Original subtitles

[fighting sounds]

[monkey sounds]

[fighting sounds]

- [Voiceover] The Monkey Fist is the most difficult

of all Chinese martial arts.

It calls for coordination of every part of the body;

limbs, eyes, brain, and heart.

With the coming of the Qing Dynasty, the art was forgotten.

The Monkey Fist featured in this motion picture

is based on research of the ancient chronicles

of Chinese martial arts

with certain modifications and refinements.

[monkey sounds]

[fighting sounds]

Only the Eagle Claw style can hope

to compete with the Monkey Fist.

The Eagle Claw and the Monkey Fist

are presented here to honor those heroes of bygone days

who developed these remarkable techniques.

[Eagle Sounds] [Monkey Sounds]

[fighting sounds]

[Eagle Sounds] [Monkey Sounds]

[fighting sounds]

[Eagle Sounds] [Monkey Sounds]

[fighting sounds]

[monkey sounds] [eagle sounds]

[fighting sounds]

[monkey sounds] [eagle sounds]

[fighting sounds]

[ominous music]

- Captain Pa - [Man in Blue] Captain Yi

- [Fa] seek an audience. - [Yi] seek an audience.

- [Fa] Our respects general. - [Yi] Our respects general.

- How dare you come back without a single rebel's head?

- But general, we've put an agent

into the rebels' organization.

We know who the leader is, where he lives.

We are watching the whole group around the clock,

all we need is your orders to move.

- You kill everyone,young and old

as a lesson to all of the others.

- I just heard that a group of Kangxi was infiltrated

by an agent, a Qing man,I¦everyone was killed.

We must be most careful.

You're from Kangxi whatI¦did you hear there?

- Only that thereI¦were spies there,

then the Qings moved in, and killed the whole group.

Master, where'sI¦your eldest son now?

I should think heI¦must be quite a man.

- He's useless.

[fighting sounds]

- If you don't pay your debt, I'll beat you to death!

[bones popping]

- If I'm dead, then you'll get nothing,

but if I'm alive, then maybe I'll win yet.

- You'll win?

What do you bet?

- My life, cause that's all I got left, alright?

- Young fool, who are you?

Who's your father?

- Hey, just forget my father, my name doesn't matter.

- You must have a name.

- If you need a name, just call me iron.

- Beat him up.

[fighting sounds]

Damn you.

- Hey, hey, hey, alright, alright,

I don't mind gambling with him.

You don't want him dead.

Hey, hey, come on, come on, come on.

[shouting]

- Well, we'll carry on with our plans now, as arranged.

[exciting music]

- You are all under arrest, general's orders.

- Let's go fight them!

[fighting sounds] [intense music]

- Who are you?

[fighting sounds]

You're a spy

- Get all the families inside, and spare no one.

[ominous music]

- Hu Yin, you did a good job here.

I'll tell the general, he'll reward you.

- Thank you for yourI¦kindness captain.

Bring him in.

- Don't listen, die like heroes!

- How very brave.

[fighting sounds]

- You check thatI¦we've missed no one.

- Right.

This one's quite pretty,I¦what do you think?

- I'll have her.

- Take her out.

- [Voiceover] Right, come on.

- There is an eldestI¦son, but he's out now.

- Where is he?

Talk!

- I have no eldest son.

- You tell me, I'll spare you.

- Lock them all up, then go out.

Find that son.

[murmuring]

[intense music]

- Hey, come on.

Come on!

- Hey. [laughing]

- Come on!

- Hey.

- Let me go, I'veI¦something to tell you.

- What's the problem, did myI¦father send a matchmaker out?

- You've got to be serious.

Your family's in trouble.

- My dad's a hero, he's tough.

No trouble bothers him.

He'll fix it, no matter what.

- This morning, the troopsI¦surrounded your house,

they arrested allI¦your family, they say

that they'll all be killed.

[dramatic music]

[clay shattering]

- Hey, come back here,I¦you can't go there.

Hey! You can't go.

[fighting sounds]

- Who are you?

- You idiot, you stupid fool.

How dare you?

[fighting sounds]

- [Eldest son] Leave me alone.

- [Older man] Retarded fool!

You fool, you idiot,I¦you madman you.

- I'm not, I'm not a madman.

I'm not a madman, I'm iron.

- My lord, he's anI¦idiot, I usually

keep him locked up at home.

I was careless, he got out.

Please forgive me,I¦please forgive me.

[exciting music]

- You two men areI¦getting more careless!

