Tang shan da xiong (1971)

Director:

Wei Lo
(more)

Writer:

Wei Lo (writer)

Release Date:

3 October 1971 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

KARATE KUNG-FU! The new screen excitement that gives you the biggest kick of your life!

Plot:

A young man sworn to an oath of non-violence works with his cousins in an ice factory where they mysteriously begin to disappear.

Plot Keywords:

Chop Socky | Kung Fu Fighting | Bruce Lee | Kung Fu | Kung Fu Master

Cast

Bruce Lee	...	Cheng Chao-an
Maria Yi	...	Chow Mei
James Tien	...	Hsiu Chien
Ying-Chieh Han	...	Hsiao Mi (The Boss)
Malalene	...	Miss Wuman
Tony Liu	...	Hsiao Chiun (Mi's son)
Kun Li	...	Ah Kun (as Quin Lee)
Nora Miao	...	Drinkstand owner (as Mao Ke-hsiu)
San Chin	...	Hua Sze
Chao Chen	...	Foreman
Chia Ching Tu	...	Uncle
Tso Chen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pei-Shan Chang	...	Cheng Chao-an (voice)
Lung Chan	...	Gatekeeper / Blue Shirt Henchman
Hui-yi Chen
Ching-Ying Lam	...	Ah Yen (Cheng's cousin)
Cheng Ying Tu

Directed by
Wei Lo
Jiaxiang Wu		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Wei Lo		writer

Produced by
Raymond Chow	....	producer
Liang Hua Liu	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Fu-ling Wang

Cinematography by
Chen Ching Chu

Film Editing by
Ming Sung

Production Design by
Liu Chu

Production Management
Liang Hua Liu	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chench Chang	....	assistant director (as Chih Yao Chung)
Tso Chen	....	assistant director

Stunts
Ying-Chieh Han	....	action coordinator (as fighting instructor)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Liu Chu	....	wardrobe manager

Production Companies

• Golden Harvest Company

Distributors

• National General Pictures (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Columbia Pictures (1978) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox
• Cathay Films Ltd. (1973) (UK) (theatrical)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• F.J. Lucas (Brazil) (VHS)
• Filmways Australasian Distributors (Australia) (theatrical)
• Front Row Entertainment (video)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2000) (worldwide) (DVD)
• Hong Kong Legends (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Media Asia Distribution (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Wonder Multimídia (Brazil) (DVD)
• Éditions René Chateau (France)

Also Known As:

Big Brother of Tongshan (Hong Kong: English title) (literal title)
Fists of Fury (USA)
Fists of Glory (Europe: English title)
The Big Boss (Hong Kong: English title)
Tong saan daai hing (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)

Runtime:

100 min | UK:101 min | USA:99 min | Argentina:102 min | 115 min (uncut version)

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-18 (DVD rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A | France:U | Hong Kong:IIB | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) (2004) | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R (edited for re-rating) | USA:X (uncut Hong Kong version) | West Germany:18 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Pak Chong, Thailand

Company:

Golden Harvest Company

Trivia:

The mansion of the film's villain was, and still is, a Thai mausoleum. Usually, due to Chinese superstition, another location would be chosen to avoid a movie from being cursed. However, whether it was time restraints or the appearance of the location, it was not made public that it was a mausoleum until the film was completed.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the guard dogs leap at Cheng, they are obviously thrown.

Quotes:

Cheng Chao-an: Alright! Hold it! Now you get out of here, I'm warning you. You bastards can't push us around. If you wanna fight, I'll take you on.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Real Bruce Lee (1973)

Soundtrack:

Moontown

Bruce Lee....There Will Never Be Another

Fists Of Fury was the second best of the Lee films. (Chinese Connection was tops). The speed, action and excitement in the film was unprecedented. The only thing that came close were the episodes of the Green Hornet and they were Lee also. He was the epitome of being physically fit and had screen presence like no action star before him. His fitness level and physical capabilities are qualities that some action stars have today, but at the time there was no one like him. Fists of Fury had a good story and the acting was good. In the last almost thirty years, you will be able to find films that are equivalent to the technical and production measures of this film, but none as good due to the fact that this was the first.

DHM