Men Don't Cry
Encyclopedia
Men Don't Cry is a TVB period comedy series broadcast in October 2007. The series is shown to celebrate TVB's 40th Anniversary. The shown is currently rerun on Thursday, January 29, 2009 to February 26, 2009 from Monday to Friday at 12:05am on TVB Jade
in Hong Kong
.
The Chinese title is a reference to Shi Jian
, whom had played as villains in many Wong Fei Hung
movies featuring Kwan Tak Hing
as Wong Fei Hung, and later in TVB's television series.
Reversing the trends set by previous Wong Fei Hung stories, the title archvillain assumes the leading role of the series, with Wong Fei Hung as the supporting role.
) has been riding roughshod over everyone around him. He is so manipulative that he has explored every possible means in his fight for a house with the buck-toothed owner Ling Yuk Tsui (Cecilia Yip
).
However, he was originally a kind-hearted person. His change of heart was due to him being mistreated by his father back when he was a child. His father once nailed him inside the coffin, which led to his fear of being trapped in the dark. When he grew up, his father left the town with one of his many mistresses and her son. When Kin went to confront his father, the father retorts and says that Kin wasn't really his biological son, saying that some stranger is his father. His father also said that he was glad to have a son who is more skilled than him and that Kin is nothing but a weakling to him. After that, he left by boat. Angry by this, Kin cursed at his father, his mistress and their son, saying that they won't live to regret this. When he tried to redeem himself by fighting the town's crime lord, he was defeated by not only the crime lord but also the townspeople. Fed up with the town, he causes chaos to the town by wrecking and burning some stalls. As the crime lord and the townspeople were about to subdue him, one of his henchman told him that the boat that carried Kin's father exploded and that everyone on that boat died, including his father, his mistress and his son. Kin said that he was happy that happened because they had insulted him and that his prophecy of them not living to regret it had come true. He also declares that he won't go by his given name. He will only go by the nickname Gan Yan-Kin (Bully Kin). He decided that to get through life, he must treat others really badly as they have treated him.
Tsui is happy to have met the upright and honorable Wong Fei-Hung (Dominic Lam
). Interested in stirring up trouble, Kin tries to recruit more students for his kung-fu school by portraying himself as the hero who has defeated one of the Ten Tigers of Guangdong Wong Kei-Ying. For the sake of fairness, Hung is resolved to have a contest with Kin. Unfortunately, Kin manages to make Hung give in with the help of the ancestral tablet of his late father. Thinking that he is a hopeless coward, Tsui decides to break off her engagement to Hung. Kin quickly grabs the chance and begins to woo Tsui. Tsui agrees to transfer her house to Kin after much persuasion from him. Kin shows his true colors as soon as he has secured the property. Tsui is left homeless and has to put up at Po Chi Lam, the martial arts club/medicine shop set up by Hung. Kin has lost his power and soon becomes an object of contempt and hatred. With nowhere else to go, he decides to turn to Hung and asks to be his apprentice. Hung has tried his best to bring out the human side of Kin, for which he has received a lot of criticism from others. Despite Hung’s support, Kin does not repent and behaves even worse than before, leaving Po Chi Lam in a state of total chaos…
Kin's plan was unveiled when Wong Fei Hung tried to win the 3rd lion dancing competition, where Wong Fei Hung realized he had drank the soup with five stone powder (a form of ancient narcotic) added by Kin. Kin offered the choice of soup or lose the competition. Wong Fei Hung won the contest without the soup, but Wong did not tell others about the incident. Disillusioned by Wong's unusual integrity, Kin decided to live up to Wong Fei Hung's reputation.
After the arrests of gang leader Chiu Man Ting and officer Fong Tin Yuen, Wong Fei Hung began to lose his vision as a result of the drugs. Wong Fei Hung appointed Kin to run Po Chi Lam, despite objections by others. Despite Kin's attempts to help his fellow fighters, they ended up making things worse. Former associate Kam Chin-Pao mistaken believed Kin became Po Chi Lam leader was a plan to take over the street as gang leader, so Kam Chin-Pao started started a gang of his own...
At the 2nd week of the Hong Kong broadcast, Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority claimed it had 80 accumulated complaints over the series.
TVB Jade
TVB Jade is a flagship TV channel in Hong Kong, established by Television Broadcasts Limited, and is one of the free-to-air Cantonese language television channels in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival ATV Home...
in 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...
.
The Chinese title is a reference to Shi Jian
Shih Kien
Shek Wing-cheung , better known as Shih Kien, was a Chinese actor from Hong Kong. He is sometimes credited as Shek Kin or Kien Shih...
, whom had played as villains in many 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...
movies featuring 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...
as Wong Fei Hung, and later in TVB's television series.
Reversing the trends set by previous Wong Fei Hung stories, the title archvillain assumes the leading role of the series, with Wong Fei Hung as the supporting role.
Synopsis
With the support of the head of the Police Authority, Guangzhou’s top villain Ho Kei-Kin (Dayo WongDayo Wong
Dayo Wong Chi-wah , born 5 September 1960, is a Hong Kong actor, comedian, singer and screenwriter.Wong gained a degree in philosophy from the University of Alberta in Canada. He began his entertainment career in Hong Kong in 1984, but only became known since 1990 for his stand-up comedy...
) has been riding roughshod over everyone around him. He is so manipulative that he has explored every possible means in his fight for a house with the buck-toothed owner Ling Yuk Tsui (Cecilia Yip
Cecilia Yip
Cecilia Yip Tung is a Hong Kong actress. Cecilia Yip is a well-regarded actress from Hong Kong whose work is known throughout Asia, especially Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. She began her acting career in 1982 with "Nomad" in which she was nominated for The Best Newcomer of The Year Award...
).
However, he was originally a kind-hearted person. His change of heart was due to him being mistreated by his father back when he was a child. His father once nailed him inside the coffin, which led to his fear of being trapped in the dark. When he grew up, his father left the town with one of his many mistresses and her son. When Kin went to confront his father, the father retorts and says that Kin wasn't really his biological son, saying that some stranger is his father. His father also said that he was glad to have a son who is more skilled than him and that Kin is nothing but a weakling to him. After that, he left by boat. Angry by this, Kin cursed at his father, his mistress and their son, saying that they won't live to regret this. When he tried to redeem himself by fighting the town's crime lord, he was defeated by not only the crime lord but also the townspeople. Fed up with the town, he causes chaos to the town by wrecking and burning some stalls. As the crime lord and the townspeople were about to subdue him, one of his henchman told him that the boat that carried Kin's father exploded and that everyone on that boat died, including his father, his mistress and his son. Kin said that he was happy that happened because they had insulted him and that his prophecy of them not living to regret it had come true. He also declares that he won't go by his given name. He will only go by the nickname Gan Yan-Kin (Bully Kin). He decided that to get through life, he must treat others really badly as they have treated him.
Tsui is happy to have met the upright and honorable Wong Fei-Hung (Dominic Lam
Dominic Lam
Dominic Lam Ka-Wah is an actor in Hong Kong, and a disc jockey in both Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario.-Early Life in Hong Kong:...
). Interested in stirring up trouble, Kin tries to recruit more students for his kung-fu school by portraying himself as the hero who has defeated one of the Ten Tigers of Guangdong Wong Kei-Ying. For the sake of fairness, Hung is resolved to have a contest with Kin. Unfortunately, Kin manages to make Hung give in with the help of the ancestral tablet of his late father. Thinking that he is a hopeless coward, Tsui decides to break off her engagement to Hung. Kin quickly grabs the chance and begins to woo Tsui. Tsui agrees to transfer her house to Kin after much persuasion from him. Kin shows his true colors as soon as he has secured the property. Tsui is left homeless and has to put up at Po Chi Lam, the martial arts club/medicine shop set up by Hung. Kin has lost his power and soon becomes an object of contempt and hatred. With nowhere else to go, he decides to turn to Hung and asks to be his apprentice. Hung has tried his best to bring out the human side of Kin, for which he has received a lot of criticism from others. Despite Hung’s support, Kin does not repent and behaves even worse than before, leaving Po Chi Lam in a state of total chaos…
Kin's plan was unveiled when Wong Fei Hung tried to win the 3rd lion dancing competition, where Wong Fei Hung realized he had drank the soup with five stone powder (a form of ancient narcotic) added by Kin. Kin offered the choice of soup or lose the competition. Wong Fei Hung won the contest without the soup, but Wong did not tell others about the incident. Disillusioned by Wong's unusual integrity, Kin decided to live up to Wong Fei Hung's reputation.
After the arrests of gang leader Chiu Man Ting and officer Fong Tin Yuen, Wong Fei Hung began to lose his vision as a result of the drugs. Wong Fei Hung appointed Kin to run Po Chi Lam, despite objections by others. Despite Kin's attempts to help his fellow fighters, they ended up making things worse. Former associate Kam Chin-Pao mistaken believed Kin became Po Chi Lam leader was a plan to take over the street as gang leader, so Kam Chin-Pao started started a gang of his own...
