Wu Ma (1942-2014)
02-04-14, 11:46 AM
#1
DVD Talk Limited Edition
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Wu Ma (1942-2014)
Not sure if this will gain much traction here since Hong Kong fans are in short supply, and in light of recent higher-profile passings, but here goes.
Veteran Hong Kong actor and director Wu Ma dies
One line in particular reminds me why I became so devoted to the city's film industry:
Few directors working in the west contemporaneously to Wu can boast a track record like that. I'm sure names can be provided, but for every one I could probably list ten more of Wu Ma's contemporaries -- and even plenty of descendants -- who matched or exceeded his output both in front of and behind the camera. The man never quit.
Still, 71's too young these days. Damned cigarettes, man . . .
Directorial efforts (including films co-directed with former mentor Chang Cheh):
Wrath of the Sword (1970)
Deaf and Mute Heroine (1971)
The Water Margin (1972)
The Young Tiger (1973)
The Pirate (1973)
The Protectors (1974)
The Dumb Ox (1974)
Wits to Wits (1974)
The Manchu Boxer (1974)
April Fool (1974)
All Men Are Brothers (1975)
The Golden Triangle (1975)
Shaolin Temple (1976)
Seven Man Army (1976)
The Shaolin Avengers (1976)
New Shaolin Boxers (1976)
Along Comes a Tiger (1977)
The Naval Commandos (1977)
Shaolin Deadly Kicks (1977)
Magnificent Wanderers (1977)
The Murder of Murders (1978)
Snake Crane Secret (1978)
Showdown at the Cotton Mill (1978)
Flying Sword Lee (1979)
The Handcuff (1979)
Eunuch of the Western Palace (1979)
Kung-Fu of Eight Drunkards (1980)
The Shaolin Heroes (1980)
Brave Commando (1981)
Beware of Pickpockets (1981)
The Dead and the Deadly (1982)
Mr. Boo Meets Pom Pom (1985)
Shyly Joker (1986)
My Cousin the Ghost (1987)
Picture of a Nymph (1988)
Just Heroes (1989)
Burning Sensation (1989)
Stage Door Johnny (1990)
Story of Kennedy Town (1990)
Devil Gambler (1991)
Fox Legend (1991)
Kickboxer (1993)
Exorcist Master (1993)
The Chinese Ghostbuster (1994)
Circus Kids (1994)
Generation Pendragon (1999)
Generation Consultant (1999)
Insuperable Kid Huoyuanjia (2005)
The Best Banquet in the World (2006)
The article claims he "had over 180 appearances to his name", but HKMDB has found 298, and I suspect there were even more in films that have yet to see release on home video or streaming, or that were simply lost to the ages.
.
Veteran Hong Kong actor and director Wu Ma dies
One line in particular reminds me why I became so devoted to the city's film industry:
Starting as a drama actor in the city, Fung later signed up with Shaw Brothers (Hong Kong) Studio and made his screen debut in 1963. Since then he had over 180 appearances to his name plus 38 directorial credits within a 25-year period.
Still, 71's too young these days. Damned cigarettes, man . . .
