied opera then went on to the big screen?

Lets see how many can be listed.

My guess there may be more than twenty.

Thanks I would appreciate your help KFCF members.

Gd Y-Y.

[Secret Executioner]

Probably the most obvious: Jackie Chan.

I guess there must be a big lot (including some big names from Shaw Bros), as (from what I recall reading somewhere) the fight choreographies in movies were originally closer to opera dances than to actual MA (talking before the 1970s wave of bashers and shapes that tried to emulate what Bruce Lee had done).

[yojimbo]

Probably the most obvious: Jackie Chan.

I guess there must be a big lot (including some big names from Shaw Bros), as (from what I recall reading somewhere) the fight choreographies in movies were originally closer to opera dances than to actual MA (talking before the 1970s wave of bashers and shapes that tried to emulate what Bruce Lee had done).

Add two more fortunes to the model.

Yuen Biao

Sammo Hung

[Cold Bishop]

Yuen Woo Ping, Tong Gai, Corey Yuen, The Venom Mob, Lee Yi-Min, Lam Ching-Ying, Angelo Mao, Jack Lung, Fung Hak-On, Chang Yi, Ching Siu-Tung, John Lone... the list is endless.

[AlbertV]

Jackie Chan

Sammo Hung

Yuen Biao

Corey Yuen

Ng Ming-Tsai

Yuen Wah

Yuen Qiu (Kan Chia-Fong)

Ridley Tsui

Stephen Tung Wai

John Lone

Connie Chan Po-Chu

Kwan Tak-Hing

Dong Zhi-Hua (the last of Chang Cheh's stable of actors who played the noodle man in Kung Fu Hustle)

these are the ones I can come up with at the top of my head

[GOLDEN DRAGON YIN-YANG]

Thanks I am sure there are many, many more.

GD Y-Y

[AlbertV]

A more thorough list...

Yu Jim-Yuen (did one film, THE OLD MASTER, with New York-based martial artist and financial planner Bill Louie)...here are his well-known proteges at the China Drama Academy:

Jackie Chan

Sammo Hung

Yuen Biao

Corey Yuen

Yuen Wah

Ng Ming-Tsai

Yuen Qiu (Kan Chia-Fong)

Meng Yuen-Man (star of HELL'S WIND STAFF and THE MASTER STRIKES with Casanova Wong)

Yuen Tak (aka Richard Hung)

Yuen Mo (star of YOUNG HERO with Hwang Jang-Lee and Kwon Young-Moon)

Yuen Bun (more known as an action director)

The original female action hero, Fen Juhua, started out in Opera...as a matter of fact, the following were her students at the Spring and Autumn Drama School:

Connie Chan

John Lone

Stephen Tung Wai

Ridley Tsui (was one of Madame Fen's last students)

Lam Ching-Ying

Chung Fat

Peter Chan Lung

Mang Hoi

Mars

Fung Hark-On

Lee Hoi-San

Austin Wai

Hsiao Ho

Lu Kwan (Taiwan) Opera School class:

Philip Kwok

Chiang Sheng

Lu Feng

Ricky Cheng

Chia Ling

Charlie Chin (from the Lucky Stars films and was one of the most popular Taiwanese actors of the 70's)

Angela Mao

Lee Yi-Min

Robert Tai

James Tien

From what I understand both Kwan Tak-Hing and Dong Zhi-Hua were trained in Cantonese opera.

[Secret Executioner]

Albert sure nailed it with not only names but also the opera background of these actors.

[GOLDEN DRAGON YIN-YANG]

Albert sure nailed it with not only names but also the opera background of these actors.

Indeed he did.

My only problem is I am not hip to whose face goes with many of the names as I am not that deep when it comes to kung fu movie stars names.

Well I take that back I do recognize many of the names. LOL!

Thanks AlbertV...........................................................!

GD Y-Y

[GOLDEN DRAGON YIN-YANG]

From what I understand both Kwan Tak-Hing and Dong Zhi-Hua were trained in Cantonese opera

From Wikipedia.

