The Venom Mob is a colloquial title given to a group of actors from the Shaw Brothers Studio who attained international prominence for their lead roles in the 1978 film Five Deadly Venoms . Its members consisted of Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lo Mang, and Wai Pak. Although the main cast have never referred to themselves as the Venom Mob, they have continued to be referred to as such in English-speaking media [1] [2] while English DVD versions of their films often introduced them collectively as The Venoms.
Prior their entry into the Hong Kong film industry, many members had attended Peking opera schools in Taiwan before being recruited by director Chang Cheh. [3] [4] [5] They were cast in Five Deadly Venoms by Chang and screenwriter Ni Kuang to bring in and cultivate the next generation of actors into the martial arts genre. [3] [5] The group was active between 1978 and 1981 and made several films together following the success of their first picture. [a]
The group disbanded in 1981 with the split being attributed to reasons such as the declining popularity of martial arts films in Hong Kong and Taiwan, changing audience preferences, and Chang Cheh's shift to the Mainland Chinese market. [5]
The main five (though there are six, Chiang Sheng is actually the fifth member of the Venoms, not Wei Pai, who only appeared in four films with the others).
| Role | Performer | a.k.a. | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero | Philip Kwok | No. 4 Lizard | Usually played the lead hero and was the last man standing with the exception of four films. An acrobat and stuntman recruited by Liu Chia-Liang in Taiwan (after appearing in Wang Yu's Master of the Flying Guillotine fighting Liu Chia-Yung) for Chang's 1975 film Marco Polo. This was followed by cameos in The Fantastic Magic Baby, The Boxer Rebellion, New Shaolin Boxer and The Magnificent Wanderers. His directorial debut was Ruthless Tactics in 1983. He did have one villainous role, that of the White Dragons crime boss in The Chinatown Kid (1977) opposite the late Hong Kong actor Alexander Fu Sheng. |
| Villain | Lu Feng | No. 1 Centipede | A weapons expert and usually cast as the villain, he received very few heroic roles. Chu Lu Feng was also recruited in Taiwan and began his small bit parts in films, such as The 7 Man Army, Shaolin Avengers, New Shaolin Boxers and The Chinatown Kid. He was one of the titular The Naval Commandos before cementing his reputation as a villain in both Heaven and Hell and Shaolin Temple. He is the only one of the actors to receive a credit as a "Fighting Instructor" on The Five Venoms. |
| Hero | Chiang Sheng | The Student | Known for his acrobatic ability, he was usually cast as a supporting hero to Philip Kwok but later films would see him cast in various villainous parts. His on-screen debut was a comedic flashback with Lu Feng in the opening act of Shaolin Avengers, followed The Brave Archer and The Chinatown Kid. Official debut films were The Naval Commandos and Shaolin Temple filmed back-to-back. Was also Chang Cheh's assistant director on several films. These three formed an ensemble that would remain together after departing from Shaw in films such as Ruthless Tactics (a.k.a. Ninja in the Deadly Trap) and Fight Among the Supers. Chiang Sheng died in 1991 of a heart attack after a divorce and alcohol abuse. |
| Hero/Villain | Sun Chien | No. 3 Scorpion | Primarily known for his kicking ability, and played various hero and villain roles. Sun Chien was a Taiwanese actor and Tae Kwon Do expert, recruited by Chang Cheh for Chinatown Kid to play opposite Fu Sheng. Sun Chien also worked for directors Sun Chung (Human Lanterns), Chu Yuan (Spirit of the Sword), and Liu Chia-Liang (The Lady is the Boss) among others. His Taekwondo skills earned him a nickname "Korean kicker", despite the fact of being Taiwanese, owing to his martial arts' origin. Sun Chien earned th. Chien departed for a short period of time but made his return to the group in House of Traps. |
| Hero/Villain | Lo Mang | No. 5 Toad | Known for his physique and physical strength, he usually was the first one to get killed. He did, however, survive in two films (Crippled Avengers and Invincible Shaolin). Lo Mang also played various hero and villain roles. Was an accountant at Chang Cheh Film Co. in Taiwan who studied Mantis for years before landing bit roles in Shaolin Temple and The Brave Archer. This led to a trio of modern-day parts showcasing his physique in The Chinatown Kid, Heaven and Hell, as well as Deadly Strike (a.k.a. "Soul Brothers Of Kung-Fu") for Shaw's satellite company Eternal Films. Afterwards, he returned to the Brave Archer series in an expanded role as "The Iron Palm" before starring as "The Toad #5" in The Five Venoms, one of his signature roles (the other being Kid with the Golden Arm the following year). |
| Hero/Villain | Wei Pai | No. 2 Snake | Did not star in many films with the previous five. He did not possess the same fighting skills as the rest of the group and preferred drama to action. In addition to The Five Venoms, Wei Pai only starred in Chang Cheh's Invincible Shaolin, Ten Tigers Of Kwangtung (which was shelved for a year due to Fu Sheng's injuries, hence the 1980 release date), Kid with the Golden Arm and a flashback sequence in The Brave Archer Part 2. He defected to Golden Harvest and starred in Chang Cheh protégé John Woo's Last Hurrah for Chivalry the following year. |
Films directed by Chang Cheh (or a Venom) that feature at least three Venoms in starring roles.