Directorial efforts (including films co-directed with former mentor Chang Cheh):
Wrath of the Sword (1970)
Deaf and Mute Heroine (1971)
The Water Margin (1972)
The Young Tiger (1973)
The Pirate (1973)
The Protectors (1974)
The Dumb Ox (1974)
Wits to Wits (1974)
The Manchu Boxer (1974)
April Fool (1974)
All Men Are Brothers (1975)
The Golden Triangle (1975)
Shaolin Temple (1976)
Seven Man Army (1976)
The Shaolin Avengers (1976)
New Shaolin Boxers (1976)
Along Comes a Tiger (1977)
The Naval Commandos (1977)
Shaolin Deadly Kicks (1977)
Magnificent Wanderers (1977)
The Murder of Murders (1978)
Snake Crane Secret (1978)
Showdown at the Cotton Mill (1978)
Flying Sword Lee (1979)
The Handcuff (1979)
Eunuch of the Western Palace (1979)
Kung-Fu of Eight Drunkards (1980)
The Shaolin Heroes (1980)
Brave Commando (1981)
Beware of Pickpockets (1981)
The Dead and the Deadly (1982)
Mr. Boo Meets Pom Pom (1985)
Shyly Joker (1986)
My Cousin the Ghost (1987)
Picture of a Nymph (1988)
Just Heroes (1989)
Burning Sensation (1989)
Stage Door Johnny (1990)
Story of Kennedy Town (1990)
Devil Gambler (1991)
Fox Legend (1991)
Kickboxer (1993)
Exorcist Master (1993)
The Chinese Ghostbuster (1994)
Circus Kids (1994)
Generation Pendragon (1999)
Generation Consultant (1999)
Insuperable Kid Huoyuanjia (2005)
The Best Banquet in the World (2006)
The article claims he "had over 180 appearances to his name", but HKMDB has found 298, and I suspect there were even more in films that have yet to see release on home video or streaming, or that were simply lost to the ages.
.
Last edited by Brian T; 02-04-14 at 01:06 PM.
02-04-14, 12:42 PM
#3
Re: Wu Ma (1942-2014)
He's probably most famous in the west as the ghost-hunting monk in A CHINESE GHOST STORY (1987):
But he popped up in great comic roles in so many films for Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Tsui Hark, etc., as well as numerous old school kung fu films. One of the distinct pleasures associated with Hong Kong films is the dependable presence of so many colorful actors like him (and Richard Ng, Bill Tung, Stanley Fung, Eric Tsang, Fung Hak On, Ng Man Tat, etc., etc., etc.) in so many films over the decades.
But he popped up in great comic roles in so many films for Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Tsui Hark, etc., as well as numerous old school kung fu films. One of the distinct pleasures associated with Hong Kong films is the dependable presence of so many colorful actors like him (and Richard Ng, Bill Tung, Stanley Fung, Eric Tsang, Fung Hak On, Ng Man Tat, etc., etc., etc.) in so many films over the decades.
Last edited by Ash Ketchum; 02-04-14 at 12:48 PM.
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02-04-14, 01:05 PM
#6
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Re: Wu Ma (1942-2014)
He's probably most famous in the west as the ghost-hunting monk in A CHINESE GHOST STORY (1987):
But he popped up in great comic roles in so many films for Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Tsui Hark, etc., as well as numerous old school kung fu films. One of the distinct pleasures associated with Hong Kong films is the dependable presence of so many colorful actors like him (and Richard Ng, Bill Tung, Stanley Fung, Eric Tsang, Fung Hak On, Ng Man Tat, etc., etc., etc.) in so many films over the decades.
But he popped up in great comic roles in so many films for Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Tsui Hark, etc., as well as numerous old school kung fu films. One of the distinct pleasures associated with Hong Kong films is the dependable presence of so many colorful actors like him (and Richard Ng, Bill Tung, Stanley Fung, Eric Tsang, Fung Hak On, Ng Man Tat, etc., etc., etc.) in so many films over the decades.
02-04-14, 02:07 PM
#7
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Re: Wu Ma (1942-2014)
02-04-14, 02:21 PM
#8
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
02-04-14, 02:22 PM
#9
Re: Wu Ma (1942-2014)
http://www.brns.com/hkactors/pages/page44.html
You have to scroll down almost to the bottom to find Wu Ma.
02-04-14, 03:28 PM
#11
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Re: Wu Ma (1942-2014)
If it's the original Hong Kong edition — non-anamorphic though it may be — you might want to get it back as I believe it's the only edition to have two complete versions of the film on it, one per side. As far as I know, most subsequent releases (including the Fortune Star 'remaster', Dragon Dynasty's edition, and the HK Blu-ray[?]) have only one version of the film—Cantonese, presumably—plus an alternate ending as a bonus feature (if they include that at all). But that ending comes from a version of the film that has several other slight alterations throughout. Again, I'm content to stand corrected. 
