Kung Fu (1972-1975)

Information from IMDb

Plot Summary
Kwai Chang Caine is a Shaolin Monk who is on the run after he killed
the Chinese Emperor's nephew after that coward killed his teacher in cold blood with a gun.
He flees to America both to escape retaliation and to search for his brother in order
to settle down in this new land.
However, in his travels in the wild west, he can not help but continually run into trouble
from desperados and other ruffians as they oppress the innocent,
while bounty hunters pursue the price on his head.
Against this, he has his skill of Kung-fu martial arts which proves
to be devastatingly effective in this gun-dominated land.
Written by Kenneth Chisholm

Series Cast
David Carradine ... Kwai Chang Caine / ... (63 episodes, 1972-1975)
Radames Pera ... Young Caine (47 episodes, 1972-1975)
Keye Luke ... Master Po (46 episodes, 1972-1975)
Philip Ahn ... Master Kan (39 episodes, 1972-1975)
James Hong ... Chun Yen / ... (9 episodes, 1972-1975)
Tad Horino ... Cowled Head / ... (8 episodes, 1973-1975)
Victor Sen Yung ... Tamo / ... (7 episodes, 1972-1974)
James Weatherill ... Deputy / ... (7 episodes, 1972-1975)
Richard Loo ... Master Sun / ... (6 episodes, 1972-1974)
Yuki Shimoda ... Shun Low / ... (6 episodes, 1973-1974)
Tim McIntire ... Daniel Caine / ... (5 episodes, 1973-1975)
John Fujioka ... Cook / ... (5 episodes, 1973-1975)
Clyde Kusatsu ... Han Su Lok / ... (5 episodes, 1973-1975)
Leslie Nielsen ... Vincent Corbino (4 episodes, 1975)
Khigh Dhiegh ... Warlord Sing Lu Chan / ... (4 episodes, 1973-1974)
Benson Fong ... Han Fei / ... (4 episodes, 1972-1974)
John Blyth Barrymore ... Zeke (4 episodes, 1975)
Frank Michael Liu ... Huo / ... (4 episodes, 1973-1975)
Tim Haldeman ... First Gunfighter / ... (4 episodes, 1972-1975)
Ted Gehring ... Fuller / ... (4 episodes, 1974-1975)
Bill McLean ... Bartender / ... (4 episodes, 1972-1973)
Albert Salmi ... Raif / ... (3 episodes, 1972-1974)
John Carradine ... Rev. Serenity Johnson (3 episodes, 1972-1975)
Soon-Tek Oh ... Chen Yi / ... (3 episodes, 1973-1974)
John Vernon ... Gen. Cantrell / ... (3 episodes, 1974-1975)
Ned Romero ... Lame Dog / ... (3 episodes, 1974-1975)
Robert Ito ... Captain Tim Lee / ... (3 episodes, 1972-1974)
Kenneth O'Brien ... Harlow Strunk / ... (3 episodes, 1973-1974)
Richard Narita ... Kang Li / ... (3 episodes, 1974)
Dale Ishimoto ... Chinese Sergeant / ... (3 episodes, 1973-1975)
Paul Harper ... Amos / ... (3 episodes, 1972-1974)
Kam Yuen ... Wong Ti / ... (3 episodes, 1973-1974)
Brian Tochi ... Ho Fong / ... (3 episodes, 1973-1974)
Clay Tanner ... Barr / ... (3 episodes, 1973-1974)
David Chow ... Little Monk / ... (3 episodes, 1972-1973)
Beulah Quo ... Madam Chun / ... (3 episodes, 1973-1975)
Dana Lee ... Lieutenant / ... (3 episodes, 1973-1974)
Bob Bralver ... Crowder / ... (3 episodes, 1973)
Steven Chambers ... Comanchero / ... (3 episodes, 1973)
Barry Sullivan ... Dillon / ... (2 episodes, 1972-1974)
and many, many more notably..

Patricia Neal ... Sara Kingsley (2 episodes, 1974)
David Huddleston ... Nathaniel / ... (2 episodes, 1973-1975)
Eddie Albert ... Dr. George Baxter (2 episodes, 1974)
Denver Pyle ... Dr. Joseph Colton / ... (2 episodes, 1973-1974)
Edward Albert ... Johnny Kingsley McLean (2 episodes, 1974)
Nancy Kwan ... Mayli Ho (2 episodes, 1974)
Howard Duff ... Mr. Jenkins / ... (2 episodes, 1974)
Bruce Carradine ... Capt. Roy Starbuck / ... (2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Keith Carradine ... Middle Caine (2 episodes, 1972-1973)
Chuck Hayward ... Drifter / ... (2 episodes, 1973)

Series Directed
Richard Lang (16 episodes, 1973-1974)
Jerry Thorpe (8 episodes, 1972-1974)
Marc Daniels (5 episodes, 1974-1975)
Harry Harris (5 episodes, 1974-1975)
David Carradine (3 episodes, 1974)
and many more....

