The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present "Cinematic Dreams of Wong Cheuk-hon" in its screening series "Morning Matinee" from August to October, featuring 16 film classics produced and distributed by the film companies founded by producer Wong Cheuk-hon.
Wong was a renowned film distributor and producer. He actively promoted the development of the film industry and made significant contributions from the 1950s to the 1990s. His film career spanned four decades, during which he established the Liberty Film Company, the Lan Kwong Film Company and the First Film Organisation Limited. He also worked behind the scenes as a director, screenwriter, promoter and film editor. In the 1970s and 1980s, Wong operated movie theatres in North America to show Chinese-language films, enabling more overseas audiences to learn about such films. In recognition of Wong’s achievements, he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 30th Golden Horse Awards in 1993.
This screening programme shows different aspects of Wong's film career in six sections. Founded in the 1950s, the Lan Kwong Film Company produced many modern Cantonese comedies that touched on all walks of life. The first section, "Lan Kwong Comedies", brings together four classic films, namely "Two Lucky Fools" (1959), in which Leung Sing-por, Sun Ma Si-tsang and Ko Lo Chuen play, respectively, two superstitious rickshaw drivers and a money-grubbing fortune teller with brilliantly witty dialogues; comedies "Woman's Affairs" (1961) and "Three Love Affairs" (1963), in which Ting Ying, the most popular actress of Lan Kwong, plays a factory worker; and "The Diary of a Husband " (1964), adapted from a popular radio drama. The films are filled with numerous classic cinematic moments that captured the changes of the times.
The second section, "The Joys and Sorrows of Ting Ying", presents four films of different styles. Ting Ying is a versatile actress capable of playing both comedic and tragic roles. The four selected films in which Ting Ying acts are comedy "Happy Couples" (1962), which revolves around couples whose lack of trust leads to humorous situations; melodrama "As Time Goes By" (1964), co-starring Helena Law as Ting's faithful friend; "Homeless Children"(1964), a realistic portrayal of out-of-school street children; and the love triangle film "Deep in My Heart" (1967), featuring major Hong Kong and Korean film stars.
Wong was also an industry trendsetter, pioneering collaborations with the Korean film industry. The two selected films in the third section, "Pioneering Collaborations", are action film "The International Secret Agents" (1967), in which Korean actor Park No-sik came to Hong Kong for the production; and "The Flaming Mountain" (aka The Blazing Volcano) (1962), which stars Ting and Tsui Siu-ming as Princess Iron Fan and Red Kid alongside Korean top stars Kim Hee-gab and Choi Moo-ryong as the Monkey King and his master.
Having an eye for talent, Wong organised acting courses to nurture newcomers and was keen to cast various up-and-coming actors such as Jeanette Lin Tsui, Ting Ying and Alan Tang. The fourth section, "Discovering New Stars", focuses on three films featuring rising stars of the 1950s and 1960s. The films are "Sweet Seventeen" (1954), Lin's debut film in a leading role; the musical "Remote Love" (1956), with Ting and Lin in leading roles; and "The Student Prince" (1964), where Alan Tang made his acting debut at the age of 17.
The fifth section, "Selections from First Films", features a film classic produced by First Film Organisation Limited, "Ghost of the Mirror" (1974). Brigitte Lin, in her early career, plays the title spectre of the film that had previously ended her life by plunging into a well to escape war. Based on a Tang-dynasty work, the film tells a love story between Lin and a scholar in a remote mansion.
The sixth section, "Distribution Classics", features two notable films distributed by the Lan Kwong Film Company. "A Mother Remembers" (1953) stars Hung Sin Nui as a widowed mother and Cheung Ying as both her deceased husband and the delinquent eldest son. "Save Your Water Supply" (1954) is a realistic and heartwarming film with Patrick Tse's debut performance.
"Sweet Seventeen", "Remote Love", "The International Secret Agents" and "Ghost of the Mirror " are in Mandarin, while the others are in Cantonese.
Some of the films will be accompanied by post-screening talks hosted by Tsui Siu-ming, Sam Ho, Shu Kei, Ng Chun-hung, Yuen Tsz-ying, and Eric Tsang, among others.
Tickets priced at $35 will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from July 12. For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Some of the films screened in this programme are in 2K digital format. For programme details, please visit the HKFA website (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2024/wch/pe-event-2024-wch.html) or call 2739 2139.
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