1960s: Height of Kong Ku Film

Yu Hai Yu Gong Yuan

In 1965, in the film Yu Hai Yu Gong Yuan (Lofty Waters Verdant Bow), the martial art instructor was first listed and became as indispensable member of the production team. Yu Hai Yu Gong Yuan was seen as a landmark for kung fu film, as the movie ushered in the genre's golden age.

From 1965, tired of making old-style films, many directors began to make some new films. In 1966, Hong Kong action directors Zhang Che and Hu Jinquan (King Hu or Swordsman) separately made the films Du Bi Xia and Da Zui Xia (Come Drink With Me) for the Shaw Brothers. These two films helped Zhang and Hu develop a high status in the film circle.

Zhang Che liked to represent power and force, so his films are overflowing with violent imagery and stirring individualistic heroism; every action in his film is real, strong, bold, and unrestrained.

Hu's films are different, as they include a historical feeling and ideology, like the films Xia Nv and Kong Shan Lling Yu (Raining in the Mountain), which combines traditional Chinese scenery with fight scenes. Moreover, in 1975, Xia Nv became the first Chinese film to win a major prize (the synthetic technology prize) at the Cannes (France) film festival, the most renowned film festival in the world.

Hu Jinquan and Zhang Che made significant contribution to the development of kung fu film, and cultivated many famous actor and directors such as Xu Feng, Di Long, Li XiuXian, Wu Yusen (John Woo), Yuan Heping, Liu Jialiang, and so on.