Kung Fu - The Complete First Season [1973]

Here's one for trivia fans - when Bruce Lee first went to Hollywood they saw he had star potential but didn't have a clue what to do with him. So they wrote this TV series for him. But at the last minute, the TV execs decided that an American audience would not be able to sympathise with a half-Chinese leading man, so replaced him with Carradine. This seems pretty strange at times to say the least, particularly as Carradine walks round getting racist abuse from cowboys when he doesn't really look Chinese at all. That said, he seems more suited to the role of Caine than I imagine Bruce Lee would be. He really comes across the way I would expect a monk to - ethereally serene, perhaps sometimes bewildered, whereas I imagine Bruce Lee with his piercing eyes would look like an action hero type actor pretending to be a monk.

Anyway, didn't mean to go off on one. I usually hate stuff about China/Japan written by Westernerns as they usually get it quite badly wrong (eg the totally inaccurate 'Shogun' & the awful 'Last Samurai' - I can imagine the Boss Ninja now "Right boys, shall we kill him in his sleep like we usually do or wait until he's watching a play in public surrounded by all of his men?"). But Kung Fu is a fantastic series. Its vision of Shaolin is far from accurate & the Buddhism isn't always quite 100% on the money but it's entertaining & full of good life lessons which are not dumbed down, like in most TV shows (eg Star Trek). I found it really very touching in places.


Brilliant TV   February 3, 2007
Ben Lockwood (Thurso, Scotland)
16 out of 16 found this review helpful

The original showing of Kung-fu pre dates me and for years I didn't know where the 'grasshopper' reference came from. When I picked up Kung-fu I instantly saw why this was such the legend it was. Each episode is packed with just the right mix of action and story with frequent words of wisdom that are easy to take to heart. All potential proverbs in their own right.

Kung-fu does not strike me as OVERLY dated at all compared to some things. Although in one episode (either this series or the next) contains a scene with a raven that I'll never forget, it was so ridiculously fake and the wires/string were easily visible. The fight scenes aren't quite as hectic as modern shows have either but when Caine beats his arrogant foe it still leaves you with a smile on your face. Kung-fu makes you feel good time and time again and I think everyone who has ever seen it has, at one point in their lives, wanted to be Kwai Chang Caine. And quite rightly so.

Well worth the money for this wonderful classic that deserves all the praise it receives.


Spellinding slices of craftsmanship   December 6, 2004
Shotokan apprentice (United Kingdom)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

Created in a time when TV didn't have to rely on digital effects or a kickin' music track to hold the audiences attention, this series depicts the art of the storyteller.

Absorbing tales littered with thought-provoking analogies and well tempered action scenes make this a must for your DVD library. Series three is eagerly awaited by me.

In a word: quality.


Kung Fu Series 1   July 17, 2004
12 out of 13 found this review helpful

It is rare to watch a program this old and find the memory hasn't played tricks on just how good it was. Kung Fu is an exception, it's as fresh today as it ever was. Series 2 is eagerly awaited.