“WONG FEI-HUNG AND THE CRITERION TREASURE”

By Raymond Benson

What character in cinematic history has appeared in the most films? Our friend the Internet says that Sherlock Holmes holds the record, followed by Dracula. However, most people outside of Asia might not realize that possibly third on the list is a Chinese martial arts practitioner and physician named Wong Fei-hung, who was a real person who lived mostly in the Canton area from 1847-1925. Wong became a cultural folk hero in his native country, spawning literature, comics, television series, and many, many films.

Wong Fei-hung (Wong is the surname, so in the West he would be Fei-hung Wong) has been known in fictional settings as Huang Fei-hong, Huang Fei Hong, Wong Fei Hong, and in this recent series as Wong Fei-hung. The actor most associated with the character in China is Tak-Hing Kwan, who made over 75 films between the 1940s and 1980s. Kwan is to Wong Fei-hung as Sean Connery is to James Bond. For many, Kwan is Wong. The titles to these movies invoke those of old serials, and they always begin with Huang Fei-hong… (e.g., Huang Fei-hong and the Courtesan’s Boat Argument or Huang Fei-hong’s Fight at Foshan).

However, other actors have portrayed the character in more recent years—Gordon Liu, Andy Lau, and Jackie Chan. Most recently, the actor Jet Li is associated with the role in director Tsui Hark’s extremely popular film and television series produced in Hong Kong in the 1990s.

Tsui (again, his surname) is one of the giants of the Hong Kong film industry. He began his career in the 1970s and worked on many films as director, writer, producer, and other capacities. He eventually started his own film company and became a major player in the region. In the early 90s Tsui decided to resurrect Wong Fei-hung in an updated, more politicized series of pictures that reflected a subtext of the anxiety felt by the Hong Kong people about the upcoming handover from Britain to China in 1997.

Thus, Once Upon a Time in China, as it was known in the West (in Cantonese the title is simply Wong Fei-hung), was unleashed in 1991 and proved to be a huge success. Jet Li, who was already a star on the Chinese film scene, moved to Hong Kong and solidified his standing along the likes of other martial arts superstars like Jackie Chan. The film’s triumph was such that the green light was given to make a sequel in 1992, Once Upon a Time in China II, followed by III in 1993. Jet Li dropped out of the series for the next two, IV (1993) and V (1994), and was replaced by Vincent Zhao (credited on screen as Zhao Wen Zhuo). Tsui Hark co-produced and co-wrote all five pictures, and he directed the first, second, third, and fifth. IV was directed by Yuen Bun. The five movies were then followed in Hong Kong by a five-episode television series called Wong Fei-hung, also starring Vincent Zhao as Wong. For a coda, a sixth film, Once Upon a Time in China and America was made in 1997, was directed by Sammo Hung, and Jet Li returned to the role of Wong one last time.

The overall theme in the series is one of nationalism. Unlike most high-action martial arts films produced in Hong Kong in the 90s, the Once Upon a Time series is overtly political, emphasizing how foreigners (i.e., Britain, the U.S., Europeans) invaded China and corrupted centuries-old cultures and traditions. Hence, in most cases, the villains in the films are the foreigners, although often the bad guys are also Chinese religious cults aiming to undermine not only foreigners but the current government.

The Criterion Collection has released a magnificent box set of the six feature films, plus a ton of supplements. Each movie takes place in the late 1800s (early 1900s in the last film) during the Qing Dynasty. Wong lives in a town called Foshan and runs a martial arts and Chinese medical clinic. He is surrounded by recurring characters who, while adept at martial arts and participate in the amazing action sequences, are there mainly for comic relief. A major recurring character is Leung Foon, played in the first picture by Yuen Biao, and from then on by Max Mok. Both Wong and Leung’s love interest is Yee Siu-kwan, more commonly addressed in the series as “13th Aunt” because of a complicated familial relationship to Wong. She is always played by Rosamund Kwan throughout the series. Wong himself is a serious guy who is honest, patriotic, and loyal. As played by Jet Li (and by Zhao as well), he is a dynamo at kung fu. For this reviewer’s money, he could take on Jackie Chan any day of the week and it would be troubling to decide upon whom to bet.

