Heart of Dragon
Encyclopedia
Heart of Dragon is a 1985
Hong Kong
martial arts
action
comedy film
directed by Sammo Hung
, and starring Hung, Jackie Chan
, Emily Chu
and Mang Hoi.
It is also known by the titles as 'The First Mission and Powerman III.
The final scenes were filmed on the building site that was later to become the Regal Riverside Hotel in Sha Tin
.
. Golden Harvest
had wanted Hung to perform fight scenes in the film, but he refused, rationalising "My character was mentally retarded, mentally disabled, so how can you ask me to fall down and suddenly become well again? And fight? They knew my fighting skills and wanted me to be part of the action but I thought that would have completely destroyed the tone of the film, the principles behind the film."
The action is left to Chan and his fellow CID
officers, Mang Hoi, Yuen Wah
, Chan Lung and Corey Yuen
. Despite the relative lack of action scenes, the film was nominated for the Best Action Choreography award at the Hong Kong Film Awards
in 1986. It was beaten by Chan's Police Story
.
The bad guys are led by James Tien
and include Dick Wei
, Chung Fat, Phillip Ko and Kao Sau-leung
. The film also features a small role for Wu Ma
as a restaurant owner, and like My Lucky Stars
, Sammo Hung's real life brother makes a cameo appearance as a Policeman (who walks into Inspector Wong's office without knocking).
ese release. They are included as additional features on the US, UK and Australian DVD releases of the film.
at UK
in Region 2
.
Hong Kong films of 1985
A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 1985:.-1985:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 1985 at...
Hong Kong
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
martial arts
Martial arts film
Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...
action
Hong Kong action cinema
Hong Kong action cinema is the principal source of the Hong Kong film industry's global fame. It combines elements from the action film, as codified by Hollywood, with Chinese storytelling and aesthetic traditions, to create a culturally distinctive form that nevertheless has a wide transcultural...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
, and starring Hung, Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
, Emily Chu
Emily Chu
Emily Chu is a Hong Kong film actress.-Filmography:* Magic Sword * The Spiritual Love * Visa to Hell * Angel or Whore * Dignified Killers * The Plot...
and Mang Hoi.
It is also known by the titles as 'The First Mission and Powerman III.
The final scenes were filmed on the building site that was later to become the Regal Riverside Hotel in Sha Tin
Sha Tin
Sha Tin, also spelled Shatin, is an area around the Shing Mun River in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Sha Tin District.-Geography:...
.
Background
The film is unusual in that although featuring Sammo Hung and Lam Ching-ying, two actors famed for their kung fu abilities, neither actually perform any martial artsChinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
. Golden Harvest
Golden Harvest
Golden Harvest is a film production, distribution, and exhibition company based in Hong Kong. It played a major role in becoming the first Chinese film company to successfully enter the western market for an extended period of time, especially with the films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan...
had wanted Hung to perform fight scenes in the film, but he refused, rationalising "My character was mentally retarded, mentally disabled, so how can you ask me to fall down and suddenly become well again? And fight? They knew my fighting skills and wanted me to be part of the action but I thought that would have completely destroyed the tone of the film, the principles behind the film."
The action is left to Chan and his fellow CID
Criminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
officers, Mang Hoi, Yuen Wah
Yuen Wah
Yuen Wah is a Hong Kong based Chinese action film actor, action choreographer, stuntman and martial artist who has appeared in over 160 films and over 20 television series.-Early life:...
, Chan Lung and Corey Yuen
Corey Yuen
Corey Yuen Kwai is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker and producer. He was a member of the Peking Opera Schools and one of the Seven Little Fortunes.-Life and career:...
. Despite the relative lack of action scenes, the film was nominated for the Best Action Choreography award at the Hong Kong Film Awards
Hong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
in 1986. It was beaten by Chan's Police Story
Police Story (film)
Police Story is a 1985 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film directed by and starring Jackie Chan and written by Chan and Edward Tang. It is the first of the Police Story series featuring Chan as a Hong Kong police detective named "Kevin" Chan Ka-Kui.Chan began work on the film after a...
.
The bad guys are led by James Tien
James Tien (actor)
James Tien Chun is a Hong Kong actor from Guangdong, China. He appeared in almost 70 films, primarily in Hong Kong action cinema, including roles in the films of martial arts stars including Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. He often played villains or supporting roles...
and include Dick Wei
Dick Wei
Dick Wei is a Taiwanese actor, director and writer who specializes in martial arts and action films.-Early life & career:...
, Chung Fat, Phillip Ko and Kao Sau-leung
Blackie Ko
Blackie Ko Shou-Liang was a famous Taiwanese film director, producer, stuntman and actor. In 1956, he moved to Taiwan with his family during the chaos of Mao Zedong's early communist reformations. His son is famous Taiwanese actor and singer Alan Ke You Lun...
. The film also features a small role for Wu Ma
Wu Ma
Wu Ma is a Chinese actor, director, producer and writer. Wu Ma made his screen debut in 1963, and with over 180 appearances to his name , Wu Ma is one of the most familiar faces in the history of Hong Kong Cinema...
as a restaurant owner, and like My Lucky Stars
My Lucky Stars
My Lucky Stars is a 1985 Hong Kong action comedy film, directed by Sammo Hung. It is the second film in the Lucky Stars series...
