Chow Yun-Fat: God of the Tube

"Actor"
-- "Hard labor."
"Television Artist"
-- "Cheap labor."

CYF does word association. From a recent article by Lam Chiu Wing for Apple Daily (July 26th 1998).

This page is no longer being updated, as of January 2000. Sadly I no longer have time. But enjoy!

This page is my attempt to get a handle on Chow Yun-Fat's career with TVB, the dominant studio in Hong Kong television. I don't actually speak Cantonese, and probably couldn't track down these shows, even if I did. But in the mean time....

Those of you who're capable of understanding it may enjoy the official TVB site. (And thanks to Benson Mirhan for rubbing that fact in!) My Chow Yun-Fat: God of Actors page gives more details on Chow Yun-Fat.

David Lee's Chow Yun Television page, currently under construction, will soon provide another source of info on this phase of CYF's career. In the mean time, I'm indebted to David for courteously permitting me to link to the many TV theme songs he's provided on his Real Audio CYF sounds page.

If anyone can provide titles, plot summaries, character and co-star names, and dates for any CYF tv shows, please contact me, either via e-mail, or through the form at the end of this page!

Thanks to Lin Hong, I now have what I believe to be a complete list of CYF's TV career, including Chinese character titles. Whoohoo! Click on the title to go to a description of a specific programme; or read through the descriptions below, presented in alphabetical order of English title/transliteration. Some of the descriptions are skimpier than others, NB!

Year Title Official English Title A.K.A. (Transliterations & Alternate Titles) Romanized Cantonese

1975 ? Big River South North Dai Gong Nam But

1976 ? The Itinerant Boy; The Vagabond Gong Wu Siu Ji

The Killer I Hitman 72 Hours Sha Shou 72 Siu Si

Hotel Mad Tide, Raging Tides Kong Chiu

1977 ? Family Change Gar Bin

1978 Vanity Fair Big Shot, Big Boss Dai Heng

The Giant Strong Man Keung Yan

Conflict Strife, Struggle Fun Dao

1979 Rainbow Rainbow, Over the Rainbow Tin Hung

Man from Hong Kong Dragon Lake Heroes Lung Tan Kwan Ying

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Man in the Net Mong Chung Yan

1980 The Bund Shanghai Beach Sheung Hoi Tan

The Brothers Familial Love Cheng Ching

1981 Seekers The Road Ahead Chin Lou

The Landlord The Landlord You Lou Shou Su

The Fate Flaming Pheonix For Fung Wong

The Shell Game II The Shell Game 2: Gathering of the Gambling Masters Chin Wong Ji Wong 2: Chin Wong Kwan Ying Wui

Good Old Times Crocodile Lake Ook Yue Tan

1982 The Maverick The Lone Ranger Goo Sing Haak

The Legend of Master So Beggar So So Hark Yee

Radio Tycoon Radio Announcers Bo Yin Yan

Super Power Descent of the God of Prosperity Tin Kong Choi Son

1983 Angels and Devils North Star Two Heroes But Dou Shuong Hung

1984 The Smiling Proud Wanderer Proud Smiling Wanderer Siu O Kong Wu

1985 The Battle Among the Clans Big Hong Kong Dai Heung Kong

Police Cadet 85 Newly-Appointed Younger Bros II Sun Jat Si Hing II

The Yangs' Saga Generals (Warriors) of the Yang Clan Yang Ka Cheung

The Details

Note: The shows are listed in alphabetical order by English title or transliteration. A chronological index of the shows is listed above.

Angels and Devils

Cantonese: "But Dou San Hung"
Transliteration: North Star Three Heroes
Source: Gordon Chan, Peter Coe, Lin Hong.
Angels and Devils, which aired in 1983, was a 20-episode sitcom starring CYF and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai as community social workers, with the running joke apparently being CYF's habit of whapping LCW in the head (?!). According to Peter Coe, CYF's character ('Francis Li') in TIGER ON THE BEAT was largely derived from his character in this series.
Chan Sou Chu co-starred, and Simon Yam apparently appeared as a psycho.

The Battle Among the Clans

Poster for BATC, from the TVB site. Cantonese: "Da Heung Kong"
Transliteration: Big Hong Kong
Source: Gordon Chan, Swan, Lin Hong.
This 30-episode series aired in 1985, and starred CYF as an aging gangster patriarch. Kwong Lai Git, Lau Ching Wan, Lui Fong, and Yammi Nam Kit-Ying apparently co-starred.

Big River South North

Cantonese: Dai Gong Nam But

Sources: Lin Hong, Daniel Sun
This 1975 series marked CYF's acting debut, so I'd really like to find out more about it. It ran to 20 episodes, according to Lin Hong -- anyone know anything about it?

The Brothers

Cantonese: "Chan Chen"
Transliteration: "Familial Love"
Souce: Daniel Sun, Lin Hong.
According to Daniel, this series was broadcast in 1980-1 and co-starred Simon Yam and Carol Cheng. CYF played a lad who grew up in poverty, with Simon Yam as his sibling, inexplicably reared in wealth. According to Lin Hong, the series ran for an amazing 75 episodes.
Daniel also wrote in the following anecdote, which I'm reposting b/c I find it interesting (what more excuse do I need? :P):
"In Singapore, we had a 'Speak More Mandarin' campaign in the late 70's as declared by Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, our Senior Minister (during then, our Prime Minister). Our one and only government owned TV station decided to stop all dialect which included Cantonese programme. In future, all Cantonese shows (which included the songs in Cantonese), would be dubbed into Mandarin. 'The Man In The Net' was supposed to be the last series to be in Cantonese. However, the programme was so popular that they extended the grace period. They allowed the next series, 'The Brothers' to be telecasted in original language on TV in Singapore back in 1980-1981."

