The Tragic Fantasy - Tiger of Wanchai

The Tragic Fantasy - Tiger of Wanchai is a 1994 Hong Kong action crime thriller film directed by Stephen Lo and Joe Chu and starring Simon Yam, Lau Ching-wan, Wan Yeung-ming and Roy Cheung. The film is based on the life of Sun Yee On triad member Andely Chan (portrayed in the film by Yam), nicknamed the "Tiger of Wan Chai", who was murdered in Macau in November 1993.[1]

The Tragic Fantasy - Tiger of Wanchai
DVD cover
Traditional Chinese醉生夢死的灣仔之虎
Simplified Chinese醉生梦死的湾仔之虎
Hanyu PinyinZuì Shēng Mèng Sǐ De Wān Zăi Zhī Hǔ
JyutpingZeoi3 Sang1 Mung4 Sei2 Dik1 Waan1 Zai2 Zi1 Fu2
Directed byStephen Lo
Joe Chu
Screenplay byNg Lak-kwong
Leung Yan-tung
Lo Sing
Produced byStephen Lo
StarringSimon Yam
Lau Ching-wan
Wan Yeung-ming
Roy Cheung
Charine Chan
Mariane Chan
Yvonne Yung
CinematographyPeter Ngo
Edited byPoon Hung
Music byTommy Wai
Tats Lau
Production
company
Regal Films
Distributed byRegal Entertainment
Modern Films and Entertainment
Release date
  • 19 August 1994 (1994-08-19)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese
Box officeHK$11,067,166

Plot

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Chan Yiu-hing (Simon Yam) possess adept driving skills and works as a car jockey alongside his friends Hung (Wan Yeung-ming), Chung (Roy Cheung) and Dee (Lau Ching-wan). Because Dee was a compulsive gambler, he owed a large amount of gambling debt to Lam Kwok-yeung (Ben Lam), a triad leader of the Wan Chai district and was badly beaten by Lam. In order to pay for Dee's debt, Hing and his friends steal Lam's car and has thus forged a rivalry. On the other hand, Hing becomes obsessed with a girl named Miu (Mariane Chan), whom he had only met once. When the two meet again, they become a couple, while Hung also becomes a couple with Miu's friend Fanny (Charine Chan). Hing feels that his strength is weak and becomes involved in the debt collection field, where his influence becomes stronger. However, glory does not last long as many triad leaders were unhappy with Hing expanding his business and lures Hing into the drug business, which Hing refuses. When Hing goes to Macau to participate an auto race, the footsteps of assassins approach step by step closer.

Cast

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  • Simon Yam as Chan Yiu-hing
  • Lau Ching-wan as Dee
  • Wan Yeung-ming as Hung
  • Roy Cheung as Chung
  • Charine Chan as Fanny
  • Mariane Chan as Miu
  • Yvonne Yung as Kitty
  • Chik King-man as Mandy
  • Ben Lam as Lam Kwok-yeung
  • William Ho as Uncle Bill
  • Lo Lieh as Uncle Kui
  • Ku Feng as Uncle Kau
  • Victor Hon as Sing
  • Johnny Tang as Race car driver in opening
  • Jack Wong as Uncle Bill's thug who forces Kitty to drink
  • Jameson Lam as Lam Kwok-yeung's thug
  • Johnny Cheung as Lam Kwok-yeung's thug
  • Fong Yue as Fanny's mother
  • Wong Yung as Noisy karaoke bar patron
  • Kwan Yung as Uncle Bill's thug
  • Hoh Wah
  • Ho Chi-moon
  • Lam Kwok-kit
  • John Cheung
  • Leo Tsang
  • Yu Ming-hin
  • Woo Pin-yue
  • Law Wai-kai
  • Christoper Chan as Thug
  • Tony Tam as Thug
  • So Wai-nam as Thug
  • Chu Tat-kwong as Thug
  • Cheung Siu as Party guest
  • Benny Lai as Man in shootout
  • Wu Zhan-peng as Man in shootout
  • Jacky Cheung Chun-hung as Thug
  • Lui Siu-ming

Reception

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Critical

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Love HK Film gave the film a mixed review praising Simon Yam's performance and the story as "sporadically entertaining, but also overdirected to the point of distraction."[2]

Box office

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The film grossed HK$11,067,166 at the Hong Kong box office during its theatrical run from 19 August to 16 September 1994.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Film under fire for depicting triad as 'hero'". 7 August 1994.
  2. ^ "Tragic Fantasy: The Tiger of Wanchai (1994)".
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