Shaw Brothers Cinema: Halloween Edition! Part 1

Ku Feng says HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! as the KISS demon in BAT WITHOUT WINGS (1980). Actually, he's something else entirely in this Shaw wuxia-mystery-horror movie

Welcome to the Shaw Brothers Cinema Halloween edition! This is a two part look at numerous Shaw horror movies populated with assorted behind the scenes photos, posters and promos from various Southern Screen and HK Movie News magazines. There's also some pictures of movies that were never finished, or those that were canceled and whose footage was compiled to make a different movie entirely. There's also a handful of posters, and or promotional materials for movies that never got a DVD release through IVL during their five year contract with Celestial Pictures. If you're a Shaw Brothers fan, or lover of Asian cinema in general, I hope you enjoy this cobweb covered compendium of Hong Kong horror--oldschool style!

***CLICK A PIC TO A LARGER IMAGE, OR TO READ ENGLISH TEXT WHERE APPLICABLE***

Kuei Chi Hung's disturbing version of WILLARD (1971) details a darker side of Hong Kong, one immersed in sordid squalor. It's about an unbalanced young man named Chi Hung and his affection for snakes, lizards and bondage/torture. Finally fed up with being bullied by various cretinous individuals, Chi Hung and his scaly friends bite back with venomous fury. It's shot in a similar nightmarish style that was displayed in Tobe Hooper's TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974).

The director and some of the actors seem awfully at ease being up close and personal with so many serpents; behind the scenes on THE KILLER SNAKES. Released in the early part of 1974, it led to even more disturbing subject matter from Kuei after his previous gritty films, the brutal women in prison actioner, THE BAMBOO HOUSE OF DOLLS (1973) and two modern crime thrillers, THE DELINQUENT (1973) and PAYMENT IN BLOOD (1973).

GHOST EYES (1974) is quite an original concept dealing with a hair stylist named Wang who is possessed by the ghost of a former optometrist when she becomes the unlucky recipient of an otherworldy pair of contact lenses. She begins seeing walking corpses and other supernatural goings on. This mysterious man from beyond the grave is basically a vampire who drains her life essence and that of other victims.

Chen Szu Chia gets her GHOST EYES

Kuei Chi Hung was arguably the best director of HK horror at that time and much of his career is populated by horror films and action pictures with a cruel slant. He was also adept at other genres as well including childrens films and comedies.

Hammer and Shaw Brothers teamed up for this rousing first pairing of Hammer's brand of horror and Shaw's kung fu madness to produce a wonderfully action packed comic book come to life in a spooky version of THE SEVEN SAMURAI meet DRACULA.

LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES (1974)

Baby queen, Li Ching stars in THE GHOST LOVERS (1974), a love story from beyond the grave about a man who discovers that the woman that simply loves him to death might actually be dead! You'll notice from the English text above, that there was two versions of this film, one for HK and one for Korea.

THE FEMALE GHOST was apparently intended as something of a follow up to Shin Sang Okk's GHOST LOVERS (1974). After Shin's departure at Shaw's for unknown reasons, this originally intended joint effort with fellow Korean director Chang I-Hu was left solely to him. Incidentally, GHOST LOVERS was a massive box office failure.

THE FEMALE GHOST, now under the guidance of Chang I-Hu, ultimately became the more exploitatively titled NIGHT OF THE DEVIL BRIDE and was released to HK theaters in March of 1975.

Ho Meng Hua's BLACK MAGIC (1975) was a milestone in HK horror cinema begatting a whole slew of similar movies that dealt with the superstitions of frightened natives and the mysticism practiced by sorcerers far away from modern society.

BLACK MAGIC (1975)

It's essentially a soap opera styled horror show revolving around a group of individuals who become victims of a vicious black magician and his evil sorcery. Above photos from BLACK MAGIC (1975).

SPIRIT OF THE RAPED (1976) is one of many Shaw Brothers movies that was made available, but never got released to DVD in Hong Kong. It's directed by Kuei Chi Hung. It's lurid poster artwork like this that makes one wish for a digital release sometime in the near future.

This one's based on a Malay folk tale which had been filmed before and since. Apparently a popular myth, the movie piles on the sleaze and unintended hilarity. All one need do is dig a big hole in the middle of your house, jump in and mutter some nonsense and voila...instant Oily Man! Above and below from THE OILY MANIAC (1976).

This absolutely nutty movie is directed by Ho Meng Hua. Earlier in his career, Ho had turned out some truly epic and dramatic pieces of cinema. But by this time in his career, he seemed content churning out ghoulish exploitation fare like this sleazy camp-fest. Danny Lee is the Polio afflicted Oily One who gets revenge against those who betrayed his father. He's something of a dark superhero. Definitely worth tracking down, it contains some awe inspiringly awful special effects although there's some creative abilities given the Oily Maniac.


This sequel from 1976 is also from Ho Meng Hua and is virtually identical in plot to the first movie. The cast is mostly the same although Lo Lieh takes over as the evil wizard. There's some additional exploitation value added and a scene showcasing some of the worst ever rear screen projection of all time. Essential Asian nuttiness.

BLACK MAGIC 2 (1976)

Lo Lieh controls an army of zombies by ramming six inch spikes into the tops of their heads. When the spike is removed, they age rapidly.

Director, Ho Meng Hua gives direction to Lo Lieh in BLACK MAGIC 2 (1976)

WEB OF DEATH (1976) is an extraordinary Wuxia production. After the success of Chu Yuan's KILLER CLANS (1976), Chu embarked on this tale of the 5 Venom Clan and the search for a devastatingly evil weapon that has been locked and hidden away from man. That weapon, the 5 Venom Spider is undoubtedly the wildest, most over the top creation ever devised. There's the requisite subterfuge and a romantic subplot involving Yueh Hua and Ching Li which adds a human element to this otherwise phantasmogorical swordplay fantasy with horror overtones. For more info and pictures on this film, check out SINS OF CELLULOID 5: ASIAN EXPLOITATION!

