Winners and Sinners
Encyclopedia
Winners and Sinners is a 1983
Hong Kong
action
comedy film
directed
, co-written by and starring Sammo Hung
. It was the first in the Lucky Stars
series of films - a highly successful series in Hong Kong
.
The film co-stars Jackie Chan
in a significant role as an error-prone police officer
. It also features a cameo appearance from Yuen Biao
as another police officer who gets into a fight with Chan's character.
The film is a semi-prequel to My Lucky Stars
and Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars
, insofar as the "Five Lucky Stars" concept and many of the same actors return in those latter films. However, the character names and indeed their roles differ - Stanley Fung
's character is the nominal "leader" of the quintet in Winners and Sinners, whereas Sammo Hung's character takes the mantle in the latter films.
The film's Chinese title, Five Lucky Stars was chosen as it was evocative of the Seven Little Fortunes (aka "The Lucky Seven"). The Seven Little Fortunes was the name of the performance troupe that included Hung, Chan and Yuen, whilst they attended the Peking Opera School
, The China Drama Academy, as children.
The quintet unite in prison and promise to make their fortune together in every possible way upon their release. Rookie is the gang's leader, whilst Teapot is bullied by the others (in the later films, Roundhead, played by Eric Tsang
, is the group's victim and Hung's character is the leader). Following their release, they team up with Curly's beautiful sister, Shirley (Cherie Chung), and form a cleaning company.
A sixth convict, the wealthy Jack Tar (James Tien) is released on the same day. Upon his release, he returns to his mansion, his fleet of expensive vehicles and his dozens of bodyguards. Tar commences work on his next criminal project, trading counterfeit
US and Hong Kong currency with another crime boss. When the deal takes place, a brave but careless cop CID 07 (Jackie Chan) attempts to recover the briefcase containing the phony money, but the case somehow ends up in the Five Stars Cleaning Co. van. While none of the workers realize this misfortune, Tar certainly does. Later, Teapot and his friends decide to attend Tar's high-class party, hoping to expand their business with the wealthy guests. Unluckily Tar recognizes Curly instantly, and interrogates him. A battle ensues, where Teapot's kung fu
skills are heavily relied on. Finally, another Triad gang, led by Tar's rival, wants the printing plates as well. A climatic fight takes place at a warehouse, where both Tar and his rival, along with their goons, are finally defeated. At the end, Teapot receives a reward and marries Shirley.
by Rod Stewart
). The 2004 UK DVD release by Hong Kong Legends
is the original Hong Kong version (containing this scene).
Hong Kong films of 1983
A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 1983:.-1983:-External links:**Hong Kong films of 1983 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...
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
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:...
, co-written by and starring 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...
. It was the first in the Lucky Stars
Lucky Stars
Lucky Stars Lucky Stars Lucky Stars (or Five Lucky Stars; was a Hong Kong action comedy film series in the 1980s and 1990s, blending Chinese martial arts with bawdy comedy...
series of films - a highly successful series 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 film co-stars 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...
in a significant role as an error-prone police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
. It also features a cameo appearance from Yuen Biao
Yuen Biao
Yuen 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...
as another police officer who gets into a fight with Chan's character.
The film is a semi-prequel to 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...
and Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars
Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars
Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars is a 1985 Hong Kong action comedy film directed and co-written by Sammo Hung. It is the third instalment in the Lucky Stars series, following Winners and Sinners and My Lucky Stars...
, insofar as the "Five Lucky Stars" concept and many of the same actors return in those latter films. However, the character names and indeed their roles differ - Stanley Fung
Stanley Fung
Stanley Fung Shui-fan is a Hong Kong actor and film director. He was one of the Lucky Stars.-Filmography:*I Love Hong Kong *Vengeance *Accident *Hooked On You - Miu's Dad*Love Is a Many Stupid Thing...
's character is the nominal "leader" of the quintet in Winners and Sinners, whereas Sammo Hung's character takes the mantle in the latter films.
Background
Sammo Hung got the idea for the film from an old TV show, in which a group of police officers from different backgrounds worked together, each displaying their own particular skills. By giving the characters humorous and disparate backgrounds, he hoped to make an entertaining film.The film's Chinese title, Five Lucky Stars was chosen as it was evocative of the Seven Little Fortunes (aka "The Lucky Seven"). The Seven Little Fortunes was the name of the performance troupe that included Hung, Chan and Yuen, whilst they attended the Peking Opera School
Peking Opera School
The Peking Opera Schools were boarding schools located throughout Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, specialising in teaching Peking opera...
, The China Drama Academy, as children.
