We talk to the ultimate kung fu bad guy, best known for facing off against Jackie Chan in his breakthrough films…
Perhaps best known as known for his role as ‘Thunderleg’ in 1978’s Drunken Master, ‘Sheng Kuan’ in 1978’s Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow and Wong Chin in 1981’s Hitman in the Hand of Buddha, Hwang Jang-lee has had a long career in old school martial art film, often as the the imposing bad guy with a hell of a reputation for his high-flying kicks. We were fortunate enough to get the opportunity to chat to him ahead of his appearance at a martial arts seminar at Seni14 on the 13 and 14th September.
How old were you when you first started training as a martial artist?
I was 14 years old when I started. I learnt myself, nobody taught me (laughs), strange huh?
So you didn’t have a teacher? Where did you go to learn Taekwondo?
I liked martial arts so I went to some gyms, and many people were practicing there, I watched what they were doing and remembered how to do what they were doing.
You are famous for kicking and so did you focusing on kicking from the beginning?
At first I just started learning Taekwondo but after I while I found I especially liked kicking and got used to that and so I carried on doing that.
How old were you when you joined the Korean army as a Taekwondo instructor?
I started when I was twenty years old. Before I joined the army as an instructor I had learned Taekwondo to a very high level, so the commander let me teach Taekwondo to other people in the army. Even if they were my co-workers, I would teach everyone. I was serving during the Vietnam War and so I taught Koreans and Americans, I taught everyone.
After you were an instructor in the Korean army you moved into the Korean film industry. Many martial art stars start out in the film industry as stunt men, did you also do this? Or how did you get your start as an actor?
I was never a stuntman, I started acting straight away. In the newspapers there were many advertisements calling for actors and so I applied there. During the auditions, when I was showing off my Taekwondo and martial arts, everybody watching was so surprised. I stood out from the crowd with my martial arts skills and that’s how I got my start.
After you had made some films in Korea, how did Hong Kong director/producer NG See-yuen first find you? Did he see some of your Korean films and ask you to come to Hong Kong?
NG See-Yuen was making a film and they came to shoot the film in Seoul. At that time they asked me to act in this film.
What’s the name of this film?
The Secret Rivals. At that time, there were many problems between the Korean crew and the Hong Kong crew. There would be many arguments between the two. I should have received money from both the Korean and Hong Kong sides but I only received money from the Hong Kong side. And so then I wanted to make a film in Hong Kong because I had received money from the Hong Kong side. But arguments between the Korean and Hong Kong sides continued so it was difficult to make a film there. But in the end it all got sorted out.
After making that film did you move to Hong Kong to start making films there?
Yes, the director (NG See-yuen) asked me to go to Hong Kong together with him.
How did you communicate with the director and Hong Kong actors?
I could speak English a little bit.
When you were shooting the films which language were you speaking? Korean?
I spoke Korean (laughs).
So the Hong Kong actors didn’t understand what you were saying?
Yes, that’s right (laughs). At that time we shot the film silently and added sound later. It was later dubbed, after I’d finished acting (laughs).
Was there much difference between working with Seasonal Films (NG See-yuen’s company) to working in Korea?
Pretty much the same, no big differences.
You worked numerous times with Yuen Woo-ping. Did you have good relationships with him? Is that why you worked so many times with him?
We were really close. We helped each other and I was the kind of boss amongst them (laughs). Kind of like a boss because I was the strongest. Not really a boss, but because I was the strongest they would follow me. It was very funny, in Drunken Master, when I fought Jackie Chan, there was no NG (“Not good” shots – so no re-takes).
Really? No NG? All one-take?
Yeah, only one okay!
So when you were making Drunken Master did you know it was going to become such a huge film, and a classic of Hong Kong cinema?
Yes, I made this film in Hong Kong and was proud of myself and believed in this film.
How was it working with Jackie Chan?
At that time, Jackie Chan had no name, and wasn’t so famous. It was very easy shooting with him.
In 1981 you directed your first film, Hitman in the Hand of the Buddha. Did you enjoy directing and what challenges did it bring?
At that time Korea’s economy was dwindling, so it was a really difficult period to make a film. There were lots of demonstrations/protest on the streets, so it was difficult to even go out on the streets because of the protests, it was quite dangerous. People were getting arrested because they shouldn’t be outside. So it was difficult to get together at that time. Could not catch any extras.
So it was hard to even find extras for your film?
Yes.
After you finished your first film, you were signed to a contract by Run Run Shaw. At Shaw Brothers you acted in two films, Kid from Kwangtung and then Ghosts Galore. Could you talk about what it was like working at the Shaw Brothers studios?
I was signed as a director at Shaw Brothers.
But you didn’t direct a film there? What happened?
When I was making a film there…
So you did start directing a film at Shaw Brothers?
Yes.
But then it never got finished? Why?
The actor (name forgotten) in the film didn’t focus on making the film, he was out of control. He did whatever he wanted. I was upset and so I wanted to change the actor, but they didn’t let me. And so I didn’t want to carry on and cancelled the project because of the actor.
You acted in Kid from Kwangtung there. How was the acting experience there?
Normally I did martial arts films and it wasn’t much different from making other ones.
Did Run Run Shaw often visit the set whilst the film was being shot?
Yes, he visited the set many times.
Why did you only star in two films at Shaw Brothers before leaving?
Other people there thought I’d lost lots of money because I had cancelled my project and so I finished there.
Have you ever received a major injury whilst shooting a film?
No, I have never received a major injury. But when I was making Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, during the final fight sequence I was so tired, exhausted and sick, and went to hospital. But they had to finish shooting the end of the movie, and so I had to take an ambulance back to the film set to complete shooting. I was sweating all over (acts out shaking) but as soon as it was time I would say “ok, come on” and once the camera started rolling I would act strong and tough as if nothing were the matter (laughs)
And then after finishing filming that scene?
After finishing, back to exhausted and sick state (acts this out).
So it was a tough shoot?
Yes. After finishing this film, I went to watch the movie at the theatre and I was worried about the ending because I was so tired and sick when we filmed it. But it was OK.
In all the films you have made, who did you most enjoy fighting/what was the best fight that you have had?
Jackie Chan. Jackie Chan and I fighting against each other was very happy, so happy. No NG you know (laughs).
You trained in Taekwondo but in the Hong Kong films you starred in you use lots of different martial arts styles. Did you have to learn those before you made the film?
I’m very good at making up new martial arts. Nowadays, around the world, martial arts are not so popular any more.
Would you like to make another martial arts film in Korea?
Yes. I’m now making a palace (school) in Korea, in a place nearby Seoul. This school will be a place to train in martial arts. I’m preparing this school now.
So will you train people at this martial arts school?
I hope that people from all over the world will come to my school to learn martial arts.
And you will teach them as well?
Yes.
Good luck with that and thanks very much for your time today.
Hwang Jang-lee came to London as part of Seni14 on 13 and 14 September 2014.
Thanks to Ricky Baker and Toby Russell (Eastern Heroes / Hate Media) for organising the interview. And thanks to J Saul Kane for the use of the image.
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