THERE'S one name in the Hong Kong cinematic world that raises eye-brows among
the Chinese baby boomers - Wang Yu. In the 1960s, Wang Zheng-quan (later Jimmy
Wang Yu) could outpunch, outkick and outfight any opponent in the Shaw Brothers
martial arts films.
Wang Yu shot to fame with The One-Armed Swordsman in 1967. The Chinese name for
that film, Dubei Dao, still rings a bell in most video shops. Ask any video shop
proprietor for this film and chances are you will get a knowing look. Born March
28, 1943, in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province of China, Wang Yu was also known by other
names like Wong Yu-lung and Wang Yue.
With a lean and wiry physique, the actor had few equals as a martial arts actor
in Southeast Asia some 40 years ago. Before he joined Shaw Brothers in 1963,
Wang Yu was a Hong Kong swimming champion as well as a racing car enthusiast.
During his stint with the House of Shaw, the Chinese actor teamed up with famous
sword-fighting director Chang Cheh.
He acted in The Golden Swallow with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon actress Cheng
Pei-Pei in 1968. If One Armed Swordsman was the move that launched Wang Yu's
acting career, then The Chinese Boxer (1970) was the film that sealed his fame
in the realm of Chinese films.
The Chinese Boxer is credited with being the first Hong Kong martial arts film
that kickstarted unarmed combat genre, mainly kung fu. The film also triggered a
phenomenon that filled the ranks of many Chinese martial arts associations
across Southeast Asia. Chinese youths in their bid to emulate their screen hero,
Wang Yu took to punching sandbags and reading up on Shaolin kungfu history.
Adult Chinese males who were in their teens in that era would recall that the
lean, slightly mean and stoic look was the persona that best described those
Chinese youths who sometimes recklessly expressed themselves with their fists
and legs, much to their own detriment. Controversy dogged Wang Yu's heels after
the fame that exploded with The Chinese Boxer.
As teenagers, my friends and I were fascinated with Wang Yu's screen persona.
Long before the grunge look became the vogue, Wang Yu was already exhibiting it
in his swordsman and boxer movies. Cinema audiences were thoroughly thrilled and
fascinated by his more-than-occasional unshaven appearance. It gave the actor
that much applauded sinister look. I believe women would label that as "the
mysterious, moody and dangerous" appearance.
There were times when the sword of an opponent would knock off his "goondu"
(knotted hair) and the aftermath was Wang Yu in all his on-screen long-haired
splendour. Those were the days when long hair was in. Could be the time of
memories of the Woodstock gathering still hadn't faded away. Whatever it was,
Wang Yu with his long dark hair and unshaven face gave the women the thrills and
young men the chills. We all lapped it up.
I now recall vaguely that I had once suggested to my mum that perhaps I would
look "good" with long hair and I cited Wang Yu's example. My mum told me that
she couldn't afford to have such a "famous person" staying in her house so I
might have to think of an alternative accomodation. And I, being all of about 12
years ago, decided that I would thoroughly be satisfied with my own ridiculously
short hair and staying in my humble abode afterall, when I found out quite
quickly that I would never be accustomed to sleeping under some "pokok kelapa".
The years that followed saw Wang Yu broke his contract with Shaw Brothers and
was promptly slapped with a law suit. The legal tussle which ended in Shaw's
favour led to Wang Yu being banned from making films in Hong Kong. The tall,
handsome actor who had by then gained a fair measure of fame looked to Taiwan
for better career prospects. He linked up with Golden Harvest Productions and
other independent film outfits.
His subsequent films were mostly done in Taiwan. With the success of The Chinese
Boxer, Wang Yu stood unchallenged for a better part of a decade as the Chinese
actor with the most formidable fists and legs. His fame spread throughout
Southeast Asia and remained so until the arrival of Bruce Lee in 1971 with The
Big Boss.
Wang Yu's private life was reportedly as colourful as his fighting film roles.
In 1969, Wang Yu married actress Lin Tsui who was nine years his senior but not
before conducting a scandalous affair with a well-known actress who was then
married to director Qin Jan. Qin Jan hanged himself before a divorce took place.
The actress, who was also known as Lam Chui or Lin Cui, was one of the more
famous names in the Hong Kong film industry in the 50s and 60s. She dropped out
of the film scene almost immediately after her marriage. Matrimony turned out to
be a tumultuous affair for Wang Yu and Lin. Amid allegations of wife-beating,
the marriage crumbled in 1975. Lin migrated to the US in 1977.
She died in 1995 after an asthma attack. Lin's brother is Kenneth Tsang who's
also an actor. Wang Yu later remarried. This time to air hostess Kai-cheng. This
marriage too proved to be a stormy relationship. They separated in 1997.
Kai-cheng filed for divorce and Wang Yu balked. Probably in frustration,
Kai-cheng started an affair with a young businessman. Wang Yu got wind of it.
Accompanied by reporters and police, Wang Yu surprised the couple at their
lodging and publicly exposed his wife. Satisfied with the public humiliation
heaped on the couple, Wang Yu then dropped Kai-cheng. There were other serious
problems in the actor's life. In 1981, he faced a murder charge in Taiwan.
However, the charge didn't stick due to lack of evidence.
Wang Yu's involvement in public brawls also made the headlines from time to
time. But there's a positive side to his character that's seldom mentioned. In
the late 70s, a young actor was trying to make a break in films and somehow he
got into a misunderstanding with veteran director Lo Wei. Initially, the issue
could not be settled.
The young actor sought the help of Wang Yu. Wang Yu settled the matter to the
satisfaction of both parties. Years later, the actor repaid the favour with his
role in Wang Yu's film Island of Fire. (1990) That actor is Jackie Chan. Wang Yu
starred in several notable films like Return of The Chinese Boxer (1975), Temple
of the Red Lotus (1965) and Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976).
With the advent of the 70s, Wang Yu's star began to eclipse with the entry of
new actors like Ti Lung, David Chiang and especially Bruce Lee. In 1986, Sammo
Hung cast Wang Yu as the father of the famous Chinese martial arts hero Wong Fei
Hung. In the years that followed, Wang Yu kept a low profile.
He made a rare public appearance at the funeral of his old friend and mentor,
Chang Cheh, in 2002. Even though Wang Yu left an indelible mark on the Chinese
film martial arts scene, in truth he was never the accomplished martial arts
artiste which his films made him out to be.
It was actually the camera angle and the clever film editing that gave Wang Yu
the aura of invincibility in the fighting arena. Real martial arts exponents who
later became actors like Bruce Lee and Jet Li would have "put him in their
pockets", so to speak.
Still, credit belongs to Wang Yu for paving the way for other unforgettable
Chinese kung fu films that came after he had left the centre stage.
His name rightly belongs with the others who had carved their names on the hallowed halls
of the once thriving Hong Kong film industry when kung fu films held sway from
Kowloon to the Singapore.
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