Last Hero in China
Encyclopedia
Last Hero in China is a 1993
Hong Kong film
written and directed
by Wong Jing
. It was released after the original Once Upon a Time in China trilogy. It is derivative of the original Once Upon a Time in China series, and unlike other imitation films, it can be considered a spin-off
or spoof
to some extent. The film's action director
was Yuen Woo-ping
and like the first three Once Upon a Time in China films, it starred Jet Li
as legendary Chinese
folk hero
, Wong Fei Hung
. However, it differs greatly in tone from the Once Upon a Time in China series, containing stronger elements of violence and broader, more slapstick
, comedy.
The film was also known by the following alternative titles:
) who is aiding local monks as they kidnap young women and sell them into slavery in Southern Asia
. Whilst investigating the monks' temple, Wong gets involved in a fight and is subsequently accused of an unprovoked attack on the monks. He is also poisoned, leading to temporary deafness, although the first time is on purpose by Wong to learn how the poison can be cured. In a later battle, Wong intervenes in the police chief's attempts to assassinate a foreign official.
In one infamous scene, parodying traditional lion dances, Wong is dressed as a rooster, complete with an iron beak and claws. He clucks as he battles against his enemies who are shrouded in a giant metallic centipede. This scene has its roots in the 1956 film Huang Fei-hong tie ji dou wu gong (Huang Fei-hong: The Iron Rooster Versus the Centipede), which starred Kwan Tak Hing
in the title role. In the final fight between Wong Fei Hung and the corrupt police chief, Wong Fei Hung uses drunken boxing after his toes are broken while attempting to execute a "No Shadow Kick" on his opponent. The Film concludes with Wong Fei Hung and his colleagues marching away victorious, but not before Wong Fei-Hung rebukes the foreign official for selling opium, thereby causing young children to go deaf.
Hong Kong films of 1993
A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 1993:.-1993:-External links:**Hong Kong films of 1993 at...
Hong Kong film
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...
written and directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Wong Jing
Wong Jing
Wong Jing is a Hong Kong film director, producer, actor, presenter, and screenwriter. A prolific filmmaker possessed of strong instincts for crowd-pleasing and publicity, he is often cited as the most consistently successful filmmaker , in commercial terms, in the Hong Kong cinema of the last...
. It was released after the original Once Upon a Time in China trilogy. It is derivative of the original Once Upon a Time in China series, and unlike other imitation films, it can be considered a spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
or spoof
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
to some extent. The film's action director
Stage combat
Stage combat is a specialized technique in theatre designed to create the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the performers. It is employed in live stage plays as well as operatic and ballet productions. The term is also used informally to describe fight choreography for other...
was Yuen Woo-ping
Yuen Woo-ping
Yuen Woo-ping is a Chinese martial arts choreographer and film director, renowned as one of the most successful and influential figures in the world of Hong Kong action cinema. He is one of the inductees on the Avenue of Stars in Hong Kong...
and like the first three Once Upon a Time in China films, it starred Jet Li
Jet Li
The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
as legendary Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
folk hero
Folk hero
A folk hero is a type of hero, real, fictional, or mythological. The single salient characteristic which makes a character a folk hero is the imprinting of the name, personality and deeds of the character in the popular consciousness. This presence in the popular consciousness is evidenced by...
, Wong Fei Hung
Wong Fei Hung
Wong Fei-hung was a Chinese martial artist, a traditional Chinese medicine physician, acupuncturist and revolutionary who became a folk hero and the subject of numerous television series and films. He was considered an expert in the Hung Gar style of Chinese martial arts. Wong is visibly the most...
. However, it differs greatly in tone from the Once Upon a Time in China series, containing stronger elements of violence and broader, more slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
, comedy.
The film was also known by the following alternative titles:
- Claws of Steel
- Deadly China Hero
- Iron Rooster vs. Centipede
Plot
Due to economic pressures, Wong is forced to move his kung fu school and Po Chi Lam clinic. Unknowingly he re-opens next to a brothel. Wong comes into conflict with a corrupt police chief (an exponent of the Boxer RebellionBoxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
) who is aiding local monks as they kidnap young women and sell them into slavery in Southern Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
. Whilst investigating the monks' temple, Wong gets involved in a fight and is subsequently accused of an unprovoked attack on the monks. He is also poisoned, leading to temporary deafness, although the first time is on purpose by Wong to learn how the poison can be cured. In a later battle, Wong intervenes in the police chief's attempts to assassinate a foreign official.
In one infamous scene, parodying traditional lion dances, Wong is dressed as a rooster, complete with an iron beak and claws. He clucks as he battles against his enemies who are shrouded in a giant metallic centipede. This scene has its roots in the 1956 film Huang Fei-hong tie ji dou wu gong (Huang Fei-hong: The Iron Rooster Versus the Centipede), which starred Kwan Tak Hing
Kwan Tak Hing
Kwan Tak-hing, MBE was a Hong Kong actor who played the role of martial artist folk hero Wong Fei-hung in at least 77 films, between the 1940s and the 1980s. No-one else in cinema history has portrayed the same person as many times. In total he made over 130 films. He was elected to be the...
in the title role. In the final fight between Wong Fei Hung and the corrupt police chief, Wong Fei Hung uses drunken boxing after his toes are broken while attempting to execute a "No Shadow Kick" on his opponent. The Film concludes with Wong Fei Hung and his colleagues marching away victorious, but not before Wong Fei-Hung rebukes the foreign official for selling opium, thereby causing young children to go deaf.
Cast
- Jet LiJet LiThe fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
as Wong Fei-hung - Natalis ChanNatalis ChanNatalis Chan Pak-Cheung, born 3 December 1950 in Hong Kong, is a Hong Kong television host, film actor and producer.Besides his duties as a variety show host, he has also been a horse racing commentator and horse trainer...
as Mass Tar Wong "Mr. Pimp" - Dicky CheungDicky Cheung-Career:He entered show business in the early 1980s, signing a contract with television station TVB. He won the 3rd annual New Talent Singing Awards in 1984. Up until the mid 90's, Dicky struggled for many years working as a low-paid actor, singer, and appeared occasionally in films...
as So - Cheung Man as Ti Yi-er
- Anita YuenAnita YuenAnita Yuen Wing-yi is a Hong Kong film and television actress. She was the winner of the 1990 Miss Hong Kong Pageant.-Pageant career:At the age of 18, Yuen entered the Miss Hong Kong 1990 pageant. She was a heavy favorite to win the crown from the semifinal to final. During the semifinals on August...
as Miss Nine - Ka-Yan Leung as Leung Fu
- Alan Chui Chung San as Lui Yat Sui "Legate Officer Lui"
- Gordon LiuGordon LiuGordon Liu is a Chinese martial arts film actor. He became famous for playing the lead in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and its sequels...
as Master Liu Heung - King-Tan Yuen as Madame
- Isabel Leung as Hooker
- Linda Cheung as Hooker
- Tin-yi Ku as Hooker
- Fat Chung as Yuen Long
- Jimmy Au Shui-Wai as Yuen Fu
- Yuen Miu as Yuen Pao