I don't know a heck of a lot about Chang Cheh's "Fourth Team," referred to
as "The Baby Venoms" in Eastern Heroes Special Edition #2, except for having
seen the film HIDDEN HERO and read a lengthy review about it.
All of Chang Cheh's films from
1987 to 1993l seem to star Tung Chi Wah and Tu Yu Ming, and perhaps Hsu Shao Jien
and Chow Lung, as well. All of these men -- like Kuo Chui, Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng,
Cheng Tien Chi (the star of SUPERNINJAS), Samo Hung, Lam Ching Ying, Jackie Chan,
Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, and (Corey) Yuen Kwai before them -- apparently all have a
Peking Opera background.
If anyone out there has any more info on this team, please contact me so I
can share the information. I can be reached at<scfeldman@juno.com>
Strangely enough, two of The Baby Venoms films are available subtitled in
English in the USA. They are . . .
The following is a list of all the latter-day (i.e. post-Venoms) Chang Cheh films
(from 1982 to 1993) that I am aware of, followed by capsule reviews of one non-Baby Venoms
film and four Baby Venoms films:
+----------------------------------------------------+
| FILMS DIRECTED BY CHANG CHEH BETWEEN 1982 AND 1993 |
+----------------------------------------------------+
Entries preceded by an "o" denote alternate titles
"Baby Venoms" films are preceded by a tilde ("~")
ACROSS THE RIVER~ (1987) [Prod & Dir]-- Tung Chi Wah, Ka Wing Chuen, To Yuk
Ming [aka Tu Yu Ming] (aka CROSS THE RIVER, aka DRAGON ACROSS THE RIVER)
o ASSAULT OF THE JOYFUL GODDESS: see ATTACK OF THE GOD OF JOY (1983)
ATTACK OF THE GOD OF JOY (1983)-- Chen Tien-su [aka Chien Tien-chi], Hsu
Chung-fei, Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng (aka ASSAULT OF THE JOYFUL GODDESS,
aka ATTACK OF THE JOYFUL GODDESS, aka THE GHOST)
o ATTACK OF THE JOYFUL GODDESS: see ATTACK OF THE GOD OF JOY (1983)
o CHINESE SUPER NINJAS: see FIVE ELEMENT NINJA (1982)
o CROSS THE RIVER: see ACROSS THE RIVER (1987)
o THE DANCING WARRIOR: see THE WARRIOR (1985)
DEATH RING (1984) [Dir w/ Lu Feng]-- Chen Kuan Tai, Chen Sing, Li Chang Yat,
Lu Feng, Wang Shui Sam, Ti Lung
o THE DEMONS: see THE NINE DEMONS (1983)
o DRAGON ACROSS THE RIVER: see ACROSS THE RIVER (1987)
o THE GHOST: see ATTACK OF THE GOD OF JOY (1983)
FIVE ELEMENT NINJA (1982)-- Lo Meng, Chen Pei Hsi, Chen Hui-min, Lung Tien
Sheng, Wang Li, Chu Ko; Intro: Cheng Tien-chi [aka Chien Tien-chi] (in
the starring role) (US: SUPER NINJAS) (aka CHINESE SUPER NINJAS)
~ HIDDEN HERO (1993) [Prod & Dir]-- Tu Yu Ming, Tung Chi Wah, Hsu Shao Jien,
Chow Lung
JOURNEY TO THE WEST~ (1992) (aka JOURNEY TO SUBDUE
THE DEVILS, aka MONKEY GOES WEST)
o JOURNEY TO SUBDUE THE DEVILS: see JOURNEY TO THE WEST (1992)
JUST HEROES (1987) [Producer Chang Cheh, Dir John Woo]-- Danny Lee, Stephen
Chow, David Chiang, Chen Kuan-Tai, Ti Lung, Kelly Chu, Cally Kwong Mei-
Wan, Wu Ma, James Wong Jim, Joe Nieh, Chiu Lui (aka TRAGIC HEROES)
o MONKEY GOES WEST (1992): see JOURNEY TO THE WEST [this is the title given
in EASTERN HEROES SPECIAL ED. #2, p. 22]
MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (1982)-- Kuo Chui
THE NINE DEMONS (1983)-- Sun Chien, Chien Tien-chi, Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng,
Wang Li (aka THE DEMONS)
~ NINJA IN ANCIENT CHINA (1993)-- Tung Chi Hwa, Tu Yu Ming
~ SHANGHAI 1937 (1987) [Prod & Dir]-- Tung Chi Hwa, Tu Yu Ming, Hsu Shao Jien
(aka GREAT SHANGHAI 1937) purportedly has top-of-the-line fight scenes
SHEN TONG (1993)-- Tung Chi Hwa
~ SLAUGHTER IN XIAN (1989)-- Tung Chi Hwa, Hsu Shao Jien, Tu Yu Ming, Chow Lung
o SUPER NINJAS: American title for FIVE ELEMENT NINJA (1982)
o TRAGIC HEROES: see JUST HEROES (1987)
THE WARRIOR (1985)-- Cheng Tien-chi, Denis Brown, Jimmy Wong, Chen Kuan-ti
(cameo) (aka THE DANCING WARRIOR)
WEIRD MAN (1983)-- Lo Meng, Ching Tin-Chi [aka Cheng Tien Chi], Wong Man-Yi,
Lau Yuk-Pok, Chiu Kwok [aka Kuo Chui, aka Philip Kwok]
THE YOUNG WARRIOR (1982)-- Cheng Tien-chi
From the defunct HONG KONG MOVIES website (http://egret0.stanford.edu/hk/index.html):
| Weird Man (1983)
| Cantonese: San Tung Sut Yue Siu Ba Wong
| Mandarin: Shen2 Tong1 Shu4 Yu3 Xiao3 Ba4 Wang2
| Literally: Spirit Travel Technique and Little Overlord
| Producer: Shaw Bros.
