THE FIVE TIGERS
INTRODUCTION The decade of the 1980's was a golden period for TVB. During this time they produced a number of memorable series both modern and ancient. Five men have been credited with the huge success. They are Kent Tong Chun Yip, Miu Kiu Wai, Felix Wong Yat Wah, Andy Lau Tak Wah, and Tony Leung Chiu Wai, known simply as the Five Tigers. These five actors are prehaps the most versatile actors ever to grace the Asia Entertainment World. We now reflect on the great ancients series that the five tigers have appeared in. FIVE TIGER SERIES The Yang's Saga (1985)
"The Yang's Saga", is the only TVB Series that features all of the acting talents of the five tigers in the one series. The best actors during that period were invited to feature in the series also. In this series each actor was paired up with thier real life partner. Due to the tragic death of Barbara Yung Mei Ling, before the filiming of the series, Kent Tong Chun Yip was the only one who did not have a partner. The series is based on the famous family of the great Yang General during the Sung Dynasty. Tong Chun Yip is casted in a role of a Prince. Miu Kiu Wai played the third son of the Yang Family, Yang Yin Fai. He fought in the war agianst the Western Liao, and was saved by the Liao Princess, Bik Lin, played by Chic Mei Chun. Yang Yin Fai then married the Princess and left the Yang family. Felix Wong Yat Wah played Yang Yin Tak, who was injured during the war and became a monk. Andy Lau Tak played Yan Yin Chiu, the only son who remained with the family at the end. Tony Leung Chiu Wai, played Yeung Yin Chi, a dietite sent down to earth for breaking the rules of the heaven. His life on earth is sort lives as he is killed. The Foundation (1983)
"The Foundation", features three out of the five tigers. This story is based during the Tong Dynasty and covers the rise of Emporer Lee Sai Mun. Felix Wong Yat Wah plays Kong Fung, a man obssesed with learning kung fu, that he neglects his love, Chun Sik Sik, played by Barbara Yung Mei Ling. Later Kong Fung regreted what he had done, but by then it was already too late because Chun Sik Sik, had fallen inlove with his close friend Lee Sai Mun. Miu Kiu Wai plays 2nd Prince of Tong Emporer Lee Ying, Lee Sai Mun. In order to lend forces from another nation, Lee Sai Mun, is forced to kill his lover Chun Sik Sik and marry their princess. Tong Chun Yip plays the third son of Tong Emporer, Lee Wai Gut, who was killed by Lee Sai Mun in order to obtain the throne. Kong Fung would then track down Lee Sai Mun and wanted to kill him, to avenge the death of Chun Sik Sik. In the end instead of killing him, Kong Fung decided to let Lee Sai Mun live so he would regret killing Chun Sik Sik, for the rest of his life. Chut Tao Sheng Kiu (1988)
"Chut Tao Sheng Kiu", is a TVB production based on the novel written by Ku Long. Miu Kiu Wai plays Kong Fung, a handsome and charming hero who was saved by the female leader of a kung fu school. He falls inlove with a servant at the school played by Jamie Chic Mei Chun, and they run away together. They end up having twin boys, but are murdered by Kong Cum, Kong Fung's servant because they knew the location to a secret treasure. The female leader of the kung fu school was so outraged when she discovered that Kong Fung had died before she could torture him she thought of an evil plan. She wanted Kong Fung's twins to kill each other when they grow up. She kept one of the twins, played by Hugo Ng Die Yung, and Siu Yee Yee played by Tony Leung Chiu Wai. Siu Yee Yee was rescued by Kong Fung's sworn brother and top swordsman, Yee Nam Tin. Unfortuneately Yee Nam Tin was injured during a battle with a cult sect. Thus Siu Yee Yee was raised up by the cult sect who turned him into a very devious and cunning person. The other twin grew up with top kung fu, and was very upfront. Siu Yee Yee and the other twin would become good friends without knowing that they are brothers much to the disgust of the female kung fu leader. In the end Siu Yee Yee discovered that they were brothers, and together they avenge the death of thier parents by killing Kong Cum. After killing Kong Cum, both brothers lived a happy life with thier lovers played by Jie Ling and Kitty Lai Mei Hun. The Grand Canal (1987)
