''Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon'' () is a 1990
Hong Kong martial arts film
Hong Kong action cinema is the principal source of the Hong Kong film industry's global fame. Action films from Hong Kong have roots in Chinese culture, Chinese and Culture of Hong Kong, Hong Kong cultures including Chinese opera, storytelling an ...
directed by
Lau Kar-wing
Lau Kar-wing (born 1944) is a Martial Artist, Hong Kong people, Hong Kong Chinese martial arts, martial arts film director, Stage combat, action choreographer and actor.
Background
Born in the Xinhui District of Jiangmen in Guangdong, People's R ...
, who also co-stars in the film. The film stars
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
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 ...
.
The trio had worked together in the late 1970s, making two films for Lau and Hung's short-lived
Gar Bo Motion Picture Company. Whilst Lau continued to appear in Hung's films for
Golden Harvest throughout the 1980s, Maka had gone on to co-run
Cinema City. ''Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon'' was therefore something of a reunion for the three actors.
Plot
Fatty and Baldy are a pair of detectives dealing with a crime syndicate of
Triad gangsters. After a jewelry robbery, they later find Lai, a woman who is associated with the gangsters, but end up getting themselves into trouble for going into the women's changing room.
The gang leader, Wing, learns that one of his henchmen, Johnny, has leaked his secrets so he is stabbed by Wing himself.
During their investigation of the Lai's house, things go very wrong for Fatty and Baldy, and they end up imitating robbers in order to escape from the gang. They steal her car and are briefly chased by the gangsters, trashing it along the way. Later that night, Lai calls Fatty and arranges a meeting at an abandoned building. At the location, another fight ensues, followed by a chase of Lai's boss, "Prince" Tak, and Fatty ends up ruining the English Deputy Commissioner's wedding.
Fatty and Baldy are ordered to leave Hong Kong while things settle down, so they head to Singapore. However, Lai, who has turned against her gang, is killed by a pair of transsexual assassins. When Fatty is about to have dinner with Baldy and his girlfriend, he inadvertently ruins their relationship. So the pair have dinner outside, leading to another confrontation. Baldy defeated two English henchmen, whilst Fatty is fighting the transsexual assassins.
In the aftermath of the event, Fatty's father and Baldy's girlfriend are hospitalised. Realising they will never have peace until Wing is stopped, they apprehend Tak at an abandoned warehouse full of gas cylinders. The plan goes sour, leading to a final confrontation with the gangsters. The two English henchmen try to take down Baldy while Fatty uses
nunchaku
is a traditional Okinawan martial arts weapon consisting of two sticks (traditionally made of wood), connected to each other at their ends by a short metal chain or a rope. It is approximately 30 cm (sticks) and 1 inch (rope). A person wh ...
. In the midst of the finale, Fatty temporarily knocks Tak's brother down and tries to take Tak out. At the final moment, Tak's brother fires his gun, he hits the gas cylinders and Baldy and Fatty escape, killing everyone in the process. In the end, the police chief stops Fatty and Baldy from knocking each other out after a fight over money.
Cast
*
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 ...
as Fatty Dragon
*
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 ...
as Baldy Mak Sui-fu
*
Carrie Ng
Carrie Ng (born 1963) is a Hong Kong actress well known for both Category-III cult and mainstream films. She won Best Actress at the 1993 Golden Horse Film Festival awards for her performance in ''Remains of a Woman'' and Best Supporting Actre ...
as Lai
* Wanda Yung as Tall Girl
* Lung Ming-yan as "Prince" Tak / Ted
* Yip Seung-wa as Tak's brother
*
Bowie Wu
Bowie Woo Fung (born 18 January 1932) is a Hong Kong veteran actor and director with family roots in Guangdong, China. A matinée idol in the 1950s and 1960s, he began his acting career in long form Cantonese films 1953, becoming an overnight succ ...
as Officer Wu
*
Ni Kuang
Ni Cong (30 May 1935 – 3 July 2022), courtesy name Yiming, better known by his pen name Ni Kuang (also romanised Ngai Hong, I Kuang and Yi Kuang), was a Hong Kong-American novelist and screenwriter. He wrote over 300 Chinese-language ''w ...
as Dragon's father
*
Lau Kar-wing
Lau Kar-wing (born 1944) is a Martial Artist, Hong Kong people, Hong Kong Chinese martial arts, martial arts film director, Stage combat, action choreographer and actor.
Background
Born in the Xinhui District of Jiangmen in Guangdong, People's R ...
as Wing
* Tai Bo as Johnny
* Sin Ho-ying as Ho / Howard
* Ridley Tsui as Pak
* Ng Ching-ching as Jing-jing
*
Cutie Mui
Toto Mui Siu-wai (born April 17, 1966) is a Hong Kong actress and television host associated with Television Broadcasts Limited. Her notable roles include Sek Mei in ''Virtues of Harmony'' and Loose Head Zhi in '' Justice of Life''.
Her older s ...
as Tall Girl's neighbour
* Mark Houghton as English gang member
* Max Gusinsky as English gang member
* Wan Seung-lam as gang member
* Gabriel Wong as burglar
*
Hung Yan-yan
Hung Yan-yan (born 25 February 1965, also credited as 熊欣欣 or Xiong Xin Xin) is a Hong Kong martial artist, actor, stuntman and action director originally from Liuzhou, Guangxi, China. He was the stunt double for martial arts superstar Jet L ...
as robber
* Jackson Ng as robber
* Kong Long as robber
* Lo Hung as man at wedding party
* Patrick Gamble as Lai's lawyer
* Yeung Yau-cheung as waiter
* Ng Kwok-kin as policeman
* Garry Chan as suspect at police station
*
Wilson Yip
Wilson Yip Wai-Shun (; born 1964) is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker and screenwriter. His films include ''Bio Zombie'', '' The White Dragon'', '' SPL: Sha Po Lang'', ''Dragon Tiger Gate'', ''Flash Point'' and the ''Ip Man'' series.
Early career
...
as man on the street
* Strawberry Yeung as karaoke singer
* Chang Seng-kwong as thug
Production
Bruce Lee references
Sammo Hung impersonated
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee (; born Lee Jun-fan, ; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist and actor. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that ...
in two early films prior to this, ''
Enter the Fat Dragon Enter the Fat Dragon may refer to:
* Enter the Fat Dragon (1978 film), a Hong Kong martial arts film
* Enter the Fat Dragon (2020 film)
''Enter the Fat Dragon'' is a 2020 Hong Kong martial arts comedy film directed by Kenji Tanigaki and Aman Cha ...
'' and ''
Millionaire's Express
Millionaires Express (, also known as ''Shanghai Express''; released in the Philippines as ''China Warriors'') is a 1986 Hong Kong martial arts western comedy film written and directed by Sammo Hung. The film stars Hung, Yuen Biao, Rosamund Kwan ...
'' with
Cynthia Rothrock
Cynthia is a feminine given name of Greek origin: , , "from Mount Cynthus" on Delos island. The name has been in use in the Anglosphere since the 1600s. There are various spellings for this name, and it can be abbreviated to Cindy, Cyndi, Cyndy, ...
in a brief fight together. This is the final film in which he relates the early Lee references into the 90's.
*The tap with the two metal bars is seen in ''
Game of Death
''The Game of Death'' (Chinese: 死亡的遊戲) is an incomplete Hong Kong martial arts film, filmed between August and October 1972, directed, written, produced by and starring Bruce Lee, in his final film project. Lee died during the making ...
'' with Bruce Lee and
Dan Inosanto
Dan or DAN may refer to:
People
* Dan (name), including a list of people with the name
** Dan (king), several kings of Denmark
* Dan people, an ethnic group located in West Africa
**Dan language, a Mande language spoken primarily in Côte d'Ivoir ...
before the nunchaku fight. Also the use of the nunchaku is used in the finale at an abandoned warehouse full of barrels which goes back to ''
Fist of Fury
''Fist of Fury'' is a 1972 Hong Kong action martial arts film written and directed by Lo Wei, produced by Raymond Chow, and starring Bruce Lee in his second major role after ''The Big Boss'' (1971). Lee, who was also the film's action choreogr ...
'' in which Lee introduces the weapon and ''
Enter the Fat Dragon Enter the Fat Dragon may refer to:
* Enter the Fat Dragon (1978 film), a Hong Kong martial arts film
* Enter the Fat Dragon (2020 film)
''Enter the Fat Dragon'' is a 2020 Hong Kong martial arts comedy film directed by Kenji Tanigaki and Aman Cha ...
'' in which Sammo first used the weapon.
*Hung holding of one of the henchman's hair is seen in ''
Enter the Dragon
''Enter the Dragon'' ( zh, t=龍爭虎鬥) is a 1973 martial arts film directed by Robert Clouse and written by Michael Allin. The film stars Bruce Lee, John Saxon and Jim Kelly. It was Lee's final completed film appearance before his death o ...
'' in which
Jackie Chan
Fang Shilong (born 7 April 1954), known professionally in English as Jackie Chan and in Chinese as Cheng Long ( zh, c=成龍, j=Sing4 Lung4; "becoming the dragon"), is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and stuntman known for ...
tries to attack Bruce but got his neck snapped off camera.
*The brief fight with Sammo Hung and Mark Houghton is similar to ''
Way of the Dragon
''The Way of the Dragon'' (, originally released in the United States as ''Return of the Dragon'') is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film written, co-produced and directed by Bruce Lee, who also stars in the lead role. This is Lee' ...
'' with Bruce Lee and
Chuck Norris
Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American martial artist and actor. He is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris won many martial arts championshi ...
