ABC of Shaw Brothers Studios
Part I: A – M
Dates regarding SB according to the official SB website, diverging figures in brackets.
As of July 2008. Please note that the recent sale of Sir Run Run Shaw’s shares in Shaw Brothers (HK) Ltd and TVB and its consequences have not yet been considered.
No guarantee for correctness.
Address
Shaw Brothers (HK) Pte Ltd
Cosmopolitan Productions Co, Ltd
Lot 220, Clearwater Bay, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Amusement Parks
The Shaw Brothers operated some amusement parks in Singapore, and Malaysia. The most well-known were:
Great World (Kim Seng Road, Singapore). Taken over by the Shaw Brothers, closed down in 1964. The park area was also used for trade fairs and exhibitions.
New World (Jalan Besar, Singapore). 1923 – 1987, taken over by the Shaw Brothers in the 1930ies. The New World offered cinemas, Kiddie Rides, Merry Go Rounds, shows, restaurants, theatres, gambling halls, all sorts of competitions, etc.
BCI
US label, announced release of 15 Shaw movies for 2008/ 2009. LINK: http://www.shaw-brothers-reloaded.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=794 BCI Thread
Blood
The Shaw Brothers used a common formula for their movie blood. For gushing blood, they used cornstarch or common flour, water, some detergent and a lot of red food color. For flat-spread blood, they added some oil or gelatin. In the exuberance of daily use, someone once forgot to add the usual amount of blue food color which makes the final shade much more realistic. That’s why Shaw blood is surreal red. Despite some critique, this formula was retained – also in order to appease the censoring authorities.
Box Office Success
Most successful movies produced by the Shaw Brothers:
1.BLADE RUNNER
2.THE LOVE ETERNE
3.HOUSE OF 72 TENNANTS
4.THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN
5.THE MAGNIFICENT CONCUBINE YANG KWEI FEI
6.DUEL OF FISTS
7.THE ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN
8.LADY GENERAL HUA MU LAN
9.THREE SMILES
10THE WARLORD
Celestial Classic Movies
Asian TV station launched in 2008, subsidiary of -> Celestial Pictures Ltd. CCM broadcasts Shaw Brothers movies 24 hours per day, app. 100 classics per month which run in rotation. For program information please click http://www.cmclassic.tv/index.asp
Celestial Pictures Ltd., Hong Kong
Hong Kong subsidiary of -> UTSB. From December 2002 thru December 2007, Celestial released all in all 587 digitally -> remastered Shaw classics on DVD under the label of its Hong Kong distribution partner -> IVL. Some of them are already out of print. Apart from frame cuts and missing material, IVL DVDs are uncut. The remastered material is basis for all legal Shaw DVDs. -> labels
Celestial/ IVL DVD releases of classic Shaw movies:
2002/ 03: 152 movies
2004: 120 movies
2005: 120 movies
2006: 96 movies
2007: 99 movies
App. 190 movies have not been released on IVL DVDs. Some of these, however, are available on IVL VCDs (for example, HAUNTED TALES, CORPSE MANIA), and some will hopefully be released by other labels (for example, BLACK MAGIC II which -> Media Blasters announce for October 2008).
In 2008, Celestial launch the Asian TV station -> Celestial Classic Movies which is exclusively dedicated to Shaw Brothers movies.
Chang Cheh
Chang Cheh is the -> Shaw Brothers Studios’ most popular, influential and successful Martial Arts director (“Godfather of Kung Fu Movies”, “Million Dollar Director”). His ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN (1967) was the first movie to break the HK-$ 1 million mark at Hong Kong’s box office. He was a pioneer of -> Heroic Bloodshed, many of his movies rely on the -> Yang Gang principle. His movies starring Jimmy Wang Yu, the “Deadly Duo” Ti Lung/ David Chiang (-> Iron Triangle), Fu Sheng/ Chi Kuan Chun, and the -> Venoms count among the most famous martial arts movies from the Shaw forge. LINK: http://www.shaw-brothers-reloaded.de/SBR%20Regisseure/html/chang_cheh_.html Chang Cheh on SBR
Chang’s Film Company
In 1974 Chang Cheh founded his own production company in Taiwan. It was indirectly financed by -> Shaw Brothers (HK) Ltd, thus these movies (the last one was released in 1977) are mostly taken for Shaw Brothers movies. Afterwards, Chang Cheh returned to Hong Kong and continued working for the Shaw Brothers.