"The Grand Canal", is based during the Siu Dynasty and covers the rise of the great Tong Dynasty. Tony Leung Chiu Wai plays the legendary hero, Kau Yim Hak. Felix Wong Yat Wah, plays Lee Mun, a man with ambitions of gaining control of the throne. The Siu Dynasty is plauged by corruption, beginning with the royal feud which leads to the murder of Prince, Yeung Yung played by Liu Kai Chi, by his younger brother Yeung Guo, played by Lawerence Ng Kwai Wah. Once he ascends the throne, Yeung Guo, lets the nation suffer as corrupt officals take charge. Kau Yim Hak, Lee Ching and Cheung Chut Chun, become sworn brothers and sisters of each other. They perform herioc deeds and are known as "Fung Chun Sam Hup". During this period, Lee Mun slowly gains control over a group of rebels. Lee Sai Mun convinces his farther to rebel against the Siu Emporer. Once the dust settles, Lee Ying, gains control of the throne. Many years later Lee Sai Mun gains control of the throne. In the end Kau Yim Hak revisits his friend, Lee Sai Mun, having become the emporer of a small nation South of China. Ying Hung Chut Siu Nin (1981)
"Ying Hung Chut Siu Nin", is based during the Ching Dynasty, and focus on three friends, Fong Sai Yuk played by Dong Wai, Hung Hei Goon played by Sak Sau, and Woo Wai Kin played by Miu Kiu Wai. Felix Wong Yat Wah plays Chein Lung, who goes by the alias of Chin Fok Sau in the story. Miu Kiu Wai is the only son of a poor family. He meets and becomes friends with Fong Sai Yuk. After causing some trouble the two head to Shaolin to become students. Woo Wai Kin would later be kicked out of Shaolin. Chein Lung under an alias name would befriend Fong Sai Yuk. He would help his friends out of trouble with the Ching government and the evil Chek Boon Si. Chien Lung informs his friends on a method of killing the evil Chek Boon Si in the end. After killing Chek Boon Si, Hung Hei Goon, becomes suspicious of Chien Lung and attempts to kill him. In the end it's all a misunderstanding and they leave Shaolin as friends. Andy Lau Tak Wah made a cameo apperance in this series as a Shaolin student. The Return of Wong Fei Hung (1985) "The Return of Wong Fei Hung", is based during the Ching Dynasty. It tells the story of Lam Sai Weng, played by Andy Lau Tak Wah. The main villian of the story, Ol Yeung Jing Tak, is played by Kent Tong Chun Yip. Lam Sai Weng is the local butcher in Canton, home of the famous legend Wong Fei Hung. Lam Sai Weng becomes good friends with Wong Fei Hung's son and Leung Foon. Wong Fei Hung then accepted Lam Sai Weng as his student and taught him many forms of kung fu. He was so eager to practise kung fu that he neglected to see his girlfriend, played by Yammie Nam Kit Ying. As time went on his girlfriend fell in love with a very rich man, Ol Yeung Jing Tak. By the time Lam Sai Weng garthered enough courage to ask his girlfriend to marry him, it was too late, she had already married Ol Yeung Jing Tak. Lam Sai Weng was then framed for murder, by Ol Yeung Jing Tak, who was bitterly jealous of him. Ol Yeung Jing Tak, later went to Hong Kong, to personally kill Lam Sai Weng, who managed to escape his evil plot. In the process Ol Yeung Jing Tak accidently kills Wong Fei Hung's son. In the end Lam Sai Weng arrived back in Canton, to kill Ol Yeung Jing Tak to avenge his friends death. His ex-girlfriend pleaded with Lam Sai Weng, not to kill her husband. In the end Lam Sai Weng killed Ol Yeung Jing Tak, and asked his girlfriend to start a new life with him. She refused and left carrying Ol Yeung Jing Tak's body. The Wild Bunch (1982) "The Wild Bunch", is a story based during the Tong Dynasty. The series brings together Felix Wong Yat Wah and Kent Tong Chun Yip. Felix Wong plays Ong King Si, a village boy, who joins Lord Chun, Lee Hak Yung, after the death of his foster farther and fiance. Kent Tong, plays hired hitman, Chin Long, who becomes one of Lord Chun's warlords after he was spared twice by Lord Chun. Ong King Si has his named changed to Lee Chin Hao, and Chin Long has his changed to Hong Gwan Ling by Lord Chun. Later Lee Chin Hao and Hong Gwan Ling fight over Lee Wan Long, played by Idy Chan Yuk Lin. After Lee Chin Hao kills Hong Gwan Ling, he discovers that Lord Chun was behind the murder of his foster farther and faince. Lord Chun then captures Lee Wan Long was hostage. Whilst Lee Chin Hao was in the process of killing Lord Chun, Lee Wan Long was struck by an arrow. Having escaped and gotten revenge, Lee Wan Long died in Lee Chin Hao's arms. In the end Lee Chin Hao decides to become a monk. Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (1982)
"Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", is another TVB series based on Jin Yong's novel. The series consisted of two parts, "Tin Long Sum Kim", and "Hoi Juk Sin Ji". The story focuses on the friendship between Kiu Fung, Din Yee and Hoi Juk. Tong Chun Yip performed alone in the first part, as Din Yee Prince of Dai Li. He left the palace to travel through China. Along his journey he meets and becomes sworn brothers with Kiu Fung, the leader of Coy Bong. He also meets and went back to the palace to marry Mok Yin Ching only to find out that he is her sister. Later he meets and falls inlove with Wong Yee Yin played by Idy Chan Yuk Lin, Mo Yung Fok's cousin. The second part focuses on the naive Shaolin monk, Hoi Juk, played by Felix Wong. Hoi Juk is sent to collect medicine, but runs into plenty of trouble. He rescues Din Yee from the Big Bad Guys, and then runs into evil kung fu leader Ding Chun Chow. Later he recieves over 30 years of inner power from Mo Leung Chi and is made the leader of Siu Yiu Pai. Kiu Fung, Din Yee and Hoi Juk become sworn brothers later on. Hoi Juk is kicked out of Shaolin for breaking all of the rules, and by fate marries the girl in his dreams which turns out to be the Princess of Sai Ha. Din Yee would end up with Wong Yee Yin. Kiu Fung dies to save both the Han and the Kithan people. After his death, Mo Yung Bok, Mo Yung Fok's farther creates trouble and kills many people. Hoi Juk, and Din Yee teamed up with Siu Yin San to kill him. In the process Siu Yin San dies. The Duke of Mount Deer (1984)
"The Duke of Mount Deer", features Andy Lau Tak Wah as the King and Tony Leung Chiu Wai as Wai Siu Bo. Once again this production is based on Jin Yong's novel. A funny story about a cowardly peasent with a smooth tongue, who can talk himself out of any trouble and ends up with seven wives. Sword Stained With Royal Blood (1984)
"Sword Stained With Royal Blood", features Miu Kiu Wai and Felix Wong Yat Wah. Once again this series is based on Jin Yong's novel and is set in the period of the Ming Dynasty. Felix Wong plays Yuen Sing Chi the son of a general who is accused of treason against the Ming Dynasty. The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1983)
"The Legend of the Condor Heroes", was the second most watched series ever produced by TVB. The series is based on the novel written by Jin Yong, and a reproduction of the 1970's series. The series consisted of three parts, "Tit Hit Dan Sum", " Dung Che Sai Duk", and "Wah San Lum Kim". Once again the series stars Felix Wong Yat Wah as Kwok Jing, and Miu Kiu Wai as Yeung Hong. Barbara Yung Mei Ling put in a fantastic effort as Wong Yung. The Kwok and Yeung family are the best of friends and decendents of famous Han heroes. Kwok Jing is the son of Kwok Siu Tin who was murdered before his birth in a plot by Yee Lan Hung Lit. Yeung Hong was the son of Yeung Tit Sum, who was thought to have died before his birth. Kwok Jing grew up in Mongolia, knowing his own idenity. Yeung Hong grew up in the palace of the powerful Chin Empire, without ever knowing that he was a Han person. Kwok Jing would avenge his parents death, and protect the Song Dynasty with his life, against an attack by the Mongolians. Yeung Hong on the other hand refuse to accept the truth behind his identity leading to the death of both parents. He would later die through his own evil plots. The Return of the Condor Heroes (1983)
