Chicken and Duck Talk
Encyclopedia
Chicken and Duck TalkChicken and Duck Talk (Chinese: 雞同鴨講 (Gai tung aap gong (Chicken with Duck Talk)) is an award-winning 1988
film co-written by Michael Hui
, who also starred. It was directed and co-written by Clifton Ko
. The film deals with the conflict that ensues between the proprietor of a BBQ duck restaurant that is in trouble for health violations and the fast food
chicken restaurant that opens across the street. The film was the highest-grossing Hong Kong
film released in 1988. Hui's screenplay and performance won him several awards, including a special award given by the American Film Institute
in 1989.
The film also includes a celebrity cameo by Sam Hui (Michael's younger brother), as the master of ceremonies
at the grand opening
of Danny's Chicken, and the screen debut of Gloria Yip
in a brief appearance as Hui's son's school friend. Sam Hui (playing himself) speaks the title phrase to cut his speech short.
) is the struggling proprietor of a BBQ duck restaurant. In the beginning of the film, he is visited by a health inspector, who found a cockroach in his soup and other unsanitary conditions, and threatens to sue the restaurant. Fortunately, Hui's staff stops him from leaving with the soup sample after a slipup from the inspector. While the restaurant is typically operated on ground floor, Hui lives upstairs and awaits a visit from his aristocratic mother-in-law (Pak Yan), who is convinced that her daughter, Ah Kuen (Sylvia Chang
), has married a good-for-nothing husband who cares for no one.
Later, Hui faces new trouble when businessman Danny Poon (Lawrence Ng
) opens what is to be the first of a chain of Danny's Chicken fast food fried chicken restaurants across the street from him. Not long after, Danny's Chicken becomes the talk across Hong Kong, attracting young customers and families and causing Hui's business to plummet. When Hui has a frank discussion meeting with his fellow staff, in regards to his business and its working conditions, one of his employees, Cuttlefish (Ricky Hui
) gets fed up with Hui's abuse and guilt-tripping about his dead father and his struggling mother, and decides to work for Danny's Chicken. But Cuttlefish discovers while being trained over at Danny's Chicken that Poon's regimen was both strict and humiliating, where much of his job involves appearing in a chicken suit on the street, much to Hui's disgust. Hui's mother-in-law offers to invest in Hui's dwindling business, to which Hui vehemently rejects. After his son tells him that his best friend, Judy (Gloria Yip
), likes its food and its atmosphere, Hui disguises himself as an Indian woman to infiltrate his rival's restaurant and tries Danny's Chicken. Hui is convinced that it is only the packaging that people like, but his disguise is quickly undone by Poon himself.
Hui transforms his new restaurant to match Danny's Chicken "packaging" atmosphere, from tabletops to nightclub singing, with little success. Hui also begins parading the street in a makeshift duck costume, leading to a physical fight with Cuttlefish in his chicken suit that nearly gets Hui and Cuttlefish arrested. Hui's business was attracting no customers at this point, and even his most regular of customers, a Buddhist nun who frequently orders vegetarian noodles with no lard, finds Danny's Chicken accommodating to her needs. After a series of rat infestations, Cuttlefish's reluctant return, notices of closure, and an attempted buyout from Danny's Chicken, Hui resorted to his mother-in-law's help to renovate his restaurant completely before she leaves. Business began to boom for Hui once again, while Danny's Chicken slowly dwindles to the point of a disastrous attempt to market BBQ ducks. In a final act of desperation, Poon resorts to arson to end the competition, nearly killing himself before Hui and his family and staff eventually rescues Poon. Several times throughout the film, Hui talks about getting AIDS
through sharing food.
1988 in film
-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:* Act of Piracy* Action Jackson, starring Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, Vanity, Sharon Stone* The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* Akira* Alice...
film co-written by Michael Hui
Michael Hui
Michael Hui Koon-Man is a Hong Kong comedian, scriptwriter and director. He is the eldest of the four Hui brothers who remain three of the most prominent figures in the Hong Kong entertainment circle during the 1970s and the 1980s...
, who also starred. It was directed and co-written by Clifton Ko
Clifton Ko
-Filmography as director:-External links:* *...
. The film deals with the conflict that ensues between the proprietor of a BBQ duck restaurant that is in trouble for health violations and the fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
chicken restaurant that opens across the street. The film was the highest-grossing Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
film released in 1988. Hui's screenplay and performance won him several awards, including a special award given by the American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
in 1989.
