Action-themed film works have always been "sought-after goods" on the big screen of Hong Kong films.
In 1958, "Shaw Films" was officially established. The development of Hong Kong films has also consolidated the market foundation at this time. In the early days, Shao Shi, because of the leadership of Li Hanxiang, embarked on the filming path of "Talent and Beauty Drama".
However, by the mid-1960s, with the rise of Hu Jinquan and Zhang Che, martial arts films became the focus of Shaw's films. The box office success of "One-Armed Knife", "Thirteen Taibao", "Drunken Man" and "Dragon Gate Inn" has also made "Shaw's martial arts films" a generation's film memory.
In the 1970s, with the rise of Bruce Lee, kung fu films began to thrive in the Hong Kong film market, and "Jiahe Film" also rode this "kung fu film wave" to expand its territory and become Shaw's market rival.
In 1973, bruce Lee's death ushered in a career turn for Liu Jialiang, Hong Jinbao, Yuan Heping, Jackie Chan and others. With their outstanding film talents, these people have shown their skills in the Hong Kong film market and stepped onto the peak of their careers step by step.
After entering the 1980s, Hong Kong films ushered in a golden period of development. Action comedies and police action movies have also become the mainstream of the market at this time.
In the 1990s, Hong Kong films entered a golden period of blossoming flowers. Kung fu films, martial arts films, psychic action movies, action comedies, and police action movies also attracted groups of audiences with their respective market charms, until the end of the 90s, Hong Kong films went into decline.
From the mid-1960s to the end of the 1990s, the market creation trend of "action Hong Kong films" made many action actors embark on the peak of their careers.
Among them, there are action actors such as Jackie Chan, Hong Jinbao, jet Li, and there are also many powerful female hit stars. Next, we will talk about the action actresses who have witnessed the rise and fall of action Hong Kong films.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="13" >01: Zheng Peipei </h1>
The wave of "Shaw martial arts films" in the 1960s took the lead in opening the prelude to the action above the Hong Kong film market. In this wave of martial arts, Zheng Peipei, known as the "empress of martial arts", was undoubtedly the most brilliant action actress on the big screen of Hong Kong films at that time.
In the early years, Zheng Peipei was an actor in Shaw's "Southern Experimental Theater Troupe", and then because he was favored by director Hu Jinquan, he embarked on the shooting path of martial arts films.
In 1966, director Hu Jinquan filmed the movie "The Drunken Man". Zheng Peipei, 20 years old, starred in the film as the heroine "Golden Swallow". The praise after the release of this film was overwhelming, allowing Zheng Peipei to usher in the peak of her career. After "Drunken Man", she also began to be active in various martial arts film works.
And works such as "Excalibur Shaking Kyushu", "Shadow Divine Whip", "Five Tigers Slaying the Dragon", "Poisonous Dragon Pond" and so on also made Zheng Peipei a well-deserved "action sister" in the Hong Kong film industry at that time.
It is worth mentioning that in 1968, Zheng Peipei cooperated with director He Menghua in the martial arts film "Yu Luosha". The flowing and free bamboo forest fight scene in this film was also copied by Ang Lee to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in 2000.
Action actors have a short screen life, and action actresses are even more so. In 1971, after Zheng Peipei finished filming "Zhong Kui Niangzi", he quit the martial arts big screen because he got married and had children.
At the end of the 80s, Zheng Peipei tried to make a comeback in the film industry. In 1988, she collaborated with Hong Jinbao on "Seven Little Blessings". And the "Lady Hua" in "Tang Bohu Dian Qiu Xiang" in 1993 also let us see Zheng Peipei's sharp fist and foot kung fu again.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="20" >02: Mao Ying</h1>
In the early 1970s, kung fu films began to become popular, and Bruce Lee and Mao Ying, two kung fu aces for men and a woman, also allowed "Jiahe" to expand its territory and move forward in the Hong Kong film box office market.
Mao Ying, like Jackie Chan and Hong Jinbao, was born in a pear garden. In the early 1970s, with the gradual growth of the film market, Mao Ying also stepped off the opera stage and stepped onto the big screen of the movie. Works such as "Ghost Fury River" and "Eight Generals of Heavenly Dragon" have also gradually consolidated Mao Ying's position in the Hong Kong film market.