"The Return of the Condor Heroes", is the sequal to Legend of the Condor Heroes. The story tells of the timeless and forbidden love, between Yeung Gor played by Andy Lau Tak Wah and Siu Long Liu played by Idy Chan Yuk Lin. Kent Tong Chun Yip plays Fok Do a Mongolian prince. Yeung Gor is the son of villian Yeung Hong, and grew up in the streets after his mother Mok Dim Chi dies. Eventually Kwok Jing and Wong Yung locates him and he is taken back to live with them at To Fai Do. After a series of misunderstanding, Yeung Gor is taken to Chin Sun Gow were he is bullied by his elder classmates. He plotted an escape and fell down to Ku Mo, were he is accepted by Siu Long Liu as a student. Yeung Gor and Siu Long Liu were seperated many times, eventually because of an incurable illness, they were forced to seperate for sixteen years. During that time Yeung Gor wandered around with his large Condor companion and performed herioc deeds. After 16 years had passed Yeung Gor went to look for Siu Long Liu, were she had written on the stone. But she did not return, so Yeung Gor decided jump off the cliff to committ succide. As fate would have it he found Siu Long Liu, in good health at the bottom of the cliff on the other side of the mountain. Together they returned and helped Kwok Jing and Wong Yung hold off an attack by the Mongolinas. In the end they left to live a peaceful life together after being apart for sixteen years. The New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre (1987)
"The New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre", completes the trilogy dealing with the Condor Heroes. This series is another reproduction of the 1970's series. Tony Leung Chiu Wai plays the hero, Cheung Mo Kei. This story is based 80 years after the fall of the Song Dynasty, when the Monglians finally defeated the Han forces, and established the Yuan Dynasty. Kwok Seng, played by Tsang Wah Sin, goes in search of Yeung Gor, which leads to Cheung Sam Fung being kicked out of Shaolin. Cheung Sam Fung then establishes the school of Mo Dong, and has seven students each of which are heroes. His fifth student Cheung Tu San, marries the daugther of the leader of the Ming Cult, Yan So So. Together they know the location of the Dragon Sword, which eventually leads to thier deaths. Thier son, Cheung Mo Kei, is posioned and taken to a mythical doctor to heal. Cheung Mo Kei has four lovers, Siu Chiu, played by Maggie Siu, Chu Yee, Chow Chi Yek, played by Sheren Tang and Jiu Mun played by Kitty Lai. Unfortunately Cheung Mo Kei is uncertain in his relationships as Chow Chi Yek and Jiu Mun struggle to gain control of his love. In the end Cheung Mo Kei decides on Jiu Mun over Chow Chi Yek. Later Cheung Mo Kei is caught in a struggle between love for his country and love for Chiu Mun, who is a Mongolian Princess. In the end Cheung Mo Kei decides to leave and live peacefully with Chiu Mun, whilst his Ming Cult, defeats the Mongolians and establishes the Ming Dynasty. Hap Hak Sang (1989)
"Hap Hak Sang", is another TVB production based on Jin Yong's novels. This series stars Tony Leung Chiu Wai, as both twins Sak Jong Yuk and Sak Por Tin. Sak Jong Yuk and Sak Por Tin are twins seperated at birth. Sak Jong Yuk, grows up being raised by his parents. Sak Por Tin meanwhile is raised by a family with an evil purpose which becomes unstuck as they are killed by thier own friend who betrayed them. Sak Jung Yuk, is very lazy and sleazy. He ends up having four wives, including Ding Ding, played by Sheren Tang. Sak Por Tin meanwhile is very honest and a gentleman. In the end the two brothers would avenge thier parents death and live a happy life. Lai Bo Yee (1984)
This series is about the swordsman Lai Bo Yee, and was reproduced in the 90's starring Patrick Tam. I don't remember much of the series unfortunately. Lai Bo Yee 84', also starred Patrica Chong Ching Yee. The New Adventure of Chor Lau Heung (1984)
