Once Upon a Time in China (film series)

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Once Upon a Time in China film series
Once Upon a Time in China Trilogy.jpg
Once Upon a Time in China DVD box set for the first three films
Traditional Chinese 武狀元黃飛鴻
Simplified Chinese 武状元黄飞鸿
Hanyu Pinyin Wǔ Zhuàngyuán Huáng Fēihǒng Xì Liè
Jyutping Mou5 Zong6 Jyun4 Wong4 Fei1 Hung4 Hai6 Lit6
Directed by Tsui Hark ( I , II , III , V )
Yuen Bun ( IV )
Sammo Hung ( VI )
Written byTsui Hark
Leung Yiu Ming (I)
Elsa Tang Pik Yin (I, IV)
Yun Kai Chi (I)
Chan Tin-suen (II, III)
Cheung Tan (II, III)
Produced byTsui Hark
Raymond Chow (II)
Ng See-Yuen (II-V)
Dick Tso (VI)
Starring Jet Li (I-III, VI)
Vincent Zhao (IV-V)
CinematographyChan Tung-Chuen
Wilson Chan
David Chung
Andy Lam
Arthur Wong
Bill Wong
Andrew Lau
Sammo Hung
Edited by Marco Mak
Angie Lam
Music by James Wong
Romeo Díaz
Richard Yuen
Johnny Njo
Wu Wai Lap
Lowell Lo
Production
companies
Distributed by Orange Sky Golden Harvest
China Star Entertainment
Win's Entertainment
Fortune Star Media Limited (I, II, III & VI only, current)
Warner Bros. Pictures (IV & V only, current)
Release date
1991–1997
Running time
657 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguagesCantonese (I-VI)
Mandarin (I-VI)
English (I-VI)
French (I)
Russian (III)
German (IV)

Once Upon a Time in China is a Hong Kong film and television franchise created and produced by Tsui Hark, consisting of six films and a television series released between 1991 and 1997. Tsui also directed four of the films and co-wrote the first five as well as an episode of the television series.

Contents

The films and the series recount fictional exploits and adventures of real-life Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity Wong Fei-hung, who is portrayed by Jet Li in the first through third and sixth films and Vincent Zhao in the fourth and fifth films and the TV series, his apprentices Leung Foon, Kwai Geuk-Chat and Lam Sai-wing, and his love interest Siu-kwan, a fictional character created for the series and played by Rosamund Kwan in the films and Maggie Shiu on television.

The first two films in the franchise were among the most popular of the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema (usually dated from 1986 to 1993)[ citation needed ] and were known for their depiction of Chinese nationalism as well as action choreography.[ citation needed ] The Once Upon a Time in China films were among Jet Li's best known hits at that time.[ citation needed ]

Overview

With Chinese folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung, as the main character, the films deal with the positive and negative effects of Western imperialism in China during the late Qing Dynasty. The second film features as a supporting character Sun Yat-sen, a revolutionary leader and founding father of the Chinese republic. Unlike the majority of Hong Kong action films, the Once Upon a Time in China series is clearly politicised.[ citation needed ] However, even with its clear showcase of Chinese nationalism, it also displays the inevitable nature of accepting western cultures, and the progression of China into the "modern" century. This theme is repeated through various actions of the characters, but prominently displayed through the character Master Yim, a Kung-Fu master who appears in the first film. Once, he boasted that his Kung-Fu could even withstand bullets, yet he is killed with them. His last words, said to Wong Fei-Hung, are "Martial arts cannot win against guns..." His character represents the dying of old traditions, and the begrudging abandonment of hand-to-hand combat.

