Cynthia Rothrock - Hong Kong vs. American Action Cinema (Action Talks #22)

Cynthia Rothrock is an action star known for films like Yes, Madam!, Righting Wrongs, and Millionaire's Express. We talk about her work in Hong Kong, how working in America was so much different, and what she looks for in action today. You can see her IMDB here: www.imdb.com/n... and her HKMDB here: hkmdb.com/db/p...
Edited by Angela Jordan
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0:01:48 Martial Art Background
0:02:58 Cynthia's Kicking Abilities
0:03:25 Training Regimen to develop powerful kicks
0:05:27 What drove Cynthia to do martial arts
0:06:38 Did you have a natural ability for martial arts?
0:08:03 How Cynthia gop into Hong Kong cinema
0:09:27 Was Corey Yuen looking for a female star or did she change his mind?
0:10:12 Was there a culture shock going to Hong Kong?
0:11:19 Watching Hong Kong movies as a child
0:12:00 Other action films Cynthia watched as a kid
0:12:30 Not many female lead action stars during her time…
0:13:53 What HK stuntmen thought of her while doing Yes, Madam!
0:16:27 Starring with Michelle Yeoh when she was just starting
0:17:57 Yes, Madam's production schedule and daily routine
0:20:50 Overacting in Hong Kong films
0:21:59 Difficulty in staying in character in the HK style of shooting
0:23:30 Memorizing long strings of choreography
0:25:01 Fighting with Dick Wei
0:27:27 Why use real contact?
0:28:50 Her career after Yes, Madam
0:29:18 Fighting with Hwang Jang Lee
0:31:02 Working with Yuen Biao
0:32:23 Injury before filming Righting Wrongs
0:33:22 The action process on Righting Wrongs
0:34:15 Filming the final fight for Righting Wrongs
0:35:10 Alternate ending for Righting Wrongs
0:36:37 Filming Millionaire's / Shanghai Express
0:38:40 Fighting with Sammo Hung
0:39:58 No stunt double
0:40:58 Wire training
0:41:08 80s Hong Kong action holds up
0:43:12 Filming Magic Crystal
0:45:53 Working with Tony Leung
0:47:46 Fighting with Richard Norton
0:49:19 Wokring on The Inspector Wears Skirts
0:51:32 Meng Hoi's directing style compared to Corey Yuen's
0:51:52 Fighting with Jeff Falcon
0:52:35 Working on Blonde Fury / Lady Reporter
0:56:12 Having a tough guy attitude helping on screen
0:57:16 Corey Yuen directed the ending for Blonde Fury / Lady Reporter
0:58:52 Corey Yuen's inspiration for certain movies at the time
0:59:33 Dedication to the stunt and filming action movies
1:00:54 The HK Stuntman Association
1:01:03 Yuen Tak's style compared to Corey Yuen's
1:01:42 Doing American films while filming HK films
1:03:36 Why wouldn't Hollywood let Cynthia do HK films?
1:04:16 Preference for HK style over American style of shooting action
1:05:59 Cynthia and Richard Norton were the only ones with HK action training
1:07:47 Did American directors not want to do the HK style of action?
1:11:09 Fighting with Benny Urquidez
1:12:40 Difficulties of shooting choreo in America
1:13:54 American fights and coverage style shooting
1:15:07 Being taught to move for undercranking
1:15:58 Memorizing choreography for HK vs. American fights
1:16:34 Did American directors appreciate her acting ability?
1:18:04 Did she try to teach American stuntmen Hong Kong style?
1:20:19 Directing and acting in her next film
1:21:11 Her approach to designing action
1:22:25 What Cynthia is watching these days for inspiration
1:23:36 What Cynthia looks for in modern action scenes
1:25:26 Where her excitement comes from
1:26:23 Did having a child push you in a new way?
1:28:51 Did becoming a parent change your view on violence?
1:30:58 Keeping up with old contacts from Hong Kong
1:32:07 Working with Godfrey Ho
1:34:37 The infamous end fight of Undefeatable
1:39:06 American action film predictions
1:40:30 Advice for new talents

[@JEAN_ADRIEN]

This woman made an impression. She is the only western woman to have such obvious success in Hong Kong. I remember going to buy these films on VCD in the Chinatown of Paris. She has worked with the best. She looks so simple. Thank you so much for this quality interview 🙏

[@jorgemak188]

About time someone made an in depth interview with this martial arts legend. Thanks man!! Keep up the GREAT work!! 🙏

[@theonlymegumegu]

if you enjoyed this one, scott adkins did an interview with her too, also great!

[@Anotherperson81]

I love the level of detail and questions in this interview. It’s great to hear the detail of these classic movies rather than glossing over or rushing it. Great job 👍🏻

[@pereirahelder2855]

Cynthia Rothrock it's the best female Martial Artist and Action movies actress since ever. She had a great career en Hongkong and USA. She deserved more success and recognition than she has today. She was an example to follow not only for women but also for many men in this environment. She remains and will remain a good example, a great idol of the world of action and martial arts films of the 80's and 90's for these colleges but also for all these fans and lovers of this style of cinema. Congratulations and thank you for everything. From 🇫🇷 by a 🇵🇹 fan. Kinds Regards.

[@MentalDeviant]

I'm so happy that vinegar syndrome has been putting out some of Her movies on Blu-Ray so she can get some of the attention she deserves!

[@Nifter71]

Cynthia was great on Scott Adkins' show a while back... looking forward to this one!