The Bund

Cantonese: "Seung Hoi Tan"
Transliteration: Shanghai Beach

CYF as Hui Man-Keung in The Bund. Pic courtesy of T.P.'s "Homepage of HK Stars," now sadly off-line.
Sources: David Lee, Beric, Natasha Mak, Storm Chen, and Lin Hong.
A.k.a. Shanghai Beach; a.k.a. Shanghai Grand.
This series, which according to Lin Hong aired in 1980, marked the apex of CYF's television popularity, as 1930s gangster Hui Man-Keung. According to one description, the streets of Shanghai emptied when these episodes came on. Ray Lui Leung-Wai co-starred, as Ding Lik, with Teresa Chiu and Susanna Ou'Yang as the female leads.
The original series, which ran for only 25 episodes, has had a pervasive impact on HK entertainment culture. The show was made into a movie The Bund, in 1981, and a sequel (The Bund 2) was released in 1982, both starring CYF and co-starring Ray Lui. Another film remake, starring Andy Lau and Leslie Cheung, along with Wu Xingguo and mainlander actress Ling Jing, was released in 1996 to muted enthusiasm. Most recently, TVB has been re-running another version of the serial, "New Shanghai Beach," with Chan Kam Hung in the starring role.
Excitingly, the theme song for The Bund is available from David Lee's Real Audio CYF sounds page. Also called "Seung Hoi Tan," the song was written by Joseph Koo and sung by female singer Yip Lai Yee.
There is an awesome The Bund page at the TVB site -- it includes pix from the series, plus an RP file of clips from the series set to the theme song. Whoohoo!
(And thanks to Beric and Natasha for pointing out my earlier mistake in id-ing this character as Hui Man-Leung.)

Conflict

Cantonese: "Fun Dao"
Transliteration: "Strife", "Struggle"
Source: Lin Hong.
Must have been popular, since according to Lin Hong it ran to 80 episodes. This show started in 1978 and apparently costarred Teresa Chiu. Anyone remember more?

Family Change

Cantonese: Gar Bing
Sources: Lin Hong, Daniel Sun
This must have been a popular show -- according to Lin Hong, it started in 1977 and ran for 80 episodes. CYF put in a guest appearance on this series; according to Daniel, CYF appeared in the first few scenes in the first episode, as an official sent to visit a guy involved a construction company scam. The main plot of the series apparently concerned the fall of a wealthy family, including Simon Yam as a son who gets involved in gay porn.

The Fate
Cantonese: "Fall Fung Wong"
Transliteration: Flaming Pheonix
Sources: Gordon Chan, David Lee, Daniel Sun, and Lin Hong.
According to Daniel, this series featured CYF as a man falsely accused of a diabolical murder. In court, his defence was suddenly hampered by the fact that his lawyer suddenly turned out to be his own mother (!!!), who was promptly prohibited by the prosecuting attorney from defending her own son. In the end, according to Daniel, CYF's only hope of proving his innocence lies in his faint memory that at the time of the murder he'd been driving by a construction site, when he splashed water on some of the workers & enraged them. A grim situation ... Miao Kiu-Wai, Carol Cheng and Rebecca Chan co-starred, apparently, but I don't know in what roles. The series aired in 1981, according to Hong, and ran to 20 episodes.
A mild controversy exists as to the theme song for Flaming Phoenix. One version is posted at David Lee's Real Audio CYF Sounds page in RealAudio format, but according to Daniel this is actually the theme from The Brothers -- another soap. The actual FP theme, Daniel says, is characterised by a beautiful trumpet solo, which he was kind enough to send me. Thanks to Daniel's courtesy & the extra space recently alloted me by Geocities, I can repost the FP trumpet solo here . Muahahahahahaha!

The Giant

Cantonese: "Keung Yan"
Transliteration: "Strong Man"
Source: Lin Hong, Jeff.
This 1978 series was apparently very popular in HK -- according to Lin Hong, it ran to 80 episodes. The scripts for this show were apparently written by Wong Jing, and according to Jeff the series concerned a long family struggle for control of a major construction company. CYF was one of the important characters.

Good Old Times

Cantonese: "Dak Yu Tam" (or depending on how you romanize, "Ngok Yu Tam")
Transliteration: Crocodile Lake
Sources: Gordon Chan, Daniel Sun, Stephen Yau, and Lin Hong.
Good Old Times was another gangster series, according to Gordon. Carol "Dodo" Cheng co-starred (as a knife-wielder, according to Daniel!), with Lui Leung Wai and CYF, apparently in his trademark white coat, raybans, and hat. The show aired in 1981, and ran to 20 episodes.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Cantonese: "Mon Chong Yun". Better known as: "Man in the Net".
Source: Gordon Chan, David Lee, John, Lin Hong.
MitN pic
This pic from MitN appeared in the February 1988 Singapore Women's Weekly and was courteously sent to me by Liebe Phantasms. Thanks, L.P.!
MITN pix
Images from the TVB site!
The official title may be TGTBATU, but this series is widely known under the title Man in the Net ("Mon Chong San"). It ran for 80 episodes, starting in 1979, and starred CYF as a college graduate, Ching Wai, who falls for a rich girl. Simultaneously, he is forced to embezzle from the jewellery firm for which he worked, in order to pay off his mom's debtors (who've kidnapped his mom and brother (Liu Wai Hung) for surety). Needless to say, Ching Wai gets caught and goes to jail, where he is tormented by an evil inmate, Dai Larn Choi. Fortunately Wai is able to save the life of a triad boss, who then looks after him in prison. At the end of his term, he is unable to find a decent job, until this triad boss gets out and finds him one. Meanwhile, the evil colleague who ratted Wai to the cops (framing him in the process for his own scurrilous deeds) taunts Wai whenever they meet. Fatal error, as we well know...
MitN co-starred Simon Yam as CYF's schoolmate; Flora Mill and Carol Cheng played the two leading ladies. Apparently CYF's kissing scenes with Carol Cheng are talked about to this day. Liu Leung Wai apparently played a friend of Ching Wai's brother; Ah Lam, Chi Leung, Yu Ling, Liu Wai-Hung, Susanna Ou'Yang and Chang Pak Cheung all also had roles in this serial.
The theme song for Man in the Net has courteously been made available by David Lee, on his awesome Real Audio CYF Sounds page. In addition, the TVB site for PSW contains a few pix, along with video and sound files from the series! (And many thanks to John for forwarding the URLs!)