Kwan was originally a practitioner of the Opera Martial Arts of Masters Sun Pak/Cheng Hsin-pei and Len Yuen Hang and the White Crane and Hung Ga/Hung Gar martial art of Master Fok Hung. Throughout his life he made friends with famous martial arts exponents and cross trained extensively. Training in Wong Fei Hung's style of Hung Gar came from Masters Leung Wing Hang and Lau Jam, both students of the famous Lam Sai Wing. His weapons specialty included the use of the bullwhip and the pole. Kwan was also known for his skills in the lion dance and Chinese calligraphy.

Right On AlbertV.

Man alive did he have one heck of a film carrier. WOW!

The Guangzhou Adventure of the Fearless (1947)

One-Eye Dragon Strange Hero (1947)

Bloody Cloth (1948)

Fishing Village in the War (1948)

A Sword to Save a Country (1949)

A Woman's Heart is Never Mended (1949)

The Lady Protector and the Knight with the Whip (1949)

Story of Huang Feihong (Part 1) (1949)

Story of Huang Feihong (Part 2) (1949)

Xue Rengui's Bloody Battle at Liu Village (1950)

The Story of Huang Feihung Part 3: Battle by Liuhua Bridge (1950)

The Story of Huang Feihong Part 4: Death of Liang Huan (1950)

Story of Huang Feihong (Part 5) (1951)

The Silver World of Stardom (1951)

The Five Heroes' Deadly Spears (1951)

The Brave Archer (1951)

Soul of the Tiger (1952)

How Huang Feihong Defeated 3 Bullies with a Single Rod (1953)

Brother in Bloodshed (1954)

Huang Feihong Tries His Shadowless Kick (1954)

Story of Huang Feihong and Lin Shirong (1954)

The Boxer of Nanhai (1954)

The True Story of Huang Feihong (1955)

The Story of Huang Feihong (2nd Sequel) (1955)

Story of Iron Monkey (Grand Finale) (1955)

Huang Feihong's Rival for the Fireworks (1955)

Huang Feihong's Victory at Fourth Gate (1955)

How Huang Feihong Vanquished the Bully on Long Dike (1955)

Huang Feihong at a Boxing Match (1956)

Huang Feihong's Fight in Foshan (1956)

How Huang Feihong Set Fire to Dashatou (1956)

Huang Feihong and the Courtesan's Boat Argument (1956)

Huang Feihong's Battle at Shuangmendi (1956)

Huang Feihong and the Lantern Festival Disturbance (1956)

How Huang Feihong Pitted 7 Lions against the Dragon (1956)

How Huang Feihong Fought 5 Dragons Single-handed (1956)

How Huang Feihong Thrice Tricked the Girl Bodyguard (1956)

How Huang Feihong Saved the Dragon's Mother's Temple (1956)

Huang Feihong's 7 Battles with the Fiery Unicorn (1956)

How Huang Feihong Vanquished the 12 Tigers (1956)

How Huang Feihong Conquered the Two Tigers (1956)

How Huang Feihong Pitted a Lion against the Unicorn (1956)

Huang Feihong's Story: Iron Cock against Centpede (1956)

Huang Feihong Wins the Dragon Boat Race (1956)

How Huang Feihong Thrice Captured Su Shulian in the Water (1956)

How Huang Feihong Vanquished the Terrible Hound at Shamian (1956)

Huang Feihong's Victory at Xiaobeijiang (1956)

How Huang Feihong Vanquished the Bully at the Red Opera Float (1956)

The Princess is Kidnapped (1956)

Heroine of Deadly Darts (1956)

Huang Feihong Rescues the Fishmonger (1956)

Huang Feihong's Battle at Mountain Goddess of Mercy (1956)

Huang Feihong Attends the Joss-Stick Festival at Heavenly Goddess' Temple (1956)

Wu Song's Bloody Fight on Lion's Bower (1956)

Huang Feihong Goes to a Birthday Party at Guanshan (1956)

