As for the hiring of Asian actors for the secondary roles, he said: "It not only adds authenticity, it's only proper that it should be so. Kung Fu is an American action-adventure martial arts Western drama television series starring David Carradine. In its second season, 1973-1974, it ran on Thursday nights, when it remained among the 30 first rated shows, together with CBS Thursday Night Movie, which was at the same time slot, and tied in ratings with The Carol Burnett Show, which ran on Saturday nights. Spielman first wrote a treatment about a samurai who travels to China and learns kung fu. Director: Woo-Ping Yuen | Stars: Jackie Chan, Siu-Tin Yuen, Jeong-lee Hwang, Dean Shek. The new version has been lauded for being the first network drama with a predominantly Asian American cast a stark contrast to the original, which featured two white men (Carradine and Pera) playing an old and young version of Caine, the orphaned son of a white American man and a Chinese woman. The series became one of the most popular television programs of the early 1970s, receiving widespread critical acclaim and commercial success upon its release. As for the imposing castle/temple/lamasery, it lasted for a few more years until it was torn down and substituted by a parking lot and the Bridge offices building (1994).[61][62][63]. Another issue that has come under the scrutiny of academia and the media, which is not exclusive to this series, is the fact that Asian actors of several nationalities and ethnicities appeared in the Kung Fu main or guest cast playing Chinese characters, "interchangeably". The series didn't have a stable team of writers, but freelance writers pitched their stories to the production; they were told not to include temple scenes. France Nuyen and Nancy Kwan, both Eurasian, played Chinese characters, the first one accepting being given in marriage as payment for service her husband was hired to perform (s3e3), the other one preferring to be a concubine to the Emperor rather than the wife of the warlord who had raped her, who was played by Stefan Gierasch, wearing prosthetic makeup (s2e22-23). Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine) is the orphaned son of an American man, Thomas Henry Caine (Bill Fletcher), and a Chinese woman, Kwai Lin, born in mid-19th-century China. [32][33][34] (For the series concept's history, see Bruce Lee's involvement), Spielman-Friedlander's 160 page movie script was transformed by Jerry Thorpe and writer Herman Miller into a 90-minute TV movie (with commercial breaks, so it actually amounted to about 75 minutes of screen time). Radames Pera, who played young Caine, a.k.a. [102] It is a problem that, together with whitewashing has continued into present times and is noticed internationally. He hopes to honor Kung Fu's 50th anniversary next year with an event in Los Angeles. He also portrayed the title . Regarding this "interchangeability" issue, given the historic period in which Kung Fu is set, Koreans couldn't have appeared, and Japanese perhaps shouldn't have, as in the 1870s' America there were just 55 Japanese immigrants registered. So they actually made a deal with some of the representatives from Asian American community to hire everybody in town, whether they were Korean, Japanese, Chinese, or Filipino who had a SAG card. Interestingly, in the s1e3 episode "Blood Brother," Kwai Chang Caine pleads for his compatriots to do that, as a matter of life and death. If you stay away, it will be an acceptance of things as they are. You know, there were stars then, and they became stars later () So, it was a breeding ground for A-1 talent and it was also just surrounded by A-1 talent, I mean, in front of and behind the scenes. Kung Fu is an American martial arts action-adventure television series that premiered on The CW on April 7, 2021. As for David Carradine playing the part of a half-American half-Chinese, I can honestly say that we haven't found anyone, before or since the series began, who can play the part better. In the fullness of our season one story, it becomes very clear that Nicky's journey is not about obtaining power from an object, but about finding that strength within as well as without, in the form of the people who love and support her.". Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. Literally every Asian actor in town worked on that show. Later through his friend Sy Weintraub (no relation), Weintraub met Bruce Lee and considering him ideal for the part tried to put the script into development with him as the leading actor, but was rejected. Caine finds work with a widowed ranch woman and also finds he has romantic feelings for her. When the movie was a smashing success, he abandoned his plans to be a TV star and instead focused on the big screen. [53], The Shaolin Monastery which appeared in flashbacks was originally a set used for the 1967 film Camelot. [47][48], This series was internationally broadcast in its original run, later distributed in DVD format, has been re-broadcast in cable channels specialized on vintage TV shows like TCM Latin America,[49] and it is also available for streaming. But the arrival of a bounty hunter ( John Saxon) and the likelihood that others will follow cast an ominous shadow on their love. In case anyone wants to binge the original, says Pera, it's available on DVD. Warner Bros. and ABC announced their TV deal for Kung Fu on July 22, 1971, and started pre-production (including casting). [28] His technical role was later undertaken by Kam Yuen, who guest-starred as Lin Wu in the s1e3 episode "Blood Brother" and as Wong Ti in the s3e1-2 episodes "Blood of the Dragon". "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues" will never be as good as the original "Kung Fu" TV show. Despite its historical inaccuracies, the series' dialogue was greatly based on Chinese philosophy, which gave viewers an introduction to its spiritual values, and its dramatic appeal made it the recipient of international accolades. The series premiered as a regular series on the U.S. network ABC after its film-length pilot aired on anthology program ABC Movie of the Week. Sat, Oct 14, 1972 60 mins. The adventures of Shaolin Monk Kwai Chang Caine as he wanders the American West armed only with his skill in Kung Fu.The adventures of Shaolin Monk Kwai Chang Caine as he wanders the American West armed only with his skill in Kung Fu.The adventures of Shaolin Monk Kwai Chang Caine as he wanders the American West armed only with his skill in Kung Fu. The adventures of Shaolin Monk Kwai Chang Caine as he wanders the American West armed only with his skill in Kung Fu. The flute themes were performed by Sheridon Stokes[65] on alto recorder, since the type of bamboo flute featured in the series wasn't chromatic and was deemed impractical for scoring purposes. October 13, 1972 49min 7+ Kwai Chang Caine (DAVID CARRADINE), the half-American Buddhist monk from China, wandering the American West as a wanted fugitive, befriends a homeless boy, foils a bounty hunter, and experiences the pain of love. "So I guess he died here, right? His wife went to fetch the doctor. Kung Fu has been called an example of yellowface and a prominent case of whitewashing. Interestingly, when the consequences of the American Civil War are mentioned, they are in the context of defeat and vengeance (s1e4, s2e3, s3e24), not of the abolition of slavery. But if you just give yourself to it, like 2001: A Space Odyssey, it may feel very long and ponderous but it's certainly worth the time.". One of the reasons for the success of the series is Carradine's portrayal of Caine." "[106], "'That guy is me,' Spielman says. Hello everyone I'm Max x Roxanne 4ever. The resultant good ratings led to the series' renovation for a second season. (Caine has uncovered a hate crime against an old condisciple. Free. We do. These mixed-race characters obviously allow white actors and actresses, with minimum makeup, to steal major roles from Asians." In 1969 the William Morris agent Peter Lampack put the treatment into the knowledge of Fred Weintraub, at the time an executive at Warner Brothers and later the producer of Enter the Dragon: "As a New York-based production executive at Warner Bros. Pictures, it was my job to develop projects to appeal to the youth market. Herbie Pilato in The Kung Fu Book of Caine (page 157) also comments that Bruce Lee's son, Brandon Lee, was involved in sequels related to the series: The late Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee, played Caine's son, Chung Wang. Master Po: The bridge of which I speak, Grasshopper, is your love for him." - 'Kung Fu'. In 1972, the ABC TV series, Kung Fu, about a former Shaolin monk who traveled the Western United States in the latter half of the 19th century looking for his half brother, debuted. In Arizona Territory, the half-American Buddhist monk, Kwai Chang Caine (DAVID CARRADINE), attempts to arrest the killers of a young man with whom he grew up in a Chinese temple. For many years, Kwai Chang 'walked the earth,' while Peter became a big-city cop. Episode 2. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. That is why The Warrior is probably not going to be on." "[75], However, Bruce Lee was undoubtedly considered for the starring role,[5]:3233 and David Carradine himself in a 1989 interview and in his book Spirit of Shaolin, said that Bruce Lee was passed over for the role. [74], Academic studies about Asian representation in American entertainment claim that the casting of the leading role and even the portrayal of the Chinese characters by Asian actors followed generalized discriminatory patterns. [32]:min.19:26 After a very positive reception to the first three segments, in November 1972 the network contracted for 12 more episodes, dropped Alias Smith and Jones and placed Kung Fu in the Thursday night slot at 9 p.m. The result was mostly atmospheric instead of melodic, with a koto as the predominant instrument. He had seen the pilot and was fascinated by it, so he accepted. In Kung Fu: The Next Generation (1987), the story moves to the present day and centers on the story of Kwai Chang "Johnny" Caine (Brandon Lee), who is the great-great-grandson of Kwai Chang Caine, and the difficult relationship he has with his father, also named Kwai Chang (David Darlow). Between the fall and winter seasons, it ran on Fridays at 8 p.m., which placed it against NBC's sitcoms Sanford and Son and Chico and the Man, both rated in the top 10 of the season. "[118], In a May 1973 Black Belt magazine interview with John Furia Jr., the author Jon Shirota speaks about the critical response in these terms: "Even the TV critics, customarily very reserved and cautious with their appraisals, acclaimed the show [the first segment] as one of the year's best. On page 31, she compares a letter from an admirer of Ahn's work as Master Kan with playwright Frank Chin's attack on the series in a 1974 The New York Times article, when he states that apes' roles in movies had evolved better than Chinese images in media. Louri's solution of the temple and the other sets both in budgetary and visual terms was key in getting the go-ahead for the movie pilot from the production department, and for the subsequent series. Everything to know about The CW's remake of the 1972 TV series Kung Fu (2021), including the cast, premiere, what time it's on, and how to watch. ", Lee responded, "That was the original idea, both of them [Warner and Paramount], I think, they want me to be in a modernized type of a thing, and they think that the Western type of thing is out. It is unlike most of the western heroes whose faces are like the book you've already read.' See production, box office & company info, Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA. Also, the show was clear in denouncing anti-Chinese racism, including hate crimes (s1e3), and pointed at historical events ignored in popular culture, like the Page Act of 1875 that basically forbade the immigration of East Asian women (s1e8), or the harsh labor conditions of the Chinese immigrants who built the Transcontinental railroad (Pilot, s3e9). Kung Fu (1972-1975) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Series Directed by Series Writing Credits Series Cast Series Produced by Series Music by Series Cinematography by Series Film Editing by Series Casting By Series Art Direction by Series Set Decoration by Series Makeup Department Series Production Management In addition to elements of spirituality and mysticism, we decided to incorporate a hint or two of the supernatural which is evidenced in the ancient sword. The series ended due to a combination of factors, among which the documentary The Tao of Caine cites the lead actor's burnout, changes in the writing and shooting that altered some of the most appreciated characteristics of the show, and above all the changes in the time slot, which led to the audience's decline. "[13], The series aired on ABC from October 1972 to April 1975 for a total of 63 episodes. "There's a beautiful and I'm not going to recall it word for word but Master Po says to young Caine to honor all life. Based on the last demo figures I saw for TV watching more fem watch episodic TV (not including sports or news) than males. His journey is not only one across the frontier of America but one through the light and dark areas of the soul as well. 130 31.). At about that time, Warner Bros. made the decision to change their base of operations and moved me from New York to Hollywood. Season-only. The temple was destroyed and father and son each thought the other had perished in the