Hotel

CYF looking about 12, from the series HOTEL.
Cantonese: "Kong Chiu"
Transliteration: "Mad Tide", "Raging Tides"
Sources: ChinaStar, Gordon Chan, Stephen Yau, Lin Hong.
Apparently one of CYF's first popular shows, this series aired in 1976 and ran for an amazing 129 episodes. CYF starred as a playboy character, Shaw Wah Shan, who trifled with a woman's affections in order to be revenged on the rich man who killed his father. The rich man's daughter, Flora Mill Heng Yan, apparently dated CYF in real life, too, but is now the wife of American director Wayne Wang.
There is a Hotel page at the TVB site, from whence the pic at left.

The Itinerant Boy

Cantonese: "Gong Wu Siu Ji" Transliteration: Kid in the World.
Also known as The Vagabond.
Source: Daniel Sun, Stephen Yau, Lin Hong.
One of CYF's earliest roles: this series ran in 1976, according to Lin Hong, for 20 episodes. He played a young vehicle mechanic in a garage, living a carefree existence, and being periodically visited by a young boy (one of the series' leads -- anyone?). CYF's character loves bikes but is too poor to afford one, until he becomes the paramour of an older woman (!) and is bought one as a present. Then one day, while riding around in a foul mood, CYF's character is hit by a truck. Although he survives the accident, the injury makes him regress to a child-like state, in which he remains for the rest of the series.
I must say, I had no idea CYF's history with on-screen brain damage extended back so far. :P (And many thanks to Daniel for the details on this series!)

The Killer I

Cantonese: "Sha Shou 72 Siu Si"
Transliteration: "Hitman 72 Hours".
Source: Lin Hong.
I don't know anything about this show, except that it aired in 1976 and starred CYF. Anyone remember this one?

The Landlord

Cantonese: "You Lou Shou Su"
Transliteration: "The Landlord"
Source: Lin Hong, Helen.
This sitcom of 13 half-hour episodes, airing in 1981, apparently featured CYF as a minor triad punk sharing a house with a college student (Simon Yam) and Yam's aunt, the landlord. According to Helen, although the series didn't last it was quite funny & showcased CYF's great comedic skills.

The Legend of Master So

Cantonese: "So Hark Yee".
Sources: Gordon Chan, John, Lin Hong, Jeff. TLOMS pix from TVB
Images from TLOMS, from the TVB site!
In The Legend of Master So, CYF apparently starred as a rich kid whose life collapses, and who eventually becomes an impoverished kung-fu master. Andy Lau and Mill Q. Wai co-starred as CYF's buddies, and the plot served as the basis for Stephen Chow Sing-Chi's movie, King of Beggars. Rebecca Chan and Michelle Yam Wai-Ling were the female leads. Jeff wrote regarding this series: "THE LEGEND OF MASTER SO seems to be the story of the origins of drunken boxing. Specifically in its last episode where CYF has face and fight his opponent while drunk. Having not seen THE KING OF BEGGARS with Chow Sing-Chi, so I can't comment about any story similarities. Otherwise CYF's character is a martial artist caught up in a struggle between competing kung-fu schools plus what looks like occupying Japanese military forces."
Despite the good credentials, this 1982 series apparently suffered from lukewarm ratings, and ran to only 20 episodes.
As John was good enough to let me know, the theme song for Master So is online at the TVB site, for people who have RealPlayer 5.0. However, my browser seems to crash when I try to access this site ... so click here with caution. (I pilfered the pic at left from this site.)

Man From Hong Kong

Cantonese: "Lung Tan Kwan Ying" Transliteration: "Dragon Lake Heroes"
Source: Lin Hong.
This 1979 series ran for only 13 episodes, so it must have bombed deeply. Ring a bell?

The Maverick

Cantonese: Goo Sing Haak
Transliteration: The Lone Ranger
Sources: Beric, Lin Hong, Daniel Sun.
According to Beric, a kung fu series in which CYF starred as "Lau Chi", a hero struggling against his nemesis, the wielder of the "Seven-Kill Sword". Halfway through the series, Lau Chi's left arm is cut off in a battle with his enemy. A dramatic revelation, however, leads Lau Chi away from revenge, to a life of self-imposed exile. The show was broadcast, according to Hong, in 1982, and ran to 20 episodes.

Police Cadet 85

Cantonese: "Sun Jat Si Hing"
Transliteration: "Newly-Appointed Younger Bros".
Source: Gordon Chan, David Lee, the Tsang Wah Sin fan page, Lin Hong, Daniel Sun.
In the second season of a popular series, CYF played the mainlander uncle (Uncle Lie) of Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, one of the titular police cadets. According to the Tsang Wah Sin fan page, which gives a cast list for this series, CYF's co-stars also included Jamie Chik Mei-Chun, Lui Fong, Carina Lau Ka-Ling, Simon Yam Tat-Wah, Richard Ng Mang-Tat, Nathan Chan Tin-Wai, Andy Lau Ching-Man, and Eddie Kwan Lai-Kit (as well as Tsang Wah Sin herself). According to Gordon, Simon Yam played the role of a corrupt cop.
I was interested in Daniel's explanation of the title of this series, "Sun Jat Si Hung". He wrote:
"Si Hing" is the used to address someone who studies under the same master as an elder brother. It is commonly used in the school of martial arts but has been extended to many areas so long as you are in the same school or teacher. It is a common way for the police to address another police as "Si Hing" in Hong Kong. "Sun Jat" literally means newly established but more appropriately translated as newly appointed in the context here. So the title of the series actually refer to the newly appointed police. As a whole, the title is better understood by people who are aware of the culture of Hong Kong. More like a slang."

Awesomely, David Lee's Real Audio CYF Sounds page includes a copy of the theme song for Police Cadet 85.

Rainbow

Cantonese: "Tin Hung" or "Tin Hoong"
Transliteration: "Rainbow" "Over the Rainbow"
Source: Lin Hong, Emmanuelle_H
This popular late-1970s series ran for 80 episodes, starting in 1979. According to Emmanuelle_H, CYF played a minor role in this series, which featured Carol Dodo Cheng (as a supporting actress), Lisa Wang (as the female lead), Patrick Tse (from The Shell Game) and Alan Tam (the popular singer). The plot is apparently quite fun.

