Kung Fu: Season 01 (1972)

Season one of Kung Fu finds Chinese-American drifter Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine) solemnly making his way across the Old West, escaping a murder charge (albeit justified murder) hanging over him from his native China. Having once studied for a Shaolin priesthood, Caine is a man of peace and philosophy, keeping his cool no matter how much he is goaded by various western bad guys. But if someone else's life is in danger, or if a weaker person is being persecuted, Caine draws upon his extensive martial-arts skills to vanquish the villains and save the day. During the series' first year on the air, the directors tend to indulge (entertainingly so) in the "trendy" cinematic tricks of the day (1972), with an excess of hand-held camerawork in the fight scenes, slow- and stop-motion sequences, and multi-image scenes reminiscent of such films as The Boston Strangler and The Thomas Crown Affair. Among the guest stars coming in contact with the series' taciturn hero are Barry Sullivan, Robert Urich, Pat Hingle, Geraldine Brooks, Albert Salmi, Sheree North, Will Geer, a ten-year-old Jodie Foster (as a murder witness), and star David Carradine's real-life father, John Carradine, and brother, Robert Carradine. ~ Rovi