Revered director of Chinese films and pioneer of martial arts films.
Born in 1923 in China's Zhejiang province, Chang spent his early years in Shanghai and received his education in Chungking. In 1947, he became involved with the movie industry when he wrote the script for "Ka Mien Nui Long" (False Face Woman) which was produced by a Shanghai studio. In 1949, he directed his first film, the Taiwanese feature "Wind and Storm Over Alishan", which also had the distinction of being the first full-length film to come out of Taiwan. Chang became one of the most distinguished filmmakers in Hong Kong during the 1960s and 1970s, creating films for revered studios such as Shaw Brothers Studios. He received a lifetime achievement award at this year's Hong Kong Film Awards.
Apart from his kung-fu films, Chang was well-known for his ability to discover and turn young martial artists into major stars. Two of his most famous proteges were Bruce Lee and John Woo, but also included other well-known Hong Kong actors such as Ti Lung and Danny Lee. In fact, when Chang ran into some money problems during the mid-80s, some of his proteges, including Woo, worked on a film together ("Just Heroes") to help ease the debt.
Chang Cheh passed away on June 22nd, 2002, of pneumonia, leaving behind a legacy of classic Chinese films that will be remembered for years to come.
Filmography
Selected from his "golden years" from 1960 to 1988
- 1988 Across the River (director, writer)
- 1986 Great Shanghai 1937 (director, writer)
- 1985 Dancing Warrior (director, producer)
- 1984 Attack of the Joyful Goddess (executive producer)
- 1984 Death Ring (director, producer)
- 1984 The Demons (director, producer)
- 1984 Shanghai 13 (director)
- 1983 The Ghost (director)
- 1983 The Weird Man (director)
- 1982 Ode to Gallantry (director)
- 1982 Five Element Ninjas (director)
- 1982 Brave Archer and His Mate (director)
- 1982 House of Traps (director)
- 1981 The Brave Archer 3 (director)
- 1981 Masked Avengers (director, writer)
- 1981 Sword Stained with Royal Blood (director)
- 1980 Legend of the Fox (director)
- 1980 The Rebel Intruders (director)
- 1980 The Flag of Iron (director)
- 1980 Two Champions of Shaolin (director, writer)
- 1979 Ten Tigers of Kwangtung (director, writer)
- 1979 Heaven and Hell Gate (director)
- 1979 The Kid with the Golden Arm (director)
- 1979 The Magnificent Ruffians (director, writer)
- 1979 The Daredevils (director)
- 1979 Shaolin Rescuers (director, writer)
- 1979 Life Gamble (director, writer)
- 1978 Crippled Avengers (director, writer)
- 1978 Invincible Shaolin (writer)
- 1978 The Five Venoms (director, writer)
- 1978 The Brave Archer 2 (director)
- 1977 Chinatown Kid (director, writer)
- 1977 The Brave Archer (director)
- 1977 Magnificent Wanderers (director)
- 1977 The Naval Commandos (director)
- 1976 Bloody Avengers (director)
- 1976 The Mad Boy (director)
- 1976 Shaolin Temple (director)
- 1976 New Shaolin Boxers (director)
- 1976 The Shaolin Avengers (director)
- 1976 Seven Man Army (director)
- 1976 Spiritual Fists (director)
- 1975 Marco Polo (director)
- 1975 The Bloody Escape (director)
- 1975 The Fantastic Magic Baby (director, writer)
- 1975 Disciples of Shaolin (director, writer)
- 1975 All Men are Brothers (director, writer)
- 1974 Five Shaolin Masters (director)
- 1974 Na Cha the Great (director, writer)
- 1974 Shaolin Martial Arts (director, writer)
- 1974 Friends (director)
- 1974 Men from Monastery (director)
- 1974 The Savage Five (director)
- 1974 Heroes Two (director)
- 1973 The Iron Bodyguard (director)
- 1973 The Pirate (director)
- 1973 Police Force (director, writer)
- 1973 The Generation Gap (director, writer)
- 1973 The Blood Brothers (director, writer)
- 1973 The Delinquent (director)
- 1972 Four Riders (director, writer)
- 1972 Man of Iron (director, writer)
- 1972 Delightful Forest (director)
- 1972 Young People (director)
- 1972 Trilogy of Swordsmanship (director)
- 1972 The Water Margin (director)
- 1972 Angry Guest (actor, director)
- 1972 Boxer from Shantung (director, writer)
- 1971 The Deadly Duo (director)
- 1971 Duel of Fists (director)
- 1971 The Anonymous Heroes (director)
- 1971 The Duel (director)
- 1971 The New One-Armed Swordsman (director)
- 1971 King Eagle (director)
- 1970 The Singing Killer (director)
- 1970 The Heroic Ones (director, writer)
- 1970 Vengeance! (director, writer)
- 1970 The Wandering Swordsman (director)
- 1969 Have Sword, Will Travel (director)
- 1969 Dead End (director)
- 1969 The Invincible Fist (director)
- 1969 The Flying Dagger (director, writer)
- 1969 Return of the One-Armed Swordsman (director, writer)
- 1969 The Singing Thief (director)
- 1968 The Golden Swallow (director, writer)
- 1967 The Assassin (director, writer)
- 1967 One-Armed Swordsman (director, writer)
- 1967 The Trail of the Broken Blade (director, writer)
- 1966 The Perfumed Arrow (writer)
- 1966 Magnificent Trio (director, writer)
- 1966 Tiger Boy (director, writer)
- 1965 Call of the Sea (writer)
- 1965 Inside the Forbidden City (writer)
- 1965 Crocodile River (writer)
- 1965 The Butterfly Chalice (director, writer)
- 1965 The Mermaid (writer)
- 1964 The Warlord and the Actress (writer)
- 1964 The Female Prince (writer)
- 1962 Her Pearly Tears (writer)
- 1962 Come Rain, Come Shine (writer)
- 1962 It's Always Spring (writer)
- 1961 You Were Meant for Me (writer)
- 1961 The Girl with the Golden Arm (writer)
- 1961 Song without Words (writer)
- 1960 Black Butterfly (writer)
- 1960 Tender Trap of Espionage (writer)