"The New Adventure of Chor Lau Heung", is based on the novel written by Ku Long. This series follows on from the 1970's series. Miu Kiu Wai stars as the detective hero Chor Lau Heung. Once again this series features Barbara Yung Mei Ling as Song Siu Ching. Chor Lau Heung begins his journey by visiting his close friend, Chor Heung Lau, on his birthday. There he uncovers the mystery behind Chor Heung Lau and Sit Yee Yun's daughter's illnesses. After that event he promises Sit Sun Yee that he will recover the Snake Sword that he had been accused of stealing. Meanwhile a number of kung fu experts had been mysteriously murdered. Chor Lau Heung would be accused for murders. His close friend, Wu Dip Fai, arrives and clears his friends innocence. Together they set out to solve the cases as well as locate Song Siu Ching a girl with an unkown identity who had been travelling with him. She went missing after a masked man attacked thier group earlier. On the way they ran into hitman and close friend Jong Yin Yat Dim Hung, who was now running a hotel and living a peaceful life. Trouble arrived as others managed to locate Jong Yin Yat Dim Hung and killed his wife to force him to capture Song Siu Ching. Later Yim Tu Wan a respected gentleman, opened a kung fu forum to uncover the mystery behind the murders. They discovered that each death occured through succide. Chor Lau Heung then uncovered that the death was linked to the secret Bat cult. It was later uncovered that Yim Tu Wan was the leader of the secret Bat cult. Yim Tu Wan's attempts to gain control of the throne were foiled by Chor Lau Heung. In the end they met and had a duel which was interrupted by Song Siu Ching. Chor Lau Heung then decided to let Yim Tu Wan go, but he was killed by his girlfriend who then committed succide. The Legend of Dik Qing (1986)
This is another series which I don't remember the plot. Kitty Lai, Jie Ling, Michael To Tai Yu are the co-stars. Fearless Duo (1982)
"Fearless Duo", is a comedy co-starring Barbarra Yung Mei Ling. The Dragon Sword (1989)
A three part tale about a swordsman, Yung Chi Wan played by Miu Kiu Wai, with a unique Dragon Sword with special powers. In the first part Yung Chi Wan's second classmate played by Lau Ching Wam, kills his farther to become the leader of the Holy Sword Sect and raped Yung Chi Wan's child hood sweetheart played by Tsang Wah Sin. Yung Chi Wan would take the Dragon Sword and avenge his farther's death by killing his evil classmate. In the process his childhood sweetheart dies. In the second part, the four leaders of major kung fu schools go missing and are then spotted killing a number of people. Yung Chi Wan and a close friend goes to investigate. They run into a young girl played by Chic Mei Chun who takes them to her farther who was behind the plott. The young girl's farther wanted to steal Yung Chi Wan's Dragon Sword. In the end Yung Chi Wan and the kung fu leaders were saved by the young girl who died through being posioned. Yung Chi Wan then killed the evil swordsman. In the third part, Yung Chi Wan, recieves a challenge from another top swordsman. He refused the challenge because the Dragon Sword has lost it's powers after being broken during the battle with an evil swordsman earlier. The swordsman then agreed to help Yung Chi Wan, to find the neccesary components to restore the Dragon Swords powers. In the end they would restore the Dragon Swords powers, kill another evil man and had a duel. Yung Chi Wan won and the swordsman decided it was time to leave the kung fu world. In the end Yung Chi Wan would leave as well with another girl played by Chan Siu Mun. The Garden of Evil Sky Demon
Eagle Hunter
Old Myth Beggar So Not so much an ancient series, but "Beggar So", can definitely be classified as a kung fu serial. This series featured the likes of Chow Yan Fat as So Chan, Miu Kiu Wai as Ma Kwan, Mei Seut, and Chan Sau Chu. Andy Lau played one of the students at So Chan's kung fu school. His character was honest and likable. Later there was a misunderstanding between two good friends So Chan and Ma Kwan. Later Andy Lau's character attempted to help out Ma Kwan, but was murdered due to another misunderstanding. Once So Chan heard that Ma Kwan had murdered his good friend (Andy's character). adding to the other evil acts that Ma Kwan had done he sought to avenge his death. His wife disapprove of So Chan's actions however and would later leave him. Knowing that he could not defeat Ma Kwan, So Chan, began to take up drinking and developed the drunked fist. In the end So Chan defeated Ma Kwan who was later murdered. Upon completing his act, So Chan lived on the streets like a beggar. Heir to the Throne The Thirteenth Sister (1982) The Legend of Lam Chong (1986)
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