Dragon Lord
Encyclopedia
Dragon Lord is a 1982 Hong Kong martial arts film
directed by and starring Jackie Chan
. It was originally supposed to be a sequel
to The Young Master
and even had the name Young Master in Love until it was changed to Dragon Lord. The film experimented with various elaborate stunt
action sequences in a period setting, serving as a transition between Chan's earlier comedy kung fu period films (such as Drunken Master
and The Young Master) and his later stunt-oriented modern action films (such as Project A
and Police Story
). Dragon Lord also featured sports scenes incorporating martial arts
stunts, later inspiring Shaolin Soccer
.
) tries to send a love note to his girlfriend via a kite but the kite gets away and as he tries to get it back, he finds himself inside the headquarters of a gang of thieves who are planning to steal artifacts from China
.
This is the first Jackie Chan film that includes outtakes (bloopers), which was inspired by Jackie Chan from The Cannonball Run.
His later movies will also include outtakes.
game requiring many takes for a single shot. This scene would later inspire Shaolin Soccer
. Dragon Lord went over budget and took twice as long to shoot as was originally planned due to Chan's many retakes of shots to get them exactly as he wanted them. The opening bun festival scene was originally intended to end the film but was moved as Chan wanted a spectacular opening to the film. The pyramid fight that takes place during this scene required over 2900 take
s, holding the world record for the highest number of takes for a single scene. The final fight scene, which takes place in a barn
, also featured elaborate stunts, including one where Chan does a back flip off a loft
and falls to the lower ground.
Martial arts film
Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...
directed by and starring Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
. It was originally supposed to be a sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to The Young Master
The Young Master
The Young Master is a 1980 Hong Kong martial arts action film directed by and starring Jackie Chan as Dragon.The film is notable for being the first that Jackie Chan worked on for Golden Harvest, and despite being his second film as director , this is often incorrectly credited as his directorial...
and even had the name Young Master in Love until it was changed to Dragon Lord. The film experimented with various elaborate stunt
Stunt
A stunt is an unusual and difficult physical feat, or any act requiring a special skill, performed for artistic purposes in TV, theatre, or cinema...
action sequences in a period setting, serving as a transition between Chan's earlier comedy kung fu period films (such as Drunken Master
Drunken Master
Drunken Master, also known as Drunk Monkey In The Tiger's Eye, is a 1978 Hong Kong martial arts comedy film directed by Yuen Woo-ping, and starring Jackie Chan, Yuen Siu-tien, and Hwang Jang Lee...
and The Young Master) and his later stunt-oriented modern action films (such as Project A
Project A
Project A is a 1983 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film written and directed by Jackie Chan, and starring Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao....
and Police Story
Police Story (film series)
The Police Story film series comprises five Hong Kong crime-action films, directed by Jackie Chan, Stanley Tong and Benny Chan, produced by Raymond Chow, Leonard Ho, Jackie Chan, Barbie Tung, Willie Chan and Solon So. The first film Police Story was released on 14 December 1985...
). Dragon Lord also featured sports scenes incorporating martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
stunts, later inspiring Shaolin Soccer
Shaolin Soccer
Shaolin Soccer is a 2001 Hong Kong comedy film co-written, directed by and starring Stephen Chow. A former Shaolin monk reunites his five brothers, years after their master's death, to apply their superhuman martial arts skills to play soccer and bring Shaolin kung fu to the masses.In 2008 a...
.
Synopsis
Dragon (Jackie ChanJackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
) tries to send a love note to his girlfriend via a kite but the kite gets away and as he tries to get it back, he finds himself inside the headquarters of a gang of thieves who are planning to steal artifacts from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Cast
- Jackie ChanJackie ChanJackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
– Dragon Ho / Lung - MarsMars (actor)Mars , born Cheung Wing Fat is a Hong Kong actor, action director, stuntman and martial artist. He is one of Jackie Chan's best friends.-Early life:...
– Cowboy Chin - Hwang In-ShikHwang In-ShikHwang In Shik is one of the foremost Korean hapkido teachers today. A great popularizer of the art in Asia through his work in the Hong Kong based films of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Angela Mao, he is known nevertheless as one the top teachers of the art and was eventually awarded a 10th degree...
– The Big Boss - Tien FengTien FengTien Feng is a Hong Kong actor for 60 years. He left for Hong Kong from Taiwan and started his career...
– Dragon's Father - Paul Chang – Chin's Father
- Wai-Man Chan – Tiger (as Hui-Min Chen)
- Kang-Yeh Cheng – Ah Dee
- Fung Feng – The Referee
- Kang Ho – The Reteree
- Fung Hak-On – The Killer King (as Ke-An Fung)
- Kam-Kwong Ho – The Commentator
- Pak-Kwong Ho – Spectator
- Yeong-mun Kwon – The Hatchetman (as Kuen Wing-Man)
- Mang Hoi – Lu Chen gang member
- Lei Suet – Alice (as Sidney Yim)
- Corey YuenCorey YuenCorey Yuen Kwai is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker and producer. He was a member of the Peking Opera Schools and one of the Seven Little Fortunes.-Life and career:...
– Lu Chen gang member - Yuan-li Wu – The Matchmaker (as Yuen-Yee Ny)
- Yan Tsan Tang – Smuggler
- Po Tai – Ah Dum Pao (as Tai Do)
- Clement Yip – Thug
- Benny Lai – Braves' team player
- Johnny Cheung – Smuggler
Box office
In its original Hong Kong theatrical run, Dragon Lord grossed HK $17,936,344. The film did not make as much as it was expected to in Hong Kong but was a big hit in Japan.Awards and nominations
- 1983 Hong Kong Film AwardsHong Kong Film AwardsThe Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
:- Nomination:Best Action Choreography (Jackie ChanJackie ChanJackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
, Fung Hak-On, Yuen Kuni)
- Nomination:Best Action Choreography (Jackie Chan
This is the first Jackie Chan film that includes outtakes (bloopers), which was inspired by Jackie Chan from The Cannonball Run.
His later movies will also include outtakes.
Production
One of Chan's complex scenes involved a JianziJianzi
Jiànzi , ti jian zi , ti jian or jiànqiú is a traditional Asian game in which players aim to keep a heavily weighted shuttlecock in the air using their feet and other parts of the body...
game requiring many takes for a single shot. This scene would later inspire Shaolin Soccer
Shaolin Soccer
Shaolin Soccer is a 2001 Hong Kong comedy film co-written, directed by and starring Stephen Chow. A former Shaolin monk reunites his five brothers, years after their master's death, to apply their superhuman martial arts skills to play soccer and bring Shaolin kung fu to the masses.In 2008 a...
. Dragon Lord went over budget and took twice as long to shoot as was originally planned due to Chan's many retakes of shots to get them exactly as he wanted them. The opening bun festival scene was originally intended to end the film but was moved as Chan wanted a spectacular opening to the film. The pyramid fight that takes place during this scene required over 2900 take
Take
A take is a single continuous recorded performance. The term is used in film and music to denote and track the stages of production.-Film:In cinematography, a take refers to each filmed "version" of a particular shot or "setup"...
s, holding the world record for the highest number of takes for a single scene. The final fight scene, which takes place in a barn
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
, also featured elaborate stunts, including one where Chan does a back flip off a loft
Loft
A loft can be an upper story or attic in a building, directly under the roof. Alternatively, a loft apartment refers to large adaptable open space, often converted for residential use from some other use, often light industrial...
and falls to the lower ground.
External links
- Dragon Lord at Hong Kong Cinemagic