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In the early 1960s, four brothers redefined the landscape of Chinese cinema. These canny entrepreneurs had been making movies since the 1920s, producing an anonymous film every month in a bid to fill the theaters they had collected across Southeast Asia. But it wasn’t enough. Inspired by the classic Hollywood production system, the Shaw brothers opened one of the biggest private film studios in the world. By the mid-1980s, more than a thousand films bore their name, encompassing all manner of genres. But there was one with which they would be forever synonymous: the martial arts film. This video essay provides an introduction to the Shaw Brothers Studio’s unmistakable house style and its long-lasting influence on action cinema, pop culture, and beyond. Written by Matt Thrift Edited by Ben Porro Narrated by Rico Gagliano Watch the Shaw Brothers collection on MUBI: 30 Days of Great Cinema Free: Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Follow us on Instagram: Follow us on Twitter: Follow us on Facebook: Full list of titles referenced: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin Lau Kar-Leung, 1978 The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter Lau Kar-Leung, 1984 The Boxer From Shantung Chang Cheh, 1972 Come Drink With Me King Hu, 1966 Crippled Avengers Chang Cheh, 1978 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Ang Lee, 2000 Dirty Ho Lau Kar-Leung, 1979 The Dutiful Daughter Chun Man-to, 1966 Five Deadly Venoms Chang Cheh, 1978 Five Elements Ninjas Chang Cheh, 1982 Heroes of the East Lau Kar-Leung, 1978 How Huang Fei-hong Smashed the 5 Tigers Wu Pang, 1961 Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan Chor Yuen, 1972 Kill Bill: Vol.1 Quentin Tarantino, 2003 King Boxer Jeong Chang-Hwa, 1972 Legendary Weapons of China Lau Kar-Leung, 1982 The One-Armed Swordsman Chang Cheh, 1967 With thanks to Celestial Pictures.
