Leslie Cheung Movies
Heartthrob, pop star, and celebrated Hong Kong actor, Leslie Cheung was one of Asia's most popular performers and intriguing personalities. Bearing an odd sensuality that both fueled the films he stared in (particularly Rouge, Viva Erotica, Days of Being Wild, and Happy Together) and the Hong Kong tabloids, Cheung was well-known for both the breadth of his work and his offscreen life. Although featured to great effect in several of John Woo's butch action outings, Cheung was notable for being one of the few Asian stars to play openly gay characters, a choice that gained particular resonance when he came out after playing one of his most famous gay roles in Wong Kar-Wai's Happy Together.Born in Hong Kong on September 12, 1956, Cheung was the youngest of ten children. Influenced early on by both the film world, as his father was actor William Holden's tailor, and his parents' divorce, Cheung went on to study at England's Leeds University. After returning to Hong Kong, he jump-started his career by winning second prize in the 1976 ATV Asian Music Contest. His status as a pop singer led the way to work on television, film, and the stage. In 1981, Cheung became a bona fide star with the success of his album The Wind Blows On, which established him as Asia's most popular singer.
It was not until 1986 that Cheung's film career really gained momentum, thanks to his casting as a rookie cop opposite Chow Yun-Fat in John Woo's popular gangster film A Better Tomorrow. The film's success enabled Cheung to branch out in his film work, and, in 1988, the same year he starred in the sequel to A Better Tomorrow, he played the opium-smoking playboy lead in Stanley Kwan's Rouge, a romantic ghost story that oscillates between the Hong Kong of the 1930s and that of 1987. Rouge was one of the most widely acclaimed films to come out of Hong Kong during the 1980s and helped to establish Cheung as a romantic leading man as well as an action star.
The actor continued to work in a variety of films with some of the industry's most respected directors throughout the 1990s. In 1990, he starred in Woo's action film Once a Thief, again alongside fellow action star Chow Yun-Fat. Later, he got the chance to expand his acting palette in Wong Kar-Wai's Days of Being Wild (1991) by playing Yuddy, a thoroughly despicable heel who uses and abuses most of the women in his life. In 1993, Cheung starred in another action spectacular as Zhuo Yi-Hang, the sensitive swordsman and star-crossed romantic lead in The Bride With White Hair. That same year, he earned international acclaim and recognition for his performance as an opera star specializing in female roles in Chen Kaige's landmark historical drama Farewell, My Concubine. Cheung lent his character's complicated gender identity an unusual pathos and sensitivity, making the development of his on-stage love to off-stage longing all the more affecting. Three years later, he again worked with Chen, as a dissolute opium addict in Temptress Moon.
In 1994, he paired up with Wong Kar-Wai again as the ambivalent swordslinger hired to kill and protect the same person in the existential action epic Ashes of Time. In 1997, again with Wong, Cheung starred in perhaps the most daring role of his career as the bitchy Ho Po-wing, one of a pair of gay Chinese lovers stranded in Buenos Aires in Happy Together. The film's explicit sex scenes made Happy Together one of the most controversial movies of the year and one of the most acclaimed. Cheung subsequently starred as a sleazy softcore film producer in Viva Erotica.
Continuing to appear in numerous films through the millennial crossover, Cheung continued to gain accolades for his diverse and affecting roles. From his touching performance as a stockbroker who finds new meaning in life upon adopting a young orphan in The Kid (1999), to a haunting and eerily prophetic final role in the thriller Inner Senses (2002), his unique persona continued to earn the respect of longtime fans and reach out to those still unfamilar with Cheung's remarkable charm and captivating screen presence.
