Snake In The Eagle's Shadow (1978) • She Xing Diao Shou • 蛇形刁手

Snake In The Eagle's Shadow (1978), also released as She Xing Diao Shou (蛇形刁手 / 蛇形刁手), is a Hong Kong martial arts classic directed by Yuen Woo-ping. Starring Jackie Chan, Hwang Jang Lee, Simon Yuen Siu-tin, Dean Shek, Fung Hak-on, and Tino Wong Cheung, this landmark kung fu film introduced the winning blend of action and comedy that launched Jackie Chan's rise to international stardom. Available from ClassicKungFuMovies.com for collectors who value accurate film details and hard-to-find physical media.

STORY OVERVIEW

Chien Fu is an orphaned servant whose days are spent enduring abuse at a struggling martial arts school until fate brings him together with an elderly beggar hiding a remarkable secret. The mysterious old man is the last surviving master of Snake Fist, a martial art believed to have disappeared after years of persecution by the ruthless Eagle Claw clan.

Under his unconventional mentor, Chien Fu develops an entirely new fighting style by combining traditional Snake Fist techniques with his own creative ideas. As the feared Eagle Claw master Shang Kwan Yi Mun continues his relentless campaign to eliminate every remaining rival style, Chien Fu must put his training to the ultimate test in a battle that will determine the future of Snake Fist.

MARTIAL ARTS HIGHLIGHTS

Snake In The Eagle's Shadow features innovative choreography by Yuen Woo-ping, blending authentic Snake Fist techniques with Jackie Chan's signature athleticism, acrobatics, and physical comedy. The unforgettable Snake versus Eagle Claw battles remain among the most influential fight sequences in martial arts cinema.

WHY COLLECTORS PICK IT

Collectors regard Snake In The Eagle's Shadow as one of the defining kung fu films of the 1970s. Jackie Chan's breakthrough performance, Hwang Jang Lee's legendary villain, and Yuen Woo-ping's inventive choreography helped redefine the genre and established a formula that influenced martial arts films for decades.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Released in 1978, Snake In The Eagle's Shadow marked Jackie Chan's emergence as a leading martial arts star and introduced the action-comedy style that would define his career. The film also established Yuen Woo-ping as one of Hong Kong cinema's greatest action directors and choreographers.

• Verified A.K.A.s:
  • Snake In The Eagle's Shadow – International English title
  • She Xing Diao Shou – Mandarin Pinyin
  • Se Ying Diu Sau – Cantonese romanization
  • 蛇形刁手 – Traditional Chinese title
  • 蛇形刁手 – Simplified Chinese title
• Director: Yuen Woo-ping
• Writer: Ng See-yuen
• Producer: Ng See-yuen
• Studio: Seasonal Film Corporation
• Starring: Jackie Chan, Hwang Jang Lee, Simon Yuen Siu-tin, Dean Shek, Fung Hak-on, Tino Wong Cheung
• Format: DVD
• Language: English, Mandarin
• Subtitles: English, Dutch
• Country: Hong Kong
• Release Year: 1978

Carefully researched and prepared for collectors of classic martial arts cinema by ClassicKungFuMovies.com.