Once Upon a Time in China and America
Encyclopedia
Once Upon a Time in China and America, also known as Once Upon a Time in China VI, is a 1997 Hong Kong martial arts action film co-written and produced by Tsui Hark
and directed by Sammo Hung
, who also worked on the film's fight choreography
. The film is the sixth and final installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series. It also saw the return of Jet Li
as Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung, who was replaced by Vincent Zhao
in the fourth and fifth films.
to America
to visit "Bucktooth" So, who has opened a Po-chi-lam clinic branch there. While traveling by carriage through the wilderness, they pick up a friendly cowboy
named Billy, who is almost dying of thirst. When the party stops to have lunch, a bunch of hostile Native Americans
ambush them. Wong, Clubfoot and 13th Aunt escape unharmed but their carriage slides off a cliff and falls into a river. 13th Aunt and Clubfoot are rescued and taken to "Bucktooth" So's clinic. However, Wong hits his head on a rock and loses his memory
as a consequence. He is saved by a Native American tribe.
Back in town, the mayor makes oppressive rules with the intention of causing trouble for the Chinese people
living there, while Billy tries to stop him and protects the Chinese. Meanwhile, the tribe that rescues Wong Fei-hung encounters a more powerful rival tribe. The rival leader, a fearsome warrior, injures Fierce Eagle (the chief's son) on Wong's side. However, to everyone's surprise, Wong defeats the rival leader and half of his men with his amazing kung-fu
abilities, causing the rival tribe to flee in fear. Wong is eventually brought back to the town where his companions attempt to help him recall his past.
When Wong finally regains his memory, he forgets everything that has happened during the period when he suffered from amnesia. In the meantime, the mayor is in debt and decides to hire a Mexican
bandit to help him rob the bank, so that he can abscond the town with a ton of cash. The robbery is successful and the mayor frames the people in Po-chi-lam for it. Wong and the others are arrested and almost hanged
. Just then, the Mexican bandit discovers that the mayor has paid him US$400,000 less, so he returns to town to claim his money. In the ensuing fight, the mayor is killed and Wong manages to capture the bandit to clear his name. At the end of the film, Billy is elected as the new mayor while Wong, 13th Aunt and Clubfoot return to China.
's return to the series - and, in all likelihood, the final installment of the franchise - opened on the weekend of Chinese New Year
, and faced stiff competition from films with Jackie Chan
and Stephen Chow
. Still, it grossed an excellent HK$30,268,415.
Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark , born Tsui Man-kong, is a Hong Kong New Wave film director and producer. He is viewed as a major figure in the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema .-Early life:...
and directed by Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
, who also worked on the film's fight choreography
Stage combat
Stage combat is a specialized technique in theatre designed to create the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the performers. It is employed in live stage plays as well as operatic and ballet productions. The term is also used informally to describe fight choreography for other...
. The film is the sixth and final installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series. It also saw the return of Jet Li
Jet Li
The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
as Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung, who was replaced by Vincent Zhao
Vincent Zhao
Vincent Zhao Wenzhuo , sometimes credited as Chiu Man-cheuk, is a Chinese actor and martial artist. Zhao is best known playing the role of Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung in the Once Upon a Time in China film and television series.-Early life:Zhao was born in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, as the...
in the fourth and fifth films.
Plot
Wong Fei-hung, Clubfoot and 13th Aunt cross the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to visit "Bucktooth" So, who has opened a Po-chi-lam clinic branch there. While traveling by carriage through the wilderness, they pick up a friendly cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
named Billy, who is almost dying of thirst. When the party stops to have lunch, a bunch of hostile Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
ambush them. Wong, Clubfoot and 13th Aunt escape unharmed but their carriage slides off a cliff and falls into a river. 13th Aunt and Clubfoot are rescued and taken to "Bucktooth" So's clinic. However, Wong hits his head on a rock and loses his memory
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
as a consequence. He is saved by a Native American tribe.