You tell me your good news,

but you missed theI¦traitor's son now.

- My lord, everybody saysI¦that son is just a playboy.

He does nothing atI¦all, except gambling.

I think he'll be no threat.

- You fool! Never take a chance.

In this sort of case,I¦you ought to know that.

- Sir, don't worry, we'll haveI¦everybody looking for him.

- My lord general, weI¦caught a pretty young girl.

She was a maid, weI¦brought her here,

and it did occur to usI¦that you might like her.

- Hold it.

Tomorrow noon, youI¦execute the whole family.

[crying]

- I don't want toI¦die, ma, I don't.

- Quiet.

- I don't want to die.

- Stop that, you coward.

[fighting sounds]

- Listen you, tomorrowI¦noon, you'll all die.

But still

whoever tells us where theI¦eldest son is will be spared.

- My brother!

- Talk!

- No.

[fighting sounds]

[knocking]

- That monkey thiefI¦has no fixed time.

So, to catch him, we'llI¦have to wait all night.

- And so what? AndI¦why say monkey?

It's a man, it's no monkey,I¦I mean it's too smart.

It's a man, I'm sure of it.

- Man, who would have the nerveI¦to steal at Shoalin Temple?

Is it a man or a monkey?

[intense music]

- You can't escape!

- [Voiceover] GetI¦him, after him!

- So fast, he just disappeared!

- I think it's a man.

At a guess he'sI¦hiding out in the woods.

[dramatic music]

Don't run, hey come here!

I don't mean you any harm.

Hey, wait!

You did nothing real bad!

Hey, it's nothing bad.

Just a littleI¦food, and watched us practice.

You've been here for months.

Hey, don't run.

If you want to learn, come and join the temple.

Hey!

Hey, wait, wait.

I know, it's toughI¦to get accepted.

But I'll take you to the abbot.

[harp music]

If you're accepted, wellI¦that's fine, we'll be brothers.

Fellow students.

[gong ringing]

- Master, this manI¦has deep hatred,

and he wants to learn,I¦and he can take hardship.

I think he'll do well.

- And what is your name,I¦where are you from,

and what is it you hate?

- Until I can prove myself here,

I want to keep my name a secret,

and that's why I didn'tI¦dare to come here.

Forgive me, it's not disrespect.

- Of course, of course.

When you join us, you'llI¦have to study hard

and learn the word of Buddha.

Then, this bitterI¦hatred that's within you

may disappear.

- Brother.

- The boy has a good stance.

I think that he'll do well.

Men like him usuallyI¦learn quickly.

In a few months,I¦I reckon he'll be

one of the best pupils here.

Buddha had mercy onI¦you, it was his hand

that led you to us.

So then, don't wasteI¦this chance you have.

[emotional music]

Since you have joined usI¦now, you will need a name.

- Teacher, he stealsI¦food like a monkey,

and climbs likeI¦a monkey as well.

Call him Iron Monkey.

- Brother, in aI¦temple, how can a man

be given a nameI¦of a mere animal?

- Before the sight ofI¦Buddha, both man and animal

are just the same,I¦both are equal.

Your name, Iron Monkey.

[exciting music]

[gong ringing]

- You can't stand here.

This row is for seniors.

- Hey, hey, hey,I¦further back, go on!

[laughing]

- Go on!

[murmuring]

[laughing]

- [All] Buddha bless us.

- Buddha bless us.

[fighting sounds]

Where did you learnI¦to use that style?

This is your first day here,

and you're alreadyI¦doing quite well.

- Well, when I sneaked in here,

I used to watch, soI¦I picked up a bit.

That's all.

- Well, show usI¦what you've learned.

[fighting sounds]

- [Abbot] That is the simplestI¦technique, but it's not easy.

[murmuring]

[gong ringing]

[fighting sounds]

- Brother.

- Good, you'veI¦been here a month.

To do so well, soI¦quickly, is great.

- Brother, don't say that,I¦the others here won't like it.

- Don't worry, masterI¦checks us once a month

to see what we've learnt.

You'll know byI¦tomorrow what place

he thinks you should have here.

- I don't care whetherI¦it's front or back,

all I want to doI¦here is to learn.

you will do what you're told.

Listen, why do youI¦refuse to tell us

what your real name is,I¦and about your background?

- Brother, I really oweI¦you, and I should tell you,

but still...

- It's alright, come,I¦let's practice some.

- Brother, I daren't.