When Cheung's death from an apparent suicide was announced in April 1, 2003, the international film community suffered a devastating blow and legions of fans had a difficult time grasping how an actor of such talent could end his life with one fateful leap while still in the prime of his career. Following the news of Cheung's untimely death, fans began mourning the loss of the cinematic icon while simultaniously taking note of the tragic irony of his own fate in parallel to that of his troubled character in Inner Senses. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
For this 1991 action comedy from Hong Kong, director John Woo took a break from his ultraviolent thrillers; it was made a year after Bullet in the Head, and a year before Hard-Boiled. Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Cherie Chung portray a trio of orphans who have grown to become art thieves. When their foster father (Kenneth Tsang), a powerful crime boss, forces them into stealing a painting, they pull off the job but are double-crossed. To get even, the trio plans a heist to steal the painting back. The three lead characters are funny and romantic; they're daring art thieves in the tradition of "The Cat" from To Catch a Thief or The Pink Panther, and the film evokes the same cosmopolitan feel. Once a Thief is far less bloody than Woo's gangster pictures, but in this film, the burglary sequences possess all the astounding grace of his other films' gunfights. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, (more)
Following up on his debut As Tears Go By, master filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai directs this dark, brooding tale about identity and unrequited love. Set in 1960, the film center of the young, boyishly handsome Yuddy (Leslie Cheung), who learns from the drunken ex-prostitute who raised him that she is not his real mother. Hoping to hold onto him, she refuses to divulge the name of his real birth mother. The revelation shakes Yuddy to his very core, unleashing a cascade of conflicting emotions. Two women have the bad luck to fall for Yuddy. One is a quiet lass who works at a sport arena named Su Lizhen (Maggie Cheung), while the other is a glitzy showgirl named Mimi (Carina Lau). Perhaps due to his unresolved Oedipal issues, he passively lets the two compete for him, unable or unwilling to make a choice. As Lizhen slowly confides her frustration to a cop named Tide (Andy Lau), he falls for her. The same is true for Yuddy's friend Zeb (Jacky Cheung), who falls for Mimi. Later, Yuddy learns of his birth mother's whereabouts and heads out to the Philippines. This film won a armful of trophies at the Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Director, Best Actor for Leslie Cheung, and Best Picture. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, (more)
This continuation of A Chinese Ghost Story reunites some of the original cast. Ning Leslie Cheung, the wandering scholar from the first film, is mistakenly imprisoned. An old man helps him escape and gives him a medallion for good luck. Ning meets a group of rebels, and the medallion causes them to mistake him for the old man, who turns out to be a well-known sage. Joey Wong, who played the ghostly heroine in the first film, portrays Windy, the leader of the rebels. Ning falls in love with Windy because of her resemblance to his past love and joins in a struggle to save her father from an evil warlord. The romantic element is toned down from the original; this installment emphasizes outrageous martial arts sequences, creatures, and special effects. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong, (more)
Following the bloody climax of the previous film, A Better Tomorrow -- again directed by John Woo -- opens with Sung Chi-hi (spelled Tse-ho in the first film though still played by Ti Lung) getting released from jail on the condition that he rat out his gangland associate and a shipyard owner, Lung (Dean Shek). Chi-ti's younger brother, a young cop named Chi-kit (Leslie Cheung), is working undercover on the case and has already gotten into the gangster's good graces by dating his daughter, Peggy (Regina Kent). Fearing that he might put his brother's life in danger, Chi-hi cooperates with the cops. Meanwhile, Lung comes to believe that he is responsible for the death of a competitor and flees to New York. There he promptly goes crazy while under the care of Ken (Chow Yun-fat), the twin brother of the sunglass and trench coat-sporting Mark who died in the previous film. During a gun battle with the Mafia who tried to blackmail the exiled crime boss, Lung miraculously regains his sanity. Together he and Ken return to Hong Kong to settle a few scores. This film's onscreen mayhem was almost matched offscreen. Director John Woo and producer Tsui Hark had radically different views of how the film ought to progress. As a result, Hark reportedly recut the film without Woo's consent, ending a long-time professional relationship between the two filmmakers. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chow Yun-Fat
- 1988