Cast
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Dayo Wong Dayo Wong Dayo Wong Chi-wah , born 5 September 1960, is a Hong Kong actor, comedian, singer and screenwriter.Wong gained a degree in philosophy from the University of Alberta in Canada. He began his entertainment career in Hong Kong in 1984, but only became known since 1990 for his stand-up comedy... |
Ho Kei-Kin (Evil Kin) 何其堅 (奸人堅) |
|
| Cecilia Yip Cecilia Yip Cecilia Yip Tung is a Hong Kong actress. Cecilia Yip is a well-regarded actress from Hong Kong whose work is known throughout Asia, especially Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. She began her acting career in 1982 with "Nomad" in which she was nominated for The Best Newcomer of The Year Award... |
Ling Yuk-Chui (Buck Teeth Girl) 凌玉翠 (哨牙妹) |
Lau Yik-Bik's older sister. |
| Dominic Lam Dominic Lam Dominic Lam Ka-Wah is an actor in Hong Kong, and a disc jockey in both Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario.-Early Life in Hong Kong:... |
Wong Fei-Hung 黃飛鴻 |
Kung Fu Master |
| Benz Hui Benz Hui Benz Hui Shiu-hung is a Hong Kong actor who currently works on the TV station TVB. He used to work on ATV before switching over to TVB.-Family background:... |
So Fei 蘇飛 |
Wong Fei-Hung's assistant. |
| Vivien Yeo Vivien Yeo Vivien Yeo , born 20 July 1984 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia is a Malaysian born Chinese actress currently under contract to the TVB in Hong Kong.-TV series:-Film:-Awards:... |
Lau Yuk-Bik 凌玉碧 |
Kong Sung-Yue's daughter. |
| Charmaine Li Charmaine Li Charmaine Li Si Yan , one of the many graduates from Belilios Public School and School of Drama, The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts in Hong Kong, is presently an actress with Television Broadcasts Limited.-Filmography:... |
Fok Tsang-Nei (Jenny) 霍珍妮 |
|
| Alex Lam (林子善) | Kam Chin-Pao 金錢豹 |
Ho Kei-Kin's assistant. |
| Wu Fung Wu Fung Bowie Wu Fung is a former TVB actor and director. Wu was most famous for his role in Looking Back In Anger, one of TVB's most popular dramas ever and was also with GDTV in its early days.-Filmography:*Tears For An Absent Love... |
Wong Chi-Mo 黃志摩 |
Wong Fei-Hung's uncle. |
Viewership ratings
| Week | Episode | Average Points | Peaking Points | References | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
October 8 - October 12, 2007 | 1 — 5 | |
|
|
| |
October 15 - October 19, 2007 | 6 — 10 | |
|
|
| |
October 22 - October 26, 2007 | 11 — 15 | |
|
|
| |
October 29 - November 2, 2007 | 16 — 21 | |
|
Criticisms
TVB reported it had received 15 complaints claiming the series is bad influence to children, contains vulgar dialogues, discriminating buck teeth and villainize Wong Fei Hung. Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority had received 36 complaints for the series.At the 2nd week of the Hong Kong broadcast, Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority claimed it had 80 accumulated complaints over the series.
Award nominations
40th TVB Anniversary Awards (2007)TVB Anniversary Awards (2007)
TVB Anniversary Awards 2007 is an award ceremony that celebrates the best in TVB programming of 2007. The award ceremony took place on November 17, 2007.-Best Actor:"Best Actor in a Leading Role" Award ....
- "Best Drama"
- "Best Actor in a Leading Role" (Dayo WongDayo WongDayo Wong Chi-wah , born 5 September 1960, is a Hong Kong actor, comedian, singer and screenwriter.Wong gained a degree in philosophy from the University of Alberta in Canada. He began his entertainment career in Hong Kong in 1984, but only became known since 1990 for his stand-up comedy...
- Ho Kei-Kin (Evil Kin)) - "Best Actress in a Leading Role" (Cecilia YipCecilia YipCecilia Yip Tung is a Hong Kong actress. Cecilia Yip is a well-regarded actress from Hong Kong whose work is known throughout Asia, especially Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. She began her acting career in 1982 with "Nomad" in which she was nominated for The Best Newcomer of The Year Award...
- Ling Yuk-Chui) - "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" (Charmaine LiCharmaine LiCharmaine Li Si Yan , one of the many graduates from Belilios Public School and School of Drama, The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts in Hong Kong, is presently an actress with Television Broadcasts Limited.-Filmography:...
- Jenny Fok Tsang-Nei) - "My Favourite Male Character Role" (Dayo WongDayo WongDayo Wong Chi-wah , born 5 September 1960, is a Hong Kong actor, comedian, singer and screenwriter.Wong gained a degree in philosophy from the University of Alberta in Canada. He began his entertainment career in Hong Kong in 1984, but only became known since 1990 for his stand-up comedy...
- Ho Kei-Kin (Evil Kin)) - "My Favourite Male Character Role" (Dominic LamDominic LamDominic Lam Ka-Wah is an actor in Hong Kong, and a disc jockey in both Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario.-Early Life in Hong Kong:...
- Wong Fei-Hung) - "My Favourite Female Character Role" (Cecilia YipCecilia YipCecilia Yip Tung is a Hong Kong actress. Cecilia Yip is a well-regarded actress from Hong Kong whose work is known throughout Asia, especially Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. She began her acting career in 1982 with "Nomad" in which she was nominated for The Best Newcomer of The Year Award...
- Ling Yuk-Chui)
External links
- TVB.com Men Don't Cry - Official Website
- K for TVB.net Men Don't Cry - Episodic Synopsis and Screen Captures