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I've been re-watching my "Kung Fu" DVDs lately, and really studying the makeup job on David Carradine.



As you can see in the picture below, Carradine has caucasian eyes like any other Irishman:



As most of you should know, Carradine played half-asian Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine. Having done a bit of character makeup myself, I know the limited techniques to simulate (badly) asian eyes for white actors. Some straight makeup techniques look ridiculous, like the old "Charlie Chan" movies. More advanced techniques look better, like Joel Grey playing "Chuin" in Remo Williams, but still looks fake.

The DVD versions of Kung Fu are so crisp, the fake bald caps stand out glaringly. However, I've even zoomed in on Carradine's eyes, and I can't figure out what they did! I can only conclude its straight makeup, but I can't for the life of me see it even zoomed in. And there were plenty of close-ups of Caine's eyes throughout the series.

Fake eyelids (Like Chuin) would stand out like the baldcaps. His eyes aren't being "stretched" (Like Charlie Chan, which basically requires tape to the temples stretched to hooks and rubber bands behind the head) because you can easily see that as well.

It has to be JUST straight makeup: and eyebrow pencil. But the makeup artist (Michael Westmore) must have been Picasso, because I can't see a damned line out of place!

Haha this is news to me. I always thought that he really was half-Asian.

Perhaps he simply has an awkward slant to his eyes or actually is partly Asian? I've gotten quite a few remarks on my eyes and asked if I was part Japanese before because they've got a bit of a slant to them.

I've actually met people of European stock that have slanted eyes, or to be technical, epicanthic folds. My friend, who is from Hungary, always gets asked if he is half Asian because of his slanted eyes mixed with his otherwise European features.

Isn't he part Cherokee or something?

Dalton wrote:Isn't he part Cherokee or something?

Nope. There's a David Carradine "dinner" on the season 2 set, where he says he has no asian blood in him, and he's full Irish.

When he's not Kwai Chang Caine, the "asian eyes" are no longer with him. It has to be eyebrow pencil at each corner of both eyes, but I've seen EXTREME close-ups of him as Caine, and it doesn't look like simply painted on eyes!

Come on guys, "slanted eyelids" perhaps. Their eyes aren't slanted!



EDIT:

Opps, just noticed Mlenk's mention of "epicanthic folds." Even better!

Mlenk wrote:I've actually met people of European stock that have slanted eyes, or to be technical, epicanthic folds. My friend, who is from Hungary, always gets asked if he is half Asian because of his slanted eyes mixed with his otherwise European features.

Not surprising considering the origin of the Hungarians.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Perhaps he's really good at controlling his facial muscles? In the cowboy picture it looks like the lower parts of his eyelids are high up, like when someone tries to "narrow his eyes in anger". Combine good control with good makeup and that might be all it takes.

I'd like to point out that, this particular case aside, epicanthic folds DO appear among the ethnic Irish and other Celts. Certainly not a universal trait, but not unheard of either.

For a well-known Irish with epicanthic folds, check out close-ups of John F. Kennedy.

There's no reason epicanthic folds couldn't have appeared multiple times in various populations in human history.

I just think that a lot of people confuse slanted eyes with slanted eyelids. Not all Asians have slanted eyes, they just have small eyes with slanted eyelids. Actual slanted eyes are more prevalent in people of Northeast Asian origins, such as the Northern Chinese, Mongols, Koreans and Japanese even though I personally haven't seen too many. People of Southeast Asian heritage such as Filipinos, Malays, Thais etc have slanted eyelids but the slanted eyes aren't very common. The shape of the eyes is more almond-shaped with definite and sometimes not so definite epicanthic-fold features.

Mlenk wrote:I just think that a lot of people confuse slanted eyes with slanted eyelids. Not all Asians have slanted eyes, they just have small eyes with slanted eyelids. Actual slanted eyes are more prevalent in people of Northeast Asian origins, such as the Northern Chinese, Mongols, Koreans and Japanese even though I personally haven't seen too many. People of Southeast Asian heritage such as Filipinos, Malays, Thais etc have slanted eyelids but the slanted eyes aren't very common. The shape of the eyes is more almond-shaped with definite and sometimes not so definite epicanthic-fold features.

Lies! Everyone knows Asians all have slanted eyes, love rice, are masters of accounting and go "ching chong ching ching chong".*

Its like how all Russians are supposed to be vodka loving drunkards...er...


*Note: That wasn't meant to be insultive or racist, but a parody of racial stereotypes.

waits for jason to get struck by the banhammer....

The Yosemite Bear wrote:waits for jason to get struck by the banhammer....

And I guess you failed the notice the "Note: That wasn't meant to be insultive or racist, but a parody of racial stereotypes." part.

I was just kidding too

The Yosemite Bear wrote:I was just kidding too

Damn you and your poker face.

Jason von Evil wrote:

The Yosemite Bear wrote:I was just kidding too

Damn you and your poker face.

sorry for forgetting to add that smilie. then again I take nothing at all seriously, part of my schitzoid world view. now if it wasn't degennerating.

I still can't believe they picked him over bruce lee.

I think Bruce Lee is one of those types that wasn't that popular while he was alive but after he died he reached near cult status.

great marketing scheme it worked so well for Robert Johnson and VanGothe as well.

The Yosemite Bear wrote:I still can't believe they picked him over bruce lee.

I can. I'm a huge fan of Bruce Lee, but do you honestly think he could have pulled off humble, non-violent Caine? Fuck no.

There's an interview on season 1 with the producers, and they said Lee did a terrificaudition, but they had trouble understanding him.

but it would have been so much cooler...

The Yosemite Bear wrote:but it would have been so much cooler...

Hehehe!

"Hey chinaman! We don't allow your kin--"

"HWAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!"