In 1971, "Big Brother Tangshan" won the box office, allowing "Jiahe" to see the market prospects of kung fu films. After having Bruce Lee, a fierce general, "Jiahe" plans to draw a gourd in the same way, and then win a "kung fu actress" to further seize the box office dividend of the kung fu film market.
As a result, Mao Ying, who was well-trained, also became the focus of attention of the top level of "Jiahe" at this time. In 1972, Jiahe tailored the kung fu film "Aikido" for Mao Ying, which received a good market response after its release. Mao Ying also became the "female version of Bruce Lee" in the mouths of fans because of this work.
It is worth mentioning that in this "Aikido", Hong Jinbao in the early years played the role of "Second Master Brother". In the early years, Jackie Chan also played a beaten "dragon set" in the film.
In 1973, Bruce Lee filmed "Dragon Fight Tiger Fight", and Mao Ying also played the role of Bruce Lee's "sister" in the film. After "Dragon Fight Tiger Fight", Bruce Lee's "Jingwumen" and "Raptor Across the River" began to be introduced to North America by Hollywood studios.
And Mao Ying's works such as "Taekwondo Shakes Kyushu", "Iron Palm Whirlwind Leg", "Life and Death in the Chinese Muay Thai Boxing Circle" and other works have also entered the North American film market in this "export boom".
In 1977, Mao Ying collaborated with Hong Jinbao on the film Breaking the Ring. In this film, The classic "chain ball war" of Mao Ying and Hong Jinbao was copied by Quentin Tarantino to "Kill Bill".
And Mao Ying's classic style in "Breaking the Ring" has also become the design prototype of "Chunli" in "Street Fighter".
Family and career are a dilemma. In the early 1980s, For the sake of her family, Mao Ying chose to give up her star-playing career, quit the film industry, and moved overseas.
At the "New York Asian Film Festival" in 2010, Mao Ying, who had faded out of the film industry for many years, attended the event with her old partner Hong Jinbao. The reunion of the two has also evoked the memories of many kung fu film fans.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="42" >03: Hui Yinghong</h1>
In the early 1980s, Mao Ying's shadow made the "Liu Jiaban" powerful faction beat the female Hui Yinghong, and had the opportunity to stand out in the film industry.
In 1977, Hui Yinghong, who had a beautiful appearance, was favored by the big director Zhang Che and starred in the role of "Mu Nianci" in "The Legend of the Divine Eagle Hero", thus opening his own film road.
In 1979, Liu Jialiang, who sat in the director's seat, pulled Hui Yinghong into the "Liu Family Class", and kung fu films such as "Crazy Monkey", "Rotten Head He", and "Hong Wending Three Broken White Lotus Teachings" also stabilized Hui Yinghong's star-playing career step by step.
In 1981, Hui Yinghong collaborated with Liu Jialiang on the kung fu film "Elders". The outstanding performance in this film allowed Hui Yinghong to win a trophy of "Golden Queen" and became the "first action actress in the history of Hong Kong film to receive post-film honors".
After winning the film trophy, Hui Yinghong's film road should have been smooth. However, in the early 1980s, the kung fu film market shrank rapidly. Jackie Chan and Hong Jinbao sensed the opportunity and transformed into the big screen of action police films.
Hui Yinghong, who failed to see through the market trend, followed the "kung fu film" into the trough of her career.
In the mid-1980s, Hui Yinghong also began to try to cooperate with Hong Jinbao and Jackie Chan, trying to enter the big screen of action police films. In the "Double Dragon Out to sea", "Summer Lucky Star", and "Divine Courage Double Cannon Sequel" launched by "HongJiaban", Hui Yinghong's figure has appeared.
In the "Twisted Miscellaneous Card Army" and "Overlord Flower" filmed by the "Family Class", Hui Yinghong also became the "action bearer" in the film.
Unlike those action actresses who value their families, Hui Yinghong values her career more. In the mid-to-late 1990s, the Hong Kong film market went into decline, but Hui Yinghong has always stuck to the big screen.
