Producer: Tsui Hark
Long life to Your lmperial Majesty.
The two lions have arrived in the courtyard.
They are here to perform for the dowager empress.
Long life to Your Majesty.
Her lmperial Majesty, the dowager empress.
May the dowager empress live forever!
Long life to Her lmperial Majesty!
Her lmperial Majesty,
the dowager empress approaches!
May the dowager empress live forever!
Long life to Her lmperial Majesty!
Your Majesty, that contraption is called a camera.
Camera?!
These foreigners and their strange ways!
They come to China and praise us for our great naval power
and the very next moment they proceed to sink all our war ships.
Hung-chang, is it possible these young lions could be made use of
to drive out the foreigners?
Your Majesty,
our country has been host to an ever increasing number of foreigners
all of whom have designs upon your lands.
And I think the best way of defeating their plans
would be to set foreigner against foreigner.
If they start quarrelling we'll take advantage of the situation
and drive them out of the country forever.
However, for that to happen, we must encourage the practice of kung fu.
By organising demonstrations such as this,
we can provide entertainment for the masses
and show the foreigners how strong our country is!
Yes, that's a good idea.
I want you to invite our best martial artists to a grand competition
for the title of Lion King.
Line Producer: Mak Chi-sin
Production Manager: Yuen Chun-man
Screen Play: Tsui Hark, Charcoal Cheung Tan, Chan Tin-suen
Action Director: Yuen Tak
Art Director: Yip Kam-tin Costume Designer: Ching Tin-giu
Cinematography: Andrew Lau Wai-keung
Edited by: Mak Chi-sin, Lam On-yi
Music: William Wu Wai-lap, Tsui Hark
"Beijing Railway Station"
Get your buns here! They're hot and fresh!
That bloody train took so long I'm exhausted!
- Hey! Don't push our lion head! - I'm sorry.
Master, Beijing is much busier than Canton.
Foon, there are all kinds of people here, so behave.
Excuse me.
Even the foreigners here can speak Chinese.
The world is changing!
I think we should learn foreign languages,
so we can communicate with the foreigners more easily.
I can speak a foreign language.
- Really? - Beautiful!
Beau-tofu? What does it mean?
I don't know, but some men said it when they saw Cousin Yee,
so it must be a greeting.
Is that so?
Where is Cousin Yee?
We got off the train together, didn't we?
- We've lost her! - Cousin Yee!
It's a Chinese lady dressed as a foreigner.
Excuse me.
Master, I found Cousin Yee. This way!
- Cousin Yee. - Foon, Fei-hung.
I'd like you to meet someone.
This is my Russian friend. We studied together in England.
Mr Tomansky.
- Hello. - Hello.
I see you speak English. Are they in the theatre?
What?
I'd no idea you could speak Chinese so well.
I'm an interpreter, so I have to.
Look, it's some foreign women dressed as Chinese ladies.
Thanks very much for teaching me my first Chinese sentence.
You know, it's your fault I fell in love with China.
In fact you are the reason I decided to come out here.
I think about you every day.
I hope you're not married yet.
I see you still have the camera I gave you.
I hope you still think about me.
I can't believe my luck finding you here like this.
It must be fate, right?
What's up with you? Go on, find a rickshaw.
No need to shout.
Mr Wong, I have a carriage, it would be my pleasure to share it with you.
I couldn't take advantage of our chance meeting.
Fate demands that we part. Let's go, Cousin.
That's not very sanitary.
We Chinese don't like to be touched like that.
Is he your boyfriend?
I'm more than just a boyfriend, I'm her relative, aren't l, Cousin?
You mean you two are really cousins?
It may not mean a lot to you foreigners,
but here, cousins are extremely close.
Some day you may find out how close. Come on.
Fei-hung, what's got into you?
- That camera, was it from him? - Yes, I learnt photography from him.
Fei-hung!
Stop calling me Cousin Yee or you'll never learn to call me anything else.
Use my first name.
Your first name is...
Where's Foon? Where's he gone?
Get him! Get him!
He's causing trouble again.
Watch out!
Watch this hand! And watch this foot!
My camera!
Watch your back!
Watch the fist.
Watch the kick!
Watch the leg! And watch the...
Now then, what seems to be the problem?
Problem?
He's taken three rickshaws, that's what the problem is.
I see, we'll let you have them back.
- Foon? - Yes.
- Unload those three rickshaws. - Right.
- And apologise. - Right.
- Sorry. - Ah, my leg!
- Are you hurt? - No, I'm fine.
Know what you need?
- Watch the leg. - Not again!
"The Cantonese Consulate"
It's a flush! That makes 16 rounds in total!
Is it really 16 rounds?
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine...
It's amazing!
"The All-Powerful Cantonese Lions"
Can you hear it?
- Master Wong! - Hi.
- Master Wong Kei-ying! - Hello, how are you?
Hello, Master Wong.
Oh, it's Wong Ying.
Kin-chon! How's your business in Hong Kong?
I hear your son's coming to visit.
Yes. He's coming to see my new medicine factory.
- I'm playing mahjong, see you later. - Sure!
Who won the last game?
- Look! - Master.
Don't you remember? The contour here is not round enough.
It has to look fierce, otherwise the effect will be lost.
Do you see what I mean?
Uncle, Master Wong, they're coming.
- Your son's arrived. - He's here?
No, it's a bunch of hooligans looking for a fight.
What's that? We're an association, not a martial arts' club.
What could they want with us?
- Stop your game! - Stop your game, you got that?
Pull down the lion heads.
Listen up!
Now listen carefully.
I say it like it is, my name's Chiu Tim-ba.
I've met with all the martial arts' clubs in the district.
We agree I should represent the district
at the Lion King Competition.
Therefore only the men from the Tai-ping oil factory may take part.
That means you can forget all of these preparations.
If you enter the competition, it's the end of your association.
If you enter the competition against my advice
this could turn into a school for cripples.
I hope I've made everything quite clear.
You are not holding the competition. How can you set rules for it?!
So you'd prefer a competition with no rules then?
- OK, we'll thrash your place. - Come on!
You old fool, I'll slap your face!
Young boy, I'll teach you a lesson.
- Help Uncle out here. - Yes, sir!
Damn, I hate this counter!
Iron Foot!
Yes, boss.
Step aside, don't get too close.
Out of my way!
I'll kill him!
You're all useless!
I'm the head rickshaw puller - Iron Foot!
Now it's my turn.
- Master! Master! - Stand back. Move!
The ancestral lion.
Master!
Stand back!
Amazing!
Wonder Kick!
"The All-Powerful Cantonese Lions"
Iron Foot, you're a dead man!
Get him!
Good work!
Smash the lions!
Here we are, home at last.
Cousin Yee, be careful.
Go on, get out of here!
What are you staring at?
Hey, watch it!
Cousin Yee, it's just over there.
Move it! What are you looking at?
- Keep the change. - Thanks very much.
Fei-hung, what the...?
Something's wrong.
- Master Wong, are you hurt? - I'm all right.
- Dad! - Fei-hung, you're here!
- What happened? - It's nothing really.
There was a fight - I'll be fine in a moment.
Were they causing trouble? Did you report it?
Who is this foreign woman?
- That's Cousin Yee. - Cousin Yee?
She looks so funny!
Dad...
Stop laughing, it's making you cough.
- OK, I'll stop. - Dad!
You can stop laughing now. I've changed my dress, all right?
All right, I'll stop laughing,
Uncle Wong, Fei-hung came to see your new factory.
But he also wanted to talk about getting married.
Fei-hung wants to get married?
Do you know who my future daughter-in-law is?
I think he ought to tell you himself.
That rascal! Why on earth didn't he bring her to meet me?
Foon, I chose two long sharp weapons for you.
Thanks a lot. I'll teach you to defend yourselves.
Why won't Master Wong let us get revenge?
He's strange like that. He won't let us start a fight.
He says kung fu's for the health,
but when there's a fight, he's the first to jump in.
And he always enjoys the fight, much more than we do.
- You ready? - Ready!
- Come on! - Right.
Foon, were you planning on going somewhere?
Master...
It's just that the boys here said as it's my first time here
they'd take me out to eat ah...
some...prawn dumplings.
Really? Are the prawns as eager as you?
Yeah, yeah.
You just had dinner. Why do you want to eat prawns?
Since when did you eat so much? Come over here, all of you.
All right, sit down.
Go on.
Foon, you too.
I sat all day on the train yesterday. I'd rather stand, if you don't mind.
We're always blamed by our Government
for forming schools which they say disturb the public order.
That's why we must be careful.
We must inform the authorities of any disputes.
We mustn't become involved.
We have to look after the association and not let them cause trouble again.
- Foon! - Yes.
Look at them, they're slouching all over the place.
You must teach them correct posture.
What? Me?!
But it's so difficult.
Fists in!
Knees out! Breathe!
Bend!
Stop hitting me!
Cousin Yee will borrow a book from the accountant,
and you'll copy it out.
Who chose these weapons for me?
Fei-hung.
Your father knows you're hiding something.
Why don't you go and talk to him? Go on.
Dad, I made you some herbal tea.
Let me help you get up.
- I want to talk to you, son. - Drink it.
Thanks, but I don't want any.
What? You don't want it?
Here, look at this.
It's a new preparation from my Po Chi Lam medicine factory.
It's wonderful for cleaning out the system.
It could even save a person's life in an emergency.
- I don't need herbal tea any more. - I see.
There are so many quacks around these days.
If we can produce this in large quantities,
I'm sure people will buy it, don't you think?
Yeah.
How am I going to get out of this one?
I've even bought a steam engine to ensure output.
I'm not feeling very well these days.
You can go to the factory to see it for yourself tomorrow.
You'll look after it for me, right?
Yeah, right.
The herbal tea, son, what are you doing?
You're not drinking it. I didn't want to waste it.
Son, you came back this time to tell me something important, didn't you?
Did I?
Well, don't you know your own mind?
Go on, tell me what you have to tell me.
- Nothing! - What? Nothing?
I must let this tea cool down, it's too hot.
You stupid idiot.
"Po Chi Lam Medicine Factory"
This thing looks like a train.
So this is the mighty steam engine?
Yes. British industry is ahead of the rest of the world's economy
all due to Mr Watt's invention - the steam engine.
You mean a guy called What invented this?!
What industry? What economy?
Master Wong, welcome.
And it's just the steam that drives everything? It's that powerful?
Sure, but other things are as powerful, like my emotions.
When I'm worked up I can move faster than any steam engine.
Yes, all that movement at the window confused me.
I was so busy watching you, I forgot what I was going to say.
What good is a steam engine that doesn't move?
That's the whole point of it, right?
- It's a steam engine. - We're not talking about that.
You're not?
Goodness, you'd better bring some of our new medicine here.
Look at his face, it's been scalded by the steam engine.
No, I'm fine, I'm all right.
He wasn't scalded by this steam, no, it was another engine last night.
That was quick. You've never been that quick at your kung fu.
Calm down.
Hey, everyone, there's another fight outside.
Those martial artists have come to pick on us again.
"The Pak Mai School - The Chiu School"
What's this all about?
The Lion King Competition, what else?
"The Tam School - The Chiu School"
"The Pak Mai School"
If this carries on, someone will get hurt.
They already have been. This is their third fight.
I'm going to put a stop to it.
Master, wait!
Can he handle them all by himself?
I don't know. I become very anxious every time he gets involved.
Go and find some men to help him, hurry up!
Fools!
Drop your weapons. Stop fighting!
You're disturbing the peace. Stop fighting!
Who is in charge? I want to speak to your leader.
I see, the Tam and the Chiu schools...
and the Pak Mai school.
You're all martial artists. What brings you here causing trouble?
Who are you?
My name is Wong Fei-hung.
I ask you honestly, can't you settle your differences without fighting?
The Tams and Chius have joined forces against us.
They needed more pupils for the competition, so they stole mine.
The pupils know who teaches better kung fu.
Those who came, came willingly. They weren't forced.
You're from the Chiu, so get lost.
- To hell with you! - We are the Tams!
- Go on, then, show us! - I'm not afraid of you.
Calm down, please, gentlemen.
Might I suggest you fight me instead?
We'll see who gives the best performance.
Are you on their side or on mine? Well?
- I just want to be fair. Please. - Him first.
Let's see how good he is!
Right. I'll go first.
Master Wong, thank you.
Sorry about that kick.
That was quick!
All right, my turn.
We risk being ridiculed here.
Master Wong, we cede to your greater wisdom.
I'm glad to see I've made you realise fighting's useless.
I'd like to invite you all to dinner tonight.
- I'll be there on time. - So will I.
"San Shiu Restaurant"
Hey, look, it's Master Wong.
Good evening, good evening.
- Please, sit. - Thank you.
Master Lee, I'm so glad you're here tonight.
What is it? What on earth are you doing here?
I just wondered why these broken heads were here.
These lion heads were used by our ancestors.
Although they're broken now, we can't bear to throw them away.
I was told that our ancestors won a lot of competitions in the past.
That's right.
They risked their lives for each of these heads you see here.
But it was only for the glory of it all.
This Lion King Competition is causing a lot of trouble.
I think we should notify the authorities.
We could tell them, but I don't think they could do anything to stop it.
It's been organised by governor Li on behalf of the empress.
So what?
We could present a petition signed by all the kung fu schools.
We'll tell her the truth about what's happening.
What do you think?
- I haven't really thought of that. - It doesn't seem right.
This is urgent. We have to take action quickly.
- Mr Wai, some paper. - Yes, sir.
Thanks for coming here.
May all our schools work side-by-side to promote martial arts
and let's present our petition to governor Li together.
Cheers.
- Yes, right. - Cheers.
- Good morning, sir. - Good morning.
A petition for the governor signed by the city's 14 kung fu schools.
Sir.
- I'll see that he gets it. - Thank you, sir.
Governor Li, Master Wong represents the city's 14 martial arts schools.
I have more important things to do. Give it to one of my secretaries.
- Yes, of course, sir. - As if I had time for such trifles.
Sir?
It takes time to process an enquiry, you won't get an immediate response.
- Thanks very much. - It's a pleasure.
Goodbye, sir.
Let's go!
So when will we get a reply?
We just have to wait until it comes...if it ever does come.
I have to do something.
Master, a rickshaw? Here you go. Where to?
- The Cantonese Consulate. - Come on.
Oh, right. Here, Master, get in. Where to?
Follow that rickshaw.
- You're Cantonese? - Yes.
Hey! You're not following the rickshaw.
- Fei-hung! - Cousin Yee!
Iron Foot! Come on!
Fei-hung!
I'm here!
Wong Fei-hung!
Cut him off at the East Gate!
Fei-hung, Fei-hung!
Come out, Wong Fei-hung!
Don't hide like a coward!
- Wong Fei-hung! - I'm not Wong Fei-hung!
Wong Fei-hung is right here!
Let me go!
Watch out! The woman!
Get out of the way! Move it! Move!
So you're Wong Fei-hung?
Master!
I say it like it is, my name is Chiu Tim-ba.
Judging by the way you fought Iron Foot, your kung fu's excellent.
I could use you in the Lion King Competition.
That's if you're willing to join my Tai-ping lion team.
Name your price. I'm a generous employer.
Competing for money alone is no competition at all.
If you want fighters, you look elsewhere.
As for your competition, I'll never enter.
In that case, as you're not my ally, you're my enemy!
If you refuse to join the Tai-ping, you shall die.
Go to hell!
- Master! - Let me go!
My horse!
Hurry up, come and help her!
Tomansky! Please, can you help us? We're being attacked.
Don't worry.
Surround him!
- You want to escape? - Out of my way!
Wong Fei-hung, so you're afraid of me.
Iron Foot!
Don't worry, I'm here.
Be careful!
I'm just in time.
Stop, I know him.
I'm very sorry, but it's not our custom to kiss a man's hand.
You needn't worry. It's not our custom to let our hands be kissed.
You've kissed both of our hands, but I'll ask you not to do it again.
It's a disgusting habit. Understood?
- Iron Foot, well done! - He's really no good at all!
Fei-hung, did that man kick you?
It was no big deal. I was more worried about your hand...
Don't be ridiculous.
Mr Wong, why don't you forget the rickshaws and take my carriage?
We'll be back. Just you wait!
That's very kind, but we can make our own way.
No, for safety's sake it would be best to take the carriage.
Come on.
Excuse me.
Aren't you coming?
No, I'll walk. Driver, the Cantonese consulate.
Go on!
Fei-hung!
Sir, your carriage waits. Please.
Follow that carriage.
We've been here all day. It's taking too long.
Master Wong!
Master, you're back! Cousin Yee's making a movie.
She wanted to film you, but they couldn't wait,
so we started without you.
Old Master Wong's in it too.
But she can't film everybody, so she chose the seniors.
- Do you feel better now? - I need more rest.
- Moving pictures? - That's right.
It's not like photographs, it takes motion pictures.
- Motion pictures?! - See?
- Master, why don't you try it? - Do I have to?
Fei-hung, you'll love it when people watch your film.
- Go on, Master. - Go on.
We can learn kung fu from your films.
No, you're too close to the camera.
Move back, I can't get all of you. That's fine.
- The pictures will move? - Yes!
Right. Ready?
What?
Didn't you hear, action?! That's what they say before filming.
Action means you start moving. It means she's started filming.
You're not like this normally. You always have quick reactions!
We want some action. Go on.
I know exactly what to do, thank you.
- Why do I bother? - The camera's rolling now. Action!
Where did you get that?
We've only just arrived. You couldn't have ordered it in such a short time.
The Russian you met in the railway station had it delivered here.
Master Wong!
Fei-hung! He wasn't asking you!
What's he up to?
Fei-hung?
Are you angry with me?
I've repaired your jacket.
Are you really that angry with me?
I know you don't like Tomansky.
But I never saw a camera before, I wanted to see what films are like.
They may be very important in future.
We have to learn about new things in case we need to use them one day.
So everything new is useful, you make me sound old-fashioned.
Please don't be like this.
If you really don't like that Russian, I'll never see him again.
Are you still angry with me now?
Are you still angry?
Cousin...
No, I mean Peony.
For the wedding arrangements, you should talk to your father.
We shouldn't waste time.
I'll talk to him.
But I have to think of a good way of telling him, so he'll be pleased.
Or you'll say I'm an idiot.
- Master, are you still angry? - Son, hurry up!
Others want to be filmed...
Old Master, look!
Master!
Why were you sitting so close?
Cousin Yee had something in her eye, I was taking it out.
Really? Cousin Yee, I'm an expert, I'll take it out for you.
No thanks, it's done already.
- Dad, let's go finish the movie. - Good idea.
Cut that out!
Master! I think there's something in my eye.
Could you get it out for me?
I don't have time!
Why has everyone got something in their eyes?
Cousin Yee, we need you for the camera.
Master Wong, this is a good position. All the lions pass by here.
You can also see the trophy here.
- It's a specially designed trophy. - Really?
Those lion heads are different to the usual.
Yes, before the Lion King Competition starts,
they're settling a few old scores.
The four main triads in the city - the White Lotus, the Tiger gang,
the Black Dragons and the Tai-ping oil factory -
they want to put the others out of the running.
So when the competition comes around, their rivals can't compete with them.
They seem to have a lot of support.
Yes, this gang here belongs to Chiu Tim-ba.
They seem very sure of themselves.
Here they come!
It looks like a lion race, but it's just a big fight.
Be careful. The steam engine's very hot.
- Your master was scalded. - It doesn't look hot.
It's so hot, you can cook your food on it.
- That's just what I'm going to do. - These youngsters never listen.
Let's cook some food, shall we?
Brother Foon, we need your help in the Lion Race.
- Really? - Yeah.
- Brother, come on. - Hurry!
Be quiet!
If Master Wong finds out it's me...
Thunderhead, he won't know it's me under there!
- All right, let's do it! - Come on!
Come over?
Go away.
Him again!
I didn't invite him, but he wants to come over.
Since he's here, we'll give him back his camera.
I'll buy another one.
But they're not easy to find here.
Are you sure?
We'll find one soon.
- Where have they put the trophy? - It's about four blocks down.
Really?! No wonder I can't see it now!
Why didn't you tell me earlier? Hurry, we're still a long way away.
- Foon! - What's up?
We'll never catch them.
So we should just give up? Where is your courage? Come on!
Let me see where the trophy is.
It's Iron Foot.
- Are you sure? - Yes, see that lion with the knives?
Brother Foon, he's very cocky.
Right, we can't win, but we can stop him.
Yeah. Let's take the short cut.
Iron Foot, take that!
- What's up? - Nothing.
Cut it out!
And another kick!
- What are you doing? - He kicked me!
- Look out! He's coming! - Go to hell!
I'll break your lion head.
- Where did Iron Foot go? - He's right behind us. This way!
You're not the lion head.
You're even quicker than me!
It's coming near.
It's coming up here! Run!
Fei-hung, look there.
Peony, come on.
Don't use his ladder, this way.
- Hold on tight. - Are you quite sure? All right.
My camera!
- Are you all right? - Get my camera.
Of course. We still have to return it.
It's Wong, go get rid of him.
- Get him! - Right!
Damn you! Who the hell are you?
- Yan! - Forget about me, get out of here!
Bastard, I'm going to kill you.
Who the hell are you?
Come out!
Iron Foot, you can call me Daddy.
Iron Foot be a good boy now, Daddy said so.
Go to hell!
You can't do this! I'm your dad!
Take that, Dad!
You son-of-a-bitch!