Kung Fu (1972) (TV)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Jerry Thorpe

Writers:

Howard Friedlander (writer)
Ed Spielman (story)

Release Date:

22 February 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Western | Action

Plot:

After avenging the death of his teacher, a Shaolin monk flees China to the American West and helps people while being pursued by bounty hunters.

Plot Keywords:

Shaolin | Shaolin Monk | Kung Fu | Caucasian Actor Playing Asian Character | Shaolin Temple

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

David Carradine	...	Caine
Barry Sullivan	...	Dillon
Albert Salmi	...	Raif
Wayne Maunder	...	McKay
Benson Fong	...	Han Fei
Richard Loo	...	Master Sun
Keye Luke	...	Master Po
Philip Ahn	...	Master Kan
Victor Sen Yung	...	Chuen
Robert Ito	...	Fong
James Hong	...	Hsiang
Radames Pera	...	Young Caine
Roy Jenson	...	Fuller
John Leoning	...	Master Teh
David Chow	...	Little Monk

Also Known As:

The Warrior (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Television

Trivia:

According to Bruce Lee's wife, Linda Lee Cadwell, the concept of the Kung Fu series was conceived by Bruce, and met with the producers for countless hours to shape the show. But the producers did not offer the role to Bruce Lee since they did not feel that the American audience (at that time) would accept a Chinese actor as a lead, therefore looked for a Caucasian actor to fill the role.

Quotes:

Master Po: What do you hear?
Caine: I hear the grasshopper.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fight Club (1999)

This movie is a classic

I liked the way this movie had flashbacks of the main character's life as he was growing up and learning the things in the temple. It was amazing how he could walk in the rice paper. His fighting skills were amazing on how he helped those other Chinese people when those railroad people were being hard on them. This movie is what I have heard is the pilot to the Kung Fu TV series. I have never seen someone fight like that before. This is one movie I think many people should watch. I really liked how he outsmarted the railroad men who were forcing the Chinese to dig the tunnels in those hills that had pockets of natural gas. I like how he also had to fight that bounty hunter that came after him. This is one movie I think was a great pilot for a TV series. I think since the TV series is on DVD this movie should be put on DVD for a new generation to enjoy.