Movie Mogul Who Popularized Kung Fu Fighting Dies At 106

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

If you have ever enjoyed an action-packed Kung Fu film, take a moment to thank Sir Run Run Shaw, who passed away today at age 106.

(SOUNDBITE OF FANFARE MUSIC)

GREENE: The television and movie mogul popularized the Kung Fu genre, opening Shaw Brothers film studio in Hong Kong, in his early 20s.

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UNIDENTIFIED ANNOUNCER: The new movie sensation that's stunning the world, a martial arts masterpiece...

GREENE: Shaw Brothers grew to be Asia's largest production studio by the late '50s, and also one of the most influential film companies in the world. They produced almost a thousand low-budget, action, kick-flicks, including "The Magnificent Concubine," "The One-Armed Swordsman" and also this film, "Five Fingers of Death."

(SOUNDBITE OF A MOVIE TRAILER)

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: See mighty warriors attack each other with the most deadly weapons ever developed - their bare hands.

GREENE: Sir Run Run Shaw, knighted in 1977, went on to run one of the world's dominant Chinese-language television networks, launching careers of many Chinese film mega-stars. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.