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Wong Fei Hung

(left; The only know picture of the real Wong fei-hung)
(right; a photograph of Wong Fei Hungs well known Students; Lam Sai-Wing)
Anyone regular to Hong Kong Cinema will without a doubt know the name "Wong Fei Hung".

Wong Fei Hung can be best described as the Chinese Robin Hood, a legendary figure from the past of whom many stories true and myth have been told. What we do know about Wong Fei Hung is that he was born in 1847 in the Chinese province of Canton, he was the son of Wong Kay Ying, a renowned martial artist who studied in the style of Hung Gar. Wong Kay Ying decided not to teach his son martial arts but instead asked his own teacher, "Luk Ah Chow" to do so.

Wong Fei Hung like his father became a master in Hung Gar style martial arts, he is credited with inventing the "tiger-crane" form and "Nine Special Fists", he was also a expert in Chinese Medicine and Lion Dancing. Wong Fei Hung married 4 times in his life, his first 3 wives died young and he didn't marry again until 1903 when he married a 16 year old girl named Mok Gwai-Lan. Fei Hung's first son also became a skilled martial artist, but after being killed in 1890 after being shot by a drug gang called "Dai Fin Yee", Wong Fei Hung never taught his other 9 sons martial arts. In 1924 Wong Fei Hung passed away aged 77.

(Kwan Tak-Hing playing Wong Fei-Hung, pictured on the left)

In 1949 the first in a long running series of 99 black and white Wong Fei Hung movies were released. Playing the role of Fei Hung was "Kwan Tak-Hing", these movies that ran until 1970 are credited with being the first real martial arts films as previous efforts had just shown styles and performances being shown.

(place the cursor over the image for more details)

From the rest of the cast you can see that Hong Kong Cinema there after would be formed from these movies.

Playing the role of the bad guy in almost all the movies was "Shek Kin", who will be best known to international audiences as "Han" from Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon."

Playing the role "Lam Sai Wing," or "Butcher Wing" was Lau Charn, who him self was the student of the character he was playing, Lau Charn was also the father of Shaw Brothers legend "Lau Kar Leung", and his brothers Lau Kar Wing, Lau Kar Yung and Lau Kar Fai.

Also regulars in the films were:

Yuen Siu Tin, who is best known for his roles as the beggar in Jackie Chan movies, "Snake in the Eagles Shadow" and "Drunken Master". He is also father to "Yuen Woo Ping" the acclaimed action director who has recently found international recognition with his work on the Matrix films and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

Lee Hoi Cheun, who would go on to father a son called "Bruce Lee", you may of heard of him.

You would think that after 99 movies they would run out of Wong Fei Hung stories, yet still to this day many films are made around the character, such recent classics as the "Once upon a time in China" series, "Iron Monkey" and "Drunken Master 2" have shown that every generation can have their own take on the hero.

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	Wong Fei Hung (left; The only know picture of the real Wong fei-hung) (right; a photograph of Wong Fei Hungs well known Students; Lam Sai-Wing) Anyone regular to Hong Kong Cinema will without a doubt know the name "Wong Fei Hung". Wong Fei Hung can be best described as the Chinese Robin Hood, a legendary figure from the past of whom many stories true and myth have been told. What we do know about Wong Fei Hung is that he was born in 1847 in the Chinese province of Canton, he was the son of Wong Kay Ying, a renowned martial artist who studied in the style of Hung Gar. Wong Kay Ying decided not to teach his son martial arts but instead asked his own teacher, "Luk Ah Chow" to do so. Wong Fei Hung like his father became a master in Hung Gar style martial arts, he is credited with inventing the "tiger-crane" form and "Nine Special Fists", he was also a expert in Chinese Medicine and Lion Dancing. Wong Fei Hung married 4 times in his life, his first 3 wives died young and he didn't marry again until 1903 when he married a 16 year old girl named Mok Gwai-Lan. Fei Hung's first son also became a skilled martial artist, but after being killed in 1890 after being shot by a drug gang called "Dai Fin Yee", Wong Fei Hung never taught his other 9 sons martial arts. In 1924 Wong Fei Hung passed away aged 77. (Kwan Tak-Hing playing Wong Fei-Hung, pictured on the left) In 1949 the first in a long running series of 99 black and white Wong Fei Hung movies were released. Playing the role of Fei Hung was "Kwan Tak-Hing", these movies that ran until 1970 are credited with being the first real martial arts films as previous efforts had just shown styles and performances being shown. (place the cursor over the image for more details) From the rest of the cast you can see that Hong Kong Cinema there after would be formed from these movies. Playing the role of the bad guy in almost all the movies was "Shek Kin", who will be best known to international audiences as "Han" from Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon." Playing the role "Lam Sai Wing," or "Butcher Wing" was Lau Charn, who him self was the student of the character he was playing, Lau Charn was also the father of Shaw Brothers legend "Lau Kar Leung", and his brothers Lau Kar Wing, Lau Kar Yung and Lau Kar Fai. Also regulars in the films were: Yuen Siu Tin, who is best known for his roles as the beggar in Jackie Chan movies, "Snake in the Eagles Shadow" and "Drunken Master". He is also father to "Yuen Woo Ping" the acclaimed action director who has recently found international recognition with his work on the Matrix films and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Lee Hoi Cheun, who would go on to father a son called "Bruce Lee", you may of heard of him. You would think that after 99 movies they would run out of Wong Fei Hung stories, yet still to this day many films are made around the character, such recent classics as the "Once upon a time in China" series, "Iron Monkey" and "Drunken Master 2" have shown that every generation can have their own take on the hero.