Shaw Brother vs. Golden Harvest (& More!) w/Frank Djeng! | 10 Questions with the Kung Fu Genius #1

[@rubenvilla1675]

Awesome and very entertaining interview thanks for sharing 👍

[@Garrett316]

I definitely preferred Golden Harvest films overall. Shaw Bros films had very good Costume and Set Designs, but Golden Harvest had the best Action Directors and Choreography, which is why I watch Martial Arts Films to begin with.

[@cyborgchicken3502]

For me Shaw Brothers was better in terms of story, set design and overall production quality and even with regards to their choreography they were pretty creative but in terms of making the choreography look somewhat realistic, adapting to the times and just plain down hard hitting action Golden Harvest is definitely better....Shaw Brothers were very creative in that they were always trying new things with their choreography, the end fight in the narrow Alleyway in Martial Club blew my mind when I first saw it....but only Golden Harvest fights had my like oooooohhhh he hit him with a double flying kick in slo mo!!

[@Mattastrophic1]

The first Shaw Brothers DVD I bought was Five Fingers of Death. Tarantino was one of the dudes on the commentary track and it was HILARIOUS. It took the other commentators like half an hour to realize that the only way they would get to talk is if they INTERRUPTED one of Tarantino's rants. Screw waiting for him to let someone else talk!

[@dghazd5862]

Great interview, love the concept. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Rolling back to all those great films bring back some good memories. Shout out to the KFG hosts and to the Commentary Maestro.

[@cyborgchicken3502]

Growing up I was mostly exposed to Golden Harvest films and just recently I really started delving deep into Shaw Brothers films even going as far back as Come Drink with Me from 1966....I'll say this, Shaw Brothers had it down when it came to story and overall production quality, their sets were fantastic and they at least had stories that weren't always the typical "get revenge for my master's death" plots....in terms of choreography I also feel like they were pretty creative, movies like the Flying Guillotine, the Shadow Whip, Martial Club, Dirty Ho, 8 Diagram Pole Fighter and Heroes of the East had some of the most creative choreography I'd ever seen....but in terms of actual hand to hand choreography that just look good on screen, is highly entertaining and mind-blowing I'd definitely say Golden Harvest....besides they also gave us some of the biggest stars in martial arts cinema, Bruce Lee, Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Yuen Woo Ping, Jet Li, Yuen Biao, Michelle Yeoh and many more

[@RandyJoeDuke]

Enjoying the discussion. I definitely saw more Golden Harvest films as a teen in the very early '70s but picking between them and Shaw Brothers is something that never crossed my mind. I also can't imagine choosing between Paramount , Universal, and Warner Bros. studio based on the films they produced that I love. Or the record labels behind the songs and artists I love. I figure we're lucky anything great and creative got past the suits and the bean counters. Still, a great discussion. Thanks!

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Fantastic comment!

[@cyborgchicken3502]

@@TheKungFuGenius hey Sifu, if you're looking for something recent regarding Kung Fu movies check out The Rusty Blade, it's a mainland film that was released earlier this year which has some awesome Sword fights very similar to the choreography in Final Master, realistic, no wires or crappy quick edits, very good and dramatic story set during the Ming Dynasty with no propaganda BS...was quite a refreshing watch considering all the nonsense that mainland Chinese film industry has been putting out in recent years

[@junctionstreettigers8926]

Awesome 👏 The old Kung fu movies have such nostalgia. Even the bad ones are good due to that childhood feeling, they bring you right back. The first HK legends dvds with commentary were great too. Mighty stuff again KFG 🤙

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thank you!

[@johnpittsii7524]

Mad Monkey Kung Fu and Snake in the Eagle Shadow will be always my personal favorite ❤

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Those are classics!

[@kevinkimble6022]

Love the podcast! Always waiting on Monday for the latest episode and annoyed with the days I have to wait for Wednesday!😂 Question for the KFG: You’ve mentioned training in different styles over the years for a better understanding of the challenges they present. Do you feel like the principles of Ving Tsun are useful and in cross training other styles? While rolling have you found Chi Sau to people useful while fighting hands/controlling position? Ever feel like you have a better understanding of fighting for centerline while doing other styles due to your experience? Thank you for providing the most informative Kung Fu podcast on Spotify!