LINK:http://www.shaw-brothers-reloaded.de/SBR%20Regisseure/html/chang_cheh_.html Chang Cheh on SBR
Chang’s Film Company Logo
Coproductions with Western Movie Studios
- Hammer Studios (Great Britain):
THE LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES, director Roy Ward-Baker/ assistant director Chang Cheh, starring David Chiang, Shih Szu, and Peter Cushing, 1974. This movie was one of the first cooperations between studios in Southeast Asia and the West, and was completely filmed in Hong Kong. Both studios expected a great deal of such cooperations.
SHATTER, director Michael Carreras/ Monte Hellman, starring Ti Lung, Lily Li, Peter Cushing, Stuart Whitman, 1974;
- Indief (Italy):
SUPERMEN AGAINST THE ORIENT, director Bitto Albertini/ Kuei Chih Hung, starring Lo Lieh, Shih Szu, 1974;
- Harbour (Italy):
BLOOD MONEY aka THE STRANGER AND THE GUNFIGHTER, director Antonie Margheriti, starring Lo Lieh, and Lee Van Cleef, 1974;
- ??? (Germany):
VIRGINS OF THE SEVEN SEAS , director Kuei Chih Hung/ Ernst Hofbauer, starring Yueh Hua, Wang Hsia
- William Tennant/ Warner Brothers (USA):
CLEOPATRA JONES MEETS THE DRAGON LADY aka CJ AND THE CASINO OF GOLD, director Charles Bail, starring Tamara Dobson, Chan Shen, Tien Ni, Yuen Woo Ping, 1975.
-> Original voices
Cosmopolitan Film Production Co Ltd
Founded by -> Shaw Brothers (HK) Ltd. and -> TVB in 1988, presently directed by -> Mona Fong Yat Wah.
Das Vierte
German free TV channel broadcasting Shaw movies (-> MiB version) on Thursday evenings.
Deltamac
Taiwanese label offering Shaw movies. Language: Mandarin, subs: Chinese, English, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malaysia.
Dragon Dynasty
US label, currently offers six Shaw movies. Fans praise quality and bonus material. Dragon Dynasty acquired the rights for all in all 52 Shaw movies. Language: Mandarin, English, subs: English, Spanish. LINK: http://www.shaw-brothers-reloaded.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=855 Dragon DynastyTHREAD
Dream Couples of the Shaw Studios
Ivy Ling Po and Chin Han
Jenny Tseng (aka Yan Nei) and Fu Shen
Eastern Movie Premiere
On January 25, 1973 Germany’s cinemas screened the first Eastern movie ever. It was, of course, a Shaw Brothers movie: -> Chang Cheh’s THE NEW ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN. This movie has a special place in the hearts of many German Eastern movie fans. It was also the first Eastern movie screened in Austria, and Switzerland.
Five further movies followed (two of them Shaw movies: KING BOXER and 14 AMAZONS) before Bruce Lee’s THE BIG BOSS premiered in April 1973.
In France and the USA, the first Eastern movies screened were also Shaw movies. France: THE MAGNIFICENT CONCUBINE, USA: KING BOXER aka -> FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH.
Favorite Shaw Stars
In Germany, and maybe worldwide, the most popular and beloved action stars of the Shaw Studios are Ti Lung and David Chiang.
FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH (US title)
aka KING BOXER (HK title), 1972, director Cheng Chang Ho, action directors Liu Chia Yung/ Chan Chuen, starring Lo Lieh. Is said to be the first internationally successful kung ku movie, made this genre known to the West. -> Eastern movie premiere
Foundation
In 1958 -> Runme Shaw set up the Shaw Foundation in Singapore. The Shaw Foundation in Hong Kong was founded in 1973. -> Nobel Prize of the East. San Francisco (USA) celebrates the “Sir Run Run Shaw Day” on each September 8th.
