ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA (1991) | Cinema Shock Roulette

2024-01-30

For the final entry in our Cinema Shock Roulette Extravaganza (but certainly not our last Cinema Shock Roulette episode), we're headed to Hong Kong to take a deep dive into the production of Tsui Hark's seminal martial arts film, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA. In this episode, we'll discuss not only the production of ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA, but the history of Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung on film, the early careers of Tsui and star Jet Li, and how this film reshaped the Hong Kong film industry, not only revitalizing the period martial arts film genre, but also spawning no less than five sequels, which in turn helped launch the career of martial arts sensation Donnie Yen.

For the final entry in our Cinema Shock Roulette Extravaganza (but certainly not our last Cinema Shock Roulette episode), we're headed to Hong Kong to take a deep dive into the production of Tsui Hark's seminal martial arts film, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA.

In this episode, we'll discuss not only the production of ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA, but the history of Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung on film, the early careers of Tsui and star Jet Li, and how this film reshaped the Hong Kong film industry, not only revitalizing the period martial arts film genre, but also spawning no less than five sequels, which in turn helped launch the career of martial arts sensation Donnie Yen.

Up Next: David Fincher — Rules of the Game, a 7-part series on the career of director David Fincher.

Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.

This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, and Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.

For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

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