Disciples of the 36th Chamber (1985)

November 8, 2015

The third film in the 36th Chamber ‘trilogy’.  The first being The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978), followed by Return of the 36th Chamber (1980).  Gordon Liu reprises his role as the Monk San Te which he played in the first movie.  He is however not the focus of the film but folk hero Fong Sai-Yuk. I really believe Lau Kar-leung was the right man to make the second an third movies as he didn’t succumb to the pressures of just making a photo copy of the first film but mixed each one up just enough to make them enjoyable to watch and not going over the top in attempt to out due the previous films.

Although everything was shot in studio it still retains a high production value and the acting was good as were the costumes and sets. I’m honestly surprised that Hsiao Ho didn’t star in as many films as his contemporaries, he certainly had the skills and abilities.

left to right Gordon Liu as San Te and Hsiao Ho as Fong Sai-Yuk

Hsiao Ho (Executioners from Shaolin, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, Iron Monkey) as Fong Sai-Yuk

Gordon Liu (Shaolin Drunken Monk, Shaolin and Wu Tang, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter) as San Te

Lily Li (Princess Iron Fan, The Wandering Swordsman, The Brave Archer and His Mate) as Sai-Yuk’s mother

Jason Pai Piao (Have Sword, Will Travel, The Four Shaolin Challengers, Seven Swords) as Governor

Lau Kar-leung (it’s quicker to just say he has done everything) as Manchu chief

Mak Wai-Cheung (Return of the 36th Chamber, Treasure Hunters, Legend of the Wolf) as Fong Maiyu

Cheng Miu (Lady General Hua Mulan, The Flying Dagger,  Shaolin and Wu Tang) as Fong De

Lee Hoi-Sang (The Spiritual Boxer, Executioners from Shaolin, The Supreme Swordsman) as Tiger Lei

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