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thank you!

[@metabaron6664]

Right now I’m really liking Shaw Bros more

[@kaizen209]

EXCELLENT INTERVIEW Sifu Alex! Please keep us updated on Djeng's work! Time to go watch "Mad Monkey Kung Fu" and the five recommendations!

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Enjoy it!

[@PetLinkHK]

KFG should try to do an interview with The White Tiger Mark Houghton who was a disciple of Lau Kar Leung. I met him once in a pub in Tsim Sha Tsui and he's got some amazing stories.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thank you for your suggestion!

[@Ed7501]

Yes please! kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6a7i42Qi8ecnrs

[@HUEnshiro_do_Norte]

Master Mark is a beast! His Hung Gar is superb!

[@tk36864]

Great interview, Frank is a really interesting, knowledgeable and engaging guest and can tell you had a lot of fun Alex! Totally agree with Chungking Express, one of my top 3 Hk films, with John Woos the Killer and Hard Boiled.

[@Mattastrophic1]

D00D Hard Boiled was my first John Woo movie. My buddy and I rented it in high school and...we weren't ready for it! This was in the late 90's/early 00's and we thought we knew action movies but...wow. I haven't seen Chungking Express though but It's going after my list after this.

[@paulclaerhout6997]

Many years ago I had lunch with the son of Lo Lieh. My wife used to work with him in Guangzhou. She did not tell me who he was until after because he didn't want people to know he was the son of a famous movie star.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

That’s amazing!

[@rademarinkovic4582]

Very nice and humble again. Like allways. Every one of us, have this special movies , with you will allways fall in love. I rember when i watched my first Eastern , The green Dragon Inn, with Yueh Hua, Lo Lieh and the lovely Polly Shan. Still today one of my lifetime favorite movies. Not the best fights, not even tue best Story, but i felt in love with this movie. So my journey into Eastern was born. And then all the Chang Che movies,for Shaw with David Chiang and Ti Lung, watching them as a Kid, they blown me away. My favorite Bruce Lee movie is Big Boss. Same here. First real Bruce movie i watched, and i was just, wow whats that? But to find the 5 best for me? No chance, because i love so much of them 😅

[@NaikaVideo]

FUN FUN VIDEO, thanks to Frank and you guys. This was awesome. Talk to MJW, Times Sq Kung Fu, your evil clone and anyone else. :)

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Will do!

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thanks for that, I appreciate your feedback!

[@aidansan514]

Shaw Brothers vs. Golden Harvest ah my childhood... can't wait for the nostalgia 😁

[@TheKungFuGenius]

I think you will enjoy it!

[@Mattastrophic1]

Great episode! I like this guy (Frank Djeng) a lot. You're ok too, KFG (/s). Frank had some great picks. Some I've seen, but now I've got Mad Monkey Kung Fu and and Martial Club on my list and I'm excited to see them! When Frank said he loved movies where you THINK it's over and then more happens, I thought of Five Fingers of Death. You THINK the finale is the tournament and then 😮 _oh damn, did he just_ 😲 _oh crap, didn't see this coming!_ And then...😱 _oh no! This will be ugly!_ Anyway, great episode. Bring Frank back if you can. I also have a question for the KFG: *do you have any English-language book recommendations for a quality history of Wing Chun?* I train WT and am particularly interested in Yip Man's era and what we can substantiate about his teachers. I know that isn't a simple question. Martial arts history can be a hot mess that mixes fact, rumor, and myth. A group's myths are relevant, _but if I hear someone present the story of Yim Wing-Chun and Ng Mui as "real history" ONE MORE TIME then I am going to vomit_ 🤢 Since you teach WT/WC, speak Cantonese, and have experience with the Hong Kong martial arts crowd, I'm hoping you have a go-to recommendation or two. *So, caveats and all, what would you recommend?* I'm working my way through your other episodes, so if you've addressed this somewhere else then a reference to that (from you or any other commentator here) would also be greatly appreciated! Peace!

