Anyone familiar with the studio Shaw Brotherswill undoubtedly know who he is Alexander Fu Shen (Alexander Fu Sheng). The charismatic performer is known for his mischievous personality and physical agility, and quickly became a favorite of Chang Cheh and Lau Kar Leung, starring in Hong Kong classics such as the epic "Five Masters of Shaolin" and comedy "Hong Kong Playboys".
His life was tragically cut short at age 28, but his legacy lives on through numerous memorable performances. To add to his legacy, screenwriter and fan of kung fu films Terrence Jay Brady spent the last couple of years doing in-depth research to create the definitive biography of the star. The goal is to debunk many myths about his life, as well as to share new information and anecdotes, with the working title "Alexander Fu Shen: Biography of a Chinatown Kid". A book that is a must-have for any fan of both Fu Shena, and studios Shaw Brothers as a whole.
Resource Cityfire recently did an exclusive interview with Terrence, who took a break from his busy schedule to answer their questions about the upcoming book.
When you think of Hong Kong film legends, Fu Sheng might not necessarily be the first to come to mind, but who do you think could be the seed for an upcoming biography, who encouraged you to write the book?
I got the idea in 2007 when I was planning an article for the 25th anniversary of his death. But everyday troubles forced me to put this idea on the back burner. Three years later, I went to Hong Kong with friends, the main purpose of which was to visit Alex's burial site and pay my respects. Until that day, he was just an image on the TV screen, but now, having visited his grave, he became very real to me. Someone who may have walked the same streets as us, looking at Hong Kong.
I felt I had to pay tribute, which meant rethinking my article. But why stop at the article? Why not try a full biography? Information about many of the stars of the Shaw era is sketchy, but there are some really interesting books dedicated to specific actors. Alex was one of the most popular actors of his time, whose candle went out too soon. He was "real" and never put on airs. A regular guy. I'm sure he would be a little embarrassed at the thought of someone writing a book about him.
We've seen a lot of books about Bruce. About Jackie. Now it's Alex's time. I hope that my efforts will not be in vain and that his family, friends and fans will enjoy this biography as much as I enjoyed researching and actually writing.
There appears to be a significant amount of information about Fu Sheng, such as his college education in Hawaii, and his life in Bruce Lee's home at the time of his death. What would attract fans to your book, those who already know all these things about him?
I think there is a lot of information about Alex in Hong Kong. Many rumors that over time became fictitious facts. Take, for example, the story about Bruce Lee's house. Many are fascinated by the fact that the doomed people lived in the same house. This connects them with the common fate of two stars of martial arts films, whose lives were cut short in the prime of life. This is good for advertising; Movie of the Week! True, the reality is much boring and for a few Hong Kong dollars in the land registry, you can find that Bruce's old house on Cumberland Road has been owned by the same company since 1974.
How does this affect Alex? He was living with his brother in Mei Fu Soon Chuen, a housing estate in Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, at the time of the fatal accident. I know it's not that exciting, but it's reality. Another urban myth: Alex graduated from high school in Hawaii. I even found the address of this school on the Internet: secondary school named after. Roosevelt in Honolulu. I received a copy of the 1971 yearbook and, strangely enough, there was not a single photo of Alex in it. Later I met with one of the graduates of the same 71 year, she contacted her classmates, and they remembered that they had seen Alex - in the movies. "We are all used to watching his films, and we would know if he were from our school. The local media loved to promote "local talent" whenever they found one on Oahu. I don't even remember a single mention in the local press about his stay here." - she said.
The Chung family valued education and three of Alex's brothers went on to become doctors, but Alex? Alex is the least educated of the siblings, leaving school at 15 and despite having no formal education, he has proven that it is possible to be successful even without a degree. Of course, if he had followed in the footsteps of his brothers, I probably would not have written this biography. I considered myself a knowledgeable Alex fan before I picked up the book, but what I knew at the beginning pales in comparison to what I know now. Even Alex's biggest fans will find this book educational.
You've traveled all over Hong Kong in search of the truth about Fu Sheng's life, what's your favorite moment in your research?
Deep Purple once sang, "It's not murder, it's the thrill of the hunt." My research for this project was quite exciting. I spent over two years in Hong Kong researching materials and working with three different translators. They truly provided me with a wealth of new information that I, an English speaker, would not have been able to handle on my own.
The most memorable moment is when, at least after a simple clue identified independently, a new clue is discovered, then another and another. It's a journey down the rabbit hole that has led me to many dead ends, but has also provided invaluable data worth its weight in gold. The historical knowledge or real events that were depicted in some of Alex's films were based on the real history of China, which was previously unknown to me. I could devote an entire chapter or more to, for example, the 1976 film"Army of the Seven". This film is one of my personal favorites and my research helped to better understand that the story is set against the backdrop of the Second Sino-Japanese War, it is the story of those who commanded on the battlefield. I tracked down the grandchildren of one of the members of the Seven, whose names were forgotten (in the film, characters, including Alex, have fictitious names).
