Prison on Fire

Last updated

Prison on Fire
PrisonOnFire.jpg
Film poster
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 監獄風雲
Simplified Chinese 监狱风云
Directed by Ringo Lam
Written byNam Yin
Produced by Karl Maka
Catherine S.K. Chang
Starring Chow Yun-fat
Tony Leung Ka-fai
CinematographyLau Hung-chuen
Joe Chan Kwong-hung
Wong Man-wan
Jingle Ma
Cho Wai-kei
Cinema City Cinematographers Unit
Edited byCinema City Production Co. Ltd. Editing Unit
Music by Lowell Lo
Distributed by Cinema City & Films Co.
Release date
  • 13 November 1987 (1987-11-13)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryHong Kong
Language Cantonese
Box officeHK$31,622,805

Prison on Fire is a 1987 Hong Kong prison film directed by Ringo Lam and starring Chow Yun-fat and Tony Leung Ka-fai. Yiu (Tony Leung Ka Fai) is a young advertising executive in Hong Kong. One night, defending his father from attack, he accidentally shoves a street thug in front of a bus. Sentenced to three years in prison, Yiu is "fresh meat" for the hardened criminals and triad stooges that run things, and is preyed upon by sadistic guard Scarface (Roy Cheung). The virtuous Ching (Chow Yun-Fat) befriends Yiu and becomes an ally. A sequel, Prison on Fire II , was released in 1991.

Contents

Plot

The advertising designer Lo Ka-yiu is sentenced to three years of imprisonment in a Hong Kong prison for manslaughter. He was convicted for pushing a man who had robbed the grocery store of his father onto a street under a passing bus.

He is assigned for work at the prison ward where he meets Chung Tin-ching. The men befriend each over and Yiu asks to be transferred to the laundry where Ching is working. Yiu observes how a member of the gang of triad boss Micky steals scissors from Ching (to use them as a weapon). Yiu notifies Ching who manages to get the scissors back, but as a consequence Yiu gets bullied by the triad members.

During a cell inspection forbidden items (playing cards and improvised weapons) are found and several men from the cell (among them Yiu, Micky and Bill, the boss of another triad) are brought to ranking warden officer Hung for questioning. Hung is nicknamed "scarface" by the prisoners due to a characteristic scar. He tries to recruit Yiu as an informant, which he refuses. Following that Hung questions Micky, asking him to let his henchmen search for tools which went missing in the prison work shops (serving as makeshift weapons). In return Hung would transfer one of Micky's rivals to a different prison. Since someone needs to be held responsible for the improvised weapons, Micky proposes to claim that Yiu blamed one of Bill's men. Hung accepts the deal and transfers several triad members to another prison as "punishment".

The following night Yiu is dragged into the cell's lavatory by Micky's men and beaten up. Ching attempts to stop them to no avail. When one of the guards hears the noise and intervenes, Yiu tells him he just slipped and is left alone for the time being.

Yiu's girlfriend visits him in prison and announces to study in England for nine months. Yiu is agitated and asks her to stay in Hong Kong, but is ultimately unable to convince her. Later the day Micky approaches Yiu in the laundry and demands a compensation for the punishment of his triad men. Yiu publicly accuses him of calumny and punches him, which results in a brawl. Yiu keeps his opponents on distance with a sharp piece of broken glass until the guards arrive, but also accidentally hurts Ching with it.

Yiu and Ching are summoned to the prison warden. When asked what started the fight Ching accuses Officer Hung (who's also present) of having tricked Yiu. The warden promises to have the case investigated and moves both into temporary solitary confinement as punishment. Micky is ultimately moved to a different prison and the situation calms down.

A year later on New Year's Eve, Ching tells Yiu why he's imprisoned: four years ago he caught his wife prostituting herself, for which he unintentionally killed her before finally attempting suicide. However, he was charged with murder. Their son now lives with the grandmother and regularly visits him in prison.