, Sammo Hung's real life brother makes a cameo appearance as a Policeman (who walks into Inspector Wong's office without knocking).
Cast and roles
- Jackie ChanJackie ChanJackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
– Ted / Tat Fung (doubled by Yuen BiaoYuen BiaoYuen Biao is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist. He specialises in acrobatics and Chinese martial arts and has worked on over 80 films as actor, stuntman and action choreographer...
) - Sammo HungSammo HungSammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
– Danny / Dodo Fung - Emily ChuEmily ChuEmily Chu is a Hong Kong film actress.-Filmography:* Magic Sword * The Spiritual Love * Visa to Hell * Angel or Whore * Dignified Killers * The Plot...
– Jenny - Mang Hoi – Ian
- Lam Ching-ying – SWAT Team Commander
- Peter ChanPeter ChanPeter Chan Ho-sun , is a film director and producer.-Life and career:Chan was born in Bangkok to Chinese parents. He spent his teens in and studied in Hong Kong and United States, and he attended film school at UCLA. He returned to Hong Kong in 1983 for a summer internship in the film industry....
– SWAT Team Member - Chin Kar-lok – SWAT Team Member
- Yuen WahYuen WahYuen Wah is a Hong Kong based Chinese action film actor, action choreographer, stuntman and martial artist who has appeared in over 160 films and over 20 television series.-Early life:...
– SWAT Team Member - Corey YuenCorey YuenCorey Yuen Kwai is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker and producer. He was a member of the Peking Opera Schools and one of the Seven Little Fortunes.-Life and career:...
– SWAT Team Member - Melvin Wong – Inspector Wong
- Dennis Chan – Waiter
- Anthony Chan – Private Teacher
- Chung Fat – Moose / Cho Yee Fat / Fa
- James TienJames Tien (actor)James Tien Chun is a Hong Kong actor from Guangdong, China. He appeared in almost 70 films, primarily in Hong Kong action cinema, including roles in the films of martial arts stars including Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. He often played villains or supporting roles...
– Mr. Kim - Dick WeiDick WeiDick Wei is a Taiwanese actor, director and writer who specializes in martial arts and action films.-Early life & career:...
– Kim's Man - Phillip Ko – Kim's Man
- Shan Tai – Kim's Man
- Kao Sau-leungBlackie KoBlackie Ko Shou-Liang was a famous Taiwanese film director, producer, stuntman and actor. In 1956, he moved to Taiwan with his family during the chaos of Mao Zedong's early communist reformations. His son is famous Taiwanese actor and singer Alan Ke You Lun...
– Kim's Man - Kong Chow – Kim's Man
- Billy Ching – Kim's Man
- Tai San – Kim's Man
- Wu MaWu MaWu Ma is a Chinese actor, director, producer and writer. Wu Ma made his screen debut in 1963, and with over 180 appearances to his name , Wu Ma is one of the most familiar faces in the history of Hong Kong Cinema...
– Cafe Owner - Hang Shuen-so – Cafe Owner's wife
- Lam Ying-fat – Edmond Pang Kwok Hwa
- Lee Ka-ho – Heung Chi Ming
- Tze Man-ha – Mrs. Chee / Grandma
- Tai Bo – Kenny
Versions
As this was intended as a dramatic film, showing a different side of Hung's acting abilities, it contains comparatively few action scenes. Two additional fight scenes were filmed, but these were cut from both the domestic Hong Kong print and the international print of the film. Due to the demands of certain markets, these scenes were included in some prints of the film, notably the JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese release. They are included as additional features on the US, UK and Australian DVD releases of the film.
Awards and nominations
- 19865th Hong Kong Film Awards-Best Film:-Best Director:-Best Screenplay:-Best Actor:-Best Actress:-Best Supporting Actor:-Best Supporting Actress:-Best New Performer:-Best Cinematography:-Best Film Editing:-Best Art Direction:-Best Action Direction:...
Hong Kong Film AwardsHong Kong Film AwardsThe Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
- Won: Best Original Film Song - for the song "Sui Hoh Seung Yi" (誰可相依) ("Who Could Be Dependent"). (Lam Man-yee - music, Poon Yuen-leung - lyrics, Julie Su RuiSu RuiSu Rui, sometimes referred as Julie Su, is a formerly highly popular Chinese pop singer from Taiwan, especially in the 1980s. The song "The Same Moonlight" first propelled her from an unknown to a singing sensation in Taiwan overnight when it was released in 1983...
- performer) - Nominated: Best Action Choreography
- Nominated: Best Director (Sammo HungSammo HungSammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
) - Nominated: Best Actor (Jackie ChanJackie ChanJackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
) - Nominated: Best Original Film Score (Lam Man-yee)
- Won: Best Original Film Song - for the song "Sui Hoh Seung Yi" (誰可相依) ("Who Could Be Dependent"). (Lam Man-yee - music, Poon Yuen-leung - lyrics, Julie Su Rui
DVD release
On August 30, 2004, DVD was released in Hong Kong LegendsHong Kong Legends
Hong Kong Legends was a United Kingdom DVD distribution company, based in Hertfordshire and operating from the UK and Australia between 1999 and 2007...
at UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in Region 2
DVD region code
DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region...
.