Rent Five Shaolin Masters / Shaolin Temple (1976)
3.4 of 5 from 46 ratings
3h 40min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
After an undisputed reign at the peak of Hong Kong's film industry in the 1960's, Shaw Brothers (the studio founded by real-life brothers Run Run and Runme Shaw) found their dominance challenged by up-and-coming rivals in the early 1970's.
Five Shaolin Masters (1974)The Qing Emperor fears the martial artists from the Shaolin Monastery, and so he gives orders to burn it down. Most of the inmates who resisted the Manchus are either killed or dispersed. The lucky ones who escape included Hong Xiguan, in addition to five men, who flee to Central China. They are Cai Dezhong, Ma Chaoxing, Fang Dahong, Li Shikai, and Hu Dedi. These five heroes try to join forces with the other anti-Qing elements in Central China. Among the Shaolin men is Ma Fuyi, a traitor, who in league with the Manchu henchman, Chen Wenyao, plots to destroy the Shaolin heroes once and for all. Ma Chaoxing is captured by the traitor, but he refuses to reveal anything. Meanwhile, Hu Dedi, with the help of Chieftain Kao, and the chieftain's followers, rush to the rescue of Ma Chaoxing. A fierce battle ensues, and Ma is freed, but the brave chieftain dies. The anti-Qing patriots begin to realize that in order to lick the Manchu lackeys, led by Chen Wenyao, Bao Yulong, and others, they must improve their kung fu skill, because their opponents are also experts in martial arts. Then the patriots return to the gutted monastery, where they spend more than a year perfecting still more kung fu techniques, such as the 'Crossed Fists', 'Triple-Jointed Stick', 'Rolling Technique', 'Tiger Stork Technique', and 'Pole Technique'. The decisive battle is fought, resulting in the complete routing of the Manchu gangsters. But Fang and Li also die martyrs to liberty. The anti-Qing forces are further reinforced by the arrival of fresh troops from Admiral Zheng Chenggong of Taiwan. More bitter struggles against the Manchu tyrants follow...
Shaolin Temple (1976)
In defiance of Qing authority, many patriotic people rush to the Shaolin Temple to learn kung fu. However, the Qing are intent on crushing the Temple and its monks and students, thereby nipping their teachings in the bud. The Shaolin pupils are Fang Shiyu and Hu Huiqian, as well as many other courageous youths. Fang Shiyu is the son of Miao Zuihua, a successful female pupil of the well-known woman hermit and martial artist, Wu Mei. The main motive for these two youngsters Fang and Hu to enter the Shaolin temple to learn martial arts is to avenge their fathers' death who were both killed by the pro-Qing, Wu Tang clique. Wumei, who is a teacher at the Shaolin Temple, agrees to instruct Hu Dedi and Cai Dezhong in the terrible art of using a whip as well as fists. In return, Hu and Cai must help Fang and Hu instruct the other residents of the Shaolin Temple. Huixian, an abbot at the temple, is a spy for the Qing Dynasty and secretly tries to disrupt the work of the temple. Collaborating with his subordinate Ma Fuyi, Hui is ready to attack the trainees from within the Temple, if and when the Ching soldiers are prepared to mount their attack upon the temple. Once Fang and Hu have successfully completed their training at the Shaolin Temple, they wish to leave in order to avenge their fathers' deaths; but fearing that their teachers will refuse permission, they choose to run the gauntlet by fighting their way past 108 wooden robots. Whilst struggling with the robots, the traitorous Huixian, Ma and their henchmen, suddenly pounce upon them. Fortunately, several other patriotic monks arrive in the nick of time to save the lives of Fang and Hu. In due course, because Fang and Hu succeed in avenging their fathers' deaths, they return to the Shaolin Temple. Meanwhile, the Shaolin Temple is suddenly attacked by several thousand Qing troops who are aided by the traitors within that have immobilized and weakened the other monks by secretly putting poison into their well. The highest Shaolin authority and many of his followers die in a fire which subsequently rages through the Temple. Fang, Hu and Cai rally the remaining survivors and mount a successful counter-attack killing many of the Qing soldiers and traitors. When the battle is over, only eight survivors remain, Fang, Hu and Cai among them. They continue to fight the Qing Dynasty under the Shaolin banner.- Actors:
- David Chiang, Lung Ti, Sheng Fu, Kuan-Chun Chi, Fei Meng, Lung Wei Wang, Ka-Yan Leung, Shao Chun Chang, Yi Kuei Chang, Chin-Hai Chen, Shen-Lin Chen, Ti-ko Chen, Yi-Hsiung Chi, Tao Chiang, Wan Hsi Chin, Chia Chu, Hark-On Fung, Bao-Hsing Ho, Wei-Hsiung Ho, Huang-Lung Hsiao
- Directors:
- Cheh Chang
- Producers:
- Keng Chu, Shih-Wei Peng, Runme Shaw
- Writers:
- Kuang Ni
- Aka:
- Shao Lin wu zu (5 Masters of Death) / Shao Lin si (Death Chamber)
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- Cinema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 1
- Countries:
- Hong Kong
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 20/12/2021
- Run Time:
- 229 minutes
- Languages:
- Dubbed, English Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono, Mandarin Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono
- Subtitles:
- English, English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.35:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Newly filmed appreciation of Chang Cheh by film critic and historian Tony Rayns
- Interview with star Kong Do, filmed in 2003 by Frederic Ambroisine
- Elegant Trails: David Chiang, a featurette on the actor produced by Celestial Pictures in 2003
- E egant Trails: Ti Lung, a featurette on the actor produced
- by Celestial Pictures in 2003
- Alternate standard-definition version of 'Shaolin Temple'
- Alternate opening credits from 'Five Masters of Death', the US version of 'Five Shaolin Masters'
- Alternate opening credits sequences for 'Shaolin Temple'
- US and German trailers for Five Shaolin Masters
- Hong Kong and German trailers for 'Shaolin Temple'
- Imaoe galleries for both films
