''By Hook or by Crook'' () is a 1980 Hong Kong

kung fu film Kung fu film () is a subgenre of martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema set in the contemporary period and featuring realistic martial arts. It lacks the fantasy elements seen in ''wuxia'', a related martial arts genre that uses historical ...

produced and directed by

Karl Maka Karl Maka (born 29 February 1944) is a Hong Kong film producer, director, actor and presenter. Early life On 29 February 1944, Maka was born as Mak Kar-sheung in Taishan, China. In 1958, at age 14, Maka moved to Hong Kong. Education In 1969 ...

and starring

Sammo Hung Sammo Hung Kam-bo ( zh, t=洪金寶, j=Hung4 Gam1-bou2; born 7 January 1952) is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and Film director, director, known for his work in martial arts films, Hong Kong action cinema, and as a fight choreog ...

and

Dean Shek Dean Shek (17 June 1949 – 20 September 2021), also known as Dean Shek Tin, was a Hong Kong film actor and producer with over 72 film credits to his name. Shek was perhaps best known as Professor Kai-hsien in the 1978 film ''Drunken Master'', ...

Plot

The film starts out with a thief stealing jewelry from a millionaire Chin Pai-wen (Tang Ching). The family believes it was done by the infamous Flower Kid, who steals from the rich and gives it to the poor. They then hire Sheriff Butcher Wing (

) to find him. However, Chin's wife (Yau Poon-ling) suggests Skinny Gee (

), a con man who catches crooks, instead. So Butcher Wing tries to get Skinny Gee by framing him for harassing his sister and offers him a deal if he finds the Flower Kid. Gee manages to Flower Kid. Gee then tells Wing a plan to arrest Flower Kid by setting him up. They fail and Wing arrests Gee for fooling him. Flower Kid then arrives, disguised as a woman, to rescue Gee out of jail. It was a set up by Flower Kid and Gee. Later it is revealed that he is not the real Flower Kid. He is a man named Fatso (

), who idolizes Flower Kid and pretends to be him. Fatso and Gee later finds the real Flower Kid (

Wu Ma Fung Wang-yuen (22 September 1942 – 4 February 2014), better known by his stage name Wu Ma, was a Hong Kong actor, director, producer and writer. Wu Ma made his screen debut in 1963, and with over 240 appearances to his name (plus 49 directoria ...

), who is now old and retired. Then it was also revealed who the thief was at the beginning of the film, a lover of Lady Chin. Later, Lady Chin hires an assassin, Chung Fat-pak (

Chung Fat Chung Fat was born on (December 2nd, 1953) and is a native of Guangdong, He is also a Hong Kong film actor, choreographer, producer and director. He primarily stars in jiangshi fictions and martial art movies . Performing experience Chung Fat ...

), to kill Flower Kid. The assassin also kills Lady Chin's lover. Fatso and Gee tries to get a bodyguard for Flower Kid. The bodyguard is a knife throwing expert. He engages in a

Mexican standoff A Mexican standoff is a confrontation in which no strategy exists that allows any party to achieve victory. Any party initiating aggression might trigger its own demise. At the same time, the parties are unable to extricate themselves from the sit ...

against Never Miss (

Eric Tsang Eric Tsang Chi-wai (; born 14 April 1953) is a Hong Kong actor, film director, producer, and television host, best known for hosting the variety show ''Super Trio series'' on the Hong Kong television network TVB over 18 years. He currently holds ...

) a gun expert. Never Miss kills the bodyguard. Then, Fatso and Gee start training Flower Kid to get his confidence and energy back. During this time, Chung kills Chin Pai-wen. Later, Fatso and Gee also hired a family to act as victim of Chung to get Flower Kid's confidence to battle Chung. The trio then proceeds to find Chung where they engage in a big fight at Chin's funeral. First, Fatso and Gee battles Chung's two henchmen and Flower Kid fights Chung. Then, Fatso and Gee kill the henchmen and then Fatso fights Chung eventually killing him in the end. Afterwards, Flower Kid leaves town. In the end, Gee is arrested again, Fatso is arrested too, but he was rewarded out to be sheriff and instead, Wing takes his spot in jail.

Cast

as Fatso *

as Skinny Gee *

as Never Miss *

as Flower Kid *

as Sheriff Butcher Wing * Alice Lau as Butcher Wing's sister *

as Chung Fat-pak the Golden Killer * Tang Ching as Millionaire Chin Pai-wen * Tai San as Flower Kid impersonator * Chow Kam-kong as Ta- o * Ho Pak-kwong as Skinny Gee's father in law * Lam Ching-ying as Gang leader * Ban Yun-sang as thug * Siu Tak-foo as Golden Killer's man * Yau Pooi-ling as Lady Chin * Hon Kwok-choi as Gang leader * Johnny Cheung as Gangster * Pang Yun-cheung * Sai Gwa-Pau * Shing Wan-on * Ha Kwok-wing * Gigi Wong * Ng Min-kan By Hook or by Crook at chinesemov.com
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References

External links

IMDb entry
* * {{Allmovie title, 268257, By Hook or by Crook 1980 films 1980s action comedy films 1980 martial arts films Hong Kong action comedy films Hong Kong martial arts films Kung fu films Hong Kong martial arts comedy films Hong Kong slapstick comedy films 1980s Cantonese-language films 1980s Hong Kong films

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links