View source for Snake in the Eagle's Shadow

{{Short description|1978 Hong Kong film by Yuen Woo-ping}}
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{{More citations needed|date=February 2014}}
{{Use Hong Kong English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox film
| name             = Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
| image            = Snakeeagleshadow.jpg
| caption          = Original Hong Kong film poster
| native_name = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes| t      = 蛇形刁手
 | s       = 蛇形刁手
 | p           = Shé Xíng Diāo Shǒu
 | j         = Se4 Jing4 Diu1 Sau2}}
| director         = [[Yuen Woo-ping]]
| producer         = [[Ng See-yuen]]<ref name="J Charles">{{cite book |last1=Charles |first1=John |title=The Hong Kong Filmography, 1977-1997: A Reference Guide to 1,100 Films Produced by British Hong Kong Studios |date=2000 |publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers |location=Jefferson, North Carolina, and London |isbn=978-0-7864-4323-9 |page=289 |edition=2009}}</ref><br />Chen Chuan
| writer           = Ng See-yuen<ref name="J Charles"></ref><br />Choi Gai-gwong<br />Tsai Chi-kuang
| starring         = [[Jackie Chan]]<br/>[[Yuen Siu-tien]]<br/>[[Hwang Jang-lee]]
| cinematography   = Chang Hui<ref name="J Charles"></ref>
| editing          = Poon Hung-yiu
| music            = Chou Fu-liang
| distributor      = [[Seasonal Film Corporation]]<ref name="J Charles"></ref>
| released         = {{Film date|df=yes|1978|3|1}}
| runtime          = 98 minutes
| country          = Hong Kong
| language         = Cantonese
| budget           = 
| gross            = {{US$|3 million}} ({{estimation}})
}}

'''''Snake in the Eagle's Shadow''''' ({{zh|c=蛇形刁手|l=''Snake Form Tricky Hand''}}<ref name="J Charles"></ref>) is a 1978 [[Hong Kong martial arts]] [[action comedy]] film directed by [[Yuen Woo-ping]] in his directorial debut. It stars [[Jackie Chan]], [[Hwang Jang-lee]], and Yuen Woo-ping's real life father, [[Yuen Siu-tien]]. The film's plot is about Chien Fu (Jackie Chan), an orphan who is bullied at a kung fu school, meeting an old beggar, Pai Cheng-tien (Yuen Siu-tien), who becomes his ''[[sifu]]'' (teacher) and trains him in [[Snake Kung Fu]].

Right after this film, Yuen Woo-ping directed ''[[Drunken Master]]'', released in the same year, which also starred Jackie Chan, Hwang Jang-lee and Yuen Siu-tien. The film established Chan's [[slapstick]] [[kung fu film|kung fu]] comedy style which he further developed with ''Drunken Master'', while also establishing the basic plot structure used in many [[martial arts films]] internationally since then.

==Plot==
Chien Fu, an orphan adopted by a [[Chinese martial arts|kung fu]] school, is overworked as their janitor while being bullied and abused by the kung fu teachers as a walking punching-bag. The school's cook, Ah-Wu, is his only sympathizer. Chien befriends an old beggar  by offering him a meal and a place to stay. Unknown to Chien, the old beggar is actually Pai Cheng-tien, one of the last surviving masters of the [[Snake Kung Fu|Snake-style]] of [[Chinese martial arts|kung fu]]. Pai is on the run from the [[Eagle Claw]] clan, which is viciously killing off all of the rival Snake-style masters. He is ambushed by Eagle Claw student Su Chen and an assassin masquerading as a [[Christian missionary]], and is injured. After being abused once more, Chien later finds Pai and helps him recover. Pai agrees to give him more lessons, on the condition that he does not call him "[[sifu]]" ("master"), since they are friends. The real reason, however, is to keep Chien's connection with him secret from his pursuers.

Chien practices the lessons and learns to avoid being hurt by the school's bumbling teachers. When the school is invaded by the [[Northern Praying Mantis (martial art)|Mantis school]], to everyone's amazement Chien easily defeats their master using the snake style. One of the passing wanderers who witnesses the fight is the high master of the Eagle Clan, Sheng Kuan, who recognizes the style at once and decides to tail Chien.

