Snake in the Eagle's Shadow

Original title: Se ying diu sau

1978
PG
1h 30m

IMDb RATING

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Jackie Chan, Jeong-lee Hwang, and Siu-Tin Yuen in Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978)

Kung Fu Martial Arts Slapstick Action Comedy

An orphan who has been raised at a kung fu school, where he is treated as little more than a dogsbody and practice target for the students, has a life-changing experience after helping an ol... Read allAn orphan who has been raised at a kung fu school, where he is treated as little more than a dogsbody and practice target for the students, has a life-changing experience after helping an old peripatetic beggar.An orphan who has been raised at a kung fu school, where he is treated as little more than a dogsbody and practice target for the students, has a life-changing experience after helping an old peripatetic beggar.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

13K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Trivia
Jackie Chan (Chien Fu) got his front tooth knocked out by the powerful kick of Jeong-lee Hwang (Lord Sheng Kuan). In the finale, the gap where Chan's tooth was is clearly seen.

Goofs
About 53 minutes in , while training, as a snake would to pluck eggs from the nest, Jackie misses placing one of the eggs safely into the old mans basket, but neither break character and just keep on going.

Quotes
Lord Sheng Kuan: [after Chien Fu surprises him with his new technique] That technique! That isn't Snake Fist style! What is that?
Chien Fu: Hmmph! Cat's Claw!
[Chien Fu proceeds to attack again]

Alternate versions
There are two English language versions: The first is similar to the Hong Kong one, whilst the second features new (copyright-friendly) music, an introductory voiceover, replaced opening credits (including changes to cast names), and re-titled 'The Eagle's Shadow'; this was for release in the US by distributor/producer Serafim Keralexis.

Connections
Featured in The Boys from Fengkuei (1983)

Soundtracks
Magic Fly
Performed by McLane Explosion

User reviews52

Review

Featured review

10/10

Most excellent

'Snake in the Eagle's Shadow' - Jackie Chan's other breakthrough hit, along with 'Drunken Master'. Both released in 1978, these two movies made the careers of Jackie Chan and director Yuen Woo Ping, and both featured Siu Tien Yuen and Hwang Jang Lee in similar roles.

The plot follows Chien Fu (Jackie Chan), an orphan abused and mistreated by the kung-fu (evil, of course) school he works at. He can't fight until he meets Pai Cheng-Cheh (Siu Tien Yuen), a grand-master of Snake Fist, and last remaining follower of the Snake Fist style. A rivalry between the Snake Fist and Eagle Claw styles has led to the near-elimination of the Snake Fist style, and Chien Fu and Pai Cheng-Cheh find themselves being hunted by Lord Sheng Kuan (Hwang Jang Lee), the master of the Eagle Claw style.

The awesomeness of 'Snake in the Eagle's Shadow' lies in the fact that it really is quite similar to 'Drunken Master', which is also awesome. Again, the plot is a pretty standard kung-fu plot, but any plot which allows for the maximum amount of on-screen kung-fu time is a good plot. The training sequences are entertaining, and the following fight scenes are incredible - Jackie, Hwang Jang Lee and Yuen Woo Ping are all at their best here.

'Snake in the Eagle's Shadow' is an awesome and very funny movie - 10/10, a must see for all Jackie Chan fans.