It Takes a Thief (1979 TV series)

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It Takes a Thief
Traditional Chinese 俠盜風流
Simplified Chinese 侠盗风流
Hanyu Pinyin Xiá Dào Fēnglíu
Jyutping Hap6 Dou6 Fung1 Lau4
Genre Wuxia
Based on Chu Liuxiang Series
by Gu Long
Directed byLee Wai-man
Siu Hin-fai  [ zh ]
StarringPat Poon
Kenneth Tsang
Paul Chun
Alex Man
Bonnie Ngai
Law Lok-lam
Mary Cheung
Man Man-yee
Wen Hsueh-erh
Yuen Pui-jan
Miu Kam-fung
Chan Yuen-mei
Yung Wai-man
Nancy Sit
Choi King-fai
Opening themeHap Dou Fung Lau (俠盜風流) performed by Amy Chan
Ending themeSiu Wan Kei Sum Sing (簫韻寄心聲) performed by Nancy Sit
ComposerMichael Lai
Country of originHong Kong
Original languageCantonese
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producerKong Lung
ProducersJohnny Mak
Tsui Hark
Production locationHong Kong
Running time60 minutes per episode
Production company RTV
Original release
Network RTV
Release1 September 1979 (1979-09-01) 
1979 (1979)

It Takes a Thief is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang Series. The series was first broadcast on RTV (now ATV) in Hong Kong in September 1979.

Contents

Changes in title and characters' names

The series' original Chinese title was 盜帥留香 (Dou Seoi Lau Heung; literally "Bandit Chief Liuxiang"). It was released around the same time as Chor Lau-heung , a similar television series produced by TVB. RTV and TVB became involved in copyright lawsuits against each other because of similarities between It Takes a Thief and Chor Lau-heung. TVB won the lawsuits and eventually RTV had to change the Chinese title of It Takes a Thief from 盜帥留香 to 俠盜風流, and the names of characters in the television series. The name of the protagonist Chor Lau-heung (Cantonese for "Chu Liuxiang") was changed to "Dou Seoi" (盜帥; literally "Bandit Chief"), one of Chu Liuxiang's nicknames in the novels. It Takes a Thief started airing on 1 September 1979, two days earlier than TVB's Chor Lau-heung.

Cast

Note: Some of the characters' names are in Cantonese romanisation.
CastRoleOriginal character
Pat Poon Dou Seoi Chor Lau-heung
Kenneth Tsang Kung Bing-nganKei Bing-ngan
Paul Chun Mo-tsanMo-fa
Alex Man Nam-kung YatNam-kung Ling
Law Lok-lam Yat-dim-hungChung-yuen Yat-dim-hung
Lau Kwok-singKoo Tit-faWu Tit-fa
Bonnie Ngai To Hung-kuenSo Yung-yung
Ma Man-yeeChor Seung-wanShum Wai-san
Mary Cheung Kung Fei-yinKung Nam-yin
Wen Hsueh-erhHak Fu-pakBlack Pearl
Yuen Pui-janYip Siu-sinLei Hung-sau
Chan Yuen-meiLau Ching-chingSung Tim-yee
Miu Kam-fungChau Hung-yipChau Ling-so
Nancy Sit Princess Lung-siuPrincess Pei-pa
Yung Wai-manKuk Mo-sauKuk Mo-yung
Kwan Suet-laiKam Pou-satShek Koon-yam
Yik KarSheung-koon ChingCheung-suen Hung
See MingSheung-koon Yin
Miu Kar-laiPrincess ConsortImperial Consort of Lou-lan
Choi King-faiLang Mou-meiLau Mou-mei
Mannor ChanSui-mou Tin-keiSui-mou Yam-kei
Leung TinPik-yuk Mo-koi
Yip Tin-hangTin-fung Sap-say-long
Wong WaiJa-kam-yeeJa-mo-hup
Ling Man-hoiKing of Yin-hapKing of Lou-lan
Cheung Hoi-yiuTo FanTo Wai
Cheng LuiGeneral Man
Kui NgokHung Tung-kwok
Ma Tsung-takLau Fei-yin / Tsui Fung-muk
Ko HungSze-to Lau-sing
Lee Tin-yingMak Chun-tin
Ng Wing-sumGreen Beard
Mok Hing-chungLung Kim-fei
Ng TungLee Koon-yu
Lee GongLei Suet-hangLei Yuk-ham
Yuen Wai-hungGolden MonkeyMonkey Suen
Cheung Hung-cheungAu-yeung Yuk
Tung PiuNg Kuk-hin
Man Chin-suiSheung-koon Seon
Lam Kam-tongIron Ear Divine Constable
Nora Miao Ko NgaKo Nga-nam

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