Proud Smiling Wanderer

Cantonese: "Siu O Kong Wu".
Source: T.P., Gordon Chan, David Lee, John, Lin Hong.

PSW images from the TVB site!
Thanks to T.P., I finally found out the origin of that pic of CYF and an unknown woman dressed in historical costume, with swords drawn. It's from the TVB show Proud Smiling Wanderer, based on a popular novel by Gum Yun. This 30-episode series aired in 1984, and has since been re-made as a TVB series in 1997, and also as a movie starring Sam Hui.
According to the ever-knowledgeable Gordon Chan, CYF plays a kung fu master searching for two magic scrolls, aided by his teacher (Kenneth Tsang Kong) and a friend (Simon Yam Tat-Wah). Sik Mei Chan played Tsang Kong's daughter in the series, and Chan Sau Chow apparently also co-starred. Additional stars, according to Lin Hong, included Rebecca Chan, Jamie Chic Mei-Chun, and Isabella Wang.
You can check out a copy of the theme song for Proud, Smiling Wanderer on David Lee's Real Audio CYF Sounds page. A beautiful pic from this series is also up at his incipient Chow Yun Television page. In addition, the TVB site for PSW contains a few pix, along with video and sound files from the series. (And many thanks to John for forwarding the URLs!)

Seekers

Cantonese: "Chin Lou"
Transliteration: "The Road Ahead"
Source: Daniel Sun, Lin Hong
According to Daniel, this action-packed series co-starred Ray Lui (better known as CYF's close friend in The Bund). CYF's character was an ex-soldier from mainland China, who'd immigrated to HK in search of an honest life. He is quickly caught up, however, in a circle of other Mainlander immigrants with a more nefarious goal: quick profits earned by violent crime. Ray Lui played another ex-soldier, who led the ring of Mainlanders involved in arms trafficking. When a dispute breaks out between Lui's ring and a Hong Kong triad, Lui and his associates are wiped out. In the best heroic bloodshed tradition, CYF then throws his aspirations to the winds, and in the last bloody episode of the series rises up to take vengeance on the triad for Lui's death. It all sounds marvelous ... According to Lin Hong, the show ran to 20 episodes, and first aired in 1981.and thanks to Daniel Sun for taking the time to describe the plot & characters!

Radio Tycoon
Cantonese: "Bo Yin Yang"
Transliteration: "Radio Announcers"
Source: Gordon Chan, Lin Hong
Formerly known as The Unidentified 1960s series. CYF plays a James Dean-ish 1960s disc jockey, complete with permed hair. Mill Q. Wai, Jill Ar Chi, and Teresa Chiu apparently co-starred.
The show must have been popular, since it ran to 30 episodes according to Lin Hong. Radio Tycoon first aired in 1982.

The Shell Game 2

Cantonese: "Chin Wong Ji Wong 2: Chin Wong Kwan Ying Wui"
Transliteration: "The Shell Game 2: Gathering of the Gambling Masters".
Sources: Gordon Chan, Daniel Sun, Anonymous, Stephen Yau, Lin Hong.

Soundtrack pic for The Shell Game 2: series stars CYF, Lisa Wong, and Tse Yin. Pic courtesy of Daniel Sun.
Thanks to Daniel Sun, I've successfully identified the "unknown gambling series" first mentioned by Gordon Chan as The Shell Game 2. This series, based on the God of Gamblers character was directed by Wong Jing, and produced by his dad (Wong Tin Lam). In The Shell Game, the first part of this series, Simon Yam starred as a gambler trained by two masters to wreak havoc on their common enemies; CYF did not appear. In the second (20-episode) part of the series, which hit the air waves in 1981, CYF starred as another apprentice gambler, with Yam apparently reappearing a couple of times as a suave gambling king-pin, and Lisa Wang Ming Chuen starring as the female lead. The older man in the pic to the right, who played CYF's master in The Shell Game 2, was courteously identified by both Daniel and an anonymous visitor as Patrick Tse Yin, who apparently was a famous movie star from the sixties who continued to be popular right through until he retired in the 1980s.
The Shell Game 2 is best known for its classic ending: a card game in which CYF's character gambled with his life... and lost.

Super Power
Cantonese: Tin Kong Choi Son
Transliterations: "God of Wealth from the Sky", "Heaven Sends Down the God of Prosperity", or "Descent of the God of Prosperity", depending on how poetic you are!
Sources: Gordon Chan, Stephen Yau, Lin Hong, Daniel Sun.
CYF apparently played an alien -- yes, from outer space. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Jon Jing Yee co-starred. According to Lin Hong, the show first aired in 1982 and ran to only 20 episodes.

Vanity Fair

Cantonese: "Dai Heng"
Transliterations: "Big Shot" or "Big Boss"
Source: Lin Hong.
I don't know a thing about this series, except the official English title and the start date (1978). Anyone?

The Yangs' Saga
Cantonese: "Yang Ka Cheung"
Transliteration: Generals (Warriors) of the Yang Clan.
Source: the Tsang Wah Sin fan page, Terri, Swan, Lin Hong, and Daniel Sun.
According to Terri, "This series was about a prominent chinese family in the king's court at the time. Their rivals were another prominent chinese family whose father plotted against the entire family's demise in the court. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Andy Lau Tak-Wah led the all-star cast. In the end of the movie, all the brothers are killed except for Andy Lau Tak-Wah, a monk (who played the lead role in the original TV series "Condor Heroes", and another brother who left the family for a princess from a rival kingdom (this actor played the villain in the original "Condor Heroes" and had many other lead roles in cheesy TV action series). All the male members of the Yangs Saga left all the kick-butt females behind to defend China." This one sounds fun too!
I first heard of this 1985 series from a the cast list given by the Tsang Wah Sin fan page. CYF only guest starred on this show, according to Lin Hong, and I'm not sure what character he played. In addition to Tony Leung C-W, Andy Lau, and Tsang Wah Sin herself, this series apparently starred Felix Wong Yat-Wah, Miu Kiu-Wai, Kent Tong Chun-Yip, Michael To Tai-Yu, Fiancis Ng Chun-Yu, Jamie Chik Mei-Chun, Carina Lau Ka-Ling, Carol Dodo Cheng Yu-Ling, Kung Chi-Yun, Kathy Chow Hoi-Mei, Teresa Chiu Ngar-Chi, and Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk.