Series Produced
Jerry Thorpe .... executive producer / producer (63 episodes, 1972-1975)
Alex Beaton .... producer / associate producer / ... (61 episodes, 1972-1975)
Herman Miller .... producer (31 episodes, 1974-1975)
John Furia .... producer (12 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Writing Credits
Ed Spielman (63 episodes, 1972-1975)
Herman Miller (62 episodes, 1972-1975)
John T. Dugan (7 episodes, 1973-1975)
William Kelley (6 episodes, 1973-1974)
Ed Waters (6 episodes, 1973-1974)
David Korn (5 episodes, 1974-1975)
and many more.....

Series Original Music
Jim Helms (63 episodes, 1972-1975)

Series Cinematography
Richard L. Rawlings (35 episodes, 1972-1974)
Chuck Arnold (24 episodes, 1974-1975)
Fred J. Koenekamp (3 episodes, 1972-1973)

Trivia
According to Bruce Lee's widow, Linda Lee Cadwell, Lee originated the concept and was intended to star in the series,
but David Carradine was cast because the network felt the American audience was not ready for an Asian actor
as the lead and Lee received no credit for his concept. (This was dramatized in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story.)
But according to the producers, although Lee was consulted and was considered for the role,
they created the concept and Carradine was always their first choice.

The set for the Shaolin Temple was originally a set used for the Camelot that was inexpensively
and effectively converted for the Chinese setting.

In several episodes, a younger Kwai Chang Caine was played by Keith Carradine, David Carradine's younger brother.
Their other brother Robert Carradine and their father John Carradine also appeared in episodes
(as Sonny Jim and Serenity Johnson, respectively).

The only reason this show went off the air was because star David Carradine quit the series.
He had sustained so many injuries, he felt he could not go on. The show got high ratings all three seasons it aired.

John Saxon was offered the role of Caine but turned it down.

Goofs
Anachronisms
In the title sequence, when teenage Caine is stick-fighting with Master Po, an electrical transmission tower
can be seen in the background.

Audio/visual unsynchronised
In the title sequence, when Master Kahn says 'pebble' his mouth says 'stone'.

Continuity
In the title sequence, the close-up shots of Caine's arms moving into position over the cauldron show
his right arm covering both the dragon AND the tiger.

Factual errors
In opening sequence (during pole fighting/training) a view of the surrounding hills shows a 50kV electrical tower
(something that was not in China in that era).

Revealing mistakes
In the title sequence the view of young Caine is looped in the pebble scene, as the smoke behind him reverses twice.

Filming Locations
Backlot, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
Laramie Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
Stages 16, 21, 22, 27,27A, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA

Here is the Pilot Episode made as a TV Movie.

KUNG FU

Season 1, Episode 0
Pilot (22 Feb. 1972)

DIRECTED BY JERRY THORPE
PRODUCED BY JERRY THORPE & ALEX BEATON
WARNER BROS. TELEVISION

Information from IMDb

Plot Summary
From the tiger, he learns tenacity and power.
From the white crane, gracefulness.
And the dragon teaches him to ride the wind.
It could take a lifetime to master just one of the many Kung Fu disciplines.
But young Kwai Chang Caine knows them all.
He was educated in a Shaolin monastery around 1800 by the monks.
Against all forms of violence he face his ultimate challenge
when his preferred master was killed by the hands of the imperial forces.
After avenging the death of his teacher, as a Shaolin monk,
he flees China to the American West and helps people defending
the weak and fighting against the evil while being pursued by
Chinese bounty hunters.
Written by Anonymous

Episode Cast
David Carradine ... Caine
Barry Sullivan ... Dillon
Albert Salmi ... Raif
Wayne Maunder ... McKay
Benson Fong ... Han Fei
Richard Loo ... Master Sun
Keye Luke ... Master Po
Philip Ahn ... Master Kan
Victor Sen Yung ... Chuen
Robert Ito ... Fong
James Hong ... Hsiang
Radames Pera ... Young Caine
Roy Jenson ... Fuller
John Leoning ... Master Teh
David Chow ... Little Monk
Keith Carradine ... Middle Caine (uncredited)
Bill McLean ... Bartender (uncredited)
Hidy Ochiai ... (uncredited)

Writing Credits
Ed Spielman (teleplay) &
Howard Friedlander (teleplay)
Ed Spielman (story)

Original Music
Jim Helms

Cinematography
Richard L. Rawlings

Trivia
According to Bruce Lee's wife Linda Lee Cadwell, the concept of the series was conceived by Bruce, and he met with the producers for countless hours to shape the show. However, the producers did not offer him the role since they did not feel that the American audience (at that time) would accept a Chinese actor as a lead, and eventually went with the Caucasion actor David Carradine.