Chien meets Shang Kuan, who inquires about the old beggar, claiming that he was a colleague of Pai's. As a show of 'proof', he easily fends off Chien's attacks. Chien realises that his Snake-style fighting is no match for the style practiced by the stranger, and thus creates a new style from watching his pet cat kill a cobra. Later on the Eagle Claw conspirators track down Pai, who manages to kill Su Chen. He returns to Chien for hiding, but it is then shown that Ah-Wu is also an Eagle Claw conspirator as he puts poison into their tea.

Chien rushes to fetch Sheng Kuan, but sensing danger, Pai flees, with his enemy in pursuit. As Chien hurries after them, he finally learns the truth behind the conspiracy upon defeating the fake missionary, and eventually challenges Sheng Kuan to single combat after Pai is brought down. Apparently at a disadvantage in the initial phase, Chien brings his new 'Cat Claw' technique—against which Sheng Kuan knows no defense—to bear, killing him. When Ah-Wu shows up after the fight and reveals his true allegiance, Chien and Pai feign defeat, and then, after fatally injuring Wu, reveal that they have by chance avoided ingesting the poison. Afterwards, the two friends wander off to refine Chien's new technique, giving it its titular name.

==Cast==

* [[Jackie Chan]] – Chien Fu (as Cheng Lung)<ref name="J Charles"></ref>
* [[Hwang Jang-lee]] – Sheng Kuan<ref name="J Charles"></ref>
* [[Yuen Siu-tien]] – Pai Chang-tien (as Simon Yuen)<ref name="J Charles"></ref>
* [[Dean Shek]] – Teacher Li<ref name="J Charles"></ref>
* [[Fung Hak-on]] – Master Chao Chi-chih<ref name="J Charles"></ref>
* Tino Wong – Ah-Wu
* Peter Chan – Teacher Lian<ref name="J Charles"></ref>
* Hsu Hsia – Su Chen
* Charlie Chan – Master Hung
* [[Roy Horan]] – Missionary/Russian<ref name="J Charles"></ref>
* Fung Ging-man – Teacher Chui 
* Chiang Kam – Ah Kwai
* Chen Yao-lin – Master Hung
* Lung Chen-tien – Three Provinces Champ
* Chan Lung – Substitute Instructor
* Gam Yam – Chang
* Yuen Yat-choh
* [[Chiu Chi-ling]]
* Choi Fai
* Chan Laap-ban
==Crew==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Producer: Ng See-yuen
* Executive Producer: Chang Chuan
* Screenplay by: Hsi Hua-an, Tsai Chi-kuang, Ng See-yuen
* Asst. Directors: Hsiao Lung, Ho Tien-cheng
* Film Editing: Pan Hsiung-yao
* Cinematography: Chang Hai
* Lighting: Lin Wei
* Music: Chou Fu-liang, [[Jean-Michel Jarre]], [[Didier Marouani]] (both uncredited)
* Costume Designer: Kung Chuan-kai
* Set Design: Union Design
* Art: Ting Yuan-ta
* Props: Yang Shih-cheng
* Costume: Pao Kuo-lan
* Sound Effect: Wu Kuo-hua
* Sound Recording: Universal Recording Co.
* Fighting Instructors: Yuen Woo-ping, Hsu Hsia
* Asst. Fighting Instructors: Yuen Chen-wei, Yuan Hsin-yi, Yuan Kuei
* Director: [[Yuen Woo-ping]]
{{Div col end}}

==Production==
Prior to ''Snake in the Eagle's Shadow'', Chan had worked for director [[Lo Wei]] who wanted to make him into the new "[[Bruce Lee]]" in films like ''[[New Fist of Fury]]''. However, those films yielded relatively poor box office returns. When producer [[Ng See-yuen]] decided to make a comedy with Chan as the star, the concept did not initially meet with approval from the [[film distributor]]s. However, Ng and Chan persevered and together with ''Drunken Master'', this film launched Jackie Chan into national stardom.

The combination of comedy, martial arts, stunts and acrobatics had been done before, in [[Lau Kar-leung]]'s 1975 film ''Spiritual Boxer''. However, the release of ''Snake in the Eagle's Shadow'' heralded a new direction for Hong Kong action movies.

Ng See-yuen and Yuen Woo-ping checked over many actors for the part of the old, eccentric, wandering Kung Fu master, before Ng suggested casting Yuen's own father, [[Yuen Siu-tien]]. Yuen would continue to reprise the role of Beggar So several more times before his death in 1979.