- Why? Scared you'll be hurt? Come on

[fighting sounds]

[gong ringing]

[fighting sounds]

- I'd like to have your permission to shave my head.

But why can't I?

Aren't I good enough yet?

- Oh no, it isn't that.

You're very good, you've done so well.

All of us here agree on that,

but you're still tied to the outside world yet,

and you can't let it go.

Deep in your eyes, I can still see hatred and bloodshed.

So, you ask yourself, be honest,

are you ready yet toI¦forsake the outside world,

devote yourself to Buddha's work?

Only when all of yourI¦passions have left you

are you ready to join us here.

- Teacher, I, I'm confused.

- But you do know what Buddha teaches, though.

You will reap what you sow, good seed brings forth good,

bad seed brings forth bad, and in your life,

someone has planted much evil.

You'll repay him in kind.

- Thank you teacher.

[somber music]

- Hold it.

Teacher thinks you're much better than I am.

I don't like that.

If you're so good, then prove it to us.

- It's alright, students should test each other.

So, you go ahead, or else,

they'll be real annoyed.

[fighting sounds]

- Hold it.

Now look, Shaolin men aren't cowards, none of them.

So, why don't you fight?

[fighting sounds]

- You've been here a month,

to do so well, so quickly, is great.

- Now look, Shaolin men aren't cowards, none of them.

Cause he thinks he's better than we are.

- Well.

- You're wrong, the master says I'm full of hatred,

and he's right, II¦can't control it.

It scares me.

- Just listen to him.

So, he thinks if he fights us,

he's afraid thatI¦he'll kill us all.

That right?

Is that right?

[wood splitting]

[gong ringing]

- At this point, you've acquired

a good grasp of basic techniques.

You've all the fundamentals.

So, now you must choose a technique

you wish to specialize in.

Concentrate on those then, and nothing else.

While there's no limit on how many you choose,

it is left up to you, but still

you should remember, don't choose too many,

the fewer the better.

- Teacher, I am quite confident I can learn them all.

Every style.

[laughing]

- Well, then you'll stay in the temple here all your life.

[laughing]

In Shaolin, there's one technique

that in the past, only one man has ever mastered.

[murmuring]

It takes much time, and anyone who wants

to learn that technique may not choose any other technique.

- This technique, what is it?

- Well, it's known as Shaolin Monkey Fist.

- Monkey.

In that case, the monkey should learn it!

[laughing]

- Teacher, I'll learn it.

- Good, he one who mastered it,

and who will teach it, he was the bitter monk.

And he lives in the east wing of the temple.

You go and see him now.

- Sir.

- You fool, Shaolin has lots of styles.

Why ignore them, and choose just one?

- Yeah.

- You wasted all your time.

- Ying Lei, you're the fool.

He's going to be well above you.

I promise you that.

[door creaking]

[emotional music]

- And what do you want?

- The abbot told me to come here.

To learn the Monkey Fist style.

- So, you were ordered to come here.

Not of your own free will.

Leave me.

- Teacher, it was my choice.

- Is that the truth?

- I know the Monkey Fist is difficult,

and that it will restrict me as well,

but I want to learn.

- Good.

The technique is most complex,

but if you learn it well, you'll beat the rest.

It's superior to all other techniques,

but you may not succeed.

- I shall do my best.

[fighting sounds]

[wood splitting]

[fighting sounds]

Teacher, I'm all ready.

Mmmmm

[fighting sounds]

[suspense music]

[jars smashing]

[monkey sounds]

[fighting sounds]

[jars smashing]

[exciting music]

Thank you teacher.

[drumming]

[murmuring]

[neighing]

- What's wrong?

What is it?

- My temple doesn't accept gifts from outside,

so please will you all leave now?

- We've not come here with gifts.

We have a message from our lord general.

- The Qings now rule here, and all people must obey them,

but in this temple, we serve only God,

the great lord Buddha himself, no one else.

Please leave.

- The Qings rule everywhere,

and the general has sent me with a special message,

for the students here.

- All the temple students are here now,

please go ahead and speak.

- The general says that he needs some more guards,

thinks you may be suitable, in view of your training.

This could be a very good chance for you men.

- Good chance?

- Shaolin martial arts are not too bad.

The general takes the view that it would be a pity

to waste this, and in this case,

if you're interested he'll offer you a job.

[grunts]

Well, it's up to you, you want the job?

Well, then you report to me within one month.

- Brother, get them.

- This Buddha's in the wrong place, move it back.

