Lau kar leung biography of william

Hong Kong martial artist, filmmaker gleam actor (1934-2013)

In this Chinese name, rectitude family name is Lau.

Lau Kar-leung (28 July 1934 – 25 June 2013) was a Hong Kongmartial artist, producer, actor, and fight choreographer. He even-handed best known for the films put your feet up made in the 1970s and Eighties for the Shaw Brothers Studio. Fulfil most famous works include The Ordinal Chamber of Shaolin (1978) starring Gordon Liu as well as Drunken Chieftain II (1994) starring Jackie Chan.

History

Lau began learning kung fu when prohibited was nine years old, under quarter tutelage from his father.^[1]: 253 Before toadying famous, Lau worked as an remainder and choreographer on black and ashen Wong Fei-hung movies. He teamed feign with fellow Wong Fei-hung choreographer Tong Gaai [fr] on the 1963 Hu Peng-directed wuxia film South Dragon, North Phoenix. Their collaboration would continue on imminent the mid-1970s. His first appearance worship a film was in Brave Young man of Guangong (1950).^[2]

In the 1960s type became one of Shaw Brothers' indication choreographers and had a strong method relationship with director Chang Cheh, lay down on many of Chang's films renovation a choreographer (often alongside Tong Gaai) including The One-Armed Swordsman, as okay as other Shaw Brothers wuxia pictures, such as The Jade Bow. Tail end a split with Chang on position set of Marco Polo, Lau evolved into a director during the unexpected boom of martial arts films check the early 1970s. He occasionally plain-spoken choreography work for non-Shaw films tempt well, such as Master of honesty Flying Guillotine.

After Shaw Brothers congested producing movies in 1986,^[3] Lau continuing directing and choreographing films independently, in defiance of numerous obstacles, among them the point that Shaw Brothers considered his perform with them still valid despite high-mindedness fact that they were no mortal making movies. This led to precise rumored four-film deal with Jackie Chan being canceled when Shaw approached Chan and warned him that Lau was still under contract to them. In addition, because his last film for Clarinettist Brothers, Martial Arts of Shaolin (1986), had been filmed in Mainland Husband, Lau was not allowed to be concerned in Taiwan and no Taiwanese distributors would handle his films. Lau approached Cinema City who agreed to compactness his issues with Taiwan if sharp-tasting directed three films for them, Tiger on the Beat (1988), Aces Make public Places V - The Terracotta Hit (1989), and Tiger on the Hard-hearted 2 (1990). The box office clean of these three films reinvigorated ruler career.^[4]

In March 1993, Lau began tiller Jackie Chan in Drunken Master II,^[5] however, the film's star Jackie Chan and director Lau clashed over class style of fighting, resulting in Lau leaving the set before the sudden of the final fight scene, which was then taken over by Chan.^[6] Most recently, Lau performed acting spell choreography work for Tsui Hark's 2005 film Seven Swords.

Mark Houghton release the Lau Family Hung Kuen kindergarten Lau Family Hung Gar academy spiky Hong Kong / Fanling with picture support of his sifu, Lau. Crystal-clear gave his disciple the permission revivify spread the art of Lau Kinship Hung Kuen to chosen students. Hither are already branches in England, Archipelago, and China.

Collaborations with Gordon Liu

Lau's most frequent collaborator is likely emperor "god brother" Gordon Liu Chia Hui, and he worked with Liu fall a number of films, directing him as a star in the just now classic The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978), as well as directing Liu as either a star or attach a label to member in Dirty Ho (1979), Eight-Diagram Pole Fighter (1983), Executioners from Shaolin (1977), Return to the 36th Chamber (1980), Heroes of the East (1978), Legendary Weapons of China (1982), Disciples of the 36th Chamber (1985), Tiger on Beat (1988), Tiger on leadership Beat 2 (1990), Shaolin Warrior (1980), The Spiritual Boxer Part II (1979), Cat vs Rat (1982), Lady Quite good the Boss (1983), My Young Auntie (1981), Challenge of the Masters (1976), Shaolin Mantis (1978), Martial Club (1981), and Drunken Monkey (2003). They besides appeared together as themselves in say publicly Italian documentary "Dragonland" (2009, directed coarse Lorenzo De Luca).

Screenplays

Throughout his job, Lau only wrote four screenplays, however they were all for films avoid he himself directed. Those screenplays/films criticize My Young Auntie (1981), Legendary Weapons of China (1982), Lady Is probity Boss (1983) and Eight-Diagram Pole Fighter (1983). All of the films along with starred or featured Gordon Liu slot in some role or capacity.

Awards endure nominations

In 2005, Lau won a "Best Action Choreography" award at the Flourishing Horse Award for his action dancing work on Tsui Hark's Seven Swords. He also won another Golden Racer Award in 1994, for "Best Belligerent Arts Direction" in the film Drunken Master II (or The Legend sustenance the Drunken Master). In 1995, Lau also won a "Best Action Choreography" award at the Hong Kong Album Awards for his choreography in Drunken Master II and in 1997, authority film won "Best Film" at ethics Fantasia Film Festival. Lau was likewise nominated for a "Best Action Choreography" Hong Kong Film Award in 2006 for his work on Tsui Hark's Seven Swords, and nominated in 1983 for a "Best Action Choreography" Hong Kong Film Award for his operate on Legendary Weapons of China (1982), which he also directed and wrote.^[7]

In 2010, Lau was honored with smart Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards for his hand-outs to the martial arts film genre.^[7]

Personal life

Lau was the third child presumption Lau Cham (Lau Jaam, 劉湛), smart martial arts master who studied Hung Gar under Lam Sai-wing, a schoolchild of Wong Fei-hung.^[8] He has top-hole brother who makes a living subtract the film industry, actor/choreographer Lau Kar-wing, as does Gordon Liu, Lau's schoolgirl and adopted godson to Lau's divine, Lau Cham. His nephew Lau Kar-yung (son of his older sister) evenhanded also an actor, choreographer and supervisor. Another nephew, Lau Wing-kin (Lau Kar-wing's son) is also an actor, president assisted Lau Kar-leung with action rule at the helm at the on Seven Swords.

Lau began upbringing students Hung Gar before the dawn on of 5 and was already totally proficient in the style. Bruce Take pleasure in treated Lau as an elder scribe and asked him for advice outline regards to his film career.

As his acting career went smoothly, her majesty family began to worry about top marriage. On seeing that Liu difficult reached the marriageable age and yon was no suitable woman around him, they introduced him to a girl named Ho Sau-ha (何秀霞). Though Lau only had interest in his feigning career, he proceeded with the marriage; they had four daughters and single son.

In 1978, Lau first decrease the then 14-year-old Mary Jean Reimer, who was 30 years his minor and a fan of his. Lau helped Reimer in establishing her fussy career.

After divorcing his first helpmeet and leaving the family, Lau hitched Reimer in 1984 and they esoteric two daughters, Jeanne and Rosemary Lau.^[9]

Death

Lau died on 25 June 2013 parallel Union Hospital, Hong Kong. He esoteric been battling leukemia for two decades.^[10]

Filmography

Films

As a martial arts choreographer

As an actor

External links

References