fire. "[12], This list does not reflect the full extent of Asian American actors' participation, since most of them were billed in the series' closing credits. Create Account Sign In [140], A re-imagining of the original series, simply titled Kung Fu, aired on The CW in April 2021. "[13] Asian actors who returned often to the series were mostly members of the East West Players, brought to the series by Guy Lee, who would take charge of Bessie Loo's Talent Agency when she retired. Regarding Native Americans, as it was usual at the time, they are mostly portrayed by non-Native actors, usually from the Hispanic community and also by Whites (s2e6), whereas the Hispanics themselves appear mostly when Caine visits towns in New Mexico or Mexico (s2e3, s2e4, s3e14), even if at the time there was an important Hispanic presence in the state. In early October 1971, a month before Warner Brothers officially designated David Carradine for the role of Caine, Warner Brothers executive Ted Ashley, who saw Bruce Lee's potential and didn't want to lose him to Paramount, offered him an exclusive development deal to create his own TV program, which included an advance of "$25,000 (or $152,000 in 2017 dollars) - enough money to pay off most of his mortgage." Carradine, who died in 2009 at the age of 72, was born in Los Angeles while Pera, now 60, grew up in New York City. Males are now focused on online entertainment (gaming, etc). In the modern-day reimagining by Christina M. Kim (Blindspot), the young, monastery-trained Nicky Shen (Olivia Liang) battles criminals in her Bay Area community and serves as a fearless vigilante with the help of her tech-savvy sister, Althea (Shannon Dang), Althea's fianc, Dennis (Tony Chung) and her pre-med brother, Ryan (Jon Prasida). Jerry Thorpe added: "People wanted to do the show because it was unique, it's as simple as that. Book excerpt from, "The Lowell Ledger's TV Listing Magazine", "El martes vuelve la serie Kung Fu, por TCM", "Stevie TV: David Carradine predicts his own grisly death in hallucinatory 'Eastern Western' Kung Fu", "Camelot [Photos of its construction and as a lamasery]", "Lost Horizon (1973) Filming & Production. What is the Japanese language plot outline for Kung Fu (1972)? Everybody was kung-fu fighting after the 1972 premiere of this mystic western starring David Carradine (snatching the role from Bruce Lee) in his signature, Emmy-nominated role as Caine, a stoic Shaolin monk forced to flee China after killing the royal family member who slew his Master. Its budget had been calculated as $18 million (over $124 million in 2022 dollars). Watch Kung Fu season 1 online. Finally, t Kwai Chang Caine was a priest at a Shaolin temple, where his son Peter also lived and studied. Radames Pera, who played young Caine, mentioned in 2021, "They did the best they could at the timeThey were taking heat from the Asian community from the onset. This score did not include "Caine's Theme," which was added when the series began airing in 1972, in the opening and closing titles. Starring David Chiang and Liu Chia Hui. [143], The show stars Olivia Liang as Nicky; Tzi Ma and Kheng Hua Tan as Jin Chen and Mei-Li, her restaurateur parents whose secrets threaten to destroy their lives; Jon Prasida as Ryan Chen, a quick-witted medical student and Nicky's younger brother; Shannon Dang as Althea Chen, Nicky's larger-than-life older sister who is newly engaged and on her way to planning her dream Chinese wedding; and Eddie Liu as Henry Chu, a martial arts instructor and Chinese art history buff who has instant chemistry with Nicky. Kung Fu was preceded by a full-length feature television pilot, an ABC Movie of the Week, which was broadcast in 1972.Kung Fu was created by Ed Spielman, directed and produced by Jerry Thorpe, and developed by Herman Miller, who was also a writer for, and co-producer of, the series.The series follows the adventures of a Shaolin monk, Kwai Chang Caine ( Qin Gunchng) (portrayed by David Carradine as an adult, Keith Carradine as a teenager and Radames Pera as a young boy) who travels through the American Old West armed only with his spiritual training and his skill in martial arts, as he seeks his half-brother, Danny Caine. [4][5], Many of the aphorisms used in the series are adapted from or derived directly from the Tao Te Ching, a book of ancient Taoist philosophy attributed to the sage Lao-tzu.[6][7][8]. The air date was scheduled for February 22, 1972, with production starting on December 15, 1971. 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