With the growth of age, after 2005, Hui Yinghong also chose to "abandon martial arts congwen", and works such as "Heart Demon", "Lucky Me", "Blood Guanyin", "Trish" and so on also let her win one acting trophy after another.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="56" >04: Hu Huizhong </h1>
In the early 1980s, under the leadership of Hong Jinbao, the Hong Kong film market set off a wave of beating women. And Hu Huizhong has also become the leader of this wave of beating women.
In the early years, Hu Huizhong was the goddess of literary and artistic films on the big screen. In the early 1980s, in the face of the impact of the market tide of commercial films, Hu Huizhong also entered the action film market, and the role of "Overlord Flower" in "Fuxing Gaozhao" made Hu Huizhong famous in a battle.
After "Fu Xing Gao Zhao", Hu Huizhong successively starred in "Summer Lucky Star", "Overlord Flower", "Thunderbolt Police Flower", "Teaching Hair Wei", "Demon Hunting Qunying", "Thief A Xing", "Fang Shiyu", "Overlord Unloading Armor" and many other works, and many other stars such as Jackie Chan, Hong Jinbao, Dillon, Jet Li and so on, have launched screen confrontations.
At the end of the 90s, Hu Huizhong also encountered her own "decision moment", between family and career, she chose family. In 1998, Hu Huizhong married ophthalmologist He Zhiping, and her figure faded from the movie screen after marriage.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="64" >05: Yang Ziqiong </h1>
The actress who was pushed by Hong Jinbao on the road to the stars was not only Hu Huizhong. Yang Ziqiong is also a very typical example.
In 1983, Yang Ziqiong, who won the "Miss Malaysia" beauty contest, was signed into the "Debao Film". At the beginning, the "Debao Film" plan allowed Yang Ziqiong to embark on the pure and gentle jade girl route.
However, after shooting several movies, Yang Ziqiong's "jade woman design" did not achieve obvious results. In 1985, Hu Huizhong embarked on a new peak in his career with the image of "Overlord Flower". And Hong Jinbao also decided to push Yang Ziqiong onto the development path of action actresses.
In 1985, "Royal Master Sister" officially consolidated Yang Ziqiong's career of beating women. After the "Royal Warrior" and "The Great Thief of Heaven", Yang Ziqiong's action road also reached a higher peak.
In the early 1990s, Yang Ziqiong began to change the object of cooperation according to the market situation. During this period, she cooperated with Jackie Chan on big-scene action films such as "Police Story 3", but also cooperated with Jet Li on martial arts films such as "Tai Chi Zhang Sanfeng", and also cooperated with Zhen Zidan on kung fu films such as "Wing Chun".
The changeable action style makes Yang Ziqiong meet the source left and right in the film world. At the end of the 90s, Yang Ziqiong, like Jackie Chan and Jet Li, entered Hollywood and entered the international film market.
Most action actresses, as they get older, choose to fade out of the "action theme" of the film works. And Yang Ziqiong, who has been sticking to the big screen of action movies for many years.
In works such as "Ip Man: Zhang Tianzhi", "Leadership Level", "Gunpowder Milkshake" and other works, this powerful action actress has also once again revealed her boxing skills.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="77" >06: Lovelough </h1>
1985's "Royal Master Sister" not only opened the road of Yang Ziqiong's action, but also opened Up Love's career of beating women.
Born in the United States, Lovelot has loved martial arts since childhood. In her early years, she came to China to learn martial arts and also entered the Chengdu Wushu team. In the mid-1980s, Lovello began to dabble in the film industry and was frequently active in the film works of "Hong JiaBan".
Works such as "Royal Sister", "Pioneer of Law Enforcement", "Rich Train", "Sister Shi Sister Sunshine", "Magic Emerald" and other works have also allowed her to accumulate a huge audience base in the Hong Kong film market.
In the early 1990s, Lovelot chose to go to Hollywood to develop, and her short years of action Hong Kong films also came to an end at this time.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="84" >07: Big Island by Gali </h1>
The "Hong Jia Ban" in the 80s can be described as a female manufacturing machine in the Hong Kong film industry. At that time, the action actresses who were popular by "Hong Jiaban" were not only Yang Ziqiong, Hu Huizhong, And Lovelo, but also Yuki Ōshima.