Back in town, the mayor makes oppressive rules with the intention of causing trouble for the Chinese people
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
living there, while Billy tries to stop him and protects the Chinese. Meanwhile, the tribe that rescues Wong Fei-hung encounters a more powerful rival tribe. The rival leader, a fearsome warrior, injures Fierce Eagle (the chief's son) on Wong's side. However, to everyone's surprise, Wong defeats the rival leader and half of his men with his amazing kung-fu
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
abilities, causing the rival tribe to flee in fear. Wong is eventually brought back to the town where his companions attempt to help him recall his past.
When Wong finally regains his memory, he forgets everything that has happened during the period when he suffered from amnesia. In the meantime, the mayor is in debt and decides to hire a Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
bandit to help him rob the bank, so that he can abscond the town with a ton of cash. The robbery is successful and the mayor frames the people in Po-chi-lam for it. Wong and the others are arrested and almost hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
. Just then, the Mexican bandit discovers that the mayor has paid him US$400,000 less, so he returns to town to claim his money. In the ensuing fight, the mayor is killed and Wong manages to capture the bandit to clear his name. At the end of the film, Billy is elected as the new mayor while Wong, 13th Aunt and Clubfoot return to China.
Cast
- Jet LiJet LiThe fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
as Wong Fei-hung - Rosamund KwanRosamund KwanRosamund Kwan Chi-lam is a Chinese actress born in Hong Kong with ancestry in Shenyang, Liaoning in China on her father's side and from Shanghai on her mother's side. She is the daughter of Shaw Brothers star Kwan Shan and actress Cheung Bing Sai...
as "13th Aunt" Siu-kwan - Hung Yan-yan as Clubfoot
- Power ChanPower ChanPower Chan or Chan Kwok-Pong is an actor in Hong Kong. He has appeared in numerous TVB drama series as well as films. He dated cantopop singer and actress Mimi Lo for 7 years before marrying her on December 2, 2009.-TV series:-Film:-References:...
as "Bucktooth" So - Jeff Wolfe as Billy
- Joe Sayah as Mexican bandit
- Lau Kar-wing as Lion Dance Drummer
- Patrick Lung
- Richard NgRichard NgRichard Ng Yiu-Hon is a Hong Kong actor. He is known for playing comedic roles, particularly in Hong Kong films of the 1980s and 90s.-Film and television career:...
- Ron Ring
- Ryon Marshall
- Freddy Joe
- Chrysta Bell Eucht
- William Fung
- Koo Kwok-wah
- MarsMars (actor)Mars , born Cheung Wing Fat is a Hong Kong actor, action director, stuntman and martial artist. He is one of Jackie Chan's best friends.-Early life:...
(extra) - Alan Chan
- Wong Choh-wa
- Fan Chin-hung
- Choi Kwok-keung
- Johnny Koo
- Jason De Hoyos
- Rick Cox
Awards and nominations
- 199817th Hong Kong Film AwardsCeremony for the 17th Hong Kong Film Awards was held on 26 April 1998.-Best Film:-Best Director:-Best Screenplay:-Best Actor:-Best Actress:-Best Supporting Actor:-Best Supporting Actress:-Best New Performer:-Best Cinematography:...
Hong Kong Film Awards- Nominated: Best Action Choreography (Sammo HungSammo HungSammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
)
- Nominated: Best Action Choreography (Sammo Hung
Box office
Jet LiJet Li
The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
's return to the series - and, in all likelihood, the final installment of the franchise - opened on the weekend of Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
, and faced stiff competition from films with Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
and Stephen Chow
Stephen Chow
Stephen Chow Sing-Chi is a Hong Kong actor, comedian, screenwriter, film director and producer.- Professional career :Stephen Chow began as a temporary actor for TVB. He entered TVB in early 1980s, and was trained there, although he had few opportunities to appear in films. Chow graduated from...
. Still, it grossed an excellent HK$30,268,415.