| Original H.K. English Title | Production Company | Original H.K. Release Date | Alternate English Titles | participating Venoms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Five Venoms | Shaw Brothers | 8/12/78 | The 5 Deadly Venoms; Shaolin Deadly Poisons; Five Deadly Venoms | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lo Mang, Wai Pak |
| Invincible Shaolin | Shaw Brothers | 11/19/78 | The Unbeatable Dragon | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lo Mang, Wai Pak |
| Crippled Avengers | Shaw Brothers | 12/21/78 | Mortal Combat; Return of the Five Deadly Venoms; The Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lo Mang |
| Life Gamble | Shaw Brothers | 2/22/79 | Life Combat | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Lo Mang |
| Shaolin Rescuers | Shaw Brothers | 3/24/79 | Avenging Warriors of Shaolin | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lo Mang |
| Shaolin Daredevils | Shaw Brothers | 6/29/79 | The Daredevils | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lo Mang |
| Magnificent Ruffians | Shaw Brothers | 9/20/79 | The Destroyers | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lo Mang |
| Kid with the Golden Arm | Shaw Brothers | 11/2/79 | Kid with the Golden Arms | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lo Mang, Wai Pak |
| Heaven and Hell | Shaw Brothers | 1/19/80 | Shaolin Hell Gate | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Lo Mang |
| 2 Champions Of Shaolin | Shaw Brothers | 4/12/80 | Two Champions of Death; 2 Champions of Death | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Sun Chien, Lo Mang |
| Flag Of Iron | Shaw Brothers | 8/14/80 | Spearman; The Spearman of Death | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok |
| The Rebel Intruders | Shaw Brothers | 9/10/80 | Killer Army | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lo Mang |
| Legend of the Fox | Shaw Brothers | 11/15/80 | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok | |
| Ten Tigers of Kwangtung | Shaw Brothers | 12/20/80 | 10 Tigers of Kwangtung; Ten Tigers from Kwangtung | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lo Mang, Wai Pak |
| Sword Stained with Royal Blood | Shaw Brothers | 3/6/81 | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok | |
| Masked Avengers | Shaw Brothers | 5/15/81 | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok | |
| Ruthless Tactics | Yu Feng Film Company | 1981 | Ninja in the Deadly Trap; Ninja's Deadly Trap | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok |
| House Of Traps | Shaw Brothers | 1/9/82 | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien | |
| Ode to Gallantry | Shaw Brothers | 12/16/82 | Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien |
Films directed by Chang Cheh that feature Venoms in supporting roles or fewer than three Venoms in starring roles.
| Original H.K. English Title | Production Company | Original H.K. Release Date | Alternate English Titles | participating Venoms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marco Polo | Shaw Brothers | 12/25/75 | The Four Assassins | Lu Feng, Philip Kwok |
| Shaolin Temple | Shaw Brothers | 12/22/76 | Death Chamber, Death Chambers | Chiang Sheng, Lo Mang, Wai Pak |
| The Naval Commandos | Shaw Brothers | 4/7/77 | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng | |
| The Brave Archer | Shaw Brothers | 7/30/77 | Kung-Fu Warlords | Lu Feng, Philip Kwok, Lo Mang |
| Chinatown Kid | Shaw Brothers | 12/2/77 | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lo Mang | |
| The Brave Archer 2 | Shaw Brothers | 5/13/78 | Kung-Fu Warlords Part II | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Lo Mang |
| The Brave Archer 3 | Shaw Brothers | 11/12/81 | Blast of the Iron Palm | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lo Mang |
| The Brave Archer and His Mate | Shaw Brothers | 2/25/82 | The Brave Archer Part 4, Kung Fu Warlord 4 | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok |
| Five Elements Ninjas | Shaw Brothers | 4/21/82 | Five Element Ninjas, Super Ninjas, Chinese Super Ninjas, Chinese Super Ninja | Lo Mang |
| The Weird Man | Shaw Brothers | 1983 | ||
| Attack of the Joyful Goddess | Hong Kong Chang He Motion Picture Co., Ltd. | 10/3/83 | Attack of the Venoms, Five Venoms Attack | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng |
| Death Ring | Hong Kong Chang He Motion Picture Co., Ltd. | 1983 | Lu Feng | |
| The Nine Demons | Hong Kong Chang He Motion Picture Co., Ltd. | 1984 | The 9 Venoms, Nine Venoms | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng |
| Shanghai 13 | Winners' Workshop Production Co., Ltd. | 1984 | The Shanghai Thirteen | Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng |