MovieChat Forums > Kung Fu (1972) Discussion > Tattoos

Tattoos

posted 20 years ago by dennis_marshall
5 replies | jump to latest

The Tattoos(the dragon and the tiger)were on which arms?

[–] treker9588 20 years ago

The tiger is on the left, the dragon is on the right.

[–] DannyCaine 20 years ago

In the pilot episode when the men are unloading a wagon it starts to move and as Caine catches a box before it falls the brands are shown and the dragon was on the left.but in certain episodes it is shown on the right.I know I have all of the series on vhs and seasons 1and2 on dvd. They did'nt keep it consistant.They probably did'nt care as long as Caine had the brands on him for certain scenes.

[–] zorbear 16 years ago

On the only two arms he had!

(Sorry, I couldn't resist....)

;)

[–] carlsez_1 16 years ago

It should also be pointed out, as previously suggested, that the images are not tattoos, but rather scars from a kind of branding. This was self inflicted as part of a ritual at the end of his training.

Watch the original TV movie. It's a great scene, a final test of his courage and dedication. The way he is marched before the other monks, all showing him in silence their own scarred arms.

[–] BoxOfficePoison 12 years ago

Only speculating, but I've always imagined the masters' presentation as maybe a final test: the disciple might interpret their stance and expression as a physical challenge, and prepare to fight them (FLUNK!) or, like Kwai Chang, acknowledge them politely and not fall for the trick (PASS!). Or maybe not.

Anyway, my favorite part of that scene, after the exchange between Kwai Chang and Master Po, would have to be the glaring continuity error -- in the close-ups of the brands, as Kwai Chang positions his arms to pick up the cauldron, it's a right arm that moves in front of both brands. (No wonder the scars keep trading arms forever afterward!)