In the mid-1980s, Oshima yugari came to the Hong Kong film industry. Under the introduction of Kurata Yasuaki, she participated in Hong Jinbao's "Rich Train". This is Oshima's first Hong Kong film work starring Gali, and the film's outstanding action performance has also won her the love of many fans.
After "Rich Train", Oshima Yugali has successively starred in "Angel Action", "Dragon Battle", "Best Thief Partner", "Ten Faces Ambush", "Angel SWAT", "Force King" and other works.
In the late 1980s, during the boom of "playing women's Hong Kong films", Oshima Yugali solidified his audience base with his outstanding fist and foot performances. Unfortunately, in the mid-1990s, the "hit women's film" went into decline, and Oshima Yugali's career began to decline a little.
At the end of the 1990s, the Hong Kong film market was in a depression. Oshima's action movie path, Yuki, also fell into a trough at this time, and has not encountered any turnaround since.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="93" >08: Li Saifeng </h1>
In the "wave of women's Hong Kong films" in the 80s, Li Saifeng was also an extremely dazzling one. Born as a dancer, under the guidance of director Xu Xiaoming, she embarked on the development path of an action actress.
In the mid-1980s, Li Saifeng began to cooperate frequently with Jackie Chan and Hong Jinbao. In "Strange Tricks Five Lucky Stars", "Weilong Detective", "Mr. Zombie", and "Summer Lucky Star", Li Saifeng's figure is also particularly eye-catching.
At the end of the 1980s, with the rise of the market of Hu Huizhong, Yang Ziqiong and others, the boom of "playing women's Hong Kong films" began to spread rapidly, and Li Saifeng also stabilized his market position with the "Angel Action" series.
In the early 1990s, the boom in women's films in the Hong Kong film market entered its peak. With works such as "Preemptive Strike", "Angel Special Police", "Dream Awakening Snow Not Stopped", "Thief Family" and other works, Li Saifeng galloped the action Hong Kong film market, and his name was not lost to Hu Huizhong, Yang Ziqiong and others in the same period.
At the end of the 1990s, Hong Kong cinema went into decline. In the face of the increasingly declining industry environment, Li Saifeng chose to fade out of the big screen of the movie and return to the dance industry. The star years that belonged to Li Saifeng also officially came to an end at this time.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="102" >09: Yang Lijing</h1>
At the end of the 1980s, Yang Lijing entered the action Hong Kong film market and took over the classic IP of "Royal Master Sister" from Yang Ziqiong's hands.
However, taking over the sequel for someone else has never seemed to be a good choice. Yang Lijing, who took over the "Royal Master Sister" series, and Zhao Wenzhuo, who took over the "Huang Feihong" series, witnessed a turning point in the classic action IP from prosperity to decline.
In the late 80s and early 90s, under the trend of playing women's films, although Yang Lijing also starred in many works, her influence in the action Hong Kong film market was always inferior to yang Ziqiong, Hu Hui and others.
In the early 1990s, Yang Ziqiong, with her changeable action style, was on the big screen of martial arts films and kung fu films. At this time, although Yang Lijing also starred in kung fu films and martial arts films such as "A Knife to the City", "Dongying Ranger", "New Cold-Blooded Thirteen Eagles", the market effect was very bleak.
In 1995, Yang Lijing, whose career was gradually going to a low ebb, decided to give up the movie and enter the TV series screen. After that, "The Legend of Xiang Shuai", "Thunderbolt Bodhisattva", and "Iron Tooth Copper Tooth Ji Xiaolan" also allowed Yang Lijing to usher in a new career turn.
At the end of the 1990s, the Hong Kong film market shrank rapidly, and the brilliant action Hong Kong films also ushered in their own closing moments. Under the impact of the tide of the times, many action actors have fallen into the trough of life. And those action actresses who shined for a while also waved goodbye to the movie era after witnessing the rise and fall of action Hong Kong films.