''Return to Action'' is a 1990
Hong Kong action film
Hong Kong action cinema is the principal source of the Hong Kong film industry's global fame. Action films from Hong Kong have roots in Chinese culture, Chinese and Culture of Hong Kong, Hong Kong cultures, including Chinese opera, storytelling a ...
produced and directed by
Chen Kuan-tai
Chen Kuan-tai (; born 24 September 1945) is a Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Ko ...
and starring
Alex Man
Alexander Man Chi-leung () better known simply as Alex Man is a Hong Kongese actor. Born in Hong Kong to Hakka parents, Alex Man became a television actor for ATV in the 1970s. He joined TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB; zh, t ...
,
Rosamund Kwan
Rosamund Kwan Chi Lam (born Kwan Kar Wai on 24 September 1962) is a former Hong Kong actress, known for her on-screen pairing with Andy Lau in dramatic films such as '' Casino Raiders'' and '' The Wesley's Mysterious File,'' and for her role o ...
,
Mark Cheng
Mark Cheng Ho-nam (born 6 October 1964) is a Hong Kong actor. He made his name with his first starring role in the film '' Cupid One'' with Sally Yeh. He is also known for his role as Lam Wing in the 1996 film '' Tai Chi Boxer'' and FuXi in '' M ...
,
Shing Fui-On
Shing Fui-On (成奎安; 1 February 1955 – 27 August 2009) was a Hong Kong actor, best known for his supporting roles in Hong Kong cinema. He had only one leading role in his entire career.
Biography
Shing Fui-On was the fourth of five ...
and Chen himself in a supporting role.
Plot
Chan Wan-sing (
Chen Kuan-tai
Chen Kuan-tai (; born 24 September 1945) is a Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Ko ...
) has retired from the underworld for many years and often inculcates his son Wah (
Mark Cheng
Mark Cheng Ho-nam (born 6 October 1964) is a Hong Kong actor. He made his name with his first starring role in the film '' Cupid One'' with Sally Yeh. He is also known for his role as Lam Wing in the 1996 film '' Tai Chi Boxer'' and FuXi in '' M ...
), hoping that his son will not step into his footsteps. However, Wah had secretly colluded with Mad Man (
Shing Fui-On
Shing Fui-On (成奎安; 1 February 1955 – 27 August 2009) was a Hong Kong actor, best known for his supporting roles in Hong Kong cinema. He had only one leading role in his entire career.
Biography
Shing Fui-On was the fourth of five ...
) in dealing with illegal business. While on the other hand, Chan greatly cares for his adopted daughter Joey (
Rosamund Kwan
Rosamund Kwan Chi Lam (born Kwan Kar Wai on 24 September 1962) is a former Hong Kong actress, known for her on-screen pairing with Andy Lau in dramatic films such as '' Casino Raiders'' and '' The Wesley's Mysterious File,'' and for her role o ...
) as if she was his biological child and is also very proud of Joey's husband, police inspector Man Yung-keung (
Alex Man
Alexander Man Chi-leung () better known simply as Alex Man is a Hong Kongese actor. Born in Hong Kong to Hakka parents, Alex Man became a television actor for ATV in the 1970s. He joined TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB; zh, t ...
) of the Regional Unit of Hong Kong.
Man's superiors assign him to assist Interpol officer Ms. Hon (Lee Siu-man), who has come to Hong Kong to investigate smuggling case, and ensure her safety. However, Ms. Hon disapproves of the Hong Kong Police and starts the operation by herself, where she was captured and murdered by Wah.
When Joey brings her students to visit her brother's shipyard, she notices a female corpse in photo that was taken during the visit. When she questions Wah about the corpse, he denies it and destroys the photo. To repay Chan's favor of raising her, Joey did not bring this matter up with Man. However, this decision has led her to a fatal disaster when Wah brings Mad Man to ask her for the negative of the photo. When she refused, Wah accidentally kills her. After Joey died, the negative had unexpectedly fallen into the hands of Man. In order to avenge Joey, Man teams up with Chan to find Wah and Mad Man. During an intense battle, Chan punishes his own relations in the cause of justice, and shoots his son dead in order to save Man.
