#1103a: TSUI, Hark: Once Upon A Time In China (1991)
TSUI, Hark (Hong Kong)
Once Upon A Time In China [1991]
Screenplay by Tsui Hark, Yuen Kai-chi, Edward Leung Yiu-ming, and Elsa Tang Bik-yin.
Tsui was 41 when he directed Once Upon a Time in China.
Once Upon A Time In China [1991]
Spine #1103a
Blu-ray
Writer-producer-director Tsui Hark’s sprawling vision of a changing nineteenth-century China begins with this riotously entertaining epic, a blockbuster hit that cemented Jet Li’s status as the greatest martial-arts superstar of his generation. Li displays his stunning, fast-yet-fluid fighting style as the legendary martial-arts teacher and doctor Wong Fei-hung, who, with a band of loyal disciples, battles a host of nefarious forces—foreign and local alike—threatening Chinese sovereignty as British and American imperialists encroach upon the Mainland. Once Upon a Time in China’s breathtaking blend of kung fu, comedy, romance, and melodrama climaxes in a whirlwind guns vs. fists finale that is also a thrilling affirmation of Chinese cultural identity.
134 minutes
Color
Color
Monaural
in Cantonese
in Cantonese
2:39:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2021
Director/Writers
Screenplay by Tsui Hark, Yuen Kai-chi, Edward Leung Yiu-ming, and Elsa Tang Bik-yin.
Tsui was 41 when he directed Once Upon a Time in China.
The Film
Film Rating (0-60):
The Booklet
Forty-eight page booklet featuring essays by film critics Maggie Lee and novelist Grady Hendrix.
Commentary
None.
Interviews
With director Hark, Film Workshop cofounder Nansun Shi, editor Marco Mark Chi-sin, and critic Tony Rayns.
Excerpts 1
From audio interviews with Jet Li conducted in 2004 and 2005.
Deleted scenes
From Once Upon a Time in China III.
Documentary
From 2004 about the real-life martial-arts hero Wong Fei-hung.
From Spikes to Spindles
A 1976 documentary about New York City’s Chinatown featuring uncredited work by Tsui.
Excerpts 2
From a 2019 master class given by martial-arts choreographer Yuen Wo-ping.
60
The ExtrasThe Booklet
Forty-eight page booklet featuring essays by film critics Maggie Lee and novelist Grady Hendrix.
Commentary
None.
Interviews
With director Hark, Film Workshop cofounder Nansun Shi, editor Marco Mark Chi-sin, and critic Tony Rayns.
Excerpts 1
From audio interviews with Jet Li conducted in 2004 and 2005.
Deleted scenes
From Once Upon a Time in China III.
Documentary
From 2004 about the real-life martial-arts hero Wong Fei-hung.
From Spikes to Spindles
A 1976 documentary about New York City’s Chinatown featuring uncredited work by Tsui.
Excerpts 2
From a 2019 master class given by martial-arts choreographer Yuen Wo-ping.
Behind-the-scenes footage
For Once Upon a Time in China and Once Upon a Time in China and America.
For Once Upon a Time in China and Once Upon a Time in China and America.
Trailers
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