- Sir, alright, come on, go, move it,

alright come on.

- Hey, you.

- Wait.

- It's okay, just leave him.

- Sinful, sinful.

That Buddha has been there for many years.

So, we'd better move it back.

Buddha, bless you.

- Buddha, bless you.

[ominous music]

[applause]

- Brother, none of our students will work for the Qings,

we are watching the whole group.

- Blessings, blessings,

Buddha have mercy on us all

- Hey, monkey, monkey.

Monkey, what have you been doing these last few years

you've been away?

Been playing with a monkey?

[laughing]

- Insult me, but don't insult my teacher.

- I hear that you've made good progress.

I'm real glad, congratulations.

- Is that true or false?

- Hey, where are you going?

We haven't talked for ages.

- I must go and see the master.

- Hey, why are you seeing him?

Possibly, you're thinking of working for the Qings?

[gong ringing]

- Blessings, blessings,

Buddha have mercy on us all.

May he bless our lives.

- Master, what do you find when you look inside me now?

- You're still full of hatred,

and this time I smell blood.

So, why are you here?

Is it you want toI¦leave the temple?

- Yes sir, that'sI¦what I want to do.

- And what if I refuse you?

- I have to leave here,

even if it means II¦have to use force.

- It's destiny,I¦there is no choice.

You leave then.

- If I succeed inI¦what I propose,

then I shall come back, and stay in here all of my life.

[dramatic music]

[intense music]

- Who are you?

- Well sir, I've come here from Shaolin,

to join the royal guards.

- Who'd you study with?

- I studied withI¦the bitter monk,

and I learned the ShaolinI¦Monkey Fist technique.

- Tell me, why didn'tI¦the others come?

Why only you then?

- They're different, have different views.

I wanted this, so I came.

- You any ideaI¦what this involves?

What you'll do?

- Simply, that I'll obeyI¦the general's orders.

- So, you mean to say, you think you'll

get your orders from the general?

You'll get your orders from me.

- Sir.

- General, Shaolin men all pretend to be neutral,

in fact they sympathizeI¦with those rebels,

and left alone, they'll make big trouble.

- From what you say,

the pupils there wouldn't listen to you,

and none of them would volunteer for our guards.

How dare they insult me like that?

And the throne too!

- [Voiceover] Master Hu Yin is here.

- [Hu Yin] I greet you general.

- Get up.

- Sir.

My lord general, a Shaolin man's come to join us.

- What's this man's name?

- Iron Monkey.

- Iron Monkey, well what do you think?

- He seems quite respectful, I think he'll be alright.

- But according to the report that you gave me

the Shaolin men refused to come and join us.

So, I suspect something.

You just watch this man.

- And about those rebels now, what are your orders, general?

- The same as for all the rebels.

Kill them all, every one.

- Sir.

- I suggest that we let the Iron Monkey do it.

That way we can test his kung fu,

also we can test his loyalty.

- [Voiceover] Sir.

[murmuring]

[fighting sounds]

- That man is good.

Hu Yin, transfer him to my troop.

- Sir, but before you promote him, sir,

let's test him some more for awhile.

[dramatic music]

[neighing]

- Hold it!

[fighting sounds]

- It's the Iron Monkey, sir.

Since he's been here, he's done well.

He's very loyal, and so I'm promoting him, right to the top.

And so, he says, in order to thank the general,

he'd like to see you, sir.

- Nonsense.

I'm the general, he's a common soldier.

- Yes, yes.

- Captain Ti.

- [Ti] Sir.

- His kung fu isn't bad.

Like to have him in my troop.

What do you say?

- Well now.

- Alright.

- If you want him, then take him, by all means.

- Now look, the general's just said

that you're to be my new lieutenant, you like that?

- I'm very honored sir,

but I would like to thank the general.

Could you help me to see him?

- Well, to see the general isn't so easy.

And he has a lot on his mind now.

Some Shaolin students helped the rebels.

We have proof, and we're going

to have to do something about them quickly,

and that job is given to you.

- Sir.

- If because of past friendships

you can't kill them, I would understand.

- I'm your man now captain, and I shall obey orders.

- It's good, it's good. [laughs]

[dramatic music]

- Don't believe it, I just don't believe it.

That he would work for those Qings,

and what's more, he would actually kill our own men.

- Hey, well he has, I saw him myself.

I couldn't be wrong, he's doing well too.

He's an officer, yeah, he has his own troops now.

About 20 men, he just isn't the same man at all

that you brought out of the woods so many years ago.

