Games Gamblers Play
Games Gamblers Play (Chinese: 鬼馬雙星) is a 1974 Hong Kong comedy film directed by and starring Michael Hui, with action direction by Sammo Hung. The film also co-stars Sam Hui, who also served as one of the film's music composers.
Games Gamblers Play | |
---|---|
Theatrical poster | |
Traditional | 鬼馬雙星 |
Simplified | 鬼马双星 |
Mandarin | Gúi mǎ shuāng xīng |
Cantonese | Gwai2 maa2 seong1 sing1 |
Directed by | Michael Hui |
Produced by | Raymond Chow |
Written by | Michael Hui Lau Tin-chi Thomas Tang |
Starring | Michael Hui Sam Hui Ricky Hui Betty Ting Lisa Lui James Wong Roy Chiao |
Music by | Joseph Koo Sam Hui |
Cinematography | Ho Lan-shan Danny Lee Yau-tong |
Edited by | Peter Cheung |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Golden Harvest |
Release date |
|
Running time | 107 minutes |
Country | Hong Kong |
Language | Cantonese |
Box office | HK$6,251,633[1] |
Although very successful and netting more than 6 millions Hong Kong dollars at the box offices, the film was criticized because there “gambling is no longer a social vice but a means by which one can get ahead quickly by achieving instant monetary gains. The concept of morality or righteousness is irrelevant: the utilitarian motive of individual accumulation of instant wealth is paramount.”[2]
Cast
- Michael Hui as Man
- Sam Hui as Kit
- Ricky Hui as Gambler at beach
- Betty Ting Pei as Pei-pei
- Lisa Lui as Siu-mei
- Roy Chiao as Man at milk bar getting parking ticket
- James Wong as Wong But-man
- Benz Hui as Bully
- Law Lan as Man's wife
- Dean Shek as Casino clerk
- Sammo Hung as Beach rascal
- Cheng Kwan-mun
- Lee Kwan as Naked man in hotel room
- Chan Lap-ban as Blackjack gambler
- Chin Tsi-ang as Blackjack gambler
- Ho Pak-kwong as Jailer
- Fung Ging-man as Ching's dice croupier
Partial soundtrack
Gwai ma seung sing is the debut Cantonese album by Hong Kong actor and singer Samuel Hui, released in 1974 by Polydor Records. The first two tracks are heard in the film and also released in the separate 7" vinyl.
All tracks are written by Samuel Hui, unless otherwise.
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | English translation | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "雙星情歌" (seung sing ching gaw) | Love Theme from (gwai ma) seung sing | 2:58 | ||
2. | "鬼馬雙星" (gwai ma seung sing) | Ghost Horse, Double Star | 2:25 | ||
3. | "甜蜜伴侶" (tim maat boon leui) | Ricky Hui | Ricky Hui | Sweet Companionship | 2:43 |
4. | "無情夜冷風" (mou ching ye lang fung) | Ricky Hui | Ricky Hui | Merciless Breezy Night | 2:38 |
5. | "一水隔天涯 (a) / 愛你三百六十五年 (b)[n 1]" (yat seui gak tin ngai / ai ni san bai liu shiwu nian) | James Wong[n 2] | Yu Lawn 于粦 (a) / Shin Kawaguchi 川口真 (b) | Water over the Horizon / Love You for 365 Years | 3:45 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | English translation | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6. | "春夢良宵[n 3]" (cheun mung leung siu) | Lobo | Good Night Dream | 2:27 | |
7. | "制水歌[n 4]" (chi seui goh) | Paul Simon | Song of a Regulated Water | 2:50 | |
8. | "等玉人[n 5]" (dang yook yan) | Ron Elliott, Bob Durand | 2:35 | ||
9. | "鐵塔凌雲" (teet taap ling waan) | Michael Hui | Lingyun Tower | 3:05 | |
10. | "夜雨聲" (ye yu sing) | Ricky Hui | Ricky Hui | Sounds of the Night Rain | 2:16 |
11. | "雙星情歌音樂" | Love Theme from (gwai maa) seung sing (instrumental) | 2:58 |
- Notes
- Hui's combined rendition of both songs is heard in the 1974 film Naughty! Naughty! (綽頭狀元).
- Original lyrics of "yat seui gak tin ngai" were written by Joh Kei (左几) and are heard in the 1966 film of the same Chinese name. "Ai ni san bai liu shiwu nian" is a Mandarin rendition of the 1969 Japanese song, "Anata ga i nakute mo" (あなたがいなくても), sung by Mieko Hirota and lyricized by Rei Nakanishi, and was previously recorded by other singers.
- Rendition of the 1972 song "I'd Love You to Want Me" by Lobo.
- Rendition of the 1972 song "Mother and Child Reunion" by Paul Simon
- Rendition of the 1965 song "Just a Little" by The Beau Brummels
- References
- Hong Kong Filmography Volume VII (1970–1974), p.xxi, ISBN 978-962-8050-54-3 (in Chinese)
- Chi Chuen Chan and Keis Ohtsuka, “All for the Winner: An Analysis of the Characterization of Male Gamblers in Hong Kong Movies with Gambling Theme,” International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction'’ 9 (2011), 208-218 (213).