| Director: Chang Cheh
| Cast: Lo Meng, Ching Tin-Chi, Wong Man-Yi, Lau Yuk-Pok, Chiu Kwok
|
| ANON - The fights are top notch. Cheng Tien Chi and the guy who plays General
| Sun are at the top of their game. Don't concern yourself with the plot, it's
| truly a weird movie. --- (Karza)
From THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO HONG KONG MOVIES:
HIDDEN HERO (1993) [Directed and Produced by Chang Cheh]-- Tu Yue Ming,
Tung Chi Wah, Hsu Shao Jen, Chow Lung. Long River Film Co.
Synopsis:
Mu Yun Chi was a top weaponsmith and martial artist until a client
cut him across the back. This incident forced Mu to disappear and
become an ordinary blacksmith. His peace is destroyed by a group of
thieves who cause much trouble and strife in the martial world, then
appear on his doorstep. Basically Chang Cheh has remade his earlier
classic LIFE COMBAT, but adds some more twists to the story. The action
is stunning. The guy playing Mu is superb, performing some mindblowing
acrobatic martial artistry. Yet another classic from Chang Cheh. ***
[for the full review from which this blurb was derived, click here]
NINJA IN ANCIENT CHINA (1993) [Directed and Produced by Chang Cheh;
Action by Tung Chi Hwa and Tu Yu Ming]-- Tung Chi Hwa, Tu Yu Ming.
My Way Film Co.
Synopsis:
A Han dynasty general is tricked into killing a Taoist preist and
ninja teacher, forcing his students, the Five Element Ninja, to take
vengeance. Two join the general's household, where they spy on the
layout and guard placements, and wait for their chance to avenge their
teacher's death. This is a real return to traditional kung fu film
making, bursting with remarkable fight action, and with Chang Cheh's
interest in brotherhood and morality returning in a much stronger form
than in his previous few films. It is beautifully shot and masterfully
directed. **
SHANGHAI 1937 (1987) [Directed and Produced by Chang Cheh; Action by Tu
Yu Ming]-- Tung Chi Hwa, Tu Yu Ming, Hsu Shao Jien. Long River Film
Co. (aka GREAT SHANGHAI 1937)
Synopsis:
The great city of Shanghai has been occupied by foreign governments
who have divided the city into territories, each governed by the foreign
power residing there. A group of Chinese patrilots rise up against the
foreign influence. The patriots meet stiff opposition when they lock
horns with the powerful Japanese held territory. Although the cast are
unknown, they are exceptionally talented martial artists and acrobats,
and handle the superb fight choreography with ease. The film's patriotic
viewpoint is also vividly realised. ***
SLAUGHTER IN XIAN (1989) [Directed and Produced by Chang Cheh; Action by
Tong Chi Hwa and Chow Lung]-- Tung Chi Hwa, Hsu Shao Jien, Tu Yu
Ming, Chow Lung. Long River Film Co.
Synopsis:
One of Xian's top police inspectors, Ho Yuen Sin, finds himself up
to his neck in corruption involving Xian's local crime family. When his
colleagues and a number of his superiorss prove to be involved, Ho makes
a stand against the corruption, a stand that costs him everything. Chang
Cheh's new crew yet again amaze, as they strut their amazing talents.
The fights are superb and are coupled with a good storyline and an
excellent performance from the guy playing Ho, who comes across as a kung
fu fighting Dirty Harry. ***
I don't know a heck of a lot about Chang Cheh's "Fourth Team," referred to
as "The Baby Venoms" in Eastern Heroes Special Edition #2, except for having
seen the film HIDDEN HERO and read a lengthy review about it.
All of Chang Cheh's films from
1987 to 1993l seem to star Tung Chi Wah and Tu Yu Ming, and perhaps Hsu Shao Jien
and Chow Lung, as well. All of these men -- like Kuo Chui, Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng,
Cheng Tien Chi (the star of SUPERNINJAS), Samo Hung, Lam Ching Ying, Jackie Chan,
Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, and (Corey) Yuen Kwai before them -- apparently all have a
Peking Opera background.