The film also includes a celebrity cameo by Sam Hui (Michael's younger brother), as the master of ceremonies
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
at the grand opening
Grand opening
Grand opening is a term used when a business, public office, or private association wishes to announce the official opening of a new location. This differs from just opening the doors on the first day, in that a grand opening is more of a celebration event, not just the first day having the doors...
of Danny's Chicken, and the screen debut of Gloria Yip
Gloria Yip
Gloria Yip Wan-Yee is a Hong Kong actress and singer of Guangdong ancestry, best known for her four films with director Lam Ngai Kai, and to Western audiences, her "special appearance" in Lam's Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky and principal supporting role in the cult classic Saviour of the Soul. ...
in a brief appearance as Hui's son's school friend. Sam Hui (playing himself) speaks the title phrase to cut his speech short.
Plot
Hui Kei (Michael HuiMichael Hui
Michael Hui Koon-Man is a Hong Kong comedian, scriptwriter and director. He is the eldest of the four Hui brothers who remain three of the most prominent figures in the Hong Kong entertainment circle during the 1970s and the 1980s...
) is the struggling proprietor of a BBQ duck restaurant. In the beginning of the film, he is visited by a health inspector, who found a cockroach in his soup and other unsanitary conditions, and threatens to sue the restaurant. Fortunately, Hui's staff stops him from leaving with the soup sample after a slipup from the inspector. While the restaurant is typically operated on ground floor, Hui lives upstairs and awaits a visit from his aristocratic mother-in-law (Pak Yan), who is convinced that her daughter, Ah Kuen (Sylvia Chang
Sylvia Chang
Sylvia Chang is a Taiwanese actress, writer, singer, producer and director. In 1992, she was a member of the jury at the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival.- Actress :...
), has married a good-for-nothing husband who cares for no one.
Later, Hui faces new trouble when businessman Danny Poon (Lawrence Ng
Lawrence Ng
Lawrence Ng Kai Wah is a popular TV actor in Hong Kong. His more famous works include the television series Healing Hands and the films Fate Twisters and Sex and Zen.-Career:...
) opens what is to be the first of a chain of Danny's Chicken fast food fried chicken restaurants across the street from him. Not long after, Danny's Chicken becomes the talk across Hong Kong, attracting young customers and families and causing Hui's business to plummet. When Hui has a frank discussion meeting with his fellow staff, in regards to his business and its working conditions, one of his employees, Cuttlefish (Ricky Hui
Ricky Hui
Ricky Hui Koon-Ying was a Hong Kong movie star. He and his brothers, Michael and Sam, made several comedy blockbusters in the 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:...
) gets fed up with Hui's abuse and guilt-tripping about his dead father and his struggling mother, and decides to work for Danny's Chicken. But Cuttlefish discovers while being trained over at Danny's Chicken that Poon's regimen was both strict and humiliating, where much of his job involves appearing in a chicken suit on the street, much to Hui's disgust. Hui's mother-in-law offers to invest in Hui's dwindling business, to which Hui vehemently rejects. After his son tells him that his best friend, Judy (Gloria Yip
Gloria Yip
Gloria Yip Wan-Yee is a Hong Kong actress and singer of Guangdong ancestry, best known for her four films with director Lam Ngai Kai, and to Western audiences, her "special appearance" in Lam's Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky and principal supporting role in the cult classic Saviour of the Soul. ...
), likes its food and its atmosphere, Hui disguises himself as an Indian woman to infiltrate his rival's restaurant and tries Danny's Chicken. Hui is convinced that it is only the packaging that people like, but his disguise is quickly undone by Poon himself.
Hui transforms his new restaurant to match Danny's Chicken "packaging" atmosphere, from tabletops to nightclub singing, with little success. Hui also begins parading the street in a makeshift duck costume, leading to a physical fight with Cuttlefish in his chicken suit that nearly gets Hui and Cuttlefish arrested. Hui's business was attracting no customers at this point, and even his most regular of customers, a Buddhist nun who frequently orders vegetarian noodles with no lard, finds Danny's Chicken accommodating to her needs. After a series of rat infestations, Cuttlefish's reluctant return, notices of closure, and an attempted buyout from Danny's Chicken, Hui resorted to his mother-in-law's help to renovate his restaurant completely before she leaves. Business began to boom for Hui once again, while Danny's Chicken slowly dwindles to the point of a disastrous attempt to market BBQ ducks. In a final act of desperation, Poon resorts to arson to end the competition, nearly killing himself before Hui and his family and staff eventually rescues Poon. Several times throughout the film, Hui talks about getting AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
through sharing food.