He's quite different.

- Don't believe it.

- Well, I saw him coming out of the general's place

with my very own eyes.

- I'll go see him.

- He's now one of the Qing's men.

He won't care about old friendships.

You go, and you'll die.

- If he really is a traitor, then I shall kill him.

[dramatic music]

- I greet both captains.

- Hu Yin, Mr. Iron is now your superior.

- [Hu Yin] My respects to you sir, too.

- Captain, someone to see you.

- Who is it?

- Shaolin pupil, Fon Kong.

- Say no.

- [Voiceover] Sir.

- Hold it.

Isn't this Fon Kong one of the most senior students

at Shaolin temple?

- Yes.

- Well, this might save us a lot of trouble.

Let's try and dispose of him.

- Rely on me, I'llI¦deal with him.

[fighting sounds]

- Damn you, you traitor!

- Fon Kong, you're a fool, you shouldn't have come.

[fighting sounds]

- Play dead, quick.

[fighting sounds]

[dramatic music]

- That's good, I shall ask the general to reward you.

- General's orders, you are to be rewarded for your loyalty

with a young slave girl.

- May I thank the general in person?

- Well, if you want the honor of seeing the general himself,

you'll have to killI¦some more Chinese first.

[ominous music]

- My respects, sir.

You? It's you?

It's young master!

- You're wrong.

- You're youngI¦master, I know you!

So, you're workingI¦for the Qings now.

Have you forgotten how they wiped out your whole family?

You...

You!

- You.

- Yes I am.

And although he denied it, I'm quite certain it's him.

I couldn't be mistaken.

[laughing]

- You want to see the captain?

You an old friend of his?

- Yes I am.

- Well, you can't see him, he's with the captains.

[laughing]

- [Senior Captain] This time we'll work it out,

real careful.

We'll get them all.

- That's right, wipe that lot out.

- Mr. Iron, this is a good chance for you.

The general has decided to wipe out Shaolin,

and you're to have command of this mission.

To destroy those rebels,I¦once and for all.

You go now, and prepare your men.

- Right.

- And also, the general will see you tomorrow.

Go now.

- Hu Yin, five years ago, you often posed

as an anti-Qing man,

joined up with some rebels, and then had them destroyed.

- That was quite a good trick, but now I'm too well known

for that one, pity.

Why, thinking of trying it yourself?

- One of those times you did that,

you exposed an anti-Qing organization

the leader's family were all wiped out,

but one of them escaped.

- What are you driving at?

- Well, I was that man.

I'd meant to wait longer, until I could get at the general,

and perhaps the emperor, but now, they mean

to destroy Shaolin, and so I can't wait.

- I don't know what you're saying.

- You don't?

I mean to kill you!

[fighting sounds]

[dramatic music]

- What's so confidential that you have to talk here?

- Well, it's something only you should know.

- What is it?

- Hu Yin's dead.

- But how.

- Someone killed him.

- Who?

- A survivor of a whole family

that was wiped out.

- I remember the case, but this survivor,

where's he now?

- [Iron Monkey] In front of you.

[fighting sounds]

- And so you want to join your family?

[fighting sounds]

[dramatic music]

- Good evening sir.

The captain's orders,

but no visitors while at practice, sir.

- Captain Pa.

- It's you, why did you come here so late?

- Everyone talks about the captain's fine kung fu,

so I thought that I'd come here, and see it for myself.

- You'd like to try me?

- Yes.

- Good.

You can go.

- Sir.

Let's go.

- Thanks captain.

- Well now, you choose your weapon.

- Alright, please.

[fighting sounds]

- Now look, what's this?

- I'll kill you.

[fighting sounds]

- Me, so you want my job?

- I want to save Shaolin.

[fighting sounds]

And so, that's your kung fu?

[fighting sounds]

- Now please, please spare my life.

- Spare your life?

Did you ever once show anyone mercy?

[dramatic music]

[ominous music]

- Hold it.

- General wants me, it's urgent.

- You're right, the general wants all traitors.

Take him away.

- Sir.

[fighting sounds]

[dramatic music]

- And who are you?

- Chinese, Monkey.

- So, you're him.

[intense music]

Just why did you pretend to become our man?

- Only for one purpose, that was to kill you!

[fighting sounds]

[dramatic music]

[fighting sounds]

[dramatic music]

[fighting sounds]

[monkey sounds] [eagle sounds]

[fighting sounds] [dramatic music]

[chanting] [bells ringing]