Hong Kong filmmaker Stanley Kwan directs this stunning supernatural melodrama about a passion, romance, and lost history. Fleur (Anita Mui) is a 1930s high-class courtesan who finds herself sucked into a doomed relationship with Twelfth Master Chan Chen-Pang (Leslie Cheung), the rakish scion of a prosperous business family that disapproves of their union. After a brief but intense courtship, the two resolve to be together in the afterworld by swallowing opium. Yet once there, Fleur discovers that she is alone. After waiting 50 years for her dearly beloved, she re-emerges in 1987 to place a personal ad. In the process, she enlists the aid of a pair of journalists: Yuen (Alex Man) and his feisty, occasionally jealous girlfriend Ah Chor (Emily Chu). Fleur learns that the Hong Kong she knew has by and large disappeared: the brothel where she worked was now a kindergarten. As she tells them of her love for Twelfth Master, the two journalists begin to find their relationship intensifying. As Fleur's spirit grows weaker, their search continues until it yields results that are both sad and ironic. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anita Mui, Leslie Cheung, (more)
A good example of the Hong Kong predilection for slapping together a film as a pastiche of successful elements from other films, this Cinema City production from director Po-Chih Leong credits five different screenwriters. Leslie Cheung stars as Chi Ken-wing (or "Chicken Wing" as he is sometimes referred to), who meets a beautiful and mysterious young woman named Cecilia (Cherie Chung). When Cecilia disappears, Wing does some digging and determines that she was probably a ghost. Of course, she really isn't a ghost at all, but merely playing dead in order to keep Wing from getting hurt by her violently jealous boyfriend, Sam (Melvin Wong). Naturally, Wing pursues her anyway and gets beaten up, but the two fall in love and begin seeing each other, leading Sam to pursue more drastic measures. Philip Kwok co-stars with Ann Bridgewater and David Wu. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
Legendary Hong Kong producer/director Tsui Hark and filmmaker Ching Siutung combine forces in this high-flying supernatural romance classic. Ning Caichen (Leslie Cheung) is a lowly tax collector who takes refuge for the night at the spooky Lam Ro temple. There he encounters and promptly falls in love with a beautiful ghost named Nie Xiaoqian (Joey Wang). Unfortunately Xiaoqian is damned to serve the evil hermaphroditic tree spirit Lao Lao, who (thanks to an extraordinarily long tongue) feasts on the souls of amorous young males. Usually Xiaoqian, along with her comely sister Qing, tempts would-be Lotharios to their arboreal doom, but she too is smitten with the downtrodden wanderer. Soon afterwards, Caichen meets Master Yan (Ma Wu), a Taoist hermit, martial arts master, and a sworn enemy of Lao Lao, who tells him of Xiaoqian's true, otherworldly nature. Nonetheless, true love proves to be strong. Caichen promises Xiaoqian that he will help spring her from her dubious employment and Xiaoqian protects her love from the evil wood sprite. Later, things grow more complicated for the lovers when they learn that Xiaoqian has been betrothed to a demon warlord. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Cheung, Wong Tsu Hsien, (more)
- 1986
Pop star Leslie Cheung stars in this maudlin melodrama as Louie, a spoiled pop star, who, at the film's outset, sleeps with beautiful dancer Anita (Anita Mui Yim-fong). The next morning, Anita tells Louie of her dream of becoming a singer. That night, Louie invites Anita on-stage and soon a star is born. Though clearly Anita has fallen hard for him, Louie is more interested in the leggy Julia (Joey Wang Tsu-hsien). When he learns that the eye of his apple is dating his dad, Louie cancels his concert and flees the country for Paris. There he shacks up with comely Vietnamese refugee Yuan Yu-shih (Cecilia Yip Tong), who suffers from a mysterious war wound. Though working happily as a restaurant dishwasher with his new love, Louie soon finds his previous life calling him back when Anita pays him a visit. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Cheung, Anita Miu, (more)
John Woo established himself as one of Hong Kong's premiere action directors with this ultra-hip, ultra-violent action classic. The film centers around the complex relationship between two brothers: Sung Tse-kit (Leslie Cheung) is a recent graduate of the police academy while Tse-ho (Ti Lung) runs a massive counterfeiting ring along with his gangland associate, Mark Lee (Chow Yun-fat). Tension between the two brothers comes to a head when their father is murdered after a crime deal goes sour and Tse-ho lands in jail after being double-crossed. In perhaps the most influential scene in Hong Kong cinema in the 1980s, Mark avenges his friend by staging a dinner table assassination. As Mark tries to shoot his way out of the restaurant, pulling a series of hidden pistols from potted plants and alcoves, he gets horribly injured. With both founding members of the counterfeiting syndicate incapacitated, the operation falls into the hands of Shing (Waise Lee Chi-hung), Tse-ho's former underling who has little of his boss' élan or experience. When Tse-ho gets out of jail, he reunites with his now-crippled comrade, Mark, to take out Shing and to protect Tse-kit whose life is in danger for investigating their former subordinate. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, (more)
- 1985
Aimed squarely at the lowest common teenage denominator, this tale of three young men out for sex does not rise much beyond a junior-high, locker room humor. The aptly-named Piggy Chan (Leslie Chung) shares an apartment with two buddies and makes his living as a disc jockey. His favorite avocation is chasing women, but one day he falls for an 18-year-old while riding the bus. Inventive and persistent, he finally manages to end her age of innocence -- and then has no problem in going right back to his pursuit of other women, wherever they may be found. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mang Hoi
- 1985
