Hong Kong kung fu films, with their unique charm, are unique in the world film industry. The male protagonists who represent justice are all arrogant and extraordinary, and the villains who are beaten by them are also not to be underestimated. Powerful bosses like Huang Zhengli, Kurata Baozhao, and Zhou Billy, if they don't have a "protagonist aura" covering the male protagonist, they are simply anti-guest-oriented.
Youngs
The one I want to introduce today, his fierce appearance and strong stature, is actually one of the iconic figures in the Hong Kong film industry.
Bolo Yeung, born in 1946 in Guangdong, China, began practicing martial arts at the age of ten. He was interested in bodybuilding since he was a child, and later became a Hong Kong bodybuilding champion and won it for ten consecutive years, known as the "Chinese Hercules".
Because of his fierce appearance and strong muscles, he was caught by Zhang Che. After joining Shaw, he was often chosen as a villain in movies. For example, "Thirteen Taibao" (1970), "Two Heroes" (1971).
The Thirteenth Taibao
The 1973 Bruce Lee film Dragon Fights the Tiger was his most famous work, during which time he and Bruce Lee became close friends. In 1986, he collaborated with Bruce Lee's son Lee Guo-ho in "The Dragon in the Rivers and Lakes", which is also Lee's only Hong Kong film.
Dragon Fight vs Bruce Lee
"The Dragon in the Jianghu" vs Li Guohao
In the 1980s, Yang Si collaborated with Hong Jinbao many times, such as "Fuxing Gaozhao" (1985), "Thunderbolt Loudspeaker" (1986), "Rich Train" (1986) and so on.
"Lucky Star High Illumination"
In 1988, Youngs played the iconic villain role "Chong Li" in Shange Winton's film Blood Point. His final battle with Shange Winton was hailed as one of the most memorable battle scenes of the period. Like Bruce Lee in Dragon Fight, Youngs forged a close friendship with Shange Windton and collaborated with him again in 1991 on Double Fire.
Blood Point vs Shange Winton
In addition to the above masterpieces, Youngs has worked with many kung fu stars in the 1970s and 1990s.
"Shenwei Three Raptors" vs Lai Xiaolong
"Goodbye Yiren" vs Chen Xunqi
"White Horse Black Seven" VS Qian Yuesheng
"Dharma Iron Finger Gong" vs Chen Xing
Tower of Death VS Lu Xiaolong
"The Kid Out of the Horse" vs Zhang Wulang
Defending Crisis vs Lovelot
Dock Duel vs Chan Wai Min
"The Brave Man" vs Lee Kam Kun
"Working Emperor" vs Xu Guanjie
Youngs has starred in more than 90 Hong Kong films. In addition, he also directed and acted in two films, namely "Wen Da" (1979) and "White Horse Black Seven" (1979).
Poster of "White Horse Black Seven"
Youngs currently resides in Monterey Park, California. He maintains regular training and his physical fitness is still good. Although he has dabbled in many kung fus, his favorite is tai chi. Youngs was one of the few martial artists to emphasize flexibility and defense in the art of martial arts. Although the real-life Youngs is the complete opposite of his popular screen image, he will always be seen as one of the most outstanding villains in B-movies.
Personal anecdote about Youngs:
1. He was born in the suburbs of Guangzhou, Chinese mainland, the father of a local businessman.
2. In the 1960s, he smuggled his family from China to Hong Kong.
3. He won the Hong Kong Bodybuilding Championship in 1967 and won it for ten consecutive years.
4. He learned Kung Fu from Bruce Lee. He was a good friend of Bruce Lee's, and they would sometimes get together to train or discuss kung fu.
5. He is a weightlifting enthusiast. He often trains at a Gym in Los Angeles with his son, David, who is also a bodybuilding champion.
Yang Si, Shange Yunton, David Yeung
6 He has two sons: Danny and David, and a daughter, Debra.
7) He appeared on screen as an evil person until 1993's Gunner: Dead And Alive, when he played the good guy for the first time. He also played positive roles in three other films: Fearless Tiger (1991), TC 2000 (1993), and Shooter Fighter II (1996).
8. His major breakthrough in Hollywood was in 1988's "Blood Point" starring Shange Winton.
9. He is the chairman of the Hong Kong Fitness Association and the team manager of the Taipei International Bodybuilding Team.
10, he studied Wing Chun, and his favorite martial art is tai chi.
11. In the promotional film for "Dragon Fight Tiger Fight", he was mistakenly promoted as the "Song Tao Guan Liu" karate champion in Southeast Asia — in fact, he had never practiced this martial art.
12. "Crane Fist" (1979, starring Liang Xiaolong) was his favorite movie of the year.
Poster of Crane Fist
13 He kept the barbell that Bruce Lee had left in Jiahe's office, and a rare business card of concord founded by Bruce Lee.
14. In 2007, he played a positive role in Blizzard Boy: The Ultimate Warrior, but the film has not yet been released due to legal issues.
15, his best "hard pull" score is more than 700 pounds.
Some interviews:
1. In 1973, I had the opportunity to return to the United States, but with bruce Lee's death all plans fell through. So I was 17 years late. Maybe I'm a little old now, but that's not a problem.
2. Many times people will come to me for autographs and tell me that they like my work "Dragon Fights Tiger Fight". But people just know me from the movies, they don't know the real me.
3) As an actor, I know where my strengths lie. My appearance has led me to success. I know my place in the movie; no matter how good an actor is, if he doesn't know his place in the movie, he will never succeed.
4) I realized that I was still very popular with the audience, which made me very happy. I think it all started with Dragon Fight (1973). 20 years ago, all fans and audiences remembered Bruce Lee as a superstar, and no one can replace him today. At the same time, this also influenced Shange Winton's film style. Like Bruce Lee, Shange Yunton captivated the audience with his unique temperament and appearance.
5. In the process of filming "Dragon Fight Tiger Fight" (1973), Bruce Lee and I had a very close cooperation in martial arts technology. We constantly try what is desirable and what is useless. You see, Bruce Lee is always learning, trying and changing.
6) Among those who are religious, few are willing to do good things unconditionally, they are opportunists. The reason they do good is out of fear of hell and desire for heaven. Without heaven or hell, such people may not be able to do good. This kind of person turns the meaning of the person into data. A lot of things are terrible now. Confucianism has all but disappeared, Taoism has become a tool for observing feng shui, and even temples have become a for-profit institution. There's more, but I don't want to talk about this anymore.
7. Why do we always defend? Tai Chi never takes the initiative to attack, "the enemy advances and I retreat" is an art of war.
8) Whether I'm a hero or a villain, it's all work. I'm not a kid anymore, and I don't get too nervous to fall asleep.
9) As a "bad guy", I will enjoy it.
(Most of the above information is from foreign websites, and the author translates them word by word and checks a large number of materials to try to intercept the most authentic and reliable parts.) ）
Youngs Magazine cover
It is said that in the American film industry a few years ago, there was a Selection of Chinese Kung Fu Stars, the first place was "Bruce Lee", accounting for 50% of the votes, the second was "Jackie Chan" with 32% of the votes, and the third was "Jet Li" and Yang Si each accounted for 9% of the votes, which shows its influence in the American film and television industry.
《The Whole World at Our Feet》中的杨斯
After the 1990s, Youngs moved to the United States, gradually reducing the number of films, occasionally making cameos in some B-grade films. His most recent film was The Whole World at Our Feet, released in 2017, a Kazakh gangster film in which Youngs is aging but still in good spirits.
END
(The foolish opinions I have published about the film are all sorted out in my spare time, and it is inevitable that there will be omissions and deficiencies, so please correct them.) ）