The following summer Micky is transferred back to the prison. He's still seeking revenge since being a triad boss he was never assaulted before. Yiu asks Officer Hung to move him and Ching to a different prison, but Hung brushes him off. During the next prison inspection, Yiu approaches the inspector and demands a transfer to protect them from the triads. Hung - who's also present during the inspection - denies the presence of triads among the prisoners and claims the two were having problems due to gambling debts. The warden requests a report, but ultimately Yiu and Ching have to remain in the prison.

Some time later, the members of Bill's triad initiate a hunger strike to protest against a price surge for cigarettes. Micky's men and the other prisoners join the strike. Hung approaches Micky and demands him to stop the strike, otherwise he'd put all triad leaders in solitary confinement while telling them Micky had accused them of initiating the strike. Micky doesn't want to rat them out and instead defames Yiu as the instigator. In addition Hung whispers to Ching in the presence of the others, alluding Ching would rat on them. When the prison warden enters the room he demands everyone to resume their meals. While Micky obeys, Hung threatens Ching to also resume eating, which enrages him to the point that he and Yiu assault Hung. They are restrained and Hung has them moved back to the cell (where they are at the mercy of the triads).

Back in the cell Micky's men start beating up Yiu and Ching as soon as the guards leave the cell. The other prisoners however demand that Micky fights against Ching man to man. Without the support of his henchmen he doesn't stand a chance. When Micky goes to the ground, his men intervene nonetheless and support him. In the meantime the guards are alarmed by the noise of the fight, but are unable to take action since the absent Hung locked up the cell. Ching wins the upper hand against Micky and almost strangles him to death with a bed pole. When the guards manage to get a hold of Hung and storm the cell, Ching needs to let go of Micky who he had almost killed. A huge brawl arises and Ching knocks Hung down with a drop-kick from a bunk bed. Laughing madly he jumps on Hung and bites his ear off.

A few months later Yiu is released from prison and being welcomed from his family and his girlfriend. When leaving the prison they see how Ching (who had been moved to a hospital after the fight) is moved back to the prison in a bus.

Cast

Accolades

Accolades
CeremonyCategoryRecipientOutcome
7th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Director Ringo Lam Nominated
Best Screenplay Nam YinNominated
Best Actor Chow Yun-fat Nominated
Best Supporting Actor William Ho Nominated
Roy Cheung Nominated
Best New Performer Tommy WongNominated
Best Original Film Score Lowell Lo Nominated
Best Original Film Song Song: Full of Hope (充滿希望)

Composer: Lowell Lo
Lyricist: John Chong
Singer: Maria Cordero

Nominated

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Leung Ka-fai</span> Hong Kong actor

Tony Leung Ka-fai is a Hong Kong actor who is a four-time winner of the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor.

<i>Detective Investigation Files IV</i> Hong Kong TV series or program

Detective Investigation Files IV is the 4th and final installment of the Detective Investigation Files TV franchised by TVB in Hong Kong. It won two TVB Anniversary Awards, including Best Actor for Louis Koo and Best Actress for Jessica Hsuan.

<i>Prison on Fire II</i> 1991 Hong Kong film

Prison on Fire II is a 1991 Hong Kong action film directed by Ringo Lam, and starring Chow Yun-fat. The film is a sequel to 1987's Prison on Fire.

<i>God of Gamblers Returns</i> 1994 Hong Kong film

God of Gamblers Returns, also known as God of Gamblers' Return and The Return of the God of Gamblers , is a 1994 Hong Kong action-drama-comedy film written and directed by Wong Jing. It starred Chow Yun-fat, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Sharla Cheung, Charles Heung, Jacklyn Wu, and Chingmy Yau. Not to be confused with the 1991 God of Gamblers II, also directed by Wong Jing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Bauhinia Star</span> Hong Kongese award

The Silver Bauhinia Star is the second Bauhinia Star rank in the honours system of Hong Kong, awarded to people who have taken a leading part in public affairs or voluntary work over a long period. The award was created in 1997 to replace the British honours system after the transfer of sovereignty to People's Republic of China and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The Gold Bauhinia Star is the highest Bauhinia Star rank in the honours system of Hong Kong, created in 1997 to replace the British honours system of the Order of the British Empire after the transfer of sovereignty to People's Republic of China and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). It is awarded to those who have given distinguished service to the community or rendered public or voluntary services of a very high degree of merit.

