Chapter 43: On Huang Feihong

Jia Leilei gave Wu Yuchen a rough introduction to their work on *Dance of Martial Arts*. Seeing that this Little Wu seemed very happy, he smiled secretly. The charm of martial arts to young people is really not small.

Then he pulled out a booklet stapled with A4 paper from the side and handed it to Wu Yuchen:

"Little Wu, take a look first and see how many of the films on it you have seen."

After Wu Yuchen took the booklet, he looked closely: *Shaolin Temple*, *Burning of the Red Lotus Temple*, *One-Armed Swordsman*, *Dragon Inn*...

Each page listed many films, with the year written behind them, and there was no order, but without exception, they were all martial arts films. Just such a thin booklet, at least seven or eight hundred.

Wu Yuchen was not in a hurry, just flipped through it page by page. After a while, he estimated in his heart and replied:

"Teacher Jia, I estimate I have seen four or five percent."

He had indeed watched many martial arts films following the *Dance of Martial Arts* documentary in his past life, but he didn't cover all seven or eight hundred on this, and he hadn't even heard of some of them.

Jia Leilei was holding a white enamel teacup and drinking water. When he heard this, his eyebrows raised, and he put down the teacup after covering it: "Are you sure?"

Everyone else sitting in the room also looked at Wu Yuchen, and some couldn't help but frown, feeling that this young man who just came was a bit boastful.

The films listed here were all martial arts films with some fame or influence since the beginning of the century in the 20s.

For an ordinary film lover, it would be good to say they had seen one percent of them, and there were no channels to watch some old films.

The people sitting here had dealt with film for a lifetime. Before participating in this documentary production, they had seen at most three percent of the above, but this kid opened his mouth and said four or five percent. Isn't this blowing a cow?

Wu Yuchen nodded to Jia Leilei: "About that."

Jia Leilei smiled. He felt that Little Wu was blowing a cow, but he wasn't angry, but said:

"Since you have seen so many, you must have some insights into martial arts films. Then tell me how much you know about Huang Feihong in martial arts films. Just talk about it."

The elderly consultants heard this question and couldn't help but smile. This Little Jia is testing the depth of this kid.

In recent years, with the popularity of Li Lianjie's Huang Feihong, who doesn't know Huang Feihong among those who love martial arts?

Basically, any martial arts lover can say something about Huang Feihong in the film.

But if this Little Wu could only say something about the few Huang Feihong films by Li Lianjie and Xu Ke, then he was basically a boastful straw bag.

Although they wouldn't criticize him much, they could also see how much level this person had. The most important thing was that boasting meant not doing things down-to-earth. If it really didn't work, they would go to Hou Keming and change another one.

When Wu Yuchen heard this question, he couldn't help but grin. This question was really asked right. In the *Dance of Martial Arts* documentary in his past life, there was a separate explanation and analysis of Huang Feihong, an important character in martial arts films.

Since he came to the *Dance of Martial Arts* production team, Wu Yuchen also came to his interest. He couldn't help but learn the boxing salute in the film and bowed to the people around him:

"Teachers, then I will show my ugliness. If there is anything wrong with what I say, please correct me."

After speaking, Wu Yuchen cleared his throat and said loudly:

"As of the end of 1994, the most recent Huang Feihong should be *Once Upon a Time in China V* directed by Xu Ke, starring Zhao Wenzhuo. As far as I know, the earliest one should be *The True Story of Huang Feihong: Whipping the Wind and Extinguishing the Candle* and *The True Story of Huang Feihong: Burning the Overlord Village* filmed by Hong Kong director Hu Peng in 1949, and the upper and lower episodes are counted as one film."

"During this period, there were more than a hundred films with Huang Feihong as the protagonist. It should be said that Huang Feihong is the most in the history of Chinese film, oh no, it should be said that it is the most in the history of world film!"

Just hearing this, Jia Leilei raised his spirit. It seems that this Little Wu really has something. Ordinary people can't know this.

Others also became interested, their eyebrows stretched, and they wanted to see what other ways he could say next.

Then Wu Yuchen continued:

"In my personal understanding, I divide the Huang Feihong in the film into three generations."

"The image of the first generation of Huang Feihong — the traditional hero."

"The creator of this first generation of Huang Feihong is mainly director Hu Peng and actor Guan Dexing. From 1949 to the 1960s, they joined hands to create 59 Huang Feihong films, which can be said to have created the glory of Huang Feihong at that time. Old Guan Dexing, who was skilled in martial arts, was also called Huang Feihong in the world."

"The image of Huang Feihong in this stage of the film is also a traditional hero image of a serious drama. He fights against injustice, suppresses evil and promotes good, and pays attention to the traditional Confucian moral spirit of etiquette, righteousness, tolerance, forgiveness, harmony, and peace. It is particularly in line with the folk customs of Hong Kong during the turbulent years that prayed for stability and peace, so it is called a 'classical' hero."

Then Wu Yuchen raised his right hand and held up two fingers:

"The second generation of Huang Feihong — the humorous hero."

"After the mid-1960s, Hong Kong already had a certain economic strength, and people's livelihood was basically stable. Citizens had requirements for the fun of films. Against this background, humorous kung fu films represented by Yuan Heping and Cheng Long emerged, such as *Drunken Master* I and II."

"The Huang Feihong in this period began to ignore the feudal system and challenge tradition, no longer blindly enduring and forgiving, and even had more humorous colors on his body. Even his attire began to become more modern, and he appeared more with a comedy face, so I call it a humorous hero."

After Wu Yuchen finished speaking, he paused. Seeing that those sitting around were either listening intently or smiling, he knew that he should have passed.

He smiled slightly, then turned slightly, and said:

"The third generation of Huang Feihong, which is the image we are most familiar with, home and country righteousness, benevolent and invincible!"

"The representative image should not need me to introduce, it is Li Lianjie."

"Since the 1980s, cultural exchanges between the two sides of the strait and the three places have increased day by day. Against the background of the countdown to Hong Kong's return, Huang Feihong's films added cultural themes of resisting foreign aggression and resisting the humiliation of the powers on top of traditional moral themes, further raising a Chinese chivalrous image, adding more cultural and spiritual connotations, and bringing greater influence and thinking to society."

"Li Lianjie's Huang Feihong has typical postmodern eclectic cultural characteristics: combining martial arts, romance, and comedy into one, integrating martial arts strength and humorous entertainment. At the same time, his master's demeanor is far beyond the second generation, self-improvement, compatible, caring for the world, thus opening up a new world for Huang Feihong films!"

"Although the images of the three generations of Huang Feihong have changed and transformed, they have always reflected the folk customs and citizen mentality of Hong Kong society at that time, and Huang Feihong has always upheld the spirit of chivalry, entrusting people's expectations and pursuit of justice."

"It can be said that Huang Feihong has become a classic hero image that cannot be bypassed in Chinese martial arts films!"

After Wu Yuchen finished speaking, he closed his mouth, and the whole hall was quiet, and you could hear a pin drop. ===== CHAPTER 44 =====