Fifteen different actors from the original pilot would go on to appear in the subsequent series.

Richard Loo here plays Shaolin Master Sun, a character he would reprise in two episodes, Kung Fu: Blood Brother during the first season, and Kung Fu: Besieged: Cannon at the Gates during the third. He would also feature in three other entries, playing three different characters: Kung Fu: The Tong, Kung Fu: Arrogant Dragon and Kung Fu: The Devil's Champion.

Keith Carradine appears unbilled as the Middle Caine, a role he would reprise only once, also unbilled, in the episode Kung Fu: Chains during the first season. All other entries in which he can be seen utilize archive footage shot for this feature.

Memorable Quotes

Filming Locations
Stages 16, 27,27A, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA

User Review

Quote

A movie that defines the Martial Arts genre
20 April 2004 | by oto9772 (United States)

This movie was beautifully written in a style that was less about the fact that the main character could have taken every man in the film, but the fact that he didn't have to. This movie used no special effects and is still better than most of the martial arts movies that are more recent, because it focuses on character developement and the coming of age. The first movie to ever use light refraction from the sun, displaying revolutionary photographical techniques. The movie that introduced the Eastern way of life to America, Kung Fu is a must have movie for your DVD collection. In fact Bruce Lee was actually supposed to star but the movie's producers didn't think that Americans were ready for an Asain movie star. But David Carridine still delivers beautifully as a half Asain half white. The movie's defining line is, "Run away rather than hurt, hurt rather than mame, mame rather than kill"

Kung Fu is an American Western/drama/action series starring David Carradine.
The series aired on ABC from October 1972, to April 1975 for a total of 63 episodes.
Kung Fu was preceded by a full-length feature television pilot, an ABC Movie of the Week,
which was broadcast in 1972.

Kung Fu was created by Ed Spielman, directed and produced by Jerry Thorpe,
and developed by Herman Miller, who was also a writer for, and co-producer of, the series.

The series follows the adventures of a Shaolin monk, Kwai Chang Caine (??? Qián Guanchang)
(portrayed by David Carradine as an adult, Keith Carradine as a teenager
and Radames Pera as a young boy) who travels through the American Old West
armed only with his spiritual training and his skill in martial arts,
as he seeks his half-brother, Danny Caine.

Keye Luke (as the blind Master Po) and Philip Ahn (as Master Kan) were also members
of the regular cast.
David Chow, who was also a guest star in the series, acted as the technical
and kung fu advisor, a role later undertaken by Kam Yuen.

Apart from Brothers Carradine
the series also included father John Carradine
and featured other Duke 'Pal's
Patricia Neal, David Huddleston
Denver Pyle, Chuck Hayward

User Review

Quote

One of the best TV shows ever...
16 January 2002 | by MovieAlien (az)

I saw this series exactly 20 years after it was released,
but its excellence made the viewing experience timeless.

Carradine plays the immigrant drifter Caine, who walks through the Wild West
encountering different situations, people, etc, there was a different plot for each episode.
This was more a "Drama" than a "Western" but the interesting sparring moves
and Caine's relaxed personality made it a decent alternative to the more violent
and rowdy martial arts movies that released around that time.

Whenever this series is brought back to your TV station or one episode happens to be on,
it would be an excellent show to record and watch again and again - if not already released,

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Quote from WaynamoJim

I believe Kung Fu was originally a movie. I remember ABC back then had their movie of the week, where they showed made for tv movies once a week. I think when they showed Kung Fu, it got great ratings and the producers decided to do it as a series.

Jim, how strange you should post this.
I was at that moment in time editing the
Classic Movie Westerns
and saw it there

1972
Kung Fu - Jerry Thorpe (David Carradine, Barry Sullivan, Albert Salmi)

Kung Fu: Season 1, Episode 0
Pilot (22 Feb. 1972)
TV Episode

It's also mentioned in our opening posts

Quote

Kung Fu was preceded by a full-length feature television pilot,
an ABC Movie of the Week,
which was broadcast in 1972.

Thanks for reminding us of this,
rather then post it as a separate movie
I have now posted the Pilot show,
at the beginning of this thread