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The 36th Chamber of Shaolin

Original title: Shao Lin san shi liu fang
  • 19781978
  • RR
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
16K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
A man studies kung fu at the Shaolin Temple to fight back against the oppressive Manchu government.
Play trailer3:42
1 Video
87 Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Drama

A man studies kung fu at the Shaolin Temple to fight back against the oppressive Manchu government.A man studies kung fu at the Shaolin Temple to fight back against the oppressive Manchu government.A man studies kung fu at the Shaolin Temple to fight back against the oppressive Manchu government.

IMDb RATING
7.7/10
16K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Chia-Liang Liu
  • Writer
    • Kuang Ni
  • Stars
    • Chia-Hui Liu
    • Lieh Lo
    • Yue Wong
Top credits
  • Director
    • Chia-Liang Liu
  • Writer
    • Kuang Ni
  • Stars
    • Chia-Hui Liu
    • Lieh Lo
    • Yue Wong
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 87User reviews
    • 63Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:42
    Trailer

    Photos87

    Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
    Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
    Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
    Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
    Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
    Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
    Chia-Hui Liu in Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
    Chia-Hui Liu in Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
    Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
    Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
    Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
    Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Chia-Hui Liu
    Chia-Hui Liu
    • San Teas San Te
    Lieh Lo
    Lieh Lo
    • General Tien Taas General Tien Ta
    Yue Wong
    Yue Wong
    • Miller Sixas Miller Six
    Chia-Yung Liu
    Chia-Yung Liu
    • General Yinas General Yin
    Norman Chu
    Norman Chu
    • Lu Ah-Tsaias Lu Ah-Tsai
    • (as Shao-Chiang Hsu)
    Yung Yu
    • Hung Hsi-Kuanas Hung Hsi-Kuan
    Hung Wei
    Hung Wei
    • Teacher Hoas Teacher Ho
    Lun Hua
    Lun Hua
    • Chang Hsiang-Yungas Chang Hsiang-Yung
    Szu-Chia Chen
    Szu-Chia Chen
    • Chen Yen-Pingas Chen Yen-Ping
    John Cheung
    John Cheung
    • Lord Chengas Lord Cheng
    • (as Wu-Liang Chang)
    Wilson Tong
    Wilson Tong
    • Tang San-Yaoas Tang San-Yao
    • (as Tang Wei-cheng)
    Hang-Sheng Wu
    Hang-Sheng Wu
    • Tung Chien-Jinas Tung Chien-Jin
    Hoi-Sang Lee
    Hoi-Sang Lee
    • Abbot of Justice Officeas Abbot of Justice Office
    • (as Hai-Sheng Li)
    Kwok-Choi Hon
    Kwok-Choi Hon
    • Lin Chenas Lin Chen
    • (as Kuo-Tsai Han)
    Tung-Kua Ai
    Tung-Kua Ai
    • Abbot in charge of Head Chamberas Abbot in charge of Head Chamber
    Billy Chan
    Billy Chan
    • Soldieras Soldier
    Lung Chan
    Lung Chan
    • Abbot in charge of Staff Chamberas Abbot in charge of Staff Chamber
    Shen Chan
    Shen Chan
    • Director of 'Wrists Chamber'as Director of 'Wrists Chamber'
    • Director
      • Chia-Liang Liu
    • Writer
      • Kuang Ni
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The anti-Ching patriots, under the guidance of Ho Kuang-han, have secretly set up their base in Canton, disguised as school masters. During a brutal Manchu attack, Lui manages to escape and devotes himself to learning the martial arts in order to seek revenge. In a short period of time he masters the deadly use of his fists, feet and palms, along with such weapons as swords, sticks, and lances. With his learning complete, he takes on the Manchus. —Anonymous
    • buddhist monk
    • training
    • kung fu
    • bare chested male
    • arm ring
    • 35 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • He who struggles initially, might succeed eventually, and even finally.
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The movie won the Best Martial Arts Award at 24th Asian Film Festival and was the 1978 Top 10 Box Office Hits in Hong Kong.
    • Quotes

      Senior monk: The wall may be low, but the Buddha is high.

    • Alternate versions
      West German theatrical version was cut by ca. 30 minutes. Subsequent TV and VHS releases were cut as well. Only in 2004 the film was redubbed and released completely uncut on DVD by MiB.
    • Connections
      Featured in Martial Arts Mayhem Vol. 2 (1998)

    User reviews87

    Review
    Top review
    Also known as Master killer, one of the best training Shaolin Kung Fu movies ever made featuring Chia Hui Liu (Gordon Liu) as the Master Killer.
    Most people who watched old Kung Fu movies know this movie simply as "Master Killer". This is one of a select few non Chang Cheh directed Kung Fu movies that I really, really like. This movie is a reference point of the old training kung fu flicks.

    This movie is famous for its rigorous training scenes performed by Chia Hui Liu (Gordon Liu). Somehow you get a feel for how being a student in the Shaolin Temple was really like. All of the teachers are Monks and they sport the usual bald heads accompanied with almost mysterious wisdom. Master Killer seems to be a well directed movie so you become engulfed in the students plight.

    Noteworthy about this movie is how as a viewer at first you don't take Master Killer seriously as a fighter, he just doesn't look tough. When he struggles with his kung fu as he goes from one chamber to the next it is uplifting as he slowly becomes better. Master Killer starts off as a huge underdog in this movie, and as much as you laughed at him when he first started to learn, you are amazed at his skill as he progresses. This I feel is what makes Master Killer stand out as one of the best training kung fu movies.

    There are many memorable training chambers. One chamber tests his sight, there are 2 burning posts on each side of his head. If he moves his head even the slightest, the sides of his head will be badly burned. He watches an object move from side to side, faster and faster, the object is to move your eyes and not your head; eventually Master Killer master all of the chambers.

    Before he can leave the Temple he has to fight one of the Head Monks at the temple, initially he is no match for the monk, but Master Killer invents a "new" kind of fighting weapon, and takes on the head monk again and is able to be victorious. The fight scenes with Gordon and this monk are very good. Many different weapons are used as well as hand to hand combat, this is an excellent example of the essence of Shaolin Kung Fu.

    Anyone who loves old kung fu flicks will certainly be taken in by Master Killer (also called "Enter the 36 Chambers). I can't explain it but this is certainly Gordon Liu's signature film; he certainly was made to play..... the Master Killer.
    helpful•19
    8
    • macnjnc
    • Apr 26, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • 1978 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Hong Kong
    • Language
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • Master Killer
    • Filming locations
      • Hong Kong, China
    • Production company
      • Shaw Brothers
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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