IN THE BACKGROUND: CYF as Hui Man-Keung, from the TVB series The Bund. This pic is a grayscaled, contrast-reduced, brightness-enhanced version of the one at My Favorite HK Stars' Homepage (now sadly offline), seen here courtesy of T.P..

You are probably the only person who has ever accessed this web page, while I myself have logged on times since November 21st, 1998. From November 19, 1997 to November 21, 1998, the counter recorded 1021 hits.

Back to Chow Yun-Fat: God of Actors ...

The last time I decided to officially note the fact that I modified this page was 15 July 1999. I created this page in July 1997.

Year	Title	Official English Title	A.K.A. (Transliterations & Alternate Titles)	Romanized Cantonese
1975		?	Big River South North	Dai Gong Nam But
1976		?	The Itinerant Boy; The Vagabond	Gong Wu Siu Ji
		The Killer I	Hitman 72 Hours	Sha Shou 72 Siu Si
		Hotel	Mad Tide, Raging Tides	Kong Chiu
1977		?	Family Change	Gar Bin
1978		Vanity Fair	Big Shot, Big Boss	Dai Heng
		The Giant	Strong Man	Keung Yan
		Conflict	Strife, Struggle	Fun Dao
1979		Rainbow	Rainbow, Over the Rainbow	Tin Hung
		Man from Hong Kong	Dragon Lake Heroes	Lung Tan Kwan Ying
		The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly	Man in the Net	Mong Chung Yan
1980		The Bund	Shanghai Beach	Sheung Hoi Tan
1980		The Brothers	Familial Love	Cheng Ching
1981		Seekers	The Road Ahead	Chin Lou
		The Landlord	The Landlord	You Lou Shou Su
		The Fate	Flaming Pheonix	For Fung Wong
		The Shell Game II	The Shell Game 2: Gathering of the Gambling Masters	Chin Wong Ji Wong 2: Chin Wong Kwan Ying Wui
		Good Old Times	Crocodile Lake	Ook Yue Tan
1982		The Maverick	The Lone Ranger	Goo Sing Haak
		The Legend of Master So	Beggar So	So Hark Yee
		Radio Tycoon	Radio Announcers	Bo Yin Yan
		Super Power	Descent of the God of Prosperity	Tin Kong Choi Son
1983		Angels and Devils	North Star Two Heroes	But Dou Shuong Hung
1984		The Smiling Proud Wanderer	Proud Smiling Wanderer	Siu O Kong Wu
1985		The Battle Among the Clans	Big Hong Kong	Dai Heung Kong
		Police Cadet 85	Newly-Appointed Younger Bros II	Sun Jat Si Hing II
		The Yangs' Saga	Generals (Warriors) of the Yang Clan	Yang Ka Cheung

Angels and Devils
Cantonese: "But Dou San Hung" Transliteration: North Star Three Heroes Source: Gordon Chan, Peter Coe, Lin Hong.	Angels and Devils, which aired in 1983, was a 20-episode sitcom starring CYF and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai as community social workers, with the running joke apparently being CYF's habit of whapping LCW in the head (?!). According to Peter Coe, CYF's character ('Francis Li') in TIGER ON THE BEAT was largely derived from his character in this series. Chan Sou Chu co-starred, and Simon Yam apparently appeared as a psycho.
The Battle Among the Clans
Poster for BATC, from the TVB site.	Cantonese: "Da Heung Kong" Transliteration: Big Hong Kong Source: Gordon Chan, Swan, Lin Hong. This 30-episode series aired in 1985, and starred CYF as an aging gangster patriarch. Kwong Lai Git, Lau Ching Wan, Lui Fong, and Yammi Nam Kit-Ying apparently co-starred.
Big River South North
Cantonese: Dai Gong Nam But Sources: Lin Hong, Daniel Sun	This 1975 series marked CYF's acting debut, so I'd really like to find out more about it. It ran to 20 episodes, according to Lin Hong -- anyone know anything about it?
The Brothers
Cantonese: "Chan Chen" Transliteration: "Familial Love" Souce: Daniel Sun, Lin Hong.	According to Daniel, this series was broadcast in 1980-1 and co-starred Simon Yam and Carol Cheng. CYF played a lad who grew up in poverty, with Simon Yam as his sibling, inexplicably reared in wealth. According to Lin Hong, the series ran for an amazing 75 episodes. Daniel also wrote in the following anecdote, which I'm reposting b/c I find it interesting (what more excuse do I need? :P): "In Singapore, we had a 'Speak More Mandarin' campaign in the late 70's as declared by Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, our Senior Minister (during then, our Prime Minister). Our one and only government owned TV station decided to stop all dialect which included Cantonese programme. In future, all Cantonese shows (which included the songs in Cantonese), would be dubbed into Mandarin. 'The Man In The Net' was supposed to be the last series to be in Cantonese. However, the programme was so popular that they extended the grace period. They allowed the next series, 'The Brothers' to be telecasted in original language on TV in Singapore back in 1980-1981."
The Bund
Cantonese: "Seung Hoi Tan" Transliteration: Shanghai Beach CYF as Hui Man-Keung in The Bund. Pic courtesy of T.P.'s "Homepage of HK Stars," now sadly off-line. Sources: David Lee, Beric, Natasha Mak, Storm Chen, and Lin Hong.	A.k.a. Shanghai Beach; a.k.a. Shanghai Grand. This series, which according to Lin Hong aired in 1980, marked the apex of CYF's television popularity, as 1930s gangster Hui Man-Keung. According to one description, the streets of Shanghai emptied when these episodes came on. Ray Lui Leung-Wai co-starred, as Ding Lik, with Teresa Chiu and Susanna Ou'Yang as the female leads. The original series, which ran for only 25 episodes, has had a pervasive impact on HK entertainment culture. The show was made into a movie The Bund, in 1981, and a sequel (The Bund 2) was released in 1982, both starring CYF and co-starring Ray Lui. Another film remake, starring Andy Lau and Leslie Cheung, along with Wu Xingguo and mainlander actress Ling Jing, was released in 1996 to muted enthusiasm. Most recently, TVB has been re-running another version of the serial, "New Shanghai Beach," with Chan Kam Hung in the starring role. Excitingly, the theme song for The Bund is available from David Lee's Real Audio CYF sounds page. Also called "Seung Hoi Tan," the song was written by Joseph Koo and sung by female singer Yip Lai Yee. There is an awesome The Bund page at the TVB site -- it includes pix from the series, plus an RP file of clips from the series set to the theme song. Whoohoo! (And thanks to Beric and Natasha for pointing out my earlier mistake in id-ing this character as Hui Man-Leung.)

