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Cast:
Gordon
Liu Chia Hui
Lo
Lieh
Yung
Wang Yu
Wilson
Tong
Lee
Hoi San
Action:
Liu
Chia Liang
Wilson
Tong
Producer:
Run
Run Shaw
Mona
Fong
Huang
Chia His
Director:
Liu
Chia Liang
Score:
 
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THE
36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN
AKA:
Shaolin Master Killer ||
Master Killer || Kung Fu Outrage
Year:
1978 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
As
has been stated frequently by this reviewer, Liu Chia Liang is
a director deserving of worldwide praise. Before films like 'Once
Upon A Time In China' and 'Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon' showed critics that martial arts
films deserve serious examination, the works of Chang Cheh and
Liu Chia Liang were impressing arthouse audiences throughout
the 70s. Importantly though, neither director rested solely on
the reputation of one film; both are responsible for a
numerous landmark productions. Liu Chia Liang's 'The 36th
Chamber Of Shaolin' is one such important cinematic moment and
remains influential not just in Hong Kong film-making, but
also globally.
During
a time when Manchu forces are oppressing the people of China
to an overwhelming degree, a few rebels attempt to stand up to
their rulers. With this resistance appearing in small,
disorganised pockets though, these moments of insurgence are
quickly extinguished. Liu Yu Te (Liu Chia Hui) observes the
actions of this vicious regime, but feels he cannot contribute
to the patriotic attempts and therefore decides to continue
his study unaffected. When his teacher incites the pupils of
the school to make a stand against their oppressors, Liu
suddenly feels the courage to play his part in the minimal
underground movement. It's not long before the Manchu
officials of the town discover this and, with swift action,
they kill Liu's teacher and father. The naive young student is
forced to flee town and after a severe beating at the hands of
some patrolling fighters, seeks shelter at the Shaolin temple.
Liu gradually recovers from his wounds and begins to notice
the regimented kung fu training that the monks engage in.
After initial reluctance from the Shaolin abbots, he is
accepted as a new trainee and starts at the very first chamber
of Shaolin. All are amazed at his rapid progress through the
35 chambers and soon after his fighting ability reaches an
impressive level. Overcoming one final hurdle before his
graduation from the Shaolin training system, Liu - now dubbed
San Te by his fellow monks - asks for a 36th chamber to be
created to develop fighters in their battles against the
Manchus. This revolutionary proposal sees San Te ejected from
Shaolin temple and he now travels to his home town to see what
has happened since his exit. Now face-to-face with his old
enemies, San Te decides to strike a blow for the innocent and
organise his own rebels against the villainous masses.
There
had been other martial-arts films that had shown Shaolin
instruction, but 1978's 'The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin' was the
film that took the concept to its very height. After the
film's release, the genre would never quite be the same again.
The in-depth showcase of San Te's development within the
confines of the 35 chambers really makes up the body of the
film and this in itself was unique for its time. The actual
detail of the temple and its workings are obviously open to
conjecture as there is little historical evidence to expand
on, but Liu Chia Liang imprints his own personality on this
aspect of filming. As a very traditional martial artist, Liang
makes sure that the whole offering is steeped in reality and
probability.
As
the monk San Te - a real name from Chinese history - Liu Chia
Hui created the seminal image of the Shaolin monk, a vision
that remains imprinted on the minds of fans. Once again, 'The
36th Chamber Of Shaolin' brought out this now appreciated
facet. The film isn't just a piece of history though; it
offers, to this very day, a compelling and action-packed
evening's viewing. With sharp choreography and a plethora of
other attributes, Liu Chia Liang's classic is much more than
the average kung-fu fest.
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