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25 essential David Carradine
By an Amazon.com customer
Boxcar BerthaBoxcar Bertha
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $2.91
Carradine's first leading man role, Martin Scorsese's first studio picture. Also Carradine has a cameo in Scorsese's masterpiece Mean Streets.
Kung Fu - The Complete Series CollectionKung Fu - The Complete Series Collection
Buy new: $33.99 / Used from: $56.98
The show that Carradine is best remembered for, and the role that defined his career, persona, and life. Reprised the role in a 1986 TV movie co-starring Brandon Lee, it's worth looking for also.
Death Race 2000Death Race 2000
Buy used from: $7.45
chessy fun from start to finish, probably Carradine's best known film after the Kill Bills. Carradine has a voice cameo in 2008 remake.
CannonballCannonball
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $7.63
reunited with his Death Race director Paul Bartel and his co-star Sylvester Stallone (in a cameo). Vastly better than The Cannonball Runs.
Bound for GloryBound for Glory
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $2.84
Carradine's best performance portraying Woody Guthrie, he also did his own singing. He should have gotten an oscar, or at least a nomination, every bit as good as Jamie Foxx in Ray or Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line.
Gray Lady DownGray Lady Down
Buy used from: $10.00
Under rated in it day, not a great movie, but not bad either. Rare chance for Carradine to star in an "A" picture.
Circle of Iron (2-Disc Special Edition)Circle of Iron (2-Disc Special Edition)
Buy new: $17.99 / Used from: $12.73
Also known as the Silent Flute, from a story by Bruce Lee and James Coburn. In my opion, Carradine's best movie.
The Long RidersThe Long Riders
Buy new: $11.49 / Used from: $1.33
David stars with his brothers Keith and Robert as the Younger brothers. Stacy Keach is Frank James and his brother James plays Jesse. Also stars Randy and Dennis Quaid.
Safari 3000 (Amazon.com Exclusive) [VHS]Safari 3000 (Amazon.com Exclusive) [VHS]
Buy used from: $1.99
The Cannonball Run meets Romancing the Stone. Also with Stockard Channing and Christopher Lee.
Q: The Winged SerpentQ: The Winged Serpent
Buy used from: $3.99
Carradine refered to this as the chicken that ate New York. It's a lot of fun, directed by his army buddy, Larry Cohen.
Lone Wolf McQuadeLone Wolf McQuade
Buy new: $10.49 / Used from: $4.33
Carradine vs. Chuck Norris, of course no one beats the Chucksaurus. A great movie, even Roger Ebert thought so, helped to inspire certain aspects of Kill Bill.
The Warrior and the SorceressThe Warrior and the Sorceress
Buy used from: $77.80
Perhaps the least essential, but I liked this Roger Corman produced Conan knock off. Carradine also starred in a Rambo knock off called POW: The Escape.
North and South - The Complete CollectionNorth and South - The Complete Collection
Buy new: $58.99 / Used from: $39.99
Epic TV miniseries starring Patrick Swayze. Carradine plays a bad guy and received some of his best reviews for it.
Armed ResponseArmed Response
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $2.60
I liked this one a lot, loads of fun, and one of Carradine's last starring roles in a theatrical release.
Six Against the RockSix Against the Rock
Buy new: $8.49 / Used from: $3.95
taut and suspenseful tv movie with Carradine leading a would-be escape from alcatraz. Excellent movie with a great all-star cast including Howard Hessman, David Morse, Jan-Michael Vincent, Richard Dysart and Dennis Farina.
Crime Zone [VHS]Crime Zone [VHS]
Buy used from: $1.99
I originally had THUNDER & LIGHTNING on this list, but this one is arguably better, and possibly less known.
Sonny Boy [VHS]Sonny Boy [VHS]
Buy used from: $24.00
After Circle of Iron, his best film, and after Bound for Glory, his best performance. In his own words, a strange and wonderful film. I like his theme song "Paint" as well.
Sundown: The Vampire in RetreatSundown: The Vampire in Retreat
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $10.74
It's David Carradine (as Dracula) vs. Bruce Campbell (as Van Helsing), too much fun to resist. Carradine also played Van Helsing in the Last Sect.
Kung Fu - The Legend ContinuesKung Fu - The Legend Continues
After a shaky start this show just kept getting better. A custom made DVD is available on other websites.
Endless HighwayEndless Highway by David Carradine
Buy used from: $13.98
An amazing read, Carradine was a born storyteller. At 647 pages, it's still too short. Reading this book is what imspired Quentin Tarantino to cast him in Kill Bill. Carradine then wrote a book about the making of that movie.
The Monster HunterThe Monster Hunter
Buy used from: $0.93
Little known gem that is extremley off the wall and halirous, Carradine is way over the top in a funny Christopher Walken-esque performance as serial killer profiler.
Kill Bill - Volume OneKill Bill - Volume One
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $1.66
Carradine's triumpthant return, although he is little more than a menacing voice in this one, what a voice it was.
Kill Bill - Volume TwoKill Bill - Volume Two
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $1.99
Even though he wasn't in half the movie, he owns this one anyway. He recieved a Golden Globe nomination, and Roger Ebert said he should have had an oscar.
Son of the DragonSon of the Dragon
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $3.04
Over long, but still fun, with some good martial arts scenes for the ageing Carradine, who actually fights himself. Action director was Shaw Brothers legend Philip Kwok.
Kung Fu KillerKung Fu Killer
Buy new: $12.49 / Used from: $3.61
Spike TV original "guy movie" Full of action and Carradine is in nearly every scene. 60's martial arts star Cheng Pei Pei has a cameo.