When Hong Kong kung fu films were brilliant, the martial arts instructor, as the soul of kung fu movies, greatly determined the success of the film, of which Yuan Xiaotian, as the first martial arts instructor in the history of Chinese cinema, had high achievements in the film and television industry and has always been respected, but this is not his most outstanding place, he is most proud of the cultivation of several excellent children, the eldest son Yuan Heping is known as "God".
▲ Yuan Xiaotian was the first martial arts instructor in the history of Chinese cinema. (Photo/Recap of "Drunken Fist")
Born in Beijing in 1912, Yuan Xiaotian went to Hong Kong in the 1930s to develop, directing martial arts scenes for Cantonese opera performances, and later entered the film circle to work as a martial arts stand-in, and in the 1960s, he served as a martial arts instructor for the Cantonese film "Iron Arm King Kong", becoming the first martial artist in the history of Chinese cinema.
Yuan Xiaotian was not only the first Chinese actor to participate in foreign film performances, but also participated in more than a dozen English-language films such as "55 Days at Peking", and he was also an important figure in "Huang Feihong Film" during the Guan Dexing period, showing his northern martial arts skills on the screen.
In 1970, Yuan Xiaotian originally retired from the curtain, but in 1977, Yuan Xiaotian starred in Jackie Chan's famous works "Drunken Fist" and "Snake-shaped Executioner" with a ticket mentality, which made his reputation greatly enhanced, and the image of Su Qi'er he played also became the object of imitation in kung fu comedies, and even the funny version of Su Qi'er of "Star Master" Zhou Xingchi also had Yuan Xiaotian's sloppy and casual style.
▲ Yuan Xiaotian "play ticket" cameback to act, but it became a hit. (Photo/Recap of "Drunken Fist")
However, compared to Yuan Xiaotian's achievements in front of the screen, his achievements behind the scenes are obviously greater, and more importantly, he has provided a steady stream of talent for Hong Kong action films. He has a total of 7 children, almost all of whom are well-known Hong Kong film actors or directors, the most famous of which is the eldest son, Yuan Heping.
Yuan Heping became a director after 8 years of action guidance, the director of "Drunken Fist" made Jackie Chan famous, and the wise eye heroes to win the red Zhen Zidan, Jet Li, it can be said that several martial arts superstars are personally pulled out by Yuan Heping, in addition to being highly respected in China, Yuan Heping is also very well-known internationally, and director Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" has won numerous awards, and participated in the action design of "Hacking Mission", "Hunting Down bill" and other films, you can imagine how great his influence is.
▲ Yuan Heping "blue out of blue" was canonized. (Photo/ Reproduced from Yuan Heping Weibo)
Yuan Xiaotian's other sons are also very excellent, Yuan Xinyi, Yuan Xiangren, Yuan Richu, Yuan Zhenwei are all famous actors in Hong Kong, when the Hong Kong entertainment industry was most developed, they have starred in many excellent well-known works, it can be said that Yuan Xiaotian's family is an indispensable part of the most popular Hong Kong martial arts films.