MovieChat Forums > 55 Days at Peking (1963) Discussion > first hollywood kung fu scene

first hollywood kung fu scene


As a martial artist and kung fu film fan I have always enjoyed the scene where the boxers try to intimidate the westerners with a colourful and dynamic display of chinese martial arts.
Apart from "bad day at black rock"(1955) with Spencer tracy dishing out some formidable jui jitsu,I think this is the probably the first ever kung fu sequence used in a Hollywood film.

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Not so, that accolade was attributed to Frank Sinatra and Henry Silva in The Manchurian Candidate, according to Frank hisownself in an interview I saw.

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The first clue that there might be some factual error in that statement is, of course, that the source is the one who claims to be the first.

What about jiu jitsu in the old Mr. Moto movies going back to the late 30s? Or the judo bout in Blood On The Sun with James Cagney from the mid-40s?

Can anyone else come up with some earlier examples?

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Keye Luke executes a few moves on a baddie in the Monogram B-flick PHANTOM OF CHINATOWN (1940).

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Buster Keaton engages in a Judo demonstration in Sidewalks Of New York (1931)

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Judo and Ju-jutsu are Japanese martial arts, though, whereas kung fu is Chinese. 55 Days at Peking is certainly not the first Hollywood film to feature martial arts, but did any earlier Hollywood film include Kung Fu? Or rather Wushu, as presented here?

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"I defy anyone to come up with authentic Chinese Wushu in Hollywood prior to 55 Days."

I think you're right. I can't think of an earlier mainstream picture featuring kung fu.

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what style of kung fu was it?

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what style of kung fu was it?

Wushu.

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