According to his book ''[[I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action]]'', Chan lost a tooth after Hwang Jang-lee kicked him in the face during a fight scene. His arm was also accidentally slashed by a sword that was supposed to be blunt, but while he was screaming in pain, the camera kept rolling.<ref name="I Am Jackie Chan">{{cite web |url=http://www.randomhouse.com/features/iamjackiechan/excerpt_aches.html |title=Jackie's Aches and Pains: It Only Hurts When I'm Not Laughing |author=Jackie Chan |author-link=Jackie Chan |publisher=[[Random House]] |access-date=2012-12-19}}</ref>

==Music==
As well as original music by Chou Fu-liang, the film also features [[Jean Michel Jarre]]'s "[[Oxygène]] (Part 2)" and [[Space (French band)|Space]]'s "[[Magic Fly]]". Like many Hong Kong movies of the era, it also includes samples from western movie scores, including ''[[You Only Live Twice (film)|You Only Live Twice]]'', ''[[The Spy Who Loved Me (film)|The Spy Who Loved Me]]'', ''[[Carrie (1976 film)|Carrie]]'', and ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]''.

Film producer Serafim Karalexis got the rights to distribute the movie in America in the 80s, retitled "The Eagle's Shadow". It had a new score made due to copyright issues with the original score. The U.S. film and its promotional materials billed Chan as "Jacky Chan."

==Box office==
At the Hong Kong box office, ''Snake in the Eagle's Shadow'' earned [[HK$]]2,708,748.20<ref>{{cite web |title=Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978) |url=http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=5863 |website=[[Hong Kong Movie DataBase]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> ({{US$|{{#expr:2708748.2/4.68 round 0}}|link=yes}}),<ref>{{cite web |title=Official exchange rate (HK$ per US$, period average) |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/PA.NUS.FCRF?end=1978&locations=HK&start=1977 |website=[[World Bank]] |year=1978 |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> becoming the 13th-highest-grossing film of the year.<ref>{{cite web |title=【ジャッキーチェン興行成績】 第8回：香港での興行収入 |trans-title=(Jackie Chan Box Office Results) 8th: Box Office in Hong Kong |url=http://kungfutube.info/3129 |website=KungFu Tube |access-date=22 June 2020 |language=ja}}</ref> In [[South Korea]], it was the second-highest-grossing film of 1979 (behind Jackie Chan's ''[[Drunken Master]]''), with 765,930 box admissions in [[Seoul]],<ref name="korea2">{{cite web |title=【ジャッキーチェン興行成績】 第10回：韓国での興行収入 |url=http://kungfutube.info/3156 |website=KungFu Tube |date=5 September 2010 |access-date=7 December 2018 |language=ja}}</ref> equivalent to an estimated gross revenue of approximately {{KRW|link=yes}}{{formatnum:{{#expr:0.765930*1500 round 2}}|}}{{nbsp}}million<ref>{{cite journal |title=Asian Culture Quarterly |journal=Asian Culture Quarterly |date=1983 |volume=11-12 |page=20 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QLdBAAAAYAAJ |publisher=Asian Cultural Center. |quote=The average admission fee in 1979 was 1,000 won for national films and 1,500 won for imports. (In 1982, the average increased to 2,000 won, or US$3.)}}</ref> ({{US$|{{#expr:1148900000/484 round 0}}|link=no}}).<ref>{{cite web |title=Official exchange rate (KRW per US$, period average) |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/PA.NUS.FCRF?end=1979&locations=KR&start=1978 |website=[[World Bank]] |year=1979 |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> Combined, the film grossed an estimated total of approximately {{US$|{{#expr:578792+2373760}}|link=no}} in [[East Asia]], equivalent to {{US$|{{Inflation|US|2.952552|1978}} million}} adjusted for inflation.

==Separate sequel==
In 1979, a film titled ''Snake in the Eagle's Shadow II'' a.k.a. ''Snaky Knight Fight Against Mantis'' (or ''Snaky Knight Fights the Mantis'') was released. It was directed by Chang Hsin-yi and starred Wang Tao. However, the film was not a true sequel, rather it was an attempt by the studio to capitalize on the success of the original film. Footage including a montage and a fight scene from ''Snake in the Eagle's Shadow'' were spliced into the film. Chan's image was also used on the cover of some versions.