<i>Island of Fire</i> 1990 Taiwanese film

Island of Fire is a 1990 Taiwanese-Hong Kong action film directed by Kevin Chu, and starring Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Sammo Hung, Tony Leung Ka-fai and Tou Chung-hua. The film was shot in Taiwan and the Philippines in 42 days from 5 April until 17 May 1989. The film's theme song, The Last Gunshot (最後一槍) by Cui Jian, was written as a response to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre in Beijing, China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronze Bauhinia Star</span> Hong Kong service award

The Bronze Bauhinia Star is the lowest rank in Order of the Bauhinia Star in Hong Kong, created in 1997 to replace the British honours system of the Order of the British Empire after the transfer of sovereignty to People's Republic of China and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

A list of awards given to members of the Hong Kong Civil Service:

<i>The Legend of the Condor Heroes</i> (1994 TV series) Hong Kong TV series or program

The Legend of the Condor Heroes is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The series was first broadcast on TVB Jade in 1994.

<i>Island of Greed</i> 1997 Hong Kong film

Island of Greed is a 1997 Hong Kong action political crime thriller film directed by Michael Mak and starring Andy Lau and Tony Leung Ka-fai. The film is set and filmed in Taiwan and deals with corruption in the Government of the Republic of China.

<i>City War</i> 1988 Hong Kong film

City War is a 1988 Hong Kong crime action film directed by Suen Chung and starring Chow Yun-fat and Ti Lung in their third collaboration after A Better Tomorrow 1 and 2.

<i>The Romancing Star II</i> 1988 Hong Kong film

The Romancing Star II is a 1988 Hong Kong romantic comedy film written and directed by Wong Jing and starring Andy Lau, Eric Tsang, Natalis Chan and Stanley Fung. Chow Yun-fat, the star of the film's precedent The Romancing Star, makes a brief cameo in the opening scene. The film was later followed by The Romancing Star III released in the following year.

<i>Flaming Brothers</i> 1987 Hong Kong film

Flaming Brothers is a 1987 Hong Kong crime action film directed by Joe Cheung. The film stars Chow Yun-fat, Alan Tang, Pat Ha and Jenny Tseng. The film was shot in Hong Kong, Macau and Thailand.

<i>Bloody Brotherhood</i> 1989 Hong Kong action film directed by Wang Lung-wei

Bloody Brotherhood is a 1989 Hong Kong action film directed by Wang Lung-wei and starring Andy Lau and Irene Wan.

<i>Perfect Exchange</i> 1993 Hong Kong film

Perfect Exchange, also known as The Sting II, is a 1993 Hong Kong action comedy film written and directed by Wong Jing and starring Andy Lau and Tony Leung. The film was rated Category III by the Hong Kong motion picture rating system.

<i>Triads: The Inside Story</i> 1989 Hong Kong film

Triads: The Inside Story is a 1989 Hong Kong crime drama film directed by Taylor Wong and starring Chow Yun-fat and Roy Cheung.

<i>A New Life</i> (Hong Kong TV series) 1991 Hong Kong action crime drama television series

A New Life is a 1991 Hong Kong action crime drama television series produced by TVB and starring Margie Tsang, Savio Tsang, Donnie Yen and Kitty Lai. Originally released overseas on September 23, 1991, the series is currently rerunning on TVB's Network Vision channel starting from 16 January 2016 on weekends as a part of the special, Our... Donnie Yen (我們的...甄子丹), that began running on 11 January 2016.