Today's post is inspired by two things: One, I writing this post unforgivably late. A result of trying to reconfigure and catch on my life post-marriage and honeymoon. However, writing in the dead of night does fire the imagination. The other is while flipping the dial, I am reminded that vampires continue to be (somewhat annoyingly) everywhere.
However, way back in the days of yore before those pouty "Twilight" folks were polluting the multiplexes with their endless emo-ting, and "True Blood" was dominating cable, there came "The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires" in 1974.
Now, why mention a vampire movie in a blog dedicated to all things (stage) combat. Well, this one isn't like any other before or since.
"Legend" was the first and only co-production between Britain's legendary Hammer film studio and the Shaw Brothers of Hong Kong. Now, for those non-film geeks out there, plus those too young to remember, Hammer films was a British studio that specialized in sometimes effective, , though often cheesy, horror and sci-fi films through the fifties and sixties, eventually succumbing to changing tastes, a declining British economy and its own creative bankruptcy. But before the end was nigh, it had changed the face of horror cinema, introducing technicolor, gore and sex (initially suggestive, later explicit) to the genre. It also made stars of several Shakespearean actors-turned-horror stars, such as Christopher Lee (who later played Saruman the White in the "Lord of the Rings" films) and Peter Cushing (best known now as Grand Moff Tarkin in "Star Wars).
The Shaw Brothers on the other hand were one of Hong Kong's most prolific producers of chop socky films. There was barely a drive-in or grind house in the US in the 70s whose screen wasn't graced by the distinctive logo and opening fanfare of "SB" (Quentin Tarantino was such as fan, he featured it at the beginning of "Kill Bill: Vol. 1").
During the 70s, with its fortunes on the decline, Hammer decided to take a gamble on a joint effort with the Shaw Brothers to capitalize on the then-hot kung-fu film craze that had sprung up around the likes of Bruce Lee.
The film features Professor Van Helsing (Cushing again) going to China and teaming up with a student (played by Hong Kong star David Chiang) to combat a vampire infestation in a village. Along with a wealthy widow and the student's six kung-fu trained sibilings, they embark on their mission to fight the seven golden vampires. However, little do they know that Count Dracula himself is guiding the Chinese blood-suckers.
As one might assume, this fusion of Western-style horror and Eastern-style action doesn't quite gel (Though interestingly, the "Blade" series of films manage to get some mileage out of a similar concept). The film itself is not the best example of Hammer or Shaw Brothers product, but makes for a passable evening of entertainment. Plus, if you were ever curious of vampires versus kung-fu (outside of Blade or Buffy), check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah_VJ73Zs2A&feature=related
Hmmm . . . vampires versus kung-fu . . . now there's a fight jam idea.
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