Media

TitleHK release dateDirector(s)Screenwriter(s)Producer(s)
Once Upon a Time in China
(黃飛鴻)
15 August 1991 Tsui Hark Tsui Hark, Yuen Kai-chi  [ zh ], Leung Yiu-ming (梁耀明) & Elsa Tang Pik-yin (鄧碧燕)Tsui Hark
Once Upon a Time in China II
(黃飛鴻之二男兒當自強)
16 April 1992Tsui Hark, Chan Tin-suen & Cheung Tan  [ zh ]Tsui Hark, Ng See-yuen & Raymond Chow
Once Upon a Time in China III
(黃飛鴻之三獅王爭霸)
11 February 1993 [note 1] Tsui Hark & Ng See-yuen
Once Upon a Time in China IV
(黃飛鴻之四王者之風)
10 June 1993 Yuen Bun  [ ja ]Tsui Hark & Elsa Tang Pik-yin
Once Upon a Time in China V
(黃飛鴻之五龍城殲霸)
17 November 1994Tsui HarkTsui Hark, Lau Daai-muk & Jason Lam Kee-to  [ zh ]
TV series
(黃飛鴻新傳)
1995-1996 Daniel Lee, Choi Ching Shing, Michael Mak, Zheng Jicheng & Hu MingkaiDaniel Lee, Jason Lam Kee-to, Zhong Aifang, Elsa Tang Pik-yin, Choi Ching Shing, Leung Yiu-ming, Michael Mak, Tsui Hark, Zheng Jicheng & Hu MingkaiTsui Hark
Once Upon a Time in China and America
(黃飛鴻之西域雄獅)
1 February 1997 Sammo Hung & Lau Kar-wing Sze-to Cheuk-hon, Shut Mei-yee, Sharon Hui, Philip Kwok & So Man-sing

Once Upon a Time in China (1991)

Once Upon a Time in China II (1992)

Once Upon a Time in China III (1993)

Once Upon a Time in China IV (1993)

Once Upon a Time in China V (1994)

TV Series (1995-1996)

Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997)

Music

Cast

CharacterFilm
NameNickname I II III IV V TV series China & America
Wong Fei-hung Jet Li Vincent Zhao Jet Li
Siu-kwan"13th Aunt" Rosamund Kwan Rosamund Kwan Maggie Shiu Rosamund Kwan
Leung Foon Yuen Biao Max Mok
Kwai Geuk-Chat"Clubfoot Seven Chiu-Tsat" Hung Yan-yan
Lam Sai-wing "Porky Wing" Kent Cheng Kent Cheng
So Sai-man"Bucktooth So" Jacky Cheung Roger Kwok Power Chan
Aunt May"14th Aunt"Jean Wang
Wong Kei-ying Lau Shun

Home media

In addition to the various individual DVD releases, the first three films in the series have been released in a number of collection box sets.

Imitators

As imitation was relatively common in the Hong Kong film industry,[ citation needed ]Once Upon a Time in China quickly gained mimics. Whilst these films also focused on Wong Fei-hung, they were not part of the series, and had different cast members and directors. They include:

However, one imitator had more direct links with the original series, Last Hero in China (黃飛鴻之鐵雞鬥蜈蚣). This film was released in 1993 after the original Once Upon a Time in China trilogy. It is derivative of these films, and unlike other imitation films, it can be considered a spin-off or parody to some extent.[ who? ] It was directed by Wong Jing in place of Tsui Hark. The film's action director was Yuen Woo-ping and once again it starred Jet Li as Wong Fei-hung. However, it differs greatly in tone from the Once Upon a Time in China series, containing stronger elements of violence and broader slapstick comedy.

Notes

  1. Premiered two months earlier in Taiwan, on 24 December 1992, and a month earlier in South Korea, on 14 January 1993.

Related Research Articles

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Tsui Hark, born Tsui Man-kong, is a Hong Kong film director, producer and screenwriter. Tsui has directed several influential Hong Kong films such as Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983), the Once Upon a Time in China film series (1991–1997) and The Blade (1995). Tsui also has been a prolific writer and producer; his productions include A Better Tomorrow (1986), A Better Tomorrow II (1987), A Chinese Ghost Story (1987), The Killer (1989), The Legend of the Swordsman (1992), The Wicked City (1992), Iron Monkey (1993) and Black Mask (1996). He is viewed as a major figure in the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema and is regarded by critics as "one of the masters of Asian cinematography".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wong Fei-hung</span> Chinese martial artist and physician (1847–1925)

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Once Upon a Time in China II is a 1992 Hong Kong martial arts film written and directed by Tsui Hark, and starring Jet Li as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung. It is the second instalment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series, and co-stars Donnie Yen, Rosamund Kwan and Max Mok. The iconic theme song, "A Man Should Better Himself" (男兒當自強), was performed in Cantonese by George Lam at the beginning of the film, and by Jackie Chan in the end credits. Chan also sang the Mandarin version.

