When Taekwondo Strikes

When Taekwondo Strikes (also known as Sting of the Dragon Masters and Taekwondo Heroes) is a 1973 Hong Kong martial arts film directed and written by Feng Huang, and produced by Raymond Chow.[2] The film is known for the collective martial arts experience of its cast and the high-quality fight choreography. The film stars an international cast of martial arts film actors, including Angela Mao, Jhoon Rhee (the father of American Taekwondo), Anne Winton, Wong In Sik (Ing-Sik Whang), Carter Wong, Kenji Kazama, Sammo Hung, Biao Yuen, and Golden Harvest producer Andre Morgan. This was Jhoon Rhee's only film, and Anne Winton's debut film.

When Taekwondo Strikes
Directed byFeng Huang
Ng Sek
Sammo Hung (action)
Produced byRaymond Chow
Written byFeng Huang
StarringJhoon Rhee
Angela Mao
Anne Winton
Sammo Hung
Wong In Sik
Kenji Kazama
Carter Wong
CinematographyDanny Lee
Edited byPeter Cheung
Distributed byGolden Harvest
Release date
  • 1973 (1973)
Running time
91 minutes (South Korea)
95 minutes (U.S.)
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese
Mandarin
Box officeHK$1.1 million[1]

Plot

The story is about the Korea under Japanese rule during World War II. A Korean nationalist played by Carter Wong gets into a fight with some Japanese people and is chased into a church. The priest there is captured and tortured. Trying to secure his release, the leader of the resistance, Jhoon Rhee is himself captured and tortured by the Japanese. Carter Wong, Angela Mao and Anne Winton have to now try and rescue him. This leads to an explosive climax with the heroes having to fight the likes of Wong In Sik (Hwang In-Shik), Sammo Hung and Kenji Kazama.

Background

Rhee landed the role in the film with help from his friend Bruce Lee whom he met in 1964 while both were performing demonstrations at an international karate event held in Long Beach, California.[3] In 1972, Lee went to Golden Harvest Films boss Raymond Chow with the idea of making a movie about Taekwondo with Rhee in lead role. Rhee who never thought of himself as an actor didn't think it would come to fruition but a year later in the summer of 1973, Rhee was flying to Hong Kong to star in the film which was set in Korea, playing the part of Master Lee, a leader of a group of underground patriots. The plot for the film was based on a synopsis written by Rhee. It didn't take long to produce the film and by July 19th Rhee was back in the United States. This was when Bruce Lee called him to let him know that the film's editing had been done and it was ready for release.[4] Rhee was looking at the possibility of more film work but with Lee's death which was around the film's release and the possibility of being away from his family didn't appeal to him. So this became his first and last film.[5]

This was the first film for Rhee. It was also the first film for Anne Winton, a 23‐year‐old student from Washington.[6] An article in the Lowell Sun suggested that Winton's role, with her as a blonde American girl in the film along with some other new approaches may have also been for international appeal and profit.[7] Winton who had studied ballet at the University of Michigan came to Washington in the early 1970s. Later she attained a black belt in Taekwondo.[8] Playing the part of Mary, the niece of the Catholic priest Father Louis,[9] she, according to reviewer World Film Geek held her own quite well in the role.[10] Far East Films in its review said she was surprisingly both powerful in fighting ability and acting.[11] Winton met an untimely end in October, 1982 when her husband and father of their five year old son stabbed her and their son to death before killing himself.[12][13]

Cast

Reception

The movie has a mixed reception from critics.[14][15]

References
  1. "When Taekwondo Strikes (1973)". Hong Kong Movie Database. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  2. Alex Gillis (2008-11-20). A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do. Books.google.co.uk. ISBN 9781554906741. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  3. The New York Times, May 6, 2018 - Jhoon Rhee, Athletic Ambassador of Taekwondo, Dies at 86 By Daniel E. Slotnik
  4. Martial Arts Television, 1st May, 2018 - Bruce Lee’s Taekwondo Friend Jhoon Rhee dies at 86 by Will Henshaw
  5. BLACK BELT, May, 2017 - 10 Things You Didnt Know About Taekwondo Legend Jhoon Rhee, 2 THE BIG SCREEN
  6. New York Times, June 16, 1973 - Swish! Thwack! Kung Fu Films Make It
  7. Lowell Sun, June 22, 1973 - Film makers experiment with Kung Fu to keep cash registers ringing By WILLIAM E. SAHMENTO
  8. The Washingtonian, Volume 18 - Page 100
  9. The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts Movies, By Bill Palmer, Karen Palmer, Richard Meyers - Page 384 3054 When Tae Kwon Do Strikes (1973)
  10. World Film Geek - When Taekwondo Strikes (1973)
  11. Far East Films, June 26, 2015 - When Taekwondo Strikes -= Reviewed by Andrew Saroch
  12. Pop Cult Master, February 26, 2018 - What became of Anne Winton
  13. The Washington Post, October 18, 1982 - D.C. Man Kills Wife and Son, Then Himself By Tom Vesey
  14. "Reviews - When Tae-Kwon Do Strikes". Far East Films. 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  15. James Mudge (2008-01-05). "When Taekwondo Strikes (1973) Movie Review". BeyondHollywood.com. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
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