Movie Review: Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin

Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin (She hao ba bu) 

Starring: Jackie Chan, Nora Miao Ke-Hsiu, Kam Kong, Kim Jeong-Nan, Lee Wing-Kwok, Lau Nga-Ying, Miao Tian, Lee Man-Tai, Miu Tak-San, Tung Lam 

Director: Chen Chi-Hwa
Lo Wei Motion Pictures, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, 1978.

This is an early Jackie Chan movie, the review is based on English dubbed version from Jackie Chan Early Collection 6-movie box set published by Pan Vision Finland. (The films are of VHS quality, but it is not easy get better versions with original Cantonese soundtracks). 

In the first scene we see Jackie's character practising with spear and then with sword and tonfa against two spearmen. As a funny detail the intro music was also used earlier in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. 

Jackie fighting two spearmen in intro sequence

Eight Shaolin masters have a meeting and combine the best kung fu styles into a new style: Eight steps of the Snake and the Crane. BTW most of the people should recognise the Crane style from the Karate Kid movies, with moves starting with hands held high and standing on one feet. The snake technique imitates the movement of snake with fingertip punches on neck, groin and throat. The masters write the technique into a book and take it to master Li. Then the masters disappear and a time of chaos begins in China. 

Shaolin masters showing Crane style

Master Li

Hsu Yin-Fung (Jackie Chan) is fishing. Ting brothers want the book from him. Jackie gives them a lesson. A street kid Hung Chu (Kim Jeong-Nan) is stealing buns but gets caught. Hsu buys the kid food. Also Wu Tang Clan tries to get the book. They won't succeed. Then he meets Tang Ping-Er (Nora Miao Ke-Hsiu), leader of Tang-clan. She is trying to find her father. Hsu flirts with her a bit but does not give the book. 

Do not disturb a fishing man

Hung Chu dressed as a street kid

Tang Ping-Er

Hung Chu returns dressed as a woman! Hsu does not fall into her charms. Then an old beggar (Lee Man-Tai) shows up, he is the leader of the Beggar clan. After testing their skills they depart as friends. Master Chen from the Black Dragon Gang (Kam Kong) is also looking for the book. Lady Sun (Lau Nga-Ying) of Black Dragons sends thugs to bring Hsu to meet her. 

We are from the Wu Tang Clan!

Hung Chu returns!

Lady Sun and her minion do not want Hsu to leave alive without giving the book. Hsu defeats them, but then a swordman Fong Si-Pin from Ah Mei clan comes in and kills the ladies and some other thugs. Hsu and Fong form an alliance. Hung Chu's father is the leader of Flying Tiger clan and he wants the book also. But Hsu is scheming with master Li to use the book as a lure to get the man with with a mark on his shoulder. The shoulder-scarred man killed the eight Shaolin masters. 

Lu Lu Kwai and the Beggar

Guard takes a nap

Tang Ping-Er returns and offers Hsu a golden peacock. No cigar. Later the leader of Flying Tigers kidnaps Hsu much to Hung Chu's distaste. Tangs, the Beggar and his friend Lu Lu Kwai (Miu Tak-San) try to rescue Hsu. However the only real evil clan is the Black Dragon clan. Finally the clans and Hsu fight together against the evil Black Dragon Clan. 

Three assassins

Snake and Crane style

Jackie is even arrogant here and he knows he can beat any enemy. He has also some quite old fashioned views of women. This is a comedic kung fu movie albeit a bit different from later Jackie Chan movies with less physical comedy and more humour based on quirky characters. There is plenty of humour added to the story with Hung Chu, the Beggar and Lu Lu Kwai. There are lots of kung fu fights (about one in every five minutes). The acrobatic end fight has Jackie fighting against three spearmen and using Snake and Crane style to defeat the main enemy. The story loses a bit of coherence towards the end with many clans and double-crossings. This leads to many plot holes However this is one of the better early films of Jackie. 

Rating:Good