When the Wind Was Blowing Wild: Hong Kong Cinema of the 1970's (Book)

[DragonClaws]

When the Wind Was Blowing Wild: Hong Kong Cinema of the 1970's

 

Chan Bik-Fung VS Tsu Hung in scene from, Blood Treasury Fight(1979).

 

Quote

In the late 1960s and early 70s, Cantonese films went into decline as theatregoers turned in droves to television, which was quickly becoming a household necessity. During this age of transition, new genres such as kung fu comedies, social satires, and cop dramas came into the scene, and Hong Kong cinema entered a phrase of rapid changes with bursting new talents. This volume puts together a series of filmmaker interviews and in-depth discourses to depict the fast-evolving landscape of Hong Kong cinema at the time.

The ‘Oral History' section features interviews with some big players from the industry. Famous action comedian Sammo Hung; Lau Kar-wing, longtime collaborator to his elder brother, Hung Fist master Lau Kar-leung; Shaw Brothers' ace actor Ti Lung; kung fu star Chan Koon-tai－their experiences are testament to the heyday of the kung fu and wuxia genre. Celebrated comedian Michael Hui, who successfully transitioned from television to film, and Ng See-yuen who swiftly made a name for himself as an independent producer, recount their road to success.

The 1970s saw active exchange between filmmakers in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Joseph Kuo Nan-hung, Bai Ying and Hsia Tsu-hui recall what brought them from Taiwan to the then British colony. Erotica and potboilers which resorted to sensationalism were the order of the day. Directors Yeung Kuen and Ho Fan recall how they strove for individuality amidst the torrent of the market.

Alongside mainstream productions, the 1970s also ushered in the New Wave. The immensely gifted female auteur Tong Shu-shuen, cinematographer Henry Chan who had worked the cameras for many groundbreaking directors, and Philip Chan who left the Police Force to pursue his movie dream, look back fondly on their careers of that time.

The ‘Discourse' section sees Law Kar, Ng Chun-hung and Sam Ho discussing the relations between the societal changes in Hong Kong and development of its film industry throughout the 1970s. Law Kar, Sek Kei and Po Fung also explore the multifarious trends of Hong Kong cinema, whereas Shu Kei sheds light on the pioneering works of Tong Shu-shuen and examines their historical significance.

286 pages. Published in 2018. Free Download. (Edited by May Ng)

 TxT from the Hong Kong Film Archive

 

Someone has kindly put this pulbication online for free, just click on the link below, to access the site.

LINK- https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/HKFA/en_US/web/hkfa/publications_souvenirs/pub/oralhistoryseries/oralhistoryseries_detail07.html

Edited June 3, 2018 by DragonClaws

[ShawAngela]

Thank you so much for sharing !!

[DragonClaws]

6 minutes ago, ShawAngela said:

Thank you so much for sharing !!

Thank who-ever decided to share it online, I'd credit them too, if I knew who it was?.

[sym8]

Thanks for this 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[reason108]

Yeah, thanks for sharing this with us!

[Asmo]

It looks like the Hong Kong Film Archive decided to share it. Thanks for the post!

[khuu_2000]

Thank you very much for sharing!!!!!!!

[DragonClaws]

Anyone here had the time to read some of this book yet?.

Just interested in other members opinions of it.

[teako170]

13 hours ago, DragonClaws said:

Anyone here had the time to read some of this book yet?.

Just interested in other members opinions of it.

I've been scanning the entire book over the last hour. I plan to print it out for easier reading. Thanks for posting about this!  I wish they hadn't stopped the English editions of the Hong Kong Filmography Series.

[DragonClaws]

18 hours ago, teako170 said:

I've been scanning the entire book over the last hour. I plan to print it out for easier reading. Thanks for posting about this!  I wish they hadn't stopped the English editions of the Hong Kong Filmography Series.

No problem, cool to see so many forum members getting a kick out of the book.

Never knew about the Engish translated editions being stopped, maybe lack of interest?.

Edited June 3, 2018 by DragonClaws

[sym8]

Have read the Sammo chapter,interesting to read about his time with Huang Fung,and also how he felt responsible if someone got injured on set when he was choreographer.He also talks about iron fisted monk and gives us a insight into how it all came about.Great stuff.👍👍👍👍

[DragonClaws]

I wonder if any more of these publications, will be added to the Hong Kong Film Archive?

[Cognoscente]

I've found another link for it. I'm fascinated by the Michael Hui and Ng See-Yuen interviews.

https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/documents/18995340/19057015/ebook_eng_01.pdf