Cast
*
Alex Man
Alexander Man Chi-leung () better known simply as Alex Man is a Hong Kongese actor. Born in Hong Kong to Hakka parents, Alex Man became a television actor for ATV in the 1970s. He joined TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB; zh, t ...
as Man Yung-keung
*
Rosamund Kwan
Rosamund Kwan Chi Lam (born Kwan Kar Wai on 24 September 1962) is a former Hong Kong actress, known for her on-screen pairing with Andy Lau in dramatic films such as '' Casino Raiders'' and '' The Wesley's Mysterious File,'' and for her role o ...
as Joey Chan
*
Mark Cheng
Mark Cheng Ho-nam (born 6 October 1964) is a Hong Kong actor. He made his name with his first starring role in the film '' Cupid One'' with Sally Yeh. He is also known for his role as Lam Wing in the 1996 film '' Tai Chi Boxer'' and FuXi in '' M ...
as Wah
*
Shing Fui-On
Shing Fui-On (成奎安; 1 February 1955 – 27 August 2009) was a Hong Kong actor, best known for his supporting roles in Hong Kong cinema. He had only one leading role in his entire career.
Biography
Shing Fui-On was the fourth of five ...
as Mad Man
*
Chen Kuan-tai
Chen Kuan-tai (; born 24 September 1945) is a Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Ko ...
as Chan Wan-sing
*Lee Yiu-man as Ms. Hon
*Eliza Yue
*
Kenneth Tsang
Kenneth Tsang Kong (; 5 October 1934 – 27 April 2022) was a Hongkongers, Hong Kong actor. Tsang's career spanned 50 years and included a variety of acting roles. Tsang won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting A ...
as Officer Ng
*Cheng Kang-yeh as Suspect in police station
*Yue Tau-wan as Cross-eyed cop
*
Dion Lam
Dion Lam (; Lam Dik-On; born 27 September 1961) is a Hong Kong action choreographer and actor.
Filmography
* 1980 ''The Hangman''
* 1982 ''Energetic 21''
* 1983 ''Crazy Blood''
* 1988 ''Mistaken Identity''
* 1989 '' The Killer''
* 1989 ''Ghost ...
as On
*Tai Po as Man's informer (cameo)
*
Lo Lieh
Wong Lap Tat (June 29, 1939 – November 2, 2002), better known by his stage name Lo Lieh, was an Indonesian-born Hong Kong martial artist and film actor. Lo was perhaps best known as Chao Chih-Hao in the 1972 martial arts film ''King Boxer'' ...
as Prisoner (cameo)
*Wilson Tong as Prisoner (cameo)
*Wong Chi-wai as Mad Man's bodyguard
*Yat Poon-chai as Rocky
*Chan Chik-wai as Yip
*Thomas Sin as Prisoner
*Mai Kei as Suspect in police station
*Chow Mei-fung
*Sin Kwai-chi
*Gabriel Wong as Joey's student
*
Yu Mo-lin
Yu Miu-Lin (, born 4 July 1937) is a Chinese actress from Hong Kong. Yu is credited with 145 films.
Early life
On 4 July 1937, Yu was born as Yu Chi-nga () in Canton. Her late mother Tang Mei-mei (鄧美美) was an actress who was not widely ...
as Mother scolding her kid
*Leung Wing-yim
*Chang Sing-kwong as Bodyguard
*Chung Wing as Prisoner
*Chow Chi-hung as Bodyguard
*Lee Yiu-king as Guard
*Lau Shung-fung
*Lung Ying
*Fei Pak
*Ling Chi-hung
Reception
Critical
So Good Reviews' gave the film a mixed review and writes "Standard and rather cheaply made, Chen Kuan-tai nonetheless delivers the beats of the narrative fairly well."
Box office
The film grossed HK$2,340,415 at the Hong Kong box office during its theatrical run from 29 March to 4 April 1990 in
Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
.
References
External links
*
*
Return to Action' at
Hong Kong Cinemagic
Hong Kong Cinemagic, sometimes referred to as HKCinemagic, was a bilingual ( French and English) website providing a repository for information about Chinese language films from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, and the people who created them. The we ...
*{{IMDb title, 0099424
1990 films
1990 action films
1990 martial arts films
Hong Kong action films
Hong Kong martial arts films
Gun fu films
Triad films
Police detective films
1990s Cantonese-language films
Films set in Hong Kong
Films shot in Hong Kong
Hong Kong films about revenge
1990s Hong Kong films