Guy Lai Ying-chau directs this romantic crime yarn about a pair of sibling thieves named Pretty Eyes (Joyce Ngai Suk-kwan) and Slanty Eyes (played by pop star Sandy Lam Yik-lin). When the two make the mistake of lightening the wallet of a mob assassin who just got paid for a hit, they find themselves in dire trouble. Pretty saves herself by getting arrested. When she gets out of the clink, she is pursued by handsome Taiwanese Interpol officer Simon Tang (Billy Lau Nam-kwong). When Pretty finally manages to lose the cop, Tang finds himself the target of the vengeful hired gun. Later, Tang, his Hong Kong police associate Chan (Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing), and the two sisters unite against the killer. Wong Kar-wai who would latter direct some of Hong Kong's finest films co-wrote this script. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joyce Ngai, Sandy Lam, (more)
- 1984
Burdened by wooden acting and a fragmented storyline, this romantic comedy set against the posh environment of an upper-class Hong Kong elite is about the love that blossoms between a bumbling young man (Leslie Chung) and an attractive woman he meets on the subway (Maggie Cheung). Both would-be lovers are pursued by others; an heiress chases after the likeable klutz, and his subway lady-love has an ex-boyfriend who wants her back again. This Hong Kong fare seems particularly made for the local population. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, (more)
- 1983
In this undistinguished tale of a teenager who wants to become a drummer, there is no kung-fu or martial arts of any kind, just the 27-year-old Leslie Cheung as the aspiring teen who eventually gets around his father's objections and starts studying with a Filipino percussion teacher. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Cheung
- 1982
Four teenagers in a wealthy girls' school are involved in the school's production of "Romeo and Juliet," directed by the savvy Jackson (Leslie Cheung) the lead from the boys' school who also plays Romeo. The girls' lead, Juliet, is played by the innocent Ting-ting (Chou Hsai-lan), and she rapidly falls for Jackson. The Romeo and Juliet of the play become lovers in real life, but their love story does not otherwise parallel Shakespeare's protagonists. It seems Jackson has a wandering eye, and Ting-ting has some tough choices looming on her horizon. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Cheung
- 1982
Chan Chuen directed this story about the many problems besetting Hong Kong youth when they reach that "energetic" age of 21. One poor rich kid has parents who do not really care much about him and another suffers under considerable stress, yet another fellow has to live down the stigma of his mother's profession (she is a high-class hooker), and although a young auto mechanic is not economically in the same rarified strata as these wealthy scions, he likes to hang out with them anyway. This world seems almost too secure to last for long, but the bored young men continue in their pursuits of auto racing and disco dancing as though nothing else mattered. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Cheung, Eddie Chan, (more)
- 1982
Ma (Tong Chung-yip) works as a taxi driver, as a collector for his father whose business is high-interest loans, and in his spare time, as a lifeguard. In that last role, he meets Kathy (Pat Ha), a wealthy woman, and romance blossoms. Meanwhile, Kathy's friend Louis (Leslie Chung) is also at the beach a lot and he meets a woman with the unlikely name of Tomato (Cecilia), and they develop a relationship. The two couples have various sexual encounters, and then some dastardly assassins from Japan arrive to snuff out Kathy because she has spurned the son of a major gangster. The sex and the violence are intended to make Hong Kong's beaches all that hotter, but the final judgment will have to rest with the viewers. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Cheung
- 1981
Two brothers from an upper-class family (Danny Chan and Paul Chung) and their impoverished school chum (Leslie Chum, no pun intended), slowly discover their adult personas as they go through a series of love interests and adventures. One of the brothers is a budding musician, innocent of heart and mind, who meets a woman in the subway station and develops a relationship with her. The other brother is more tough-minded and yearns for a career in the corporate world. And the financially deprived classmate runs into one misfortune after the next, as he is dragged down into the world of drugs and drug dealers -- and various erotic encounters along the way to the bottom. Eventually, the three friends strengthen their bonds, and in the end, there may be some hope for all of them, as they each have a tighter grasp on reality -- maybe any grasp at all on reality -- to see them through the next stage in their adventures. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny Chan, Leslie Cheung, (more)
- 1980
Teen love and angst are at the nexus of this standard comedy-melodrama from director Clifford Choi. Hong Kong singer Danny Chan is the hero who is not only trying to make it through school and into life intact, he has to somehow deal with an uncle who loves his bottle just a little too much (one of many problems). As the teen slowly comes of age, a panorama of early adulthood unfolds. The story is highlighted by dissension between sons and fathers, competition in arenas as diverse as sports and love, and loyalty among true friends. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny Chan, Leslie Cheung, (more)
