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Chang Cheh was undisputedly a master of action movies. He created his own style of films
which are characterized by their robustness and highly original action sequences. In 1965
Shaw Brothers promoted coloured films with great efforts and action films became one of
the focuses of Shaw's productions. At that time, Chang came out with "The One-armed
Swordsman" which made a record one million dollars at the box office. With that film
Chang established himself as the leading director of costumed action movies. He
subsequently made "The Assassin", "Golden Swallow", "Vengeance", "The New One-armed
Swordsman", "Boxer from Shantung", "The Blood Brothers", "Disciples of Shaolin" and
other action movies. With these films Chang also introduced to the world many famous
action movie stars. In 1974 he founded Chang's Film Co. in Taiwan. Chang rejoined Shaw
Brothers in 1976 and continued his film making career in the Mainland since 1986. Chang
was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Hong Kong Film Critics'
Association in 1997.
- Hong Kong Tourism Board
Chang's real name is Chang Yik Yan, who was from Zhenjiang.
-------------------------------------------------------------- On June 22nd 2002, Hong Kong cinema lost one of its most prolific and highly influential figures when director Chang Cheh passed away at the age of 79. Cheng directed more than 90 movies during the course of his career, including such classics as One-Armed Swordsmans, Golden Swallow, The Water Margin, Shaolin Temple, Chinatown Kid, The Five Venoms, House of Traps and so many more.The False Faced Woman.
In the years that followed, Chang would direct some of the greatest martial arts movies ever made including the cult classics as Na Cha The Great, Men From The Monastery, Crippled Avengers, Ten Tigers of Kwang Tung and many more.
Shorty before his death, Chang received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2002 Hong Kong Film Awards. He will be remembered as the "Godfather" of Hong Kong Action Cinema.
- Celestial Pictures DVD Biography
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