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Great questions, thanks for commenting!

[@HUEnshiro_do_Norte]

I started with Golden Harvest by Bruce and Jackie movies and I remember that I felt me strange the first time when I saw a SB movie ("5 Venoms" was my first one). I took a long time to get used with SB style until I know Lau Kar Leung movies and accept Lau's movies like the fingerprint of SB Kung Fu movies as the Bruce and Jackie movies were for the Golden Harvest. Today I still like more GH productions because I feel like they're more brutal and ruthless in action (maybe Bruce Lee's legacy?) in counterpart of SB where I believe there was more a heritage from Chinese opera style. But I believe that Lau was the best action choreographer of all time (at least in shape style) although he's criminally underrated here in the West. For me, "Martial Club", "My Young Auntie", "Mad Monkey Kung Fu" and "Dirty Ho" are his "PHd academic works" in HK action cinema. Pure SB old school gems. A last thing: one of my preferred action fight scenes is Sammo x Lau in "Pedicab Driver" because for me there is a enjoyable simbolism about SB x GH rivalry being Sammo the GH side and Lau the SB side, as a clash of Kung Fu cinema generations. Too bad this scene have been the only opportunity for these two legendary monsters work together.

[@errolthomas9426]

Those who love Golden Harvest Kung Fu movies from the late 70's or sometime during the 80's can't seem to realize that Golden Harvest would've made it if Bruce Lee hadn't saved it with his movie The Big Boss

[@callumbrowns]

The Kung Fu Genius Both very awesome productions!, What other famous martial arts productions are there as im a big fan of this genre?

[@JKDVIPER]

My favorites were always.. enter the dragon.. fist of the North Star (cartoon) and ninja assassins movie

[@davidreynolds2126]

Fun video 😎👍

[@kelvendyson1508]

My faves: 36th Chamber Shaolin Bronze Men Secret Rivals 3 7 Grand Masters Mad Monkey Kung Fu Loved that he says Fists of Fury us his favorite Bruce Lee movie as it's my second favorite BL movie...afa Tony Jaa you guys are right...totally underused!! I mean his character in Fast and Furious 7 was killed by Paul Walker's character! No disrespect to Paul Walker. Great episode!! Brought back memories being a teenager paying $1.75 to see 3 Kung Fu movies in the rat infested Mcvickers Theater in Chicago!!

[@TheKungFuGenius]

That’s a solid list

[@asianactioncinema4687]

Great podcast, should have been longer! Agree with most of what Frank said, surprised he didn't mention Pedicab Driver which has Sammo and Lau Kar Leung. IP Man 1 was the best of that series, but you can understand his reason for being his favourite.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

I agree it should be longer! Totally agree on Pedicab Driver!

[@HUEnshiro_do_Norte]

For those who understand about HK action cinema, I believe that Sammo x Lau encounter is so f*cking huge as if Bruce Lee and Sonny Chiba had worked together.

[@Garrett316]

Just heard the discussion on Spotify. Another A+ discussion. For your next guest for ‘Ask 10 Questions’, I’d love to hear from Bey Logan.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Sounds good!

[@Partoftheratpack]

I’m actually at the stage where I’ve just really really discovered Shaw Brothers films. I was heavy Golden Harvest, now I’m both. I’m well into double figures since I got the Shawscope box set… before I was only really aware of Gordon Liu films and a few of the Venom mob films. The production of Shaw Brothers films is amazing - compared to some famous Golden Harvest of the same period the cinematography is better. I’d say Golden Harvest was the guerrilla filmmaker in the region of the time. Once they told action to real world modern locations then they ran with it.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Great comments, totally agree! That Shawscope set is amazing.

[@Mattastrophic1]

100% agree with Frank Djeng that Tony Jaa should have popped bigger. Those wireless stunt sequences in Ong Bak 1 alone! He has Jackie Chan level stunt chops and his Muay Thai made me cringe in a GOOD way (i.e. "oh dang he just DESTROYED that dude with that flying knee. That goon is NO MORE!"). Jaa and Donnie Yen could have been used much better in western films.