. Then follows up with Lee attacking the guy with the gun while in
Nora Miao
Nora Miao () (born Chan Wing-man (); 8 February 1952) is a Hong Kong film actress. She is best known for appearing in many kung fu films in the 1970s, opposite Hong Kong action movie stars such as Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.
Background
Chan Wing-m ...
's apartment.
*The German shepherd dog is a reference to ''
The Big Boss
''The Big Boss'' (, lit. "The Big Brother from Tangshan"; originally titled ''Fists of Fury'' in America) is a 1971 Hong Kong action martial arts film produced by Raymond Chow and starring Bruce Lee in his first major film in a lead role. The ...
''. Also is the use of the double knives in the finale of both movies although shot in a different way.
*During the robbery attack, Hung attacking the man on the ground with the groin attack is similar to ''Way of the Dragon'' with Lee and Bob Wall.
*Hung's kick shot with Ridley Tsui in the abandoned warehouse is similar to ''Enter the Dragon'' with Lee's kick to
Shih Kien
Shek Wing-cheung (1 January 1913 – 3 June 2009), better known by his stage name Shih Kien, Sek Kin, or Sek Gin or Shek Kin(), was a Hong Kong–based Chinese actor. Shih is best known for playing antagonists and villains in several early Hong ...
's head.
Proposed villain role
When Bey Logan interviewed Mark Houghton, he initially is tasked to find a black businessman which is supposed to be another tribute to ''
Game of Death
''The Game of Death'' (Chinese: 死亡的遊戲) is an incomplete Hong Kong martial arts film, filmed between August and October 1972, directed, written, produced by and starring Bruce Lee, in his final film project. Lee died during the making ...
''. Unfortunately he offended a few of them with one who believes he has no business in being in the film. Houghton thought he would be in trouble for offending a black businessman so he told Lau Kar-wing that he couldn't find any so the director would step in as the main bad guy for this role.
Location
Much of the film was recorded in
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
, but the rest was filmed in the
New Territories
The New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory, and contains around half of the population of Hong Kong. Historically, it ...
and
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 ...
.
Overall look at the film
In an interview on DVD with Lau Kar-wing, Karl Maka, who looked at the film, felt there was lack of balance between comedy and action. Initially there's too much action and not enough comedy, so the film was changed to improve the balance.
Box office
''Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon'' earned HK $10,270,954.00 at the Hong Kong box office.
Reception
Bey Logan pointed out on the commentary track of the Hong Kong Legends DVD release of the movie why the film was moderately successful. There are certain logic and structural issues which are considered to be negative aspects. A few examples were the car chasing sequence in which he explains that if the heroes were just to call the police, the villains would be arrested, the film would be over and the scene wouldn't be as funny. The other is the Singapore holiday as he explains, after the Chinese wedding catastrophe, the film should be gaining momentum but instead goes down like a holiday expedition. So overall, the pace of the story is let down for that reason.
For western audiences, the character of 'Baldy', played by Karl Maka, is described as being 'over the top'. Maka was known for playing similar characters, most prominently in the ''
Aces Go Places
''Aces Go Places'', (), also known in the United States as ''Diamondfinger'' or ''Mad Mission'', is a 1982 Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Eric Tsang, and starring Samuel Hui and Karl Maka.
It is the first installment in the ''Ac ...
'' series. However, this was really playing to the less sophisticated Asian audiences of the time, that did like this style of broad humour.
More well received were the action sequences with Sammo Hung. After
Bruceploitation
Bruceploitation (a portmanteau of "Bruce Lee" and "exploitation") is an exploitation film subgenre that emerged after the death of martial arts film star Bruce Lee in 1973, where filmmakers from Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea cast Bruce Lee l ...
, fans of Bruce Lee would disregard any film that tried to poorly imitate Lee's films. However, in Logan's opinion, Hung's style of action is regarded as successful because of the way he is able to interpret Lee in his own style, whilst designing fight sequences that are able to incorporate early Bruce Lee references in a unique fashion.
Also, because of his previous work on ''Enter the Fat Dragon'', Hung is more accepted as a Bruce Lee impersonator, because of his early appearance in ''Enter the Dragon'', his action choreography and also his involvement in ''Game of Death''. Also of importance are his bulky appearance and the fact that he doesn't look like Lee (apart from his pudding bowl haircut).
References
External links
*
*
*
Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragonat
Hong Kong Cinemagic
Hong Kong Cinemagic, sometimes referred to as HKCinemagic, is a bilingual ( French and English) website providing a repository for information about Chinese language films from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, and the people who created them. The websi ...
{{Lau Kar-wing
1990 films
1990 martial arts films
1990 action comedy films
1990s buddy comedy films
1990s martial arts comedy films
1990s Cantonese-language films
Films set in Hong Kong
Films set in the 1990s
Films set in Singapore
Films set in 1990
Hong Kong gangster films
Hong Kong action comedy films
Hong Kong buddy films
Hong Kong martial arts comedy films
Hong Kong slapstick comedy films
Police detective films
Triad films
1990s Hong Kong films