==Home releases==
*On 7 February 2000, [[Hong Kong Legends]] released a DVD containing a number of extras, including a photo gallery, Jackie Chan and Hwang Jang-lee's biographies/filmographies, the English export trailer, and an interview with producer [[Ng See-yuen]]. However, it contains a cropped 2:35:1 to 1:78:1 image and the incorrect [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] dub with [[dubtitle]]s. This DVD contains compulsory [[BBFC]] cuts amounting to roughly 45 seconds due to [[animal cruelty]]. The Chinese credit sequence is used (reverting to 2:35:1 during this section). The English dub is one created by US studios during the film's release there (under the title "The Eagle's Shadow") to avoid copyright issues with music, but everything else is the same as the export dub commissioned by Seasonal Films.
*On 18 June 2002, [[Destination Films]] released the first [[legal]] [[DVD]] in the [[United States]]. Despite having uncut status and a full 2:35:1 image in the correct Cantonese language, it still contains dubtitles. The English dub (and credit sequence) is the export one and intact.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/3966/snake-in-the-eagles-shadow/ |title=Snake in The Eagle's Shadow : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video |publisher=Dvdtalk.com |access-date=2014-02-07}}</ref>
*On 16 February 2004, [[Mei Ah Entertainment]] released a remastered [[DVD]] in [[Hong Kong]]. It has uncut 2:35:1 anamorphic video. Audio include Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1, Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual Mono and Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual Mono. Subtitles include Traditional, Simplified Chinese and English. Special features are limited to Cast and Crew Info and Synopsis.
* In May 2021, 88 Films released the film on Region B [[Blu-ray]] in the UK.<ref name="2021-Bluray">{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=28405|title=88 Films: Snake in the Eagle's Shadow Detailed for Blu-ray|date=April 1, 2021|website=Blu-ray.com|accessdate=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402211002/https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=28405|archive-date=April 2, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> This edition presents the film in 2.35:1, and features Cantonese, Mandarin, and English audio tracks. Bonus features include two audio commentaries (one by [[Mike Leeder]] and Arne Venema; the other by John Kreng and R.P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien), an hour-long interview with Roy Horan, and an interview with [[George Clarke (filmmaker)|George Clarke]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=38267|title=Snake in the Eagle's Shadow AKA She Xing Diao Shou AKA Eagle's Shadow AKA Bruce Vs Snake in Eagle's Shadow (Blu-ray) (1978)|date=May 28, 2021|website=dvdcompare.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002211947/http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=38267|archive-date=October 2, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Cultural impact==
The film established the blueprint for Jackie Chan's kung fu comedy style, which he further developed with ''[[Drunken Master]]'' (1978) released later the same year. They both follow a similar plot structure, with Chan's character being an underdog trained by Yuen Siu-tien's beggar character. Dawn Taylor of ''The DVD Journal'' also notes that the film's plot structure has been "copied oh-so-many times by a variety of ''[[Karate Kid]]''-type [[American films]]" since the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Dawn |title=Quick Reviews: Snake in the Eagle's Shadow |url=http://www.dvdjournal.com/quickreviews/s/snakeintheeaglesshadow.q.shtml |website=The DVD Journal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020810202019/www.dvdjournal.com/quickreviews/s/snakeintheeaglesshadow.q.shtml |archive-date=10 August 2002 |access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Jackie Chan filmography]]
* [[List of Hong Kong films]]
* [[List of martial arts films]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0078252}}
*{{rotten-tomatoes|snake_in_the_eagles_shadow}}
*{{HKMDB title|id=5863}}
*[http://www.hkcinemagic.com/en/movie.asp?id=458 Hong Kong Cinemagic]

{{Yuen Woo-ping}}

[[Category:1978 films]]
[[Category:1978 martial arts films]]
[[Category:1978 action comedy films]]
[[Category:1970s martial arts comedy films]]
[[Category:1970s Cantonese-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Yuen Woo-ping]]
[[Category:Hong Kong action comedy films]]
[[Category:Hong Kong martial arts comedy films]]
[[Category:Kung fu films]]
[[Category:Slapstick films]]
[[Category:Wushu films]]
[[Category:Films about bullying]]
[[Category:1978 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1970s Hong Kong films]]
[[Category:Films about orphans]]