[@BoFaat]

I would also rate ip man 2 the best if they didnt added the boxers story into it...but sammo killed it.. should do a spin off with his role as the hung kuen sifu

[@Mattastrophic1]

Yeah, 2 was great but I don't know why they had to have Sammo get pummeled to death. All that developed tension where Sammo tries to bend Ip to the "way things work" in Hong Kong just evaporates and Ip Man 2 suddenly becomes Rocky IV. I agree they could have done a spin off with a younger version of that character as he fights his way to the top of the heap of the kung fu teachers in Hong Kong.

[@MikeS24-v4s]

My Top 5 Movies If I was going to introduce Kung Fu movie genre to someone, 1) Way Of The Dragon, that was my very first movie as well and made me want to become a Martial artist. 2) Five Shaolin Masters, 3) Shaolin Temple (Shaw's Version) 4) Heroes Of The East, 5) Prodigal Son. That was a hard 5. LOL!!

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Great picks!

[@dwuonw6438]

Also Highlander End game, Donnie could've done more

[@wutang_batman]

As a fan of both studios I'd have to go with golden harvest. In my opinion Golden harvest (especially the sammo hung movies) had superior and very intricate choreography. But those shaw brothers venom mob movies are no joke.

[@Urbankungfu61]

I agree that “Fist of Fury” is Bruce Lee’s best film but......why wasn’t “King Boxer” aka “Five Fingers of Death” mentioned? That’s my favorite Shaw film!

[@TheKungFuGenius]

I think you’re gonna have to challenge Frank!

[@Urbankungfu61]

@@TheKungFuGenius Ahahaha! I’m no match for Frank!

[@ericrecano8557]

I love your knowledge of the old school and anyone that was into the martial arts in the 70’s, 80’s , and 90’s would know about the things you speak about her in NYC, Chinatown-Shaw Bros., Golden Harvest, Ocean Shores, Tai Seng…ect. In terms of VOLUME of movies I like-I’d have to go with Shaw Bros because of the Shaolin movie series with Chang Chen, the Venom Movies and the Liu Kar Leung Movies ( 36th chamber , 8 diagram, heroes of the East, my young auntie, Ect…) and I loved the surreal Sets of Shaw bros movies- However, since Golden Harvest had Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan…I guess it would have to be a draw-

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Great comment!

[@Sifu-Myers]

Not sure if this will get seen or replied to but mind covering the "8 wing chun kicks" not the kicks themselves but there's an article on them called the secret leg maneuvers of Wing Chun. It's pretty good apparently ip man taught them and had some interesting training on kicking as well. Maybe you cna expand on your idea of Wing Chun kicking. I was always told Wing Chun doesn't kick alot. I had other MA experience so I naturally still kicked when I needed to but knowing it wasn't the case was eye opening for my WC training

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Have a whole chapter dedicated to the "8 kicks" in my new dummy book: www.citywt.com/product-page/wooden-dummy-book Also my Chum Kiu book has a section on the foundation of all WT kicks - the "three standards": www.citywt.com/product-page/seek-the-bridge-chum-kiu-companion-book

[@Sifu-Myers]

@@TheKungFuGenius thanks for the reply! Thanks I find this topic interesting since it's something I've seen unique to Wing Chun. Have you read the article talking about Ip Man and his leg training routine?

[@TheKungFuGenius]

I’ve easily read hundreds of articles in my career… Nothing in particular comes to mind.

[@aminaghannan5439]

The first shaw bros film I saw was executioner from shalion I became a fan loved the kung fu choreography and realistic action I would say shaw bros I liked better than golden harvest even the Bruce Lee films

[@kaliyuddha]

KF Genius, are you on kf subreddit?

