Clifton Ko (; born 6 August, 1958) is a

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...

film director, actor, producer and scriptwriter.

Background

Clifton Ko graduated from Kwun Tong Maryknoll College, and entered TV and film industry in late 1970s, firstly worked with director Clifford Choi. In this period he wrote Choi's ''No U-Turn'' (1981) and ''Teenage Dreamers'' (), and John Woo's comedy ''Once a Thief''. In 1982 Ko entered Raymond Wong's the newly founded Cinema City & Films Co., and directed his first film ''The Happy Ghost'' in 1984. The film series, like all his major works, is a

slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such a ...

comedy with moral teaching, family value, and optimism. Ko, together with the company, is prolific in making "Chinese New Year movies". Important titles include family comedy series ''

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World ''It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World'' (富貴逼人) is a 1987 Hong Kong Chinese New Year film, directed by Clifton Ko. It starred Bill Tung and Lydia Sum as parents of the dysfunctional Piu family. The daughters were played by Elsie Chan, Loletta Le ...

'' (beginning in 1987); ''

Chicken and Duck Talk ''Chicken and Duck Talk'' () is a 1988 comedy film starring and co-written by Michael Hui. It is directed and co-written by Clifton Ko. The film deals with the conflict that ensues between the proprietor of an old-fashioned roast duck restaurant ...

'', a collaboration with comedian/writer

Michael Hui Michael Hui Koon-man (born ; 3 September 1942) (also known as Mr Boo!) is a Hong Kong actor, comedian, scriptwriter and director. He is the eldest of the four Hui brothers (together with Ricky, Sam, and Stanley) who were prominent figures in ...

; and ensemble comedy series ''

All's Well, Ends Well ''All's Well, Ends Well'' or abbreviated as ''AWEW'' (Chinese: 家有囍事) is a 1992 Hong Kong comedy film directed by Clifton Ko. The film stars Leslie Cheung, Stephen Chow, Raymond Wong, Maggie Cheung, Sandra Ng, and Teresa Mo. ''All's We ...

'' (beginning in 1992); and ''

It's a Wonderful Life ''It's a Wonderful Life'' is a 1946 American Christmas by medium#Films, Christmas Fantasy film, fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra, based on the short story and booklet ''The Greatest Gift'', which Philip Van Doren Stern se ...

'' (1994) (Stokes). During the 2019 Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill protests and the subsequent 2020 imposition by the

Chinese Communist Party The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), officially the Communist Party of China (CPC), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the CCP emerged victoriou ...

of the

Hong Kong national security law The Hong Kong national security law, officially the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a piece of national security legislation concerning Hong Kong. It ...

, Ko supported the police to defend Hong Kong against riots and to oppose Western interference .

Filmography as director

Other work

Ko is a vocal supporter of the Pro-Beijing Camp in Hong Kong.

References

* Lisa Odham Stokes. ''Historical Dictionary of Hong Kong Cinema''. Scarecrow Press. 2007. Print. . 204–205.

External links

*
HK cinemagic entry
Hong Kong film directors Hong Kong screenwriters 1958 births Living people Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2007–2012 Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2012–2017 Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2017–2021 Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2021–2026 Chinese film directors {{HongKong-film-director-stub