Conflict
Cantonese: "Fun Dao" Transliteration: "Strife", "Struggle" Source: Lin Hong.	Must have been popular, since according to Lin Hong it ran to 80 episodes. This show started in 1978 and apparently costarred Teresa Chiu. Anyone remember more?
Family Change
Cantonese: Gar Bing Sources: Lin Hong, Daniel Sun	This must have been a popular show -- according to Lin Hong, it started in 1977 and ran for 80 episodes. CYF put in a guest appearance on this series; according to Daniel, CYF appeared in the first few scenes in the first episode, as an official sent to visit a guy involved a construction company scam. The main plot of the series apparently concerned the fall of a wealthy family, including Simon Yam as a son who gets involved in gay porn.
The Fate
Cantonese: "Fall Fung Wong" Transliteration: Flaming Pheonix Sources: Gordon Chan, David Lee, Daniel Sun, and Lin Hong.	According to Daniel, this series featured CYF as a man falsely accused of a diabolical murder. In court, his defence was suddenly hampered by the fact that his lawyer suddenly turned out to be his own mother (!!!), who was promptly prohibited by the prosecuting attorney from defending her own son. In the end, according to Daniel, CYF's only hope of proving his innocence lies in his faint memory that at the time of the murder he'd been driving by a construction site, when he splashed water on some of the workers & enraged them. A grim situation ... Miao Kiu-Wai, Carol Cheng and Rebecca Chan co-starred, apparently, but I don't know in what roles. The series aired in 1981, according to Hong, and ran to 20 episodes. A mild controversy exists as to the theme song for Flaming Phoenix. One version is posted at David Lee's Real Audio CYF Sounds page in RealAudio format, but according to Daniel this is actually the theme from The Brothers -- another soap. The actual FP theme, Daniel says, is characterised by a beautiful trumpet solo, which he was kind enough to send me. Thanks to Daniel's courtesy & the extra space recently alloted me by Geocities, I can repost the FP trumpet solo here . Muahahahahahaha!
The Giant
Cantonese: "Keung Yan" Transliteration: "Strong Man" Source: Lin Hong, Jeff.	This 1978 series was apparently very popular in HK -- according to Lin Hong, it ran to 80 episodes. The scripts for this show were apparently written by Wong Jing, and according to Jeff the series concerned a long family struggle for control of a major construction company. CYF was one of the important characters.
Good Old Times
Cantonese: "Dak Yu Tam" (or depending on how you romanize, "Ngok Yu Tam") Transliteration: Crocodile Lake Sources: Gordon Chan, Daniel Sun, Stephen Yau, and Lin Hong.	Good Old Times was another gangster series, according to Gordon. Carol "Dodo" Cheng co-starred (as a knife-wielder, according to Daniel!), with Lui Leung Wai and CYF, apparently in his trademark white coat, raybans, and hat. The show aired in 1981, and ran to 20 episodes.
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Cantonese: "Mon Chong Yun". Better known as: "Man in the Net". Source: Gordon Chan, David Lee, John, Lin Hong. This pic from MitN appeared in the February 1988 Singapore Women's Weekly and was courteously sent to me by Liebe Phantasms. Thanks, L.P.! Images from the TVB site!	The official title may be TGTBATU, but this series is widely known under the title *Man in the Net* ("Mon Chong San"). It ran for 80 episodes, starting in 1979, and starred CYF as a college graduate, Ching Wai, who falls for a rich girl. Simultaneously, he is forced to embezzle from the jewellery firm for which he worked, in order to pay off his mom's debtors (who've kidnapped his mom and brother (Liu Wai Hung) for surety). Needless to say, Ching Wai gets caught and goes to jail, where he is tormented by an evil inmate, Dai Larn Choi. Fortunately Wai is able to save the life of a triad boss, who then looks after him in prison. At the end of his term, he is unable to find a decent job, until this triad boss gets out and finds him one. Meanwhile, the evil colleague who ratted Wai to the cops (framing him in the process for his own scurrilous deeds) taunts Wai whenever they meet. Fatal error, as we well know... MitN co-starred Simon Yam as CYF's schoolmate; Flora Mill and Carol Cheng played the two leading ladies. Apparently CYF's kissing scenes with Carol Cheng are talked about to this day. Liu Leung Wai apparently played a friend of Ching Wai's brother; Ah Lam, Chi Leung, Yu Ling, Liu Wai-Hung, Susanna Ou'Yang and Chang Pak Cheung all also had roles in this serial. The theme song for Man in the Net has courteously been made available by David Lee, on his awesome Real Audio CYF Sounds page. In addition, the TVB site for PSW contains a few pix, along with video and sound files from the series! (And many thanks to John for forwarding the URLs!)

