To Be Number One (film)

Last updated

To Be Number One
ToBeNumberOne.jpg
Film poster
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 跛豪
Simplified Chinese 跛豪
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Bǒ háo
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping Bai1 Hou4
Directed byPoon Man-kit
Screenplay byStephen Shiu
Johnny Mak
Story byChan Wa
Lee Ying-kit
Produced byStephen Shiu
Starring Ray Lui
Lawrence Ng
Waise Lee
Kent Cheng
Cecilia Yip
Amy Yip
Kenneth Tsang
Elvis Tsui
Cinematography Peter Pau (H.K.S.C)
Edited byPoon Hung
Music byJoseph Chan
Production
companies
Golden Harvest
Johnny Mak Production Co. Ltd
Distributed byGolden Harvest
Release date
  • 5 April 1991 (1991-04-05)
Running time
143 minutes
CountryHong Kong
Language Cantonese
Box officeHK$38,703,363

To Be Number One (Chinese :跛豪) is a 1991 Hong Kong gangster film directed by Poon Man-kit, and produced by Stephen Shiu. The film is based on the rise and fall of a real-life gangster Ng Sik-ho, who is portrayed in the film by Ray Lui. To Be Number One was a critical and box office success, grossing HK$38,703,363 at the Hong Kong box office and winning the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film at the 11th Hong Kong Film Awards. In 2017, the film was remade as Chasing the Dragon .

Contents

Plot

The protagonist Ho begins the story as a poor Teochew refugee from Communist China, and leads his men to become pawns of the corrupt policeman Fat Kwan to control the drug trade. After Ho establishes himself, Fat Kwan turns against him, cripples him and kills many of his men, but Ho keeps rising and eliminates all his enemies. However Ho is blinded by his growing power, and his empire ends with the establishment of ICAC.

Cast and roles

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations
CeremonyCategoryRecipientOutcome
11th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Film To Be Number OneWon
Best Director Poon Man-kitNominated
Best ScreenplayJohnny Mak, Stephen ShiuWon
Best Actor Ray Lui Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Kent Cheng Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Cecilia Yip Nominated
Best Film EditingPoon HungNominated
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film
1992
Succeeded by