King of Comedy (film) Contents Plot Cast Box office Awards Nominations See also References External links Navigation menu"King of Comedy (1999)""Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average)""King of Comedy (1999)""King of Comedy (1999)King of ComedyKing of Comedy (1999)King of ComedyKing of Comedye
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1999 filmsHong Kong films1990s romantic comedy films1990s comedy-drama filmsHong Kong romantic comedy filmsHong Kong comedy-drama filmsCantonese-language filmsFilms directed by Stephen ChowFilms about actorsFilms set in Hong KongFilms shot in Hong KongFilms directed by Lee Lik-chi
Chinesecomedy filmLee Lik-chiStephen ChowactorJackie Chanmovie extracommunity centreclub girlsinnocent schoolgirlsCecilia Cheungmake loveroleleading actorKaren MokmisanthropiclunchmanNg Man-tatC.I.B.undercoverlistening deviceTake-outruseTriadmarketing plugPringlespotato chipsBruce Leeclosing creditsHong KongHK$
| King of Comedy | |
|---|---|
 Hong Kong release poster | |
| Traditional | 喜劇之王 |
| Simplified | 喜剧之王 |
| Mandarin | Xǐjù zhī wáng |
| Cantonese | hei2 kek6 zi1 wong4 |
| Directed by | Stephen Chow Lee Lik-chi |
| Produced by | Yeung Kwok-fai |
| Screenplay by | Stephen Chow Tsang Kan-cheung Erica Li Cheng Man-fai Fung Min-hun Leung Ka-kit |
| Starring | Stephen Chow Karen Mok Ng Man-tat Cecilia Cheung |
| Music by | Raymond Wong Daisuke Hinata Jonathan Platt |
| Cinematography | Horace Wong |
| Edited by | Hai Kit-wai Yau Chi-wai |
Production company | The Star Overseas |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Box office | HK$29,848,860[1] (US$3.85 million)[2] |
King of Comedy (Chinese: 喜劇之王) is a 1999 Hong Kong comedy film directed by Lee Lik-chi and Stephen Chow. Unlike Chow's typical mo lei tau films, King of Comedy verges on comedy drama, describing the trials and tribulation that an aspiring actor experiences on his way to stardom. Some commentators[who?] say the story is based on Chow's early career, as he started off as a temporary actor, before becoming a successful and popular comedy actor over the course of a decade. The film does retain some of the bizarre visual gags Chow is known for, such as Chow's character bleeding from the nose and eyes during a singing number. Jackie Chan plays a cameo role during the film. A sequel, The New King of Comedy, released in 2019.
Contents
1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Box office
4 Awards Nominations
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
Plot
Wan Tin-sau (Chow) an actor who cannot seem to catch a break, since his only professional job is limited to being a movie extra and is often tormented on stage. As well as being an actor, he is also the head of his village's community centre.
One day a group of club girls come to ask Wan to help them act like innocent schoolgirls so they can make more money. One of the girls, Lau Piu-piu (Cecilia Cheung), although a little hardy at first due to how she was first forced into becoming a call girl due to her ex-boyfriend (who became abusive after high school) to make ends meet, becomes a better actress through Wan's instruction and falls in love with him. When both characters finally make love, Wan searches his home for enough money to pay Piu-piu for her "services", since he thinks she slept with him for money (not knowing it was for love). After Piu-piu leaves him in anger, he goes back to the film studio where he always harasses crew members for a role, and finally hits the big time, receiving a part as leading actor next to a legendary actress, Sister Cuckoo (Karen Mok). During this time, Wan reconciles with Piu-piu and he pledges to support her for the rest of his life.
Just as Wan is about to settle in the life of a movie star, his dreams of grandeur are crushed when his part is given to a highly sought after male lead. Luckily, he regains his confidence with the help of the misanthropic lunchman at the studio (Ng Man-tat), who is secretly a C.I.B. agent. Wan is used in an undercover operation, where he is disguised as a delivery boy and made to deliver a hidden gun and listening device inside Take-out food. Although the ruse is discovered and the C.I.B. undercover agent is shot, Wan takes up the gun and saves the day. The lunchman is rushed to the hospital and survives his wounds.
After a somewhat successful sting, Wan finally becomes famous through a performance of the Thunder Storm. The actors include Piu-piu, Sister Cuckoo, and his wanna-be Triad students. The end of the film involves a blatant marketing plug for Pringles brand potato chips. The entire cast of the play stands backstage rehearsing their lines while literally stuffing their mouths full of Pringles, with the logos of all five cans clearly facing towards the camera. At one point, Wan and one of his triad students argue over who should play the role of Bruce Lee's character, when another actor screams "don't fight, eat chips!" When the closing credits roll, a quick Pringles advertisement appears on the screen.
Cast
| Stephen Chow | --- Wan Tin-sau | Terence Tsui Chi-Hung | --- delivery boy |
| Karen Mok | --- Sister Cuckoo / Cuckoo To | Ben Yuen Foo-Wa | --- Ben |
| Cecilia Cheung | --- Lau Piu-piu | Roderick Lam Chung-Kei | --- Kee |
| Ng Man-Tat | --- Mao | Sunny Luk Kim-Ching | --- Johnny |
| Johnson Lee | --- Movie Director | Hau Woon-Ling | --- Hung's granny |
| Tin Kai-man | --- student #3 / Hung's man | Robert Sparks | --- Hollywood Producer |
| Lee Siu-kei | --- Brothe Kei | Vincent Chik Miu-Chan | --- C.I.B |
Jackie Chan (uncredited) | --- stunt double on set (cameo) | Sherwin Ming Tak-Fung | --- hitman in the church |
| Joe Cheng Cho | --- informer | Kong Foo-Keung | --- hitman in the church |
| Alex Lam Chi-Sin | --- Hung | Choi Kwok-Ping | --- hitman in the church |
| Cheng Man-Fai | --- Hung's man | Tsim Siu-Ling | --- hitman in the church |
| Steven Fung Min-Hang | --- Pui's first boyfriend | Chan Po-Chun | --- Peter |
| Clarence Hui Yuen | --- nightclub mobster | Sin Yan-Kau | |
| Baat Leung-Gam | --- Pierre | Bruce Law Lai-Yin | |
| Dai Lung | --- Master Lung | Mok Wai-Man |
[3][4]
Box office
In Hong Kong, the film grossed HK$29,848,860[1] (US$3.85 million)[2]
Awards Nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best New Performer | Cecilia Cheung | Nominated |
See also
- Stephen Chow filmography
- Jackie Chan filmography
References
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^ ab "Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average)". World Bank. 1999. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
^ "King of Comedy (1999)". hkmdb. Retrieved June 2016
^ "King of Comedy (1999). HKCinemagic. Retrieved June 2016
External links
King of Comedy at the Hong Kong Movie DataBase
King of Comedy (1999) at Hong Kong Cinemagic
King of Comedy at LoveHKFilm
King of Comedy on IMDb
1990s comedy-drama films, 1990s romantic comedy films, 1999 films, Cantonese-language films, Films about actors, Films directed by Stephen Chow, Films set in Hong Kong, Hong Kong comedy-drama films, Hong Kong films, Hong Kong romantic comedy filmsUncategorized