How Huang Feihong Saved the Lovelorn Monk from the Ancient Monastery (1956)

The Life of Zuo Song (1956)

Chang E's Flight to the Moon (1956)

The White Crane Heroes (1956)

General Kwan Seduced by Diaochan Under Moonlight (1956)

Ne-Zha's Adventures in the East Sea (1957)

Devil's Sword (1957)

Huang Feihong's Fight at Henan (1957)

Huang Feihong's Three Battles with the Unruly Girl (1957)

How Huang Feihong Spied on Black Dragon Hill at Night (1957)

How the Boxer from Nanhai Stole the Dappled Horse at Night (1957)

Huang Feihong's Battle with the Lion King (1957)

Huang Feihong and the Battle of Saddle Hill (1957)

The War between Chu and Han (1957)

How Huang Feihong Smashed the Flying Dagger Gang (1957)

The Flag Which Conquered 7 Provinces (1957)

How Huang Feihong Fought a Bloody Battle in the Spinster's Home (1957)

World of Fist (1957)

Knife in Fish-gut (1957)

Huang Feihu's Rebellion (1957)

Ne Zha's Adventures in the Heavenly Palace (1957)

Fifteen Strings of Coins (1957)

General Guan Escorts His Brother's Wife on a 1,000 Mile Journey (1957)

Huang Feihong's Rival for a Pearl (1957)

Huang Feihong's Story: Five Devils against Two Dragons (1958)

Huang Feihu's Rebellion (2nd sequel) (1958)

Lest We Forget (1958)

Fan Lihua Bears a Son in the Golden-Light Militia (1958)

How Xue Gang Smashed the Temple (1958)

Huang Feihong's Fierce Battle (1958)

How Huang Feihong Erases the Golden Bell Trap (1958)

Huanf Feihong Seizes the Bride at Xiguan (1958)

How Huang Feihong Stormed Phoenix Hill (1958)

Massacre of the Innocents (1958)

Huang Feihong's Battle with the Bullies in the Boxing Ring (1958)

Huang Feihong's Victory at Ma Village (1958)

Huang Feihong Gets Rid of the Three Rascals (1958)

How Huang Feihong Used an Iron-Fowl Against the Eagle (1958)

Huang Feihohng Saves the Kidnapped Liang Kuan (1958)

The Flying Prince (1958)

Three Attempts to Steal the Cup of the Nine Dragons (1959)

The Rascal He on Fire (1959)

Huang Feihong on Rainbow Bridge (1959)

Shattering the Copper Net Array (1959)

Seven Heroes Spy on Chongxiao Bower (1959)

King Kong's Adventures in the Heavely Palace (1959)

How Wen Tianxiang Thrice Tricked Grand Sire Wen (1959)

White Lady's Reincarnation (1959)

Huang Feihong Trapped in the Hell (1959)

How Huang Feihong Defeated the Tiger on the Opera Stage (1959)

Huang Feihong's Combat in the Boxing Ring (1960)

How Na Zha Rescued His Mother from the Snake Mountain (1960)

Huang Feihong's Battle with the Gorilla (1960)

The Strange Hero Conquered the Dragon (1960)

Two Orphans Conquered the Dragon at Tianshan (1960)

Tao Lung Fighting against Fin Kum Kong (1960)

How Huang Feihong Smashed the Five Tigers (1961)

The Invincible Iron Fan (1961)

Killing of the Villains (1961)

Huang Feihong Meeting the Heroes with the Tiger Paw (1967) (also writer)

Huang Feihong: The Incredible Success in Canton (1968)

Huang Feihong: The Invincible 'Lion Dancer' (1968)

Huang Feihong: The Eight Bandits (1968)

The Magic Whip (1968)

Huang Feihong: The Duel Against the Black Rascal (1968)

Huang Feihong: Duel for the Championship (1968)

Huang Feihong: The Duel for the 'Sha-yu-qing' (1969)

Huang Feihong: The Conqueror of the 'Sam-hong Gang' (1969)

Huang Feihong's Combat with the Five Wolves (1969)

Huang Feihong in Sulphur Valley (1969)

Huang Fei Hong: Bravely Crushing the Fire Formation (1970)

The Skyhawk (1974)

Magnificent Butcher (1979)

The Magnificent Kick (1980)

Dreadnaught (1981)

Aces Go Places 4 (1986)

The Family Strikes Back (1986)

It's a Wonderful Life (1994)

GD Y-Y

[GOLDEN DRAGON YIN-YANG]

Thanks again AlbertV.