Hotel
CYF looking about 12, from the series HOTEL.	Cantonese: "Kong Chiu" Transliteration: "Mad Tide", "Raging Tides" Sources: ChinaStar, Gordon Chan, Stephen Yau, Lin Hong. Apparently one of CYF's first popular shows, this series aired in 1976 and ran for an amazing 129 episodes. CYF starred as a playboy character, Shaw Wah Shan, who trifled with a woman's affections in order to be revenged on the rich man who killed his father. The rich man's daughter, Flora Mill Heng Yan, apparently dated CYF in real life, too, but is now the wife of American director Wayne Wang. There is a Hotel page at the TVB site, from whence the pic at left.
The Itinerant Boy
Cantonese: "Gong Wu Siu Ji" Transliteration: Kid in the World. Also known as The Vagabond. Source: Daniel Sun, Stephen Yau, Lin Hong.	One of CYF's earliest roles: this series ran in 1976, according to Lin Hong, for 20 episodes. He played a young vehicle mechanic in a garage, living a carefree existence, and being periodically visited by a young boy (one of the series' leads -- anyone?). CYF's character loves bikes but is too poor to afford one, until he becomes the paramour of an older woman (!) and is bought one as a present. Then one day, while riding around in a foul mood, CYF's character is hit by a truck. Although he survives the accident, the injury makes him regress to a child-like state, in which he remains for the rest of the series. I must say, I had no idea CYF's history with on-screen brain damage extended back so far. :P (And many thanks to Daniel for the details on this series!)
The Killer I
Cantonese: "Sha Shou 72 Siu Si" Transliteration: "Hitman 72 Hours". Source: Lin Hong.	I don't know anything about this show, except that it aired in 1976 and starred CYF. Anyone remember this one?
The Landlord
Cantonese: "You Lou Shou Su" Transliteration: "The Landlord" Source: Lin Hong, Helen.	This sitcom of 13 half-hour episodes, airing in 1981, apparently featured CYF as a minor triad punk sharing a house with a college student (Simon Yam) and Yam's aunt, the landlord. According to Helen, although the series didn't last it was quite funny & showcased CYF's great comedic skills.
The Legend of Master So
Cantonese: "So Hark Yee". Sources: Gordon Chan, John, Lin Hong, Jeff. Images from TLOMS, from the TVB site!	In The Legend of Master So, CYF apparently starred as a rich kid whose life collapses, and who eventually becomes an impoverished kung-fu master. Andy Lau and Mill Q. Wai co-starred as CYF's buddies, and the plot served as the basis for Stephen Chow Sing-Chi's movie, King of Beggars. Rebecca Chan and Michelle Yam Wai-Ling were the female leads. Jeff wrote regarding this series: "THE LEGEND OF MASTER SO seems to be the story of the origins of drunken boxing. Specifically in its last episode where CYF has face and fight his opponent while drunk. Having not seen THE KING OF BEGGARS with Chow Sing-Chi, so I can't comment about any story similarities. Otherwise CYF's character is a martial artist caught up in a struggle between competing kung-fu schools plus what looks like occupying Japanese military forces." Despite the good credentials, this 1982 series apparently suffered from lukewarm ratings, and ran to only 20 episodes. As John was good enough to let me know, the theme song for Master So is online at the TVB site, for people who have RealPlayer 5.0. However, my browser seems to crash when I try to access this site ... so click here with caution. (I pilfered the pic at left from this site.)