[@pereirahelder2855]

Yes the Scott Adkins KZbin Chanel " The Art of Action" It's awsome for anyone who appreciates action movies and martial arts. Viking Samurai too.

[@dardrex777]

I was so honored to take her scorpion kick in 2016 and I was bummed her and I didn’t get to fight in prey of wrath Cuzz I was injured. But Cynthia is such kind person to work with. I’m Amazed after all her years she can still move. It’s inspiring.

[@jimmyxiaolung]

I grew up loving Cynthia Rothrock ❤️

[@wingyung976]

Great Interview. RIP Mang Hoi

[@chazmaru9583]

Great interview, thanks. What a legend. I wonder if she knows about King, the video game character she inspired in SNK’s series "Art of Fighting" and "The King of Fighters".

[@theonlymegumegu]

i didn't know she inspired king, that's awesome!

[@FilmFanDojo]

Cynthia is the best!!!! Thanks for this!

[@randywatson8347]

It is quite an honor they choose Cynthia in Hong Kong. Her eyes are always mesmerizing.

[@MentalDeviant]

Cynthia is such a cool chick! I'm glad she's making the movies she wants to now! This was a really great interview and I appreciate that you took the time to show off some of her fight scenes with clips from her Hong Kong movies and American movies!

[@wonderboy76]

I think this is the best interview I've seen with her, you ask great questions that elicit really interesting answers that are new for fans. It's not the usual questions she gets asked.

[@jamyangpelsang3099]

I'd really like to see how this new western film she's working on turns out. Especially after having accumulated so much Hong Kong and American action experience throughout her career.

[@esteBAM979]

Sylvester Stallone should make it up to her and put her in the Expendable Series. Maybe give her the lead Villain roll! Would also be cool to see Cynthia as the bad guy/gal🎉

[@vanwangye]

Imagine Cynthia and Michelle Yeoh reunite together again as fellow disciple-sisters characters versus Sylvester!!!

[@willh7352]

@@vanwangye that would be ILL

[@SwiftBrooklyn718]

And HERE'S another hit! Eric BOMB

[@willh7352]

One of the greats

[@aurelienhenryobama5434]

Awesome interview 🎉🎉🎉

[@robertsamuels1106]

My sister is the Greatest Female Action star of all time

[@esteBAM979]

Great interview @Eric! You asked best questions here. Answered a lot of stuff I was wondering about during her awesome career 💯. And I learn a lot of new behind the scenes tippets!

[@jim_jim1674]

Legend, she is.

[@balamohammed5947]

anyone who is a fan of martial arts and martial arts films have been given great credit to the female action stars. its the western production and some peoducers that underrated them and so they couldn't as big asnthey could until the 2000s. thats why i am grateful to be around during the girls with guns era of hong kong cinema

[@vanwangye]

As an Asian seen her Hong Kong film back here since a kid...She should reunite with Michelle Yeoh and action choreographer for another film again!!!! 2014 Mercenaries the female expendables has Cynthia but lacks Michelle and Corey as the action director.

[@taepyeoon8245]

She is simply delightful!

[@Shaki123]

I didn't see her mention that a lot of times in HK women (or even men) would be doubled by someone on the stuntteam because they need to move on and can't risk any injuries. Lots of stunts are actually done by men dressed as women in her movies. By the way, this is not a critique. Just stating the facts. She looks amazing and she's a great rolemodel for women around the world. Keep fit and stay in shape!!

[@Kijinn]

I think she's mentioning something about being doubled in her talk with Scott Adkins, on his YT channel. Coincidentally, you can see her being doubled in the sideways somersault @ 23:45 and for the jumping roundhouse @ 24:29. And, yeah, as you said, it was the norm, everyone's been doubled in that era of HK martial arts movies, including Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee (whose acrobatics double was the great Yuen Wah). Sometimes they did it simply to save time, like when a conversation scene was being filmed with the main cast, in a different location. That gave the action director the opportunity to film sequences in which the actors' faces wouldn't be visible anyway, with just doubles.

[@Shaki123]

@@Kijinn exactly brother. I have seen the SA episode with CR (I have seen all the videos on his channel) and I remember it being discussed and even shown. One of the next guest on Eric's show is Mars, who I presume you know. That's going to be maybe the most important interview with a stuntman ever.

[@5dragonskarategoryukarate-890]

My first movie I saw her in was No Retreat No Surrender 2. Then I became a total fan with China O'Brien.

[@carminedawg9506]

Rothrock is a legend

[@xibanyae]

excellent interview!!!!!!! outstanding martial arts and film career and also an american wushu pioneer, something that she doesn't usually get enough credit for! p.s. yes, john liu (劉忠良) is the long legged TKD axe-kicker from taiwan 😛

[@guilherme5094]

👍Thanks Eric!

[@dan13l77]

Love Cinthia!! Greetings from lima Perú 👍

[@boneheaded]

Awesome stories

[@andyspacey]

I loved China o brain. looking forward to Cynthia working with Scott or in a john wick move.

[@drjones694]

Great interview Sonya blade mortal Kombat

[@alpineflauge909]

wow

[@danielspencer6174]

I say legend of European-American woman at martial arts movies?

[@micahmoore-portfolio1044]

!!!

[@Ninjaturtle199]

Cynthia has 0 ground game in real life she’d get owned no disrespect.

[@lorrainebutcher710]

The women are allowed to do more and better realistic fight scenes in hong Kong action movies