1982 Hong Kong Film Awards - Kwan Tak-Hing & Shek Kin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBX7SuPesV4

Here is a tribute to Shek Kin.

石堅點滴( 1913-2009 )

A wonderful double sword demo by Shek.

GD Y-Y

[whitesnake]

Ivy Ling Po - known mostly for classic Huangmei Opera films, but also for some Shaw Brothers wuxia movies, especially 14 Amazons.

[GOLDEN DRAGON YIN-YANG]

Ivy Ling Po - known mostly for classic Huangmei Opera films, but also for some Shaw Brothers wuxia movies, especially 14 Amazons.

Yes indeed.

Huangmei Opera Films

Hung Niang - 1962 (not released -see last paragraph in biography)

Love Eterne - 3 April 1963 (RR - 2003)

A Maid From Heaven (Seven Fairies) - 11 December 1963 (RR - 2004)

Lady General Hua Mulan - 18 June 1964 (RR - 2004)

The Crimson Palm - 28 October 1964 (RR-2007)

The Female Prince - 10 December 1964 (RR - 2006)

Inside The Forbidden City - 16 October 1965 (RR - 2003)

The Grand Substitution - 15 April 1965 (RR - 2003)

The Mermaid - 29 January 1965 (RR - 2005)

The West Chamber - 10 October 1965 (RR - 2004)

Dawn Will Come - 2 March 1966

The Perfumed Arrow - 23 November 1966

The Mirror And The Lichee - 9 November 1967 (RR - 2006)

Forever And Ever - 20 January 1968

The Three Smiles - 24 September 1969 (RR - 2003)

[shapes]

Lu Kwan (Taiwan) Opera School class:

Philip Kwok

Lu Feng

Ricky Cheng

Hisa kwan li

Hwa Ling

Lin Xiao Lou

fu Hsing opera

Chia Ling

Charlie Chin (from the Lucky Stars films and was one of the most popular Taiwanese actors of the 70's)

Angela Mao

Lee Yi-Min

Robert Tai

James Tien

chang Yi

Tien Ni

Wong Kwan Yu

Chiang Sheng

Sun Shu Pei

Pang Gang

Chin Lung

Jack Long

Wong Chi Sheng

Mao Tau

Wong Kwo Chu

Hsiah Hsing

Wong Yung Sheng

Wu Wen Hsiu

Ting Hwa Chung

Ta Peng (Air force)

Jack Long (early years)

Peter Chen

Chia Kai

Chu Ker

Mars , Fong Hak Onn, and Lee Hoi Sang are not from Fan Guk Fa

[NoKUNGFUforYU]

I would imagine Bruce Lee's old friend Unicorn Chan would be one as well. From what I read from Jackie Chan, they were not as impressed with Lee's feats of strength as they could do some of the same things, but his speed was another matter. If you think about it, Lee did not have much competition starting out in HK cinema, in the sense that few of these guys were into martial arts for it's own sake, and free sparring full contact. The only one of the actors I can think that hit the scene earlier on besides Lee as a mostly pure martial artist was Chen Kuan Tai.

[Cold Bishop]

Hell, I always assumed Chen Kuan-Tai's rather sudden promotion to leading man was directly a result of Bruce Lee. Especially since Boxer from Shantung was a completely rushed production: yeah, the official reason was Shaw trying to beat Wang Yu's Furious Slaughter to the box-office, but it seemed just as likely they were trying to get something to compete with the next Bruce flick.