AceShowbiz - The The Chinese Boxer movie is widely considered to be the first true martial arts film, and it has just reached a major milestone - its 55th anniversary. The martial arts movie genre, as we know it today, owes a great debt to this film, which was first seen by moviegoers in Hong Kong on November 27, 1970. Bruce Lee is often credited with popularizing the genre, but the truth is that he wasn't responsible for the first kung fu film. That honor belongs to Jimmy Wang Yu, who wrote, directed, and starred in The Chinese Boxer.

The martial arts movie genre evolved from wuxia, a term used to describe stories set in ancient China, which often feature multiple martial arts sects and fantasy elements. Hong Kong studios like Shaw Brothers made many of these movies in the late 1960s, including Come Drink With Me, The One-Armed Swordsman, The Assassin, and Golden Swallow. However, the action in these films was centered around swordplay, rather than actual martial arts. Jimmy Wang Yu, the top male star at Shaw Brothers, decided to change this formula with The Chinese Boxer, a movie that put the swords aside in favor of unarmed combat.

In The Chinese Boxer, Jimmy Wang Yu plays a kung fu student whose school is rivaling a Japanese karate school. After a massacre that leaves everyone but him dead, Wang Yu's character dons a disguise, learns a new martial arts technique, and embarks on a journey of revenge. The film's focus on kung fu was a key factor in its success, and it paved the way for future martial arts movies. Bruce Lee's breakout role in The Big Boss came just a year after the release of The Chinese Boxer, and it's clear that Lee was influenced by Wang Yu's groundbreaking film.

Today, the martial arts movie genre is more popular than ever, with hundreds of excellent films to choose from. From Enter the Dragon to Bloodsport to Drunken Master, there's no shortage of great martial arts movies to enjoy. And it all started with The Chinese Boxer, a film that dared to be different and paved the way for the genre as we know it today. As we celebrate the 55th anniversary of The Chinese Boxer, we honor the film that started it all and the legacy it has left behind.