<i>Once Upon a Time in China III</i> 1993 Hong Kong film

Once Upon a Time in China III is a 1993 Hong Kong martial arts film written, produced and directed by Tsui Hark, starring Jet Li as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung. It is the third installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series.

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<i>Once Upon a Time in China and America</i> 1997 film

Once Upon a Time in China and America, also known as Once Upon a Time in China VI, is a 1997 Hong Kong martial arts western film directed by Sammo Hung in his last directorial effort until 2016, who also worked on the film's fight choreography. The film is the sixth and final installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series. It also saw the return of Jet Li as Cantonese martial arts master and folk hero Wong Fei-hung, who had been replaced by Vincent Zhao in the fourth and fifth films. The film was released in Hong Kong on 1 February 1997 and garnered positive reviews.

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Once Upon a Time in China V is a 1994 Hong Kong–Chinese martial arts action film written and directed by Tsui Hark. The film is the fifth installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series, with Vincent Zhao reprising his role as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity Wong Fei-hung after taking over the character from Jet Li in Once Upon a Time in China IV. The film also saw the return of Hark as director and of Rosamund Kwan as "13th Aunt", who was absent in the fourth film.

<i>Once Upon a Time in China</i> 1991 film by Tsui Hark

Once Upon a Time in China is a 1991 Hong Kong martial arts film written and directed by Tsui Hark, starring Jet Li as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung. It is the first installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series.

<i>Once Upon a Time in China IV</i> 1993 Hong Kong film

Once Upon a Time in China IV is a 1993 Hong Kong–Chinese martial arts film and the fourth installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series. It was directed by Yuen Bun in his directorial debut and produced by Tsui Hark, who directed the first three films. Vincent Zhao starred as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung, who was portrayed by Jet Li in the first three films.

<i>Last Hero in China</i> 1993 Hong Kong film

Last Hero in China is a 1993 Hong Kong martial arts film written and directed by Wong Jing. It is a derivative of the Once Upon a Time in China film series, and unlike other imitations, it can be considered a spin-off or parody to some extent. It was released after the first three films in the Once Upon a Time in China franchise. The film starred Jet Li as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung and the action choreography was done by Yuen Woo-ping. However Last Hero in China differs greatly in tone from the Once Upon a Time in China films as it contains stronger elements of violence and broader, more slapstick, comedy. The film contains some Easter eggs, such as a Lifebuoy poster in the 19th century, a staff of the Monkey King, a guandao and Ne Zha's Universe Ring.

<i>Twin of Brothers</i> 2004 Hong Kong wuxia television series

Twin of Brothers is a 2004 Hong Kong television series based on the novel of the same Chinese title by Wong Yee. It was broadcast on TVB.

<i>Heroes Among Heroes</i> 1993 film by Yuen Woo-ping

Heroes Among Heroes is a 1993 Hong Kong martial arts film produced and directed by Yuen Woo-ping and starring Donnie Yen as the protagonist So Chan, who was one of the Ten Tigers of Canton. The film shows opium smugglers in the Qing Dynasty, China, with Officer Lin Zexu and Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity Wong Fei-hung fighting against them. It was released in the US as Fist of the Red Dragon.

Hung Yan-yan is a Hong Kong martial artist, actor, stuntman and action director originally from Liuzhou, Guangxi, China. He was the stunt double for martial arts superstar Jet Li.

Thirteenth Aunt, Chinese given name Siu-kwan or Aunt Yee(少筠; "Siu-kwan", incorrectly translated in some subtitles as "Peony"), is a fictional character created by Hong Kong director Tsui Hark for his 1991 martial arts film Once Upon a Time in China. The character was first portrayed by Rosamund Kwan.

References

  1. YESASIA: Once Upon A Time In China (Blu-ray) (Hong Kong Version)
  2. Martin, Peter (16 August 2021). "Criterion in November 2021: ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA Box Set and Some Other Films". ScreenAnarchy. Retrieved 20 August 2021.