Raymond Chow
Encyclopedia
Raymond Chow Man-Wai is a Hong Kong
film producer
, and presenter
and was responsible for successfully launching martial arts
and the Hong Kong cinema
onto the international stage. As the founder of Golden Harvest
, he would produce some of the biggest stars to ever grace the screen including Bruce Lee
, Jackie Chan
, Ricky Tam and countless others.
ethnicity. He went to study abroad at the Shanghai St John's University
, and graduated with a B.A
in journalism
in 1949. In 1951 he joined the Voice of America
office in Hong Kong. He also studied martial arts under master Lam Sai-wing.
and contracted its exhibition chain of 104 cinema theatres in Southeast Asia
. At the time Cathay was a predominant force in the Malaysian film industry
.
When Cathay wanted to end the company's association in Hong Kong, Chow left Shaw Brothers to establish Golden Harvest
in 1970. Chow capitalized on the Shaw Brothers who had a system that limited creativity, and was able to lure Bruce Lee
into Golden Harvest, making it a serious competitor to Shaw Brothers.
Under Chow's leadership, Golden Harvest would become the cornerstone for Hong Kong cinema
leading HK box office sales for two decades from the 1970s to 1980s.
Whilst he is credited with producing many films, in the audio commentary for the UK release of Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain
, Tsui Hark
in conversation with Bey Logan
explained that this credit is mostly meaningless. Tsui stated that the producer role at the studio was often nothing more than to greenlight
the project, and that producers such as Chow would rarely if ever set foot on the set during the making of the film.
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 producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, and presenter
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
and was responsible for successfully launching martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
and the Hong Kong cinema
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...
onto the international stage. As the founder of 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...
, he would produce some of the biggest stars to ever grace the screen including Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
, 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...
, Ricky Tam and countless others.
Early life
Chow is a Chinese of Hakka HanHakka people
The Hakka , sometimes Hakka Han, are Han Chinese who speak the Hakka language and have links to the provincial areas of Guangdong, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan and Fujian in China....
ethnicity. He went to study abroad at the Shanghai St John's University
Saint John's University, Shanghai
St. John's University was an Anglican university located in Shanghai, China. Before the Chinese Civil War it was regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in Shanghai and China...
, and graduated with a B.A
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
in 1949. In 1951 he joined the Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
office in Hong Kong. He also studied martial arts under master Lam Sai-wing.
Film career
Chow was the head of publicity and the production chief of Shaw Brothers between 1958 and 1970. He leased Cathay's studioCathay Organisation
Cathay Organisation Holdings Limited is one of Singapore's leading leisure and entertainment groups. It has the first THX cinema hall and digital cinema in Singapore. The group has operations in Singapore and Malaysia.-The early years:...
and contracted its exhibition chain of 104 cinema theatres in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. At the time Cathay was a predominant force in the Malaysian film industry
Cinema of Malaysia
The cinema of Malaysia revolves around a small film industry that dates back to the 1930s. At present, Malaysia produces about 20 feature films annually, and between 300–400 television dramas and serials a year apart from the in-house productions by the individual television stations. Malaysia also...
.
When Cathay wanted to end the company's association in Hong Kong, Chow left Shaw Brothers to establish 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...
in 1970. Chow capitalized on the Shaw Brothers who had a system that limited creativity, and was able to lure Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
into Golden Harvest, making it a serious competitor to Shaw Brothers.
Under Chow's leadership, Golden Harvest would become the cornerstone for Hong Kong cinema
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...
leading HK box office sales for two decades from the 1970s to 1980s.
Whilst he is credited with producing many films, in the audio commentary for the UK release of Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain
Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain
Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain is a 1983 Hong Kong supernatural fantasy film directed by Tsui Hark, who attempts to combine Hong Kong action cinema with Western special effects technology...
, Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark , born Tsui Man-kong, is a Hong Kong New Wave film director and producer. He is viewed as a major figure in the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema .-Early life:...
in conversation with Bey Logan
Bey Logan
Bey Logan is a respected expert on East Asian cinema, particularly Hong Kong action cinema. He is also notable as a screenwriter, film producer and as a martial artist who has had roles in a number of films, including the 2003 Dante Lam film The Twins Effect.He has written two books - Hong Kong...
explained that this credit is mostly meaningless. Tsui stated that the producer role at the studio was often nothing more than to greenlight
Greenlight
To green-light a project is to give permission or a go ahead to move forward with a project. In the context of the movie and TV businesses, to green-light something is to formally approve its production finance, thereby allowing the project to move forward from the development phase to...
the project, and that producers such as Chow would rarely if ever set foot on the set during the making of the film.