THESE FISTS BREAK GLASS: HOW KUNG FU MOVIES SWEPT AMERICA AND CHANGED THE WORLDBY GRADY HENDRIX & CHRIS POGGIALI

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FromNew York Timesbestselling author Grady Hendrix and film historian Chris Poggiali comes the full story of how kung fu movies came toand conqueredAmerica in this revised and expanded edition.

When a Hollywood studio releasedFive Fingers of Deathtothrill-seeking Times Square moviegoers in 1973, only a handfulof Black and Asian audience members knew the difference between an Iron Fist and an Eagles Claw. That changed overnight asFive Fingerskicked off a kung fu craze that would earn millions at the box office, send TV ratings soaring, influence the birth of hip hop, reshape the style of action we see in movies today, and introduce America to some of the biggest Asian stars to ever hit motion picture screens.

These Fists Break Bricksoffers a lavishly illustrated exploration of how these high-kicking, brick-breaking movies came to America and raised hell until greed, infomercials, and racist fearmongering shut them down. For the first time, the fulland wildstory is told, including how CIA agents secretly funded karate movies and howThe New York Timesfabricated a fear campaign about Black karate gangs, as well as the history of Black martial arts in America and the onslaught of Bruce Lee imitators after his death.

With a foreword by RZA of the Wu Tang Clan and brand new material on superstars like Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh, and Donnie Yen, plus spotlights on unsung performers, film poster artists, and money-laundering film distributors, this revised and expanded edition is a master class in kung fu cinema history.

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