Of course, meeting and/or interviewing some of the stars who worked alongside Alex was also an important part of the research. I got to know Alex through the eyes of Robert Tai, Kara Hui, Lo Mang, Chu Ker, Chen Kuan Tai and others.
Fu Sheng was popular in his prime, do you think, being famous then, does he still have fans these days?
Alex was a real macho. His looks, charisma, sex appeal, comedic talent and lively energy on screen... Women adored him. Men imitated him. He could act... sing... dance... and most importantly, fight. Although he acted like a fool at times, his fighting skills were perfect. He was versatile and enjoyed a wide range of characteristics: humor, charm, emotionality, lethality. When he was on the screen, the audience focused their eyes on him, forgetting about what was happening on the screen.
What about the fans today? When a person dies at the peak of fame, and even at an early age, it seems that his fame will be eternal. Some did it: Bruce Lee, John Lennon, Mozart, Billy the Kid and others. The same can be said about Fu Shen. His celebrity status continues to rise even though more than 30 years have passed since his death. Facebook pages, YouTube videos, web articles, even a bronze bust was recently created and donated to the Martial Arts History Museum in Los Angeles. I hope this book will also contribute and help find a new generation of readers who will see his films for the first time.
What is your personal opinion on Fu Sheng's place in the history of Hong Kong cinema?
I was a little disappointed that I didn't see his name on Star Avenue in Hong Kong, but since I'm not familiar with the nomination criteria, I can't judge too harshly. Shaw Brothers are the most famous of the film studios in the Pearl of the Orient and Alex is of course one of their diamonds. I'm not sure where I'd like to place Alex in the overall picture of Hong Kong action cinema, as I've only recognized a small part of it.
However, when I think about Shaw's Movietown, many who worked there seem to agree that Alex's presence, both on and off screen, made the place memorable. He was a simple man, not caught up in all the glitz and glamor of show business. He was friendly with both the directorate and the studio workers. His craft, tomfoolery, good deeds from the heart. This was Fu Shen. For those people who worked with him, he will always hold a special place in the history of Hong Kong cinema.
What is your favorite role of Fu Shen?
Surprisingly, she is not there. Last year I watched all 43 of his films. It was amazing to see Alex mature both as a martial artist and as a movie star. I decided to re-watch some of his films that I had only seen once before taking on four new ones. "Chinatown Kid"will always be my favorite because, this is one of his films that I saw in the 80s, but his role as Chek Yatfan's Double Sword in "Vengeful Eagle“, of course, comes first in this “marathon”, since this was his first film not directed by Chang Che. A small note. Most believe that it was Chang who brought Alex into the world, but this is incorrect. In fact, Sun Zhong, gave him a ticket to life. Details in the book...
Many people like to speculate about where Bruce Lee would be if he were alive. Do you think Fu Sheng could have become Jackie Chan's rival as the king of kung fu comedy if his career hadn't ended so tragically?
Good question. And I'm sure many will be disappointed to hear that, no, I don't believe he would eclipse Jackie as the king of kung fu comedy. But not because Jackie was more experienced. Au contraire (French - opposite). It would be Jackie impersonating Alex.
But Alex's misfortunes at castings, his suspension, working behind the scenes and, finally, his own confession puts an end to any speculation: "No. I'm not particularly interested in filming. It's mainly a way to make money. Since I left school, I "I have never asked my family for money. I don't want to hang on to my family all my life. To be independent and earn a living, I chose to act in films, but this is temporary. I will not stay in this industry for life." Despite the fact that fans took these words with hostility, Alex was not one who likes to sugarcoat things. He spoke his mind and despite his plans for the future, he left us with a wonderful collection of films.
In the book, I break down the production process for each of the films in detail, thanks to those who worked on the sets and provided many colorful conversations from behind the scenes. While "Witty guys"was Alex's first film as a director, there were at least two other films in his pipeline, plus more films he was supposed to appear in but couldn't for various reasons. I'm also exploring an unfinished crime comedy."Eagle sign",Chor Yena, with Ti Luna, which was delayed due to his injury during the Black September attack.
The most important thing for last: when can we see "Alexander Fu Shen: Biography of a Kid from Chinatown" on book shelves?
I'm currently working on a second project and would like to get the book into the hands of Hong Kong film lovers in 2016.
Source: Cityfire Translation: Maxim Kovalishen Special for Fight Films Info
Slice of fights with Fu Shen:
Editing by Sergei Nikulin
Akira (Boris Khokhlov) made a one-and-a-half-hour documentary "Alexander Fu Sheng: The Unrisen Star". You can find it on the web.
No way, actually. Always happy to help!)))
Many thanks to Maxim for a decent amount of work!