THE PSYCHOPATH (1978) is directed by Ho Meng Hua and, unfortunately, never got released to DVD in Hong Kong.

Various images from THE PSYCHOPATH (1978)

Li Han Hsiang's THE GHOST STORY (1979) is one of his many period costume Erotic Horror anthology pictures. I haven't seen many of them, but of the ones I've viewed so far, this one is the most absolute bonkers. The last story with the semi naked nuns, the gigantic statue that spits laser beams and an old battling wizard must be seen to be believed. It's basically about a group of travelers sitting around telling each other ghost stories.


BAT WITHOUT WINGS (1980) was one of some 30 Wuxia adventure movies Chu Yuan directed for Shaw Brothers. This one starts off really well in the goosebumper department, but returns to standard swordplay shenanigans shortly thereafter. Not a bad thing, but had the film maintained its Gothic ghoulash till the end, it might have truly been something special.


Over two dozen heroes come together to track down and kill 'The Wingless Bat', a notorious serial rapist-murderer. Several years later the bloodthirsty killer appears once more after a clan leaders daughter is kidnapped and another group of heroes band together to save her and uncover the truth behind the re-appearance of the 'Bat Without Wings'. The requisite sword fights, elaborate traps, double crosses and last minute revelations are found here.

More promotional materials for BAT WITHOUT WINGS (1980)

CONTINUED IN PART 2....

Cool Ass Cinema Book Reviews: It's Hammer Time!

HAMMER FILMS: THE BRAY STUDIOS YEARS

By Wayne Kinsey

368 pages; softcover; B/W

With the over abundance of books dealing with Britain's Hammer Films, you'd think all the blood would have been drained from the corpse long ago. Not so with Dr. Wayne Kinsey's two exhaustive volumes on the subject. He has compiled two of the best and most fascinating reads on these films (the second volume is reviewed below). What sets this book apart from the plethora of others on the market is its non reliance on being simply an analytical look at Hammer movies. Kinsey's book is so much more than that.

Kinsey was given access to countless unpublished materials no one had seen up to that time. This includes dozens of censor reports from the BBFC, notes from the producers regarding their frustrations with said pictures, scrapped sequences and the trials and tribulations as told through the words of those who were both in front of, and behind the cameras in all new interviews. Pretty much everyone gets to tell their terror tales of working for the once vibrant company.


BRAY YEARS authoritatively follows those Hammer productions from their humble beginnings in the early 1950's and concludes with the final Bray picture, THE MUMMY'S SHROUD in 1966. Hammer's subsequent move to Elstree is covered in great detail as well as an overview of the aftermath. The company's remaining output is covered in detail in the second volume. No stone is left unturned in Kinsey's book. In addition to the mountains of information, there's hundreds of production photos and behind the scenes photographs. One of, if not the best book on the famed studio. It simply must be on the shelf of any Hammer fan.

Which brings us to......


HAMMER FILMS: THE ELSTREE STUDIOS YEARS

By Wayne Kinsey

432 pages; softcover; B/W

Wayne Kinsey follows up his previous monumental tome on Hammer with this even bigger and equally massive undertaking that centers on Hammer productions from 1967 up to their final film with THE LADY VANISHES in 1979. The volume also covers the two Hammer television series' HOUSE OF HORROR (1980) and HOUSE OF MYSTERY & SUSPENSE (1981). Everything said above in the initial sprawling book applies here for this second go round.


Whereas THE BRAY YEARS recounts Hammer Films during their most prosperous time period, ELSTREE YEARS covers the steady decline in grand detail. Just like the earlier volume, this follow up features hundreds of rare photos and files never seen before in addition to tons of fascinating information regarding the productions of these later, more risque British horror pictures. Essential reading, this is a vital book for any fan of the famed company of horror. Definitely one for the shelves. Kinsey was also the author of another brilliantly compiled book on Hammer entitled HAMMER FILMS-A LIFE IN PICTURES: THE VISUAL STORY OF HAMMER FILMS; the review of which can be found in this entry here.

.....And this bonus review......


THE HAMMER STORY: THE AUTHORIZED HISTORY OF HAMMER FILMS

By Marcus Hearn & Alan Barnes

192 pages; hardcover; B/W & color

While it comes nowhere near the sheer amount of depth found in the above two Kinsey books, this large sized (I couldn't fit the entire width of the book on my scanner) coffee table tome is perfect as an overview to the British company of horror. It skims all the bases never spending too long in any one area. All the films are here with the usual synopsis, critique and various background information.

It covers the unproduced Hammer productions and also has some discrepancies that collide with information provided in Kinsey's books. Nonetheless, despite the eventual superiority of the two above reviewed editions, this out-sized, flamboyant and lavishly mounted book has one thing Kinsey's book doesn't have that some will find more attractive--color photos--lots of them.

There's 500 images, predominantly in color that, despite the decent amount of information, dominates the overall presentation. For some readers, this plethora of splashy photos will be a deciding factor in a purchase. Kinsey's books feature far more pictures, but the accent is on background trivia. Those seeking a simple primer will find what they're looking for in this book. Hearn will be familiar to Hammer fans as a moderator on numerous DVD commentaries. His big book of Hammer is one for the coffee table. Hearn also authored another big book with lots of glossy color photos of the Gorgeous Ladies of Hammer, the review of which can be found here.