[@TheKungFuGenius]

No, unfortunately I don’t have time for those kind of things

[@fletchkeilman2205]

Oh my god! Alex! Now i remember this guy! He was one of two people at the taising booth that was at every video store convention we went to. He was always in vegas, california, i think kentucky, and a few other places that i had to go to for the running the video stores. But he also gave us his card with the phone number, so we would call him and see would carry their films in terms of our distributors. And if they didn't i believe the owner would buy wholesale. Regardless, this guy is amazingly nice, and we had a running joke about korean films at the time. This was around 2005 or 6 i want to say? It was around the time korean films startedGaining clout in the international film industry. We would joke about how he had to reluctantly carry these titles from korea, because hong kong action movies were on the decline. I always wondered what happened to him, and now i put two and two together! That is so cool that you know him. Super nice guy, and i wish him well. PostScript. As always, i am dictating this comment into my phone, so if it seems a little jumbled in regards to grammar and sentence structure, i do apologize. What i was trying to say was that we would try to buy from them wholesale, rather than go through our distributors to get their titles. We were fortunate enough to carry iron monkey with donnie yen a year prior to it coming to theaters. There was a good amount of time that passed that we were able to also rent them in the store when it was announced they'd be hitting the theater. One of the reasons was that it was not the meramec's dub, so somehow we got away with that. We also rented out the subtitle version. That film alone made us a lot of money on just 10 copies each store. At the time we only had three stores. It was just incredible. I believe the same thing happened with storm riders. Those were some great times. Sadly we won't see that again unfortunately

[@wutang_batman]

Lau gar leung is my is my favourite choreographer after sammo. But only by a hair.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

That is a very fair statement

[@Mattastrophic1]

I'm partial to Yuen Woo-Ping myself, but there is no denying Lau Kar Leung. There is even less denying Sammo. I wish more westerners knew Sammo's influence!

[@fletchkeilman2205]

Fave Sammo? The Victim!!

[@TheKungFuGenius]

It’s difficult to choose his best ones because he’s been so consistently consistent!

[@fletchkeilman2205]

@@TheKungFuGenius agreed. The Victim however was the first non Lee or Chan vehicle that I showed ally friends. It gave them a MUCH better appreciation of the genre outside of those names. I mean most of us knew who samo was. I know I definitely did. But again. Most people didn't. With the movie the victim, it also introduced me to Leung Kar Yan and his incredible ability to mimic whatever moves the choreographer through at him. I also enjoyed the commentary that Rick Myers and Bobby Samuels had on that one. It was about the time that I actually started listening to them instead of avoiding them all together. I don't know. It just is a special film for me. But samo never ceases to amaze me. Especially in SPL and the end fight with Donnie. For its time, and for Samos stature, the grappling in that fight was very impressive. I even liked his last film, well maybe not his real last film, but the one called The bodyguard. The one where he plays an egg special forces suffering from dementia? I believe that's the name of it. And they changed it at the last minute because some other production used that name. I'm thinking it was the one with the guy who trained with all the iron and cement on his legs, if that makes any sense whatsoever.

[@bkamara1]

@@fletchkeilman2205 what version of the victim do you have with commentary

[@HUEnshiro_do_Norte]

"The Victim" is a very brutal and tricky sh*t!!!! Kar Yan x Chang Yi gives me chills just remembering.

[@bobsebring3377]

TOHO ALL THE WAY!

[@TheKungFuGenius]

I thought there was only an A or B choice, I didn’t know there was also C! 😂

[@ngkayui]

FRank is amazing

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Agreed!

[@scottmcfarlane7524]

This is crazy ....as a Canadian I think we had more access to these Shaw and alot of GH, due to Vancover huge Chinese pop. A lot like San Fran,. I never had to order or work that hard to get these films in the 90's (they where at the local movie rental store as well as bootleg) I was HUGE in the wreslting tape trading in late 80 early 90's and these just got tossed in. Fist of Fury is the best fyi, Sammio was Sha Po Lang ...36 Chambers is better. ....If you listen to Yen talking about the Star Wars movie, he wanted to be blind, and killed off...listen to their interviews as well if your going to podcast this kinda stuff. Deadly Vemons or Come Drink with Me

[@TheKungFuGenius]

Thanks for the tip - I’ll make sure I’ll watch every interview ever made on a subject before I discuss it again.

