Cho Tat-wah
Encyclopedia
Cho Tat-wah or Tso Tat-wah (15 September 1915 – 10 January 2007) was a film actor of Hong Kong, most famous for the roles he played in a number of Wuxia
films in the 1950s and 1960s.
The names Cho Tat-wah and Shih Kien
were synonymous to "good and evil" in the colloquial language of Hong Kong because of the roles the two actors played in those movies. Yu So-chow co-starred many of Cho's movies. The two names Cho Tat-wah and Yu So-chow symbolized a perfect couple. His well-known roles include Lung Kim-fei (龍劍飛), Leung Foon (梁寛) and Inspector Wah (華探長).
A native of Taishan
, Guangdong, Cho began his actor career at the age of 15, and eventually starred in more than 700 movies. He was a compulsive gambler. Legend has it that he lost the Wah-tat Studio, which produced most of his movies at the time, at the gambling table. However, it is not certain whether the studio was owned by him.
He emigrated to London, England, with his son in 1990, but returned to Hong Kong to join TVB
in 1993. He went back to England in 1997 as his wife was then suffering kidney disease. When she died in 2000, he returned alone to Hong Kong. In August 2006, he was hospitalised for a month after falling down stairs at his home. He returned to England in November of that same year, and died of haemorrhage of stomach two months later in a hospital. He is survived by a son in England, and a daughter in the United States. One of his goddaughters is Connie Chan.
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
films in the 1950s and 1960s.
The names Cho Tat-wah and Shih Kien
Shih Kien
Shek Wing-cheung , better known as Shih Kien, was a Chinese actor from Hong Kong. He is sometimes credited as Shek Kin or Kien Shih...
were synonymous to "good and evil" in the colloquial language of Hong Kong because of the roles the two actors played in those movies. Yu So-chow co-starred many of Cho's movies. The two names Cho Tat-wah and Yu So-chow symbolized a perfect couple. His well-known roles include Lung Kim-fei (龍劍飛), Leung Foon (梁寛) and Inspector Wah (華探長).
A native of Taishan
Taishan
Taishan is a coastal county-level city in Guangdong Province, China. The city is part of the Greater Taishan Region....
, Guangdong, Cho began his actor career at the age of 15, and eventually starred in more than 700 movies. He was a compulsive gambler. Legend has it that he lost the Wah-tat Studio, which produced most of his movies at the time, at the gambling table. However, it is not certain whether the studio was owned by him.
He emigrated to London, England, with his son in 1990, but returned to Hong Kong to join TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
in 1993. He went back to England in 1997 as his wife was then suffering kidney disease. When she died in 2000, he returned alone to Hong Kong. In August 2006, he was hospitalised for a month after falling down stairs at his home. He returned to England in November of that same year, and died of haemorrhage of stomach two months later in a hospital. He is survived by a son in England, and a daughter in the United States. One of his goddaughters is Connie Chan.
Filmography
- Tears of the Reed Catkins (1936)
- Little Guangdong (1940)
- Gone Are the Swallows When the Willow Flowers Wilt (1946)
- How Ten Heroes of Guangdong Slew the Dragon (1950)
- Story of the Vulture ConquerorStory of the Vulture ConquerorStory of the Vulture Conqueror is a two-part Hong Kong film adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The first part was released in 1958 while the second part was released in the following year...
(1958/1959) - Sword of Blood and ValourSword of Blood and ValourSword of Blood and Valour is a 1958 / 1959 two-part Hong Kong film based on Louis Cha's novel Sword Stained with Royal Blood.-Cast:*Cho Tat-wah as Yuen Sing-chi**Shek Sau as young Yuen Sing-chi*Sheung-koon Kwan-wai as Wan Ching-ching...
(1958/1959) - The Legend of the Condor HeroesThe Legend of the Condor Heroes (1976 TV series)The Legend of the Condor Heroes is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The series was first broadcast on CTV in Hong Kong in 1976.-Cast:*Jason Pai as Kwok Ching*Michelle Yim as Wong Yung...
(1976) - The Return of the Condor HeroesThe Return of the Condor Heroes (1976 TV series)The Return of the Condor Heroes is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. It was first broadcast on CTV in 1976 in Hong Kong.-Cast:*Law Lok-lam as Yeung Kuo**Tsui Ka-lam as young Yeung Kuo...
(1976) - A Deadly SecretA Deadly Secret (film)A Deadly Secret is a 1980 Hong Kong film based on Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The film was produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, directed by Mou Tun-fei and starred Ng Yuen-chun, Liu Lai-ling, Jason Pai, Shih Szu and Yueh Hua.-Cast:...
(1980) - Tai Chi MasterTai Chi Master (RTV)Taichi master is a classic Rediffusion Television series aired in Hong Kong in 1980. The series helped boost the popularity of Rediffusion TV right before the station was converting over to become ATV...
(1980) - The Duel of the CenturyThe Duel of the CenturyThe Duel of the Century is a 1981 Hong Kong film adapted from Juezhan Qianhou of Gu Long's Lu Xiaofeng novel series. The film was directed by Chor Yuen, produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, and starred Tony Liu as the lead character.-Cast:...
(1981) - Aces Go PlacesAces Go PlacesAces Go Places, , also known in the United States as Diamondfinger or Mad Mission 1, is a 1982 Hong Kong action/comedy film directed by Eric Tsang, and starring Sam Hui and Karl Maka.-Plot:...
(1982) - Carry on PickpocketCarry On PickpocketCarry On Pickpocket is 1982 Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Sammo Hung who also stars in it alongside Frankie Chan and Deannie Yip. Hung, the Sammo Hung Stuntmen's Association, Yuen Biao, Lam Ching-ying and Billy Chan served as action directors...
(1982) - Aces Go Places 2Aces Go Places 2Aces Go Places 2 , is a 1983 Hong Kong action-comedy film directed by Eric Tsang and starring Sam Hui, Sylvia Chang and Karl Maka. The film has also been dubbed into English and was released overseas as Mad Mission II....
(1983) - Winners and SinnersWinners and SinnersWinners and Sinners is a 1983 Hong Kong action comedy film directed, co-written by and starring Sammo Hung. It was the first in the Lucky Stars series of films - a highly successful series in Hong Kong....
(1983) - A Friend from Inner Space (1984)
- Aces Go PlacesAces Go PlacesAces Go Places, , also known in the United States as Diamondfinger or Mad Mission 1, is a 1982 Hong Kong action/comedy film directed by Eric Tsang, and starring Sam Hui and Karl Maka.-Plot:...
(1984) - My Lucky StarsMy Lucky StarsMy Lucky Stars is a 1985 Hong Kong action comedy film, directed by Sammo Hung. It is the second film in the Lucky Stars series...
(1985) - Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky StarsTwinkle, Twinkle Lucky StarsTwinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars is a 1985 Hong Kong action comedy film directed and co-written by Sammo Hung. It is the third instalment in the Lucky Stars series, following Winners and Sinners and My Lucky Stars...
(1985) - Lucky Stars Go PlacesLucky Stars Go PlacesLucky Stars Go Places , also known as The Luckiest Stars, is a 1986 Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Eric Tsang. It is the fourth film in the Lucky Stars series...
(1986) - Mr. Vampire 2 (1986)
- Rise of the Great WallRise of the Great WallRise of the Great Wall is a 1986 Hong Kong television series based on the biography of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China and founder of the Qin Dynasty...
(1