Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Chan Kong-sang, aka Jackie Chan, is mainly known for his iconic appearances in Asian martial arts and action movies such asZui quan and Jing cha gu shiand Hollywood smash blockbuster movies such asRush Hour, Kung Fu Panda,and a remake ofThe Karate Kid.
The Tuxedoactor began his first forays into the American film industry in the 1980s. His first Hollywood film wasThe Big Brawlwhich came in 1980.
Chan was considered to take on the role in martial arts, but copying Bruce Lee’s style in kung fu films didn’t work well for his career. So, he changed his direction by crafting his own image and soon became a martial arts sensation.
He got his commercial success from the action-comedy genre, and he gives credit to three comedian actors he watched in his childhood, who helped him to thrive in his Hollywood career.
Also read:“So many people lied to me”: Jackie Chan Admitted He Was Fool Enough to Lose $5,000,000 After He Got Filthy Rich
Jackie Chan Cherishes Comedian Actors More Than Action Heroes
Jackie Chanhas repeatedly cited silent film comedians as inspirations. In 1995, he told The New York Times:
“I wanted to be like a Chaplin or Buster Keaton, but all the martial arts directors I worked with wanted me to copy Bruce Lee.”
Both Keaton and Chaplin had their own inimitable styles for which they’re still praised to date. They had a distinct comedic style to make people laugh. And that’s what left a mark on Jackie Chan.
Chan’s inspiration from Keaton is clear in movies such asProject AandThe Young Master, which copy stunts and gags from Keaton’s films. Chan has also admired how all three actors (Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Llyod) performed such scenes without safety measures during the silent film era.
Also read:“He wanna hit me 10 times”: Jackie Chan Desperately Tried To Hold Back Tears While He Was Beaten Mercilessly In His Journey To Become A Mixed Martial Artist
Jackie Chan Stole Inspiration from Silent Comedian Harold Lloyd
With almost 200 films between 1914 and 1947, Lloyd was one of the actors Jackie Chan “stole” inspiration from during his younger days. In 1996, when a critic mentioned that Chan seemed to take inspiration from silent comedian Harold Lloyd, Chan responded:
“I don’t mind, because when I was younger, I stole from Hollywood films.”
He went on and said:
“I stole from Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Gene Kelly.”
Harold Lloyd, the actor who inspired Superman’s Clark Kent alter ego in DC Comics, was not only one of the biggest stars of the silent film era but also early cinema’s most influential and successful filmmakers.
Lloyd is remembered for doing his own stunts in his movies. He would put himself in peril by dangling on rooftops and hanging on the back of the car. This made his comedy even more effective, which inspiredThe Accidental Spyactor.
Also read:Jackie Chan Made X-Men Star Olivia Munn Bang Her Head, Felt Amazed When She Agreed To Hit It Against A Solid Object
Source:The Guardian
Shreya Jha
Articles Published :1042
Meet Shreya, FandomWire’s go-to Pop-Culture Writer. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism and a pop culture obsession that rivals even the most die-hard ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel fans.Her articles have been published in Animated Times, Creator Mail, and The Luxxe Mag. When Shreya’s not busy dishing out hot takes, she is lost in the world of rom-coms.
