Ten Essential Films From Lau Kar Leung

The One-Armed Swordsman

Chang Cheh's 1967 effort remains one of the most enduring favorites of the entire Shaw Brothers canon and clearly represents the high point of star Jimmy Wang Yu's career. And a major factor in why is the sterling fight choreography provided by Lau. Energetic and inventive this represents some of his finest collaborative work with one of the greatest directors ever to work the genre along with one of its most brash stars. It also served as the original starting point for recent Donnie Yen star vehicle Wuxia (aka Dragon).

Dirty Ho

Yes, the hilarious-to-western-ears title has certainly not hurt the longevity of this 1976 effort but Dirty Ho is notable for more than just its moniker. Lau's third directorial effort marks an early collaboration with his god-brother Gordon Liu who was himself just three years into his acting career at this point. The two men would go on to rise through the ranks together from this point and there is a very good case to make that Dirty Ho is the film that made everything that followed possible. Plus it's still just damn entertaining.

The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin

Chances are good that if the average person on the street knows only one Shaw Brothers movie, this is that movie. One of the most iconic and influential martial arts films ever made, The 36th Chamber vaulted both Lau - who directed it - and star Gordon Liu to massive international stardom with earlier films like Dirty Ho gaining international release only after 36th Chamber proved so successful. An absolute classic, if for some reason you have not seen it seek it out now.

My Young Auntie

Though the Shaw Brothers are most associated with their male stars these days they built up a stable of strong female leads as well and the best among them remains Kara Hui, who continues working to this day. Hui made her screen debut in her mid teens in Lau's Dirty Ho and left a strong enough impression that in 1981 Lau wrote the script for My Young Auntie - one of only four screenplays he wrote over his career - as a star vehicle for her. Hui remains a magnetic screen presence in her current work but this is her at her absolute best.

8 Diagram Pole Fighter

Coming towards the end (sort of) of Laus' remarkable run with the equally remarkable Shaw Brothers studio, 1984's 8 Diagram Pole Fighter once again pairs Lau with his god-brother and primary muse Gordon Liu in what I personally consider the last of the great, classic style kung fu films in the Lau canon. Which is not at all to say that he didn't do good work after this point - some of his best is yet to come - but there was a marked change of style throughout the industry as a whole shortly after this point and Lau would change with the times after this point. But this? This is classic, archetypal stuff designed to show off Liu's technical mastery of the titular fight style.

Tiger On Beat

Lau works in an entirely contemporary setting in his 1988 directing effort Tiger On Beat. Yep, that's a young Chow Yun Fat in the lead of this action-comedy that relies more on guns than martial arts while spinning out a Lethal Weapon style tale of young cop / old cop / dead drug dealer. Gordon Liu also features in a support role as a hitman.

Pedicab Driver

For a sign of how highly regarded Lau remained in the Hong Kong industry throughout his long career, look no farther than 1989 Sammo Hung vehicle Pedicab Driver. Produced by, directed by and starring Hung at the peak of his power, Lau features in a small but memorable part - appearing in the film purely because Sammo was a fan. Considered one of Hung's best, this one has been nearly impossible to find for years thanks to Warner Brothers buying rights and then burying it in their vault.

The Legend Of Drunken Master

This 1994 effort is bar none the best film that Jackie Chan has ever appeared in. And I say this knowing full well that Police Story has its (well deserved) cadre of fans who would dispute that point. But this one is better for the simple fact that Lau Kar Leung is the best director and best fight choreographer that Chan has ever worked with. A perfect blend of Chan's trademark comedy with playful stunts and constantly inventive fight work make this one of the greatest martial arts films ever made ... do yourself a favor and try to find the original version (titled simply Drunken Master 2 rather than the altered US release.

Drunken Monkey

In 2003 Lau and the legendary Shaw Brothers decided it was time for one more go around and the result was Drunken Monkey, a classic SB-style affair starring a pre-SPL Wu Jing in the lead. A relatively minor affair in Lau's filmography it was nonetheless a breath of fresh air in the Hong Kong scene at the time, a back to basics romp through the classic style. And though a string of poor management decisions have kept star Wu from ever really reaching his proper potential, he's great fun in this.

Seven Swords

The final credits of Lau's long career come as actor and fight choreographer in Tsui Hark's 2005 effort Seven Swords. And while the film was kind of a narrative mess as a result of being cut down from a reported four hour version to the much briefer editions screened in festivals and released in public, it was clear to all involved that Lau had lost none of his skills. The fight work in the film is as strong as he's ever done and in hsi final screen appearance he proves himself more than capable of keeping up with costars decades younger than himself.