The Tragic Fantasy - Tiger of Wanchai

1994 Hong Kong film

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 Pinyin	Zuì Shēng Mèng Sǐ De Wān Zăi Zhī Hǔ
Jyutping	Zeoi3 Sang1 Mung4 Sei2 Dik1 Waan1 Zai2 Zi1 Fu2


Directed by	Stephen Lo Joe Chu
Screenplay by	Ng Lak-kwong Leung Yan-tung Lo Sing
Produced by	Stephen Lo
Starring	Simon Yam Lau Ching-wan Wan Yeung-ming Roy Cheung Charine Chan Mariane Chan Yvonne Yung
Cinematography	Peter Ngo
Edited by	Poon Hung
Music by	Tommy Wai Tats Lau
Production company	Regal Films
Distributed by	Regal Entertainment Modern Films and Entertainment
Release date	19 August 1994 (1994-08-19)
Running time	106 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Box office	HK$11,067,166

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.

Plot

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

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

Critical

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."

Box office

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

References

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

External links

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