Hand of Death Chinese Poster

Before he defined himself and a new genre with ‘Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow’, Jackie Chan starred in a series of films that have earned their own cult following. Reel East is proud to present rare genuine memorabilia from these lost epics. Given the star’s then spelling of his English name, this is The Jacky Chan Collection.

‘Hand of Death’ AKA ‘Countdown in Kung Fu’ saw Jackie, then Jacky, Chan cooperated with the young director John Woo. Woo would late make his name with a series of high octane Hong Kong gunplay actioners, including ‘A Better Tomorrow’ and ‘The Killer’. In 1976, Woo was Golden Harvest’s ‘new king of comedy’, and making the transition to action film-making.

Filmed on locations in Korea, the film stars high-kicking Taiwanese action star Dorian Tan, stunt player turned leading player Yeung Wai and ubiquitous Golden Harvest action ace Sammo Hung. The story depicts a band of heroic Ming rebels taking on China’s Ching overlords. Jacky Chan’s character is a spear-wielding warrior intent on avenging the death of his brother.

Released at the height of the worldwide kung fu boom, ‘Hand of Death’ was released internationally, with no-one realising that its third lead would become the new king of Asian action. Fans now regard the film as a bona fide kung fu cult classic.

Reel East and The Jacky Chan Collection are proud to celebrate ‘Hand of Death’ by making this original theatrical poster, printed for the 1976 release of the film, available to Chan’s worldwide fanbase.