Man From Hong Kong
Cantonese: "Lung Tan Kwan Ying" Transliteration: "Dragon Lake Heroes" Source: Lin Hong.	This 1979 series ran for only 13 episodes, so it must have bombed deeply. Ring a bell?
The Maverick
Cantonese: Goo Sing Haak Transliteration: The Lone Ranger Sources: Beric, Lin Hong, Daniel Sun.	According to Beric, a kung fu series in which CYF starred as "Lau Chi", a hero struggling against his nemesis, the wielder of the "Seven-Kill Sword". Halfway through the series, Lau Chi's left arm is cut off in a battle with his enemy. A dramatic revelation, however, leads Lau Chi away from revenge, to a life of self-imposed exile. The show was broadcast, according to Hong, in 1982, and ran to 20 episodes.
Police Cadet 85
Cantonese: "Sun Jat Si Hing" Transliteration: "Newly-Appointed Younger Bros". Source: Gordon Chan, David Lee, the Tsang Wah Sin fan page, Lin Hong, Daniel Sun.	In the second season of a popular series, CYF played the mainlander uncle (Uncle Lie) of Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, one of the titular police cadets. According to the Tsang Wah Sin fan page, which gives a cast list for this series, CYF's co-stars also included Jamie Chik Mei-Chun, Lui Fong, Carina Lau Ka-Ling, Simon Yam Tat-Wah, Richard Ng Mang-Tat, Nathan Chan Tin-Wai, Andy Lau Ching-Man, and Eddie Kwan Lai-Kit (as well as Tsang Wah Sin herself). According to Gordon, Simon Yam played the role of a corrupt cop. I was interested in Daniel's explanation of the title of this series, "Sun Jat Si Hung". He wrote: "Si Hing" is the used to address someone who studies under the same master as an elder brother. It is commonly used in the school of martial arts but has been extended to many areas so long as you are in the same school or teacher. It is a common way for the police to address another police as "Si Hing" in Hong Kong. "Sun Jat" literally means newly established but more appropriately translated as newly appointed in the context here. So the title of the series actually refer to the newly appointed police. As a whole, the title is better understood by people who are aware of the culture of Hong Kong. More like a slang." Awesomely, David Lee's Real Audio CYF Sounds page includes a copy of the theme song for Police Cadet 85.
Rainbow
Cantonese: "Tin Hung" or "Tin Hoong" Transliteration: "Rainbow" "Over the Rainbow" Source: Lin Hong, Emmanuelle_H	This popular late-1970s series ran for 80 episodes, starting in 1979. According to Emmanuelle_H, CYF played a minor role in this series, which featured Carol Dodo Cheng (as a supporting actress), Lisa Wang (as the female lead), Patrick Tse (from The Shell Game) and Alan Tam (the popular singer). The plot is apparently quite fun.
Proud Smiling Wanderer
Cantonese: "Siu O Kong Wu". Source: T.P., Gordon Chan, David Lee, John, Lin Hong. PSW images from the TVB site!	Thanks to T.P., I finally found out the origin of that pic of CYF and an unknown woman dressed in historical costume, with swords drawn. It's from the TVB show Proud Smiling Wanderer, based on a popular novel by Gum Yun. This 30-episode series aired in 1984, and has since been re-made as a TVB series in 1997, and also as a movie starring Sam Hui. According to the ever-knowledgeable Gordon Chan, CYF plays a kung fu master searching for two magic scrolls, aided by his teacher (Kenneth Tsang Kong) and a friend (Simon Yam Tat-Wah). Sik Mei Chan played Tsang Kong's daughter in the series, and Chan Sau Chow apparently also co-starred. Additional stars, according to Lin Hong, included Rebecca Chan, Jamie Chic Mei-Chun, and Isabella Wang. You can check out a copy of the theme song for Proud, Smiling Wanderer on David Lee's Real Audio CYF Sounds page. A beautiful pic from this series is also up at his incipient Chow Yun Television page. In addition, the TVB site for PSW contains a few pix, along with video and sound files from the series. (And many thanks to John for forwarding the URLs!)
Seekers
Cantonese: "Chin Lou" Transliteration: "The Road Ahead" Source: Daniel Sun, Lin Hong	According to Daniel, this action-packed series co-starred Ray Lui (better known as CYF's close friend in The Bund). CYF's character was an ex-soldier from mainland China, who'd immigrated to HK in search of an honest life. He is quickly caught up, however, in a circle of other Mainlander immigrants with a more nefarious goal: quick profits earned by violent crime. Ray Lui played another ex-soldier, who led the ring of Mainlanders involved in arms trafficking. When a dispute breaks out between Lui's ring and a Hong Kong triad, Lui and his associates are wiped out. In the best heroic bloodshed tradition, CYF then throws his aspirations to the winds, and in the last bloody episode of the series rises up to take vengeance on the triad for Lui's death. It all sounds marvelous ... According to Lin Hong, the show ran to 20 episodes, and first aired in 1981.and thanks to Daniel Sun for taking the time to describe the plot & characters!
Radio Tycoon
Cantonese: "Bo Yin Yang" Transliteration: "Radio Announcers" Source: Gordon Chan, Lin Hong	Formerly known as The Unidentified 1960s series. CYF plays a James Dean-ish 1960s disc jockey, complete with permed hair. Mill Q. Wai, Jill Ar Chi, and Teresa Chiu apparently co-starred. The show must have been popular, since it ran to 30 episodes according to Lin Hong. Radio Tycoon first aired in 1982.
The Shell Game 2
Cantonese: "Chin Wong Ji Wong 2: Chin Wong Kwan Ying Wui" Transliteration: "The Shell Game 2: Gathering of the Gambling Masters". Sources: Gordon Chan, Daniel Sun, Anonymous, Stephen Yau, Lin Hong. Soundtrack pic for The Shell Game 2: series stars CYF, Lisa Wong, and Tse Yin. Pic courtesy of Daniel Sun.	Thanks to Daniel Sun, I've successfully identified the "unknown gambling series" first mentioned by Gordon Chan as The Shell Game 2. This series, based on the God of Gamblers character was directed by Wong Jing, and produced by his dad (Wong Tin Lam). In The Shell Game, the first part of this series, Simon Yam starred as a gambler trained by two masters to wreak havoc on their common enemies; CYF did not appear. In the second (20-episode) part of the series, which hit the air waves in 1981, CYF starred as another apprentice gambler, with Yam apparently reappearing a couple of times as a suave gambling king-pin, and Lisa Wang Ming Chuen starring as the female lead. The older man in the pic to the right, who played CYF's master in The Shell Game 2, was courteously identified by both Daniel and an anonymous visitor as Patrick Tse Yin, who apparently was a famous movie star from the sixties who continued to be popular right through until he retired in the 1980s. The Shell Game 2 is best known for its classic ending: a card game in which CYF's character gambled with his life... and lost.
Super Power
Cantonese: Tin Kong Choi Son Transliterations: "God of Wealth from the Sky", "Heaven Sends Down the God of Prosperity", or "Descent of the God of Prosperity", depending on how poetic you are! Sources: Gordon Chan, Stephen Yau, Lin Hong, Daniel Sun.	CYF apparently played an alien -- yes, from outer space. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Jon Jing Yee co-starred. According to Lin Hong, the show first aired in 1982 and ran to only 20 episodes.
Vanity Fair
Cantonese: "Dai Heng" Transliterations: "Big Shot" or "Big Boss" Source: Lin Hong.	I don't know a thing about this series, except the official English title and the start date (1978). Anyone?
The Yangs' Saga
Cantonese: "Yang Ka Cheung" Transliteration: Generals (Warriors) of the Yang Clan. Source: the Tsang Wah Sin fan page, Terri, Swan, Lin Hong, and Daniel Sun.	According to Terri, "This series was about a prominent chinese family in the king's court at the time. Their rivals were another prominent chinese family whose father plotted against the entire family's demise in the court. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Andy Lau Tak-Wah led the all-star cast. In the end of the movie, all the brothers are killed except for Andy Lau Tak-Wah, a monk (who played the lead role in the original TV series "Condor Heroes", and another brother who left the family for a princess from a rival kingdom (this actor played the villain in the original "Condor Heroes" and had many other lead roles in cheesy TV action series). All the male members of the Yangs Saga left all the kick-butt females behind to defend China." This one sounds fun too! I first heard of this 1985 series from a the cast list given by the Tsang Wah Sin fan page. CYF only guest starred on this show, according to Lin Hong, and I'm not sure what character he played. In addition to Tony Leung C-W, Andy Lau, and Tsang Wah Sin herself, this series apparently starred Felix Wong Yat-Wah, Miu Kiu-Wai, Kent Tong Chun-Yip, Michael To Tai-Yu, Fiancis Ng Chun-Yu, Jamie Chik Mei-Chun, Carina Lau Ka-Ling, Carol Dodo Cheng Yu-Ling, Kung Chi-Yun, Kathy Chow Hoi-Mei, Teresa Chiu Ngar-Chi, and Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk.