Episode 54 - Richard Norton

Episode 54 - Richard Norton

Author: Ben Johnson June 15, 2020 Duration: 1:17:02

In the late 1970s, Richard Norton - martial artist and bodyguard to the stars - faced a crossroads in his life. He could either stay in Melbourne, Australia, and continue with his nine-to-five job, teaching martial arts in the evenings - a life he very much enjoyed - or follow the advice of singer Linda Ronstadt and move with her to California. It was a decision which would prove life-changing. Once in America, Richard started to supplement his days touring with some of the world's biggest musical artists - including ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor and many more - with work in the movies, encouraged by his friendships with Hollywood action legends like Chuck Norris and Pat E. Johnson. It was Pat who first introduced Richard to kung fu superstar Jackie Chan, leading him to eventually work on some of the greatest Hong Kong action films of the period, including 'Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars' and 'Millionaire's Express' for Sammo Hung, and 'Magic Crystal' and 'City Hunter' for Wong Jing. He would work again with Jackie Chan in the 1997 film, 'Mr. Nice Guy', and continue his on-screen partnership with B-movie action queen, Cynthia Rothrock, appearing in 10 films together from Hong Kong to Hollywood. Nowadays, Richard can increasingly be found behind the camera, lending his extraordinary martial arts knowledge as a fight trainer and choreographer on some of the biggest action films of the last decade, including 'Mad Max: Fury Road', 'Ghost in the Shell', 'X-Men: Dark Phoenix', and 'Suicide Squad'. His next release, James Gunn's version of 'The Suicide Squad', is scheduled for release on August 2021. Recorded during the lockdown from his home in Melbourne, Australia, join us as we chat about his amazing journey and his many achievements, something that Richard - who turned 70 in 2020 - puts down to simply being a byproduct of his quest to become the best martial artist he could possibly be. Judging by his continued work-rate, training regime, and passion for the martial arts, it is clearly something he continues to pursue each and every day.


LINKS

Richard Norton on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rjnorton64/

Richard Norton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rjbromleynorton

Richard Norton on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636280/

Richard Norton profile on Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://bit.ly/ProfileRichardNorton

Richard Norton interview from 2011 on Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://bit.ly/RichardNorton


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


There's a particular magic in the stories behind the fights, the philosophy woven into the choreography, and the sheer dedication it takes to create martial arts cinema. The Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast is built on those stories, offering a backstage pass to the world of Hong Kong action, classic Shaw Brothers epics, and modern martial arts filmmaking. Host Ben Johnson, who created the extensive kungfumovieguide.com resource, sits down for detailed conversations with the very people who bring these films to life. Each episode features an unscripted, in-depth interview with actors who threw the punches, stunt performers who designed the falls, directors who framed the shots, and choreographers who turned violence into poetry. You'll hear about their career paths, the challenges on set, and the deep, personal passion that fuels their work. This isn't just a surface-level recap of famous movies; it's about the craft, the history, and the human effort behind every iconic scene. For anyone who has ever wondered about the artistry behind a perfectly executed fight sequence or the legacy of a genre that spans decades, this podcast provides a rich, engaging listen. Tune in for genuine insights from the heart of martial arts cinema.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 67 - Isaac Florentine / Max Repossi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:16
Isaac Florentine is one of those rare directors who possesses a style of filmmaking all of his own. Within a few minutes of watching one of his many great action movies, you will quickly realise you are in the world of I…
Episode 66 - Tzi Ma [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:58
Born in Hong Kong and raised in New York, Tzi Ma is a genre-spanning actor who has dedicated his career to documenting the Asian American experience. With every acting decision - whether it be on stage, screen or televis…
Episode 65 - End of Year Show 2020 with Mike Fury [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:40
Put on your face-mask, pour yourself a drink and settle into our annual end-of-year podcast from your friends at Kung Fu Movie Guide. 2020 has been a particularly strange and challenging year for many of us, but the show…
Episode 64 - Bruce Lee at 80: Legacy of the Dragon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:50
On 27 November 2020, the martial arts superstar and pop culture icon Bruce Lee would have celebrated his 80th birthday. To commemorate the occasion, we have put together this bonus podcast featuring a range of voices fro…
Episode 63 - Benny "The Jet" Urquidez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:12
Martial arts legend Benny "The Jet" Urquidez was born into a fighting family. His father was a boxer; his mother, a professional wrestler. The second youngest of nine siblings, Benny had to fight to be heard, adapting qu…
Episode 62 - Joe Taslim [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:12
Joe Taslim always wanted to be an actor, even before he became a martial artist. Growing up poor in South Sumatra, Indonesia, his family only took him to judo lessons because they were free. With his dad as his coach, he…
Episode 61 - Larnell Stovall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:50
When martial artist Larnell Stovall first saw the film Blade in 1998, it was a lightbulb moment. But it wasn't the actions of Wesley Snipes as the titular kick-ass vampire hunter which would spark a sudden interest in wa…
Episode 60 - Rocky Taylor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:32
At 75, Rocky Taylor is known as Britain's oldest stunt performer. A day before this podcast was recorded, he was doing doughnut spins in his car and setting himself on fire. In the last year alone, his stunt credits incl…
Episode 59 - Ludi Lin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:53
The career of multilingual Chinese Canadian star Ludi Lin has gone from strength-to-strength over the last few years, with Ludi enjoying success across a range of genres in both China and the USA. Landing the role of the…