German Synchronization
-> MiB
Golden Harvest
Production company founded by ex Shaw Raymond Chow in 1970. Its big box-office successes (Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Michael Hui) badly affected the -> Shaw Brothers Studios.
Great World
-> Amusement Parks
Gu Long/ Ku Lung (“Old Dragon”)
-> Wuxia writer, 1936 (or 37) - 1985. Born as Xiong Yao Huo in Jiangxi Province, moved to Taiwan in 1952. He and -> Jin Yong/ Louis Cha are the most well-known contemporary wuxia writers. He published his first wuxia novel in 1960. The -> Shaw Brothers Studios (and others) adapted many of his novels, most of them by director Chu Yuan/ Chor Yuen. Gu Long also wrote scripts. Available translations from Chinese: The Eleventh Son, Les Quatre Brigands de Huabei.
Hai Seng Company
Founded in Singapore in 1927 (1928?), business purpose was the creation of distribution channels and installation of cinemas in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Later on known as -> Shaw Brothers Pte Ltd., from 1969 onwards -> Shaw & Shaw Pte Ltd. In the late 1930s, Hai Seng owned 139 cinemas, and also a so-called mobile cinema for rural areas without cinema building. -> Liuhe Film Company.
Heroic Bloodshed
Important element in -> Chang Cheh’s movies, finds its contemporary continuation, for example, in John Woo’s Bullet Ballet movies such as A BETTER TOMORROW.
-> Yang Gang
Hong Kong Movie News
-> Movie magazines
Hong Kong Southern Screen Magazine
-> Movie magazines
Huang Mei Diao/ Huang Mei Opera
Well-known variant of the Chinese Opera. The Huang Mei Diao stems from the Chinese province Anhui, and is at least 200 years old. It is based on the rural population’s songs and dances. Only later on, it developed into a proper opera form. The Huang Mei Diao differs from other forms of the Chinese Opera in many details, for example, its tone “Huang Mei Tone”, or the costumes. It became very popular in Hong Kong in the 1950s. The plots mostly deal with figures and tales of the rich Chinese folklore, with love stories, or all-day life of the “simple” people. The Shaw Brothers Studios made a lot of successful Huang Mei Opera movies, for example, THE KINGDOM AND THE BEAUTY (1959), or THE LOVE ETERNE (1963).
Image Entertainment
US label, currently offers 19 Shaw movies, five further releases are announced for 2008. Language: Mandarin, subs: English, (Spanish). Link: http://www.shaw-brothers-reloaded.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=933 Image Entertainment Thread
Iron Triangle
Recipe for success: -> Chang Cheh on the director’s chair, Ti Lung and David Chiang in front of the camera. Thanks to this constellation, we are able to enjoy such classics as THE NEW ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN, THE DUEL, DUEL OF FISTS, THE DEADLY DUO, THE HEROIC ONES, 4 RIDERS, THE BLOOD BROTHERS, etc.
IVL, Hong Kong
Intercontinental Video Limited, subsidiary of International Media Corporation in Hong Kong. Hong Kong-based label. IVL was -> Celestial Pictures’ business partner from 2002 thru 2007, and responsible for manufacturing and distribution in Hong Kong and Macau. Languages: Mandarin, (Cantonese), subs: English, Chinese, (Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malaysia).
Jianghu
-> wuxia
Jin Yong/ Louis Cha
-> Wuxia writer and influential journalist, born in Zhejiang Province on February 6, 1924 as Zha Liang Yong. Published 14 wuxia novels and one short story from 1955 – 1972. The -> Shaw Brothers Studios (and others) adapted many of his novels. Available translations from Chinese: The Deer & The Cauldron, The Book and The Sword, La Légende du Héros Chasseur d’Aigles.
