Once a Thief (1996 film)
Encyclopedia
Once a Thief is a remake of a 1991 film of the same name. Both films were directed by John Woo
. The movie was also made into a 1997 television series also of the same name
. The remake aired on the Fox Network and was hoped to be the beginning of a weekly series, but Fox passed on it, and the series aired instead on the CTV Television Network
in Canada.
The film is about two orphans - Mac Ramsey (Ivan Sergei
) and Li Ann Tsei (Sandrine Holt
) who have spent their life living with the Tang family - a ruthless Chinese
organised crime syndicate. Mac and Li Ann were taken in by the Tang Godfather (Robert Ito
) and have formed a close friendship with his son Michael (Michael Wong
).
When they grow up, Li Ann is betrothed to Michael, but falls in love with Mac so the two scheme to steal money from the Tang family and run off to start a new life. During the heist, Mac is arrested and Li Ann flees to Canada
. 18 months later, Mac is released into the charge of a menacing woman known only as the Director (Jennifer Dale
) who takes him to Canada to work for her crime-fighting team. He soon realises he will be working with Li Ann and her former cop boyfriend Victor (Nicholas Lea
).
The spin-off
series ran for one season.
John Woo
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
. The movie was also made into a 1997 television series also of the same name
Once a Thief (TV series)
Once a Thief was a 1997 Canadian television show inspired by the 1996 film of the same name.-Premise:...
. The remake aired on the Fox Network and was hoped to be the beginning of a weekly series, but Fox passed on it, and the series aired instead on the CTV Television Network
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
in Canada.
The film is about two orphans - Mac Ramsey (Ivan Sergei
Ivan Sergei
Ivan Sergei is an American actor known for his work in television.-Personal life:Sergei was born Ivan Sergei Gaudio in Hawthorne, New Jersey, and is of Dutch and Italian descent. Ivan attended Hawthorne High School, where he was a member of the graduating class of 1989, and was a quarterback on...
) and Li Ann Tsei (Sandrine Holt
Sandrine Holt
Sandrine Holt is a British-born Eurasian Canadian model turned actress.-Early life:Holt was born Sandrine Ho in London, England to a Chinese father and a French mother. At age five, she and her family moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which has remained her hometown. Holt attended St...
) who have spent their life living with the Tang family - a ruthless Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
organised crime syndicate. Mac and Li Ann were taken in by the Tang Godfather (Robert Ito
Robert Ito
Robert Ito is a Canadian voice, television, and movie actor of Japanese decent.A Canadian actor of Japanese descent, Ito was, for many years, a dancer with the National Ballet of Canada before turning to acting in the mid-1960s...
) and have formed a close friendship with his son Michael (Michael Wong
Michael Wong (actor)
Michael Fitzgerald Wong aka Wong Man-Tak is a Chinese-American and a Hong Kong based actor, director, singer and producer.He is fluent in English, but not so in Chinese, which is reflected in many of the characters he has portrayed. His most notable film is the 1998 film Beast Cops which won a...
).
When they grow up, Li Ann is betrothed to Michael, but falls in love with Mac so the two scheme to steal money from the Tang family and run off to start a new life. During the heist, Mac is arrested and Li Ann flees to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. 18 months later, Mac is released into the charge of a menacing woman known only as the Director (Jennifer Dale
Jennifer Dale
Jennifer Dale, née Ciurluini , is a Canadian television, dancer, and actress.- Early life :She is the sister of Canadian actress Cynthia Dale...
) who takes him to Canada to work for her crime-fighting team. He soon realises he will be working with Li Ann and her former cop boyfriend Victor (Nicholas Lea
Nicholas Lea
Nicholas Lea is a Canadian actor best known for his portrayal of Alex Krycek on The X-Files and on Kyle XY playing Tom Foss.-Biography:...
).
The spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
series ran for one season.