''Happy Ghost'' (released in the Philippines as ''Magic to Win 3: The Origin'') () is a 1984 Hong Kong comedy film directed by

Clifton Ko Clifton Ko (; born 6 August 1958) is a Hong Kong film director, actor, producer, and scriptwriter. Background Clifton Ko graduated from Kwun Tong Maryknoll College, and entered TV and film industry in late 1970s, firstly worked with director ...

. Produced and written by Raymond Wong, the film stars Wong, Boonie Law, Loletta Lee and Sandy Lamb. The film was the 12th most grossed film in Hong Kong of 1984.

Plot

The film is about three high school students, Bonnie (

Bonnie Law Bonnie Law (September 11, 1968 – May 27, 2016) was a Hong Kong actress and singer. She was best known for her role in the 1984 Hong Kong comedic film, '' Happy Ghost'', opposite Raymond Wong. ''Happy Ghost'' marked her film debut at the age of 1 ...

), Juliet (

Rachel Lee (actress) Loletta Lee Lai-Chun (; born 8 January 1966), temporarily known as Rachel Lee Lai-Chun, is a Hong Kong actress. Lee started playing small roles in Hong Kong movies in the 1980s. Her first role as a lead actress was in ''Devoted to You''. After ...

) and Venus (Sandy Lamb), in their last year in school together, go on their last picnic before their examinations. Taking shelter from a sudden storm in an abandoned temple, Bonnie finds a piece of rope and takes it home. With this rope she brings home a spirit of Scholar Pik (

Raymond Wong Pak-ming Raymond Wong Pak-ming (; born 8 April 1948; sometimes transliterated as Raymond Wong Bak-ming) is a Hong Kong film producer, playwright, director and actor. He is one of the most successful producers in Hong Kong cinema, having been one o ...

), whose archaic ways of thinking obviously clashed with the values held by a twentieth century teenager. Yet, they began to make friends with each other. The three girls started to depend on Scholar Pik's magic for everything. After their exam, they realize it, the girls begin to derive a more positive and hardworking attitude towards life through his encouragement.

Cast

as Stewart Pik (朱錦春) - The Happy Ghost *

as Bonnie Lam (林菁菁) - Naughty and playful, also an athlete *

Loletta Lee Loletta Lee Lai-Chun (; born 8 January 1966), temporarily known as Rachel Lee Lai-Chun, is a Hong Kong actress. Lee started playing small roles in Hong Kong movies in the 1980s. Her first role as a lead actress was in ''Devoted to You''. After ...

as Juliet (林小花) - Married to Joseph, has a son *Sandy Lamb as Venus Koo (顏如玉) - Bookworm *

Teresa Carpio Teresa Carpio (born 30 September 1956) is a Hong Kong English- and Cantonese-language pop singer, actress, and singing teacher. Carpio was popular in Hong Kong during the 1970s and 1980s. She is the paternal cousin of actress and singer Rita C ...

as Sister Lee (李主任) - Nun *Hsiao-kang Wu as Joseph (陳世美) - Married to Juliet, has a son *Luisa Maria Leitão as Judy - Daughter of a rich family, Juliet's rival in love *Brenda Lo as Twiggy (八妹姐) - School dormitory worker, Fatty's wife *Kai-Keung Sze as Fatty (肥叔叔) - School dormitory worker, Twiggy's husband, reads Playboy all the time *Gou Wang as Mr. Koo (顏先生) - Koo's father *Suen Lai as Mrs. Koo (顏太太) - Koo's mother *Yu Chan-Kau as Brazano Trovaski Chan - Has a crush on Juliet *Raymond Fung as Principle - Have a bad breath *Elisa Chan as Pik's wife - Sold

Put chai ko ''Put chai ko'' () is a popular snack in Hong Kong. It is a rice cake made from white or brown sugar, long-grain rice flour with a little wheat starch or cornstarch. Sometimes red beans are also added. The batter is poured into porcelain bowls ...

for a living *Ching Tien as Pik's Father *Clifton Ko as Bus passenger (cameo)

Release

Box office

''Happy Ghost'' was a hit for Cinema City and grossed a total of HK$17,414,334. The movie ran in theaters from 14 July 1984 to 3 August 1984.

Alternate title

In the Philippines, the film was released by South Cinema Films as ''Magic to Win 3: The Origin'' on 12 January 1989, after ''

Happy Ghost II ''Happy Ghost II'' () is a 1985 Hong Kong comedy film directed by Clifton Ko. Produced and written by Raymond Wong, the film stars Wong, Fennie Yuan, May Lo, Charine Chan and Gigi Fu. This film is the sequel to Happy Ghost. Although the film ...

'' and '' III'' (respectively released as ''Magic to Win'' and ''Magic to Win 2'').

Reception

In his book ''Horror and Science Fiction Film IV'', Donald C. Willis stated that ''Happy Ghost'' was "fairly elaborate and inventive, but tends to run off in all directions".

References

Notes

External links

Happy Ghost at filmaffinity.com
{{Authority control 1984 comedy films 1984 films 1980s ghost films 1980s Cantonese-language films Hong Kong comedy films Hong Kong ghost films Films directed by Clifton Ko 1980s Hong Kong films