Knighting
Until July 1st 1997, Hong Kong was a British Crown Colony, and thus ruled by Queen Elizabeth II. In 1973, Run Run Shaw was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). In 1977 he became Knight Bachelor, and entitled to call himself Sir Run Run Shaw. In 1998 the government of Hong Kong’s Special Administrative Region awarded him with the Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM). The GBM is Hong Kong’s highest decoration, and entitles to the prefix “The Honorable” as well as the post nominal letters GBM.
Labels
The following labels (selection) offer Shaw movies with original sound on DVD. Please check the respective entries for further language and subtitle options (without guarantee, please check with your seller before ordering!). BCI, Deltamac, Dragon Dynasty, Image Entertainment, IVL, Media Blasters/ Tokyo Shock, MiB, Momentum Pictures, Siren, United, Well Go USA, Wild Side, Zoke. Basis of these releases is the -> remastered -> Celestial material.
Laughter Theatre
Name of the first theatre bought by the Shaw Brothers in Singapore in 1923. -> THE MAN FROM SHENSI premiered here. In 1928, the Shaws also bought The Hsiang Theatre and The Hangzhou Popular Theatre.
Liuhe Film Company, Shanghai
Founded in 1928 by the six then leading studios, for example, Star Film Company, Great China, Youlian. The foundation was a reaction to the expanding -> Unique Film Company. Liuhe strategy: All cinemas are property of Liuhe studios, and Liuhe studios will not show Shaw movies. This strategy became known as the Liuhe Encirclement. Searching for new distribution channels, the Shaw Brothers orientated towards Singapore and founded the -> Hai Seng Company.
Logo
Master
The -> Shaw Brothers Studios also contracted real Kung Fu Masters: Chen Kuan Tai - Tai Shing Pek Kwar (Monkey Style), and Chi Kuan Chun - Hung Gar/ Hung Kuen.
Media Blasters/ Tokyo Shock
US label, currently offers one Shaw movie, nine further releases are announced for release from mid 2008 onwards. Languages: Mandarin, English, subs: English.
Link: http://www.shaw-brothers-reloaded.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=795 Media Blasters/ Tokyo Shock Thread
MiB
Medienvertrieb in Buchholz, German label. From 2004 until today MiB released 29 Shaw Brothers movies with new, disputed German synchronization. Original sound with English subs is included but not recommendable because not always in sync. Languages: Chinese, German, subs: English. MiB is the only company which legally offers Shaw movies with German language on DVD (exceptions: THE MIGHTY PEKING MAN and THE INFRA SUPERMAN from Starlight, as well as -> coproductions with Western movie studios).
LINK: http://www.shaw-brothers-reloaded.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=26 MiB Thread 1
LINK: http://www.shaw-brothers-reloaded.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1023&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30 MiB Thread 2
Mo Lei Tau
Cantonese, meaning “without sense”. Special verbal or non-verbal slapstick humor, often smutty. Came into being in Hong Kong’s cinemas in the 1970s. Not easy to access, especially for non-Chinese speakers, because of untranslatable word games.
Mona Fong Yat Wah
Influential movie producer. Born in Shanghai as Meng Lan Li in 1931, she was a popular singer before she entered -> Shaw Brothers (HK) Ltd in 1969. In 1981 she was elected in the board. Among other duties, she is deputy chairman of -> TVB and in charge of -> Cosmopolitan Film Productions. Married Sir Run Run Shaw in 1997.
Momentum Pictures (Momentum Asia)
UK-based label, currently offers six Shaw movies. Language: Mandarin, subs: English.
Movie Magazines
- The Screen Voice Pictorial (HK Edition)
Official magazine by the Shaw Studios, first published in 1952.
- Hong Kong Southern Screen Magazine
Succeeds the Screen Voice Pictorial from 1957 onwards. The Southern Screen is the most popular official magazine. In February 2007, it was revived as Southern Screen Magazine Revisited by www.shaw-brothers-reloaded.de
- Hong Kong Movie News
Second official magazine by the Shaw Studios, first published in 1966