The films in the set:

Once Upon a Time in China (1991; Directed by Tsui Hark). A superb picture that won several of the Hong Kong Film Awards (their equivalent to the Oscars) of its year—Best Director (Hark), Editing (Marco Mak), Action Choreography (Yuen Cheung-yan, Yuen Shun-yee, Lau Kar-wing), and Original Score (James Wong). The main title theme song, based on a Ming Dynasty folk song, “A Man of Determination,” became the running theme for the entire film series and a popular hit tune. The song has long been associated with Wong Fei-hung, even before Tsui’s series. Here it is sung by George Lam (in the second feature it is sung by none other than Jackie Chan over the end titles). The film was nominated for Best Picture, Cinematography, Art Direction, and Supporting Actor (Jacky Cheung, as “Bucktooth”). The story involves Wong and his team battling a gang that operates like a mafia, terrorizing businesses in Foshan, as well as the corrupt American officials who plan to kidnap Chinese women and export them back to the U.S. as slaves (i.e., prostitutes). Although this first feature in the series is a little too long (134 minutes), it introduces all the ongoing characters, establishes the mix of action, comedy, and melodrama, and is full of visual spectacle.

Once Upon a Time in China II (1992; Directed by Tsui Hark). This reviewer ranks the second feature as the absolute favorite among the bunch. Replacing Yuen Biao with Max Monk as Leung Foon, who is Wong’s main sidekick, is an improvement. The story is tighter and not so all over the place as it was in the first picture. Wong and company travel to Canton to attend a medical conference, where they meet real-life political figure. Dr. Sun Yat-sen (Zhang Tielin). A dangerous religious cult, the White Lotus Sect, threatens not only the foreigners in the region, but also any Chinese who believe in progress or moving away from outdated traditions. Everything in the movie works, and the fight scenes are especially inventive and exciting. The historical perspectives involving Sun Yat-sen are also engaging. While there is no evidence that the real Wong Fei-hung ever met the real Sun Yat-sen, it’s entirely possible because their lives overlapped.

Once Upon a Time in China III (1993; Directed by Tsui Hark). This one provides a change of scenery as Wong and his team travel to Beijing to participate in a “lion dance” competition. Although made in Hong Kong, the film’s art direction convincingly creates landmark locations in Beijing, such as the Forbidden City. A Russian acquaintance of 13th Aunt, Tomanovsky (John Wakefield), supplies romantic conflict as well as antagonist duties. There are also rival gangs in the competition who aim to cheat to win, and Wong must dispel these challenges to his honor. It’s not as engaging as the first two—it feels as if we’ve seen much of it before. It’s also not surprising that Jet Li decided to leave the series after this production. Still, for fans of the films, it provides enough of the goods to entertain.

Once Upon a Time in China IV (1993; Directed by Yuen Bun). Vincent Zhao replaces Jet Li as Wong, but the rest of the cast remains the same. Rosamund Kwan and her character is absent, but she is replaced by her sister, “14th Aunt,” played by Jean Wang. In this one, Wong participates in an international lion dance competition, and there’s another fanatical religious cult, the Red Lantern Sect, this time made up entirely of women. In many ways, IV is a repeat of III, and the production values seem cheaper. Most interesting is the new dynamic of the romantic trio between Wong, Leung, and 14th Aunt.

Once Upon a Time in China V (1994; Directed by Tsui Hark). Hark must have decided to direct again due to the disappointing IV. Rosamund Kwan is also back as 13th Aunt, but Wang as 14th Aunt is still present, creating an even more romantic whirlwind conflict among the characters. A big improvement over IV, this picture features Wong and company moving to Hong Kong, where they join forces with the local government to battle pirates who are cutting off supply routes.

Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997; Directed by Sammo Hung). This one seems like an afterthought, although it is unique and entertaining in its way. Jet Li returns to the role of Wong Fei-hung, and this time the team travel to America and the Wild West in the early 1900s. Think Back to the Future Part III, as the Chinese characters are fish out of water, dealing with cowboys, outlaws, and Native Americans. The movie was made in the U.S., too, and there are scenes in Monument Valley and other locations identified with Hollywood westerns. It’s mindless hokum, but different enough from the others that it’s still enjoyable.

The first two films in the Criterion Collection set have 4K digital restorations, and new 2K digital restorations for the others, all presented in original Cantonese theatrical-release sound mixes in uncompressed monaural or stereo (the latter available as a choice for the first two films). Supplements abound on each of the six disks in the box. There are too many to list here; suffice it to say that there are new interviews with Tsui Hark, editor Marco Mak, and others, as well as vintage interviews with Jet Li and Tsui. A new interview with critic Tony Rayns is essential viewing for a background to the Wong character and the series. There is much more, including a master class given by martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo-ping, making of featurettes, behind-the-scenes footage, and deleted scenes. Essays by film critic Maggie Lee and novelist Grady Hendrix are included in the booklet.

The final word—Criterion’s Once Upon a Time in China—The Complete Films is a must-have package for fans of Hong Kong cinema, Jet Li, Tsui Hark, and martial arts extravaganzas.

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