Actors: Jackie Chan, Nora Miao, Hsin Yi Chen, Ching
Lan Chin, Kang Chin
Directors: Chi-Hwa Chen
Writers: Hsin Yi Chang
Producers: Li Hwa Hsu, Shih Mei Chu, Wei Lo
Jackie Chan apprenticed in a series of straight-faced martial arts revenge films
before he found his true calling as the clown prince of kung fu in Snake in the
Eagle's Shadow and the original Drunken Master. The sprawling clan-war
conspiracy adventure Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin is one of his best pre-fame
efforts, a tale of tenuous alliances and double-crosses, with cocky young
warrior Jackie in the middle stirring up trouble. The sly rascal in the den of
thieves, however, is actually an honorable young acolyte on a mission of
vengeance. It's the usual story, with a little more comedy and plenty of old
"strike and pose" fight scenes energized by Jackie's youthful athleticism. The
opening theme song was cribbed from the same music library that supplied Monty
Python and the Holy Grail.