Plot
The film begins with Teapot (Sammo Hung), attempting to rob the dormant homes of a wealthy neighborhood in Hong Kong. When attempting to rob one particular house, he is briefly mistaken for the guest of honor at a surprise birthday party, and is subsequently handed over to the police. The following day, four other petty criminals are apprehended - unruly civil rights leader Curly (John Shum), car washer Exhaust Pipe (Richard Ng) who steals vehicle parts, well-dressed thief Vaseline (Charlie Chin) who swindles jewelry shops' most expensive watches, and Rookie (Stanley Fung), a mysterious, and rude, stranger.The quintet unite in prison and promise to make their fortune together in every possible way upon their release. Rookie is the gang's leader, whilst Teapot is bullied by the others (in the later films, Roundhead, played by Eric Tsang
Eric Tsang
Eric Tsang Chi-wai , MH is a prolific Hong Kong actor, film director, film producer and television host best known for hosting the Super Trio series on TVB over the course of 10 years.-Biography:Due to his popularity, he is often the MC in events organized by TVB, and is nicknamed "the Prize Master"...
, is the group's victim and Hung's character is the leader). Following their release, they team up with Curly's beautiful sister, Shirley (Cherie Chung), and form a cleaning company.
A sixth convict, the wealthy Jack Tar (James Tien) is released on the same day. Upon his release, he returns to his mansion, his fleet of expensive vehicles and his dozens of bodyguards. Tar commences work on his next criminal project, trading counterfeit
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
US and Hong Kong currency with another crime boss. When the deal takes place, a brave but careless cop CID 07 (Jackie Chan) attempts to recover the briefcase containing the phony money, but the case somehow ends up in the Five Stars Cleaning Co. van. While none of the workers realize this misfortune, Tar certainly does. Later, Teapot and his friends decide to attend Tar's high-class party, hoping to expand their business with the wealthy guests. Unluckily Tar recognizes Curly instantly, and interrogates him. A battle ensues, where Teapot's kung fu
Chinese 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...
skills are heavily relied on. Finally, another Triad gang, led by Tar's rival, wants the printing plates as well. A climatic fight takes place at a warehouse, where both Tar and his rival, along with their goons, are finally defeated. At the end, Teapot receives a reward and marries Shirley.
International version
A dubbed version was released in the UK in the late 1980s, and later on DVD in Sweden, which omitted a karaoke sequence in the market stall (with the song performed being Young TurksYoung Turks (song)
"Young Turks" is the title of a song by Rod Stewart that first appeared on his album Tonight I'm Yours. The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, at #11 on the UK Singles Chart and #3 in Australia....
by Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
). The 2004 UK DVD release by Hong Kong Legends
Hong 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...
is the original Hong Kong version (containing this scene).
Cast
- 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...
- "Teapot" - John ShumJohn ShumJohn Shum Kin-Fun is a Hong Kong actor and film producer. His English name is sometimes written as John Sham.Whilst known primarily for his comedic acting roles in Hong Kong cinema, he also spent time as a political activist....
- "Curly" / "Jack So" - Richard NgRichard NgRichard Ng Yiu-Hon is a Hong Kong actor. He is known for playing comedic roles, particularly in Hong Kong films of the 1980s and 90s.-Film and television career:...
- "Exhaust Pipe" / "Wind Pipe" - Charlie ChinCharlie ChinCharlie Chin is a Chinese actor.He first had his period when he moved to Hong Kong with his family at an early age. At only 12 years of age Charlie moved to Taiwan to join Fu Xing Ju Xiao, a Peking opera school...
- "Vaseline" - Stanley FungStanley FungStanley Fung Shui-fan is a Hong Kong actor and film director. He was one of the Lucky Stars.-Filmography:*I Love Hong Kong *Vengeance *Accident *Hooked On You - Miu's Dad*Love Is a Many Stupid Thing...
- "Rookie" / "Ranks" - Cherie ChungCherie ChungCherie Chung Chor-hung is a retired Hong Kong film actress.She is one of the top actresses in Hong Kong Film 1980s.InHakka descent, she participated in the Miss Hong Kong competition but won nothing...
- "Shirley" - 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...
- "CID 07" / "Cop #7086" - Philip ChanPhilip ChanPhilip Chan Yan-Kin is a Hong Kong actor, film director, producer, screenwriter and music composer of Taishan area origin.He worked as a Royal Hong Kong Police Force police inspector before entering the entertainment industry...
- "Inspector" - 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...
- "Jack Chan Chiu Tar"
Awards and nominations
- 1984 Hong Kong Film Awards:
- Winner: Best Action Choreography (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...
, Lam Ching-ying, Billy Chan) - Nominated: Best Actor (Richard NgRichard NgRichard Ng Yiu-Hon is a Hong Kong actor. He is known for playing comedic roles, particularly in Hong Kong films of the 1980s and 90s.-Film and television career:...
)
- Winner: Best Action Choreography (Yuen Biao