Hong Kong films in the 1980s and 1990s gained the reputation of "Oriental Hollywood" by virtue of their unique advantages in the field of action films. Under the craze of action movies, many martial arts instructors have also chosen to transform and become all-round talents capable of directing and acting.
Today we are going to talk about an all-round filmmaker who has transformed from a martial arts guide to an actor and director. He comes from a family of martial arts and is a powerful kung fu master; he has joined hands with Sammo Hung to create many classics in Hong Kong movies. At the end of the 80s, he also entered the Hollywood big screen, cooperating with Shangge Yunton in classic action. He is-Liu Jiarong.
From martial arts instructor to action movie star, the kung fu master
who was born in a martial arts family may be unfamiliar with Liu Jiarong's name. But mentioning his brother Liu Jialiang, I believe that fans who like kung fu movies are very familiar with it.
Liu Jiarong and Liu Jialiang are brothers. Their father, Liu Zhan, is the apprentice of "Master Hong Quan" Lin Shirong. Because of his father, Liu Jiarong began martial arts since childhood. As an adult, he followed his elder brother Liu Jialiang into the film world, embarked on the road of martial arts guidance, and participated in the behind-the-scenes of classic films such as "One-armed Sword", "Golden Swallow", "Thirteen Taibao", and "Two Heroes" Make.
In the mid-1970s, Liu Jialiang transformed into a film director with the support of Shaw Brothers. And Liu Jiarong has also become his elder brother, a favorite action actor. In 1975, Liu Jialiang filmed the director's debut "God Fight". Liu Jiarong's wonderful performance in the film won him a lot of praise. His subsequent works such as "The Thirty-Six Rooms of Shaolin Temple" and "Maoshan Zombie Boxing" helped him accumulate a good audience base. Although
has collaborated with his elder brother Liu Jialiang on many classic works, it was the cooperation with Sammo Hung that really set Liu Jiarong to the peak of his career.
Sammo Hung’s entrepreneurial partner, a Chinese star who entered Hollywood
In 1978, Liu Jiarong and Sammo Hung jointly established the "Garbo Film", and at this time he also began to transform into a director and producer.
In "Garbo Film"'s entrepreneurial work "Tiger Frog", Liu Jialiang not only served as the leading actor of the film, but also served as the producer of the film. In the subsequent "Desperate Strikes and Kills a Gun", Liu Jiarong is also the dual role of the actor and director.
In 1979, Sammo Hung planned the Kung Fu comedy "Miscellaneous Kid" for his junior brother Yuen Biao. While Liu Jiarong served as the producer of the film, he also starred in the big villain "Jia Wudao". And his Kung Fu confrontation with Yuen Biao has become a classic in the hearts of many movie fans.
not only shows off in Hong Kong movies, but also in Hollywood action movies, Liu Jiarong also has a lot of eye-catching performances. In 1989, "Twentieth Century Fox" created the movie "King of Fighting" for Hollywood action superstar Sunge Wonton, and Liu Jiarong was also invited to have a fist duel with Sunge Wonton in the film.
In 1990, Hollywood independent film company "America Video" and Hong Kong "Jiahe" co-produced the action film "Freedom Fighter". Liu Jiarong also served as the director of the film. In 2002, "Twentieth Century Fox" created the action comedy "Kun Bao Punches". Liu Jiarong was invited again to participate in the filming of the film.
Jet Li's witness to the "Huang Feihong Era"
entered the 1990s, with the decline of the kung fu comedy market, Liu Jiarong also returned from the front and back to the back of the scene, and once again worked as a martial arts coach. And his combination of actions with Jet Li also unintentionally opened up a new film era.
In 1991, Tsui Hark planned the movie "Huang Feihong: Rising Clouds" for Jet Li, and Liu Jiarong was also invited to serve as a martial arts director for the film. This classic work not only brought Jet Li's film career to the peak, but also allowed Liu Jiarong to win the award for best action design.
Liu Jiarong can be said to have witnessed the rise and end of Jet Li's "Huang Feihong Era". In 1991, the two people collaborated on "Once Upon a Time in the Clouds", which kicked off Jet Li's "Once Upon a Time Series". In 1996, Jet Li’s last piece of Huang Feihong’s work "Once Upon a Time in the Western Regions Lions", Liu Jiarong also participated in the production of the film as an assistant director.
In the late 1990s, the Hong Kong film market gradually declined, and Liu Jiarong also disappeared from the Hong Kong film screen at this time. The audience's movie memories of him also remain in the era of "Garbo Movies" and movie works such as "Desperate Single Shot" and "Tiger Frog".