[@IronClawNinja]

Shaw Bros all day. Due to the messaging. While Golden Harvest has the action.

[@junctionstreettigers8926]

It’s funny cause I was biased against shaw brothers for years as they gave Bruce a crappy first deal offer 😂 such was my fanboydom at the time 😂

[@LukeKapp]

This was a great segment to watch. I love watching these kinds of videos cause you guys give great suggestions on what Kung Fu movies I should check out. There are so many out there that is can be hard to pick one to watch. 36 chambers was my first Shaw Brothers film to watch and I still love watching it to this day. 8 Pole is a classic, anyone who has a problem with it can suck it! Also I hate to say it, but I kind of like Ip Man 2 a little more. I enjoy the table top fight between Sammo Hung and Donnie Yen even if it's a little ridiculous. Ip Man 1 is a close second and as for 3 and 4.... well they're there. hahaha Definitely would love to see more videos like this with movie and book suggestions for those who want to know more about Hong Kong cinema and Kung Fu history. Also it would awesome if you were able to get Martial Club on the podcast.

[@TheKungFuGenius]

That would be a lot of fun!

[@rdenn_shapes]

Looking fwd to this

[@TheKungFuGenius]

It was a lot of fun!

[@AndreBeaulee]

Recent years. Raging fire donnie yen how did this not get a mention. Go give it a watch guys recommend. Also golden harvest has better looking films. Kung fu is better in Shaw films

[@frankdjeng5543]

Raging Fire is not really a Kung Fu film though. We're trying to come up with a recent Kung Fu action film that's good.

[@AndreBeaulee]

@@frankdjeng5543 no I surpose not. But neither is the raid more a silat film ahaha. But it is increasingly hard to find good new ones sadly

[@kaykath4575]

👏👏👏👍👍👍👌👌👌♥️♥️♥️

[@jdjjdjd2667]

Kung Fu Hustle are you serious?? really?? SIFU Alex I didn't like Kung Fu Hustle! It's extremely cartoonish!! Unrealistic choreography & a complete martial joke I did not get👎👎!! What even worse Kung Pol 😠! Some Ned Beatty look alike who's a lousy comedian making a silly ass film 🎥 where as an infant orphan left on the steps of a Shaolin Temple, raise to adulthood, able to communicate with animals like he's Aquaman somebody summons Chipmunks from the ground turns them into nunchucks ( chipchucks I painfully presume) to fight the killer of his parents I presume ( U know how these turn out) I NEVER Saw the movie & DISPIKE the the horrific fact it's Free to See on KZbin movies!! I WOULDN'T GIVE THAT MOVIE A TIME OF SECOND 😡😡!!! I 💚 martial arts movies & don't Iike seeing them made a joke!!

[@TheKungFuGenius]

That’s OK, it’s perfectly fine for people to have completely wrong opinions and post them online. You’ll find the general consensus on experts about that film does not concur with yours. But that’s OK, you’re free to have your opinion, and matter how wrong it is lol.

[@jdjjdjd2667]

@@TheKungFuGenius I know Kung Fu Hustle was well received & the writer portrayed by 1 of the characters in Ip-Man 1 ( the little brother with the 🪁) however, That Kung Pol flick?? U know my options

[@frankdjeng5543]

KUNG FU HUSTLE was choreographed by both Sammo Hung and Yuen Wo Ping. Sammo did the first two fights and had a disagreement with Stephen Chow and left. Yuen Wo Ping stepped in and did the rest.

[@rademarinkovic4582]

Kung fu Hustle, is one of the best Hommage, of the old kung fu movies ever .

[@jdjjdjd2667]

@@rademarinkovic4582 I begged to differ, The 5 Deadly Venoms was a bit off the wall fantasy..a man able to cling to walls like its Marvel Comics counterpart Lizard 🦎 & a Strong man martial artist with in inpendable skin named Toad was unrealistic but , they didn't do absurd things like run on roads at speedhuman speeds simply it's assumed they're HAD martial arts training in they past. NO 👎!!! That's NOT martial arts training!! That's Radioactive science fiction in involvement