By David Leong

Robert Tai is a pioneer in martial arts cinema, especially noted for his prolific career at Shaw Brothers studios during its Golden Age, from the early 1970s onward. Like many of his famous contemporaries, Tai was a student of Chinese opera. Robert attended Fu Shing Opera School in Taiwan.

He caught the eye of director Chang Cheh as a stuntman while filming Seven Man Army in Taiwan. Chang gathered a select troupe of stuntmen and actors, which included Tai, to take back to Hong Kong for the production of Shaolin Temple, after which he was asked to join Shaw Brothers.

Robert Tai went on to act, choreograph and direct some of the most beloved films in kung fu film history, including Chinatown Kid, Shaolin vs. Ninja, Devil Killer and the all-time fan classic The Five Venoms. Tai demonstrated his groundbreaking aerial wirework choreography in many of his films.

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Kung Fu Cult Cinema is honored to present an interview with Robert Tai, one of the film masters of martial arts cinema.

Robert Tai Interview

[KFCC]: What type of training did you get at the Fu Shing Opera School in Taipei, Taiwan?

[Robert Tai]: At Fu Shing we would get up at 5am and start gynastics. Then some breakfast and more gymnastics. We had lunch and after worked on weapons and kicking. Those who were old enough to perform would rehearse the play they would be performing next. Lastly, we did school work and then had dinner and went to bed.


[KFCC]: I understand that some of your classmates were Angela Mao, Judy Lee, Lee Yi Min, James Tien and Chiang Sheng. Was film work, and especially martial arts movies, something you or your classmates thought about while in opera school?

[Robert Tai]: Some of my other classmates were Kuo Chui and Lu Fong. We did not think of film work until we were 16 or 17 years old.


[KFCC]: Who were your role models?

[Robert Tai]: My father, who was in the military, and my teacher.



[KFCC]:You've worked on some movies considered classics in the martial arts genre like Crippled Avengers, The Five Venoms and Kid With The Golden Arm. Do you have any favorites or films you remember fondly?

[Robert Tai]: The first film I worked on at Shaw Brothers was Chinatown Kid. Many of my classmates were working on that film and we really made a great effort.

I have a funny story about Five Venoms and Invincible Shaolin. The Yong Chun guy Leung Ting had talked his way into the studio and was friendly with director Chang Cheh. So he tells us to work with him. His film abilities were very, very limited. But he had the idea to do the snake style with the head and the tail for each arm. So when we said we would use it he got a big head and wouldn't stop talking about this and that.

Very ambitious guy.

Finally on Invincible Shaolin, Kuo Chue had enough and just smacked him about. No more trouble after that.

My favorites are Kid with Golden Arms and Crippled Avengers from the Shaw Brothers. I am also happy with Thundering Mantis, The Heroes and Shaolin vs. Ninja.



[KFCC]: How was your experience working with director Chang Cheh?

[Robert Tai]: Chang Cheh was my movie mentor. I really learned many things from him about filming and about life. He was a true sifu.

His way of approaching situations was very unique. But when we started to work with him the situation had changed where we could not take our time like before. For films like Disciples of Shaolin, he would have many months to prepare. Now we had a few weeks.

He liked me because I have very new ideas. For Chinese Super Ninjas he gave me many books to study ninjitsu. He ordered me to read and learn from them. Then I add my flavor but still keep it authentic. This is what director Chang appreciated and said so.

Unfortunately he didn't give me the full credit on many things I did. But at the time I was working for Chang Cheh, not Shaw Brothers. There is a difference. So I was part of his team from Taiwan. But later I was hired from producers like Lo Wei and Pal Ming to direct films in Hong Kong because they knew of the work I did for director Chang.



[KFCC]: Who was your favorite director to work with?

[Robert Tai]: For sure director Chang.

[KFCC]: You started out working at Shaw Brothers Studios and moved up in the ranks. What was that like?

[Robert Tai]: I started working in Taiwan first on many films. At the time kung fu films were very popular and there was a lot of work. For instance you can see me on films like Bruce Lee: A Dragon Story and New Fists of Fury.

Many, many films I made in Taiwan. Director Chang had started his own film company and was making Shaolin films with Fu Sheng and Di Long. But he made a deal with Shaw Brothers, as these stars were under contract with them. So director Chang formed his own team to take with him to Shaws. I was part of that team along with Kuo Chui, Chiang Sheng, Lu Fong and later Tien Chi and Chu Ker.

Now working for director Chang had it's advantage and blessings.

Producer Mona Fong once tried to boss me around and I told her to keep quiet. I didn't work for her, so she should not talk to me that way. You must know that this is the woman who suspended Di Long for six months without pay for complaining about being given toilet paper to wipe his make up off instead of tissue paper. Later she must have checked up on what I said about not working for her. She came up to me and said she was impressed that I worked my way into the studio without her knowing.

At that point kung fu films were everywhere and producers were looking for talent. So Lo Wei hired me to be action director on Wily Match with Jimmy Lee as his new star. Now Jimmy was a good lad but his kung fu was limited.He couldn't do gymnastics or many moves in one take. So, of course, I make him look his best. Then Lo Wei comes yelling that he wants me to make him like Jackie Chan style action. I said I could not.

Jimmy is not Jackie and if he wanted Jackie style action, he should hire him.

I do Robert Tai style action.


So I left that film. At the time I was paid 400,000 Hong Kong dollars which was the highest salary at the time for an action director.



[KFCC]: As a pioneer in the use of high flying wirework in martial arts films, what gave you the inspiration for your airborne action choreoegraphy?

[Robert Tai]: We always worked with wires and just used them in a different way on Five Venoms. This was the first time anybody used wires like this, but it was nothing special.



[KFCC]: What are some of your influences when you are creating action choreography or when you direct?

[Robert Tai]: Everything comes from my mind. The imporant thing is to be unique and creative. For example in Fist of Legend 2 we had the rolling ninjas attacking Jet Le. Nobody had done this before. Also showing the real hand signals and codes of the secret societies.

On Thundering Mantis we had Liu Chia Jen start eating his foes at the end.

For Attack of the Venoms we showed the God of Joy, which most are unfamiliar with outside the Chinese Opera world. Director Chang was most intrigued by Opera and details like this really enthused him.



[KFCC]: As an actor, choreographer and actor, which role do you prefer?

[Robert Tai]: Director.



[KFCC]: Were there any particular performers at Shaw Brothers that you enjoyed working with?

[Robert Tai]: Kuo Chui, Lu Fong and Chiang Sheng, who was my closest friend.



[KFCC]:You worked on one of the most talked about martial arts movies in history, Ninja: The Final Duel. Do you recall the runtime of the original cut of that movie?

[Robert Tai]: Ninja The Final Duel was first a 12 hour series. We have cut two films from it and can do more.

The other film was Shaolin Dolemite.

Georgie and Toby told me the market in the U.S. want something different so we change and bring in Rudy to make new scenes and add some comedy. We are careful not to make ridicule of the kung fu, but the story can be anything. Rudy watched the film and together they write some funny story. I don't really know the details of the words but the people who did the dubbing in Hong Kong were laughing all day.

I never saw this before.

[KFCC]: Does any of the footage cut from the movie still exist?

[Robert Tai]: We have many scenes on the DVD for Shaolin Dolemite. Maybe one hour of film and will include more when we release Ninja: The Final Duel.



[KFCC]: What was it like to work on the set of Ninja: The Final Duel?

[Robert Tai]: Ninja: The Final Duel was one of the series we did. Mafia vs. Ninja is also another series. We set up an office in Taipei and filmed for many many months. It was the same cast for both. We were all a family and worked well together.



[KFCC]: What are you currently working on?

[Robert Tai]: Rza from Wu Tang wants to work with me on a project next year. I don't have any details yet. This would be the second film I would be working on with him. He had me do a film a few years ago but I am not sure if it was finished.



[KFCC]: What are your thoughts on the current state of Asian cinema?

[Robert Tai]: I have no comment.



[KFCC]: Is there anything you woud like to say in closing?

[Robert Tai]: Thank you for watching our films. Watch for Trinity Goes East next year!

[KFCC]: Thank you so much for your time and kind conversation.

Get the new Shaolin Dolemite DVD now available!

Selected Robert Tai Filmography

- Actor:
Fast Sword, The (1971)
Crazy Acrobat (1974)
Bruce Lee - A Dragon Story (1974)
Dragon Fury (1974)
Fury in Storm (1974)
Female Chivalry (1975)
Crazy Guy, The (1975)
Ming Patriots, The (1976)
Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976)
Condemned, The (1976)
Shaolin Avengers, The (1976)
New Fist of Fury (1976)
Shaolin Temple (1976)
Traitorous (1976)
Boxer's Last Stand (1976)
Magnificent Wanderers (1977)
Brave Archer, The (1977)
Chinatown Kid (1977)
Shaolin Monk (1977)
Killer from Above (1977)
Chinese Connection 2 (1977)
Lantern Festival Adventure (1977)
Brave Archer Part II, The (1978)
Lady Constables, The (1978)
Cavalier, The (1978)
Heaven and Hell Gate (1979)
Incredible Kung Fu Mission (1979)
Thundering Mantis, The (1980)
Devil Killer (1980)
Northern Kicks, Southern Fists (1981)
Shaolin Chastity Kung Fu (1981)
Alliance of Hung Sect, The (1982)
Deadly Duo (1983)
Challenge of the Lady Ninja (1983)
Shaolin vs. Ninja (1983)
Evil Hits Evil (1983)
Ninja Vs Shaolin Guards (1984)
Mafia vs. Ninja (1985)


- Action Director:
Naval Commandos, The (1977)
Brave Archer, The (1977)
Chinatown Kid (1977)
Brave Archer Part II, The (1978)
Five Venoms, The (1978)
Invincible Shaolin (1978)
Crippled Avengers (1978)
Shaolin Rescuers (1979)
Daredevils, The (1979)
Heaven and Hell Gate (1979)
Ten Tigers of Kwantung (1979)
Incredible Kung Fu Mission (1979)
Thundering Mantis, The (1980)
Shaolin Heroes, The (1980)
Devil Killer (1980)
Northern Kicks, Southern Fists (1981)
Fist Full of Talons, A (1983)
Ninja Vs Shaolin Guards (1984)
Mafia vs. Ninja (1985)
Death Cage (1989)
Legend of the Drunken Tiger (1991)

- Director:
Devil Killer (1980)
Shaolin Chastity Kung Fu (1981)
Shaolin vs. Ninja (1983)
Mafia vs. Ninja (1985)
Ninja: The Final Duel (1986)
Death Cage (1989)

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