Arrow Video will release Shaw Brothers Presents The 36th Chamber Trilogy on Blu-ray on January 12, 2027, in North America. The 2-disc special edition has all 3 films on 2 of the discs from Arrow Video’s Shawscope Volume 2 box set. Lau Kar-Leung directed The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, which has a 4K restoration by Celestial Pictures and L’Immagine Ritrovata. Gordon Liu stars as the Chinese folk hero San Te.
The UK release is a day earlier, on January 11, 2027. The Arrow store sells an exclusive edition with a slipcover in the UK and North America.
A standalone set from the Shawscope box
Shaw Brothers Presents The 36th Chamber Trilogy is a standalone release of 2 discs from the Shawscope Volume 2 box set. The discs are identical to the ones in that box. Collectors who want only the trilogy and its extras can now buy them without the rest of the collection.
About The 36th Chamber Trilogy (1978-1985)
Liu plays Chinese folk hero San Te, a student fomenting a rebellion against the tyrannical Manchu regime. When the uprising is crushed by the fearsome general Tien Ta (Lo Lieh), San Te seeks refuge in the Shaolin temple and begs them to teach him how to fight. His persistence impresses the chief abbot and San Te begins his training, determined to avenge his comrades and liberate the people.
Gordon Liu is back in Return to the 36th Chamber, this time as conman Chu Jen-Chieh, who makes up for his lack of kung fu skills by posing as San Te to stand up to the Manchu oppressors. But when his cover is blown, Chu decides to seek help from the real San Te at the Shaolin temple.
Disciples of the 36th Chamber introduces another legendary folk hero Fong Sai-Yuk (Hsaio Hou), a rebellious teenager who must learn discipline from San Te at the temple, while the Manchus plot to put an end to the Shaolin order once and for all.
Shaw Brothers Presents The 36th Chamber Trilogy Blu-ray details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Label | Arrow Video |
| Format | Blu-ray (2 discs) |
| Edition | 2-Disc Special Edition; Arrow Store Exclusive edition with slipcover (UK and North America) |
| Video | High Definition (1080p); 4K restoration of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin by Celestial Pictures and L’Immagine Ritrovata |
| Audio | Uncompressed Mandarin, Cantonese and English mono on all three films |
| Subtitles | Optional English for the Mandarin and Cantonese soundtracks; English SDH for the English soundtracks |
| Packaging | Limited edition packaging with artwork by Tony Stella; reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady |
| Release date | January 12, 2027 (North America); January 11, 2027 (UK) |
Shaw Brothers Presents The 36th Chamber Trilogy special features
Shaw Brothers Presents The 36th Chamber Trilogy includes these features:
- 2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY CONTENTS
- High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray™ presentation of all three films
- Uncompressed Mandarin, Cantonese and English mono audio on all three films
- Limited edition packaging featuring artwork by Tony Stella
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady
- DISC ONE: THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN
- 4K restoration by Celestial Pictures and L’Immagine Ritrovata
- Audio commentary by critic Travis Crawford
- Select-scene commentary by film critic and historian Tony Rayns
- Interview with star Gordon Liu, filmed in 2003
- Interview with cinematographer Arthur Wong, filmed in 2006
- Shaolin: Birthplace of a Hero and Elegant Trails, two archive featurettes with Gordon Liu produced by Celestial Pictures in 2003
- Tiger Style: The Musical Impact of Martial Arts Cinema, an overview of Shaw Brothers’ influence on hip hop and other music genres, featuring music historian Lovely Jon
- Cinema Hong Kong: Swordfighting, a documentary produced by Celestial Pictures in 2003 and featuring interviews with Gordon Liu, Lau Kar-Leung, Cheng Pei-Pei, John Woo, Sammo Hung, Kara Hui, David Chiang and others
- Alternate opening credits from the American version titled Master Killer
- Hong Kong and German theatrical trailers, plus US TV spot
- Image gallery
- DISC TWO: RETURN TO THE 36TH CHAMBER / DISCIPLES OF THE 36TH CHAMBER
- Interview with star Gordon Liu, filmed in 2003
- Citizen Shaw, a French TV documentary from 1980 directed by Maurice Frydland, in which Sir Run Run Shaw gives an all-access tour of the Shaw Brothers backlot (including behind-the-scenes footage from Return to the 36th Chamber), remastered in High Definition
- Hero on the Scaffolding, an archival featurette produced by Celestial Pictures in 2003
- Alternate opening credits sequences for both films
- Optional English subtitles for the Mandarin and Cantonese soundtracks and English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtracks
Shaw Brothers Presents The 36th Chamber Trilogy arrives on Blu-ray from Arrow Video on January 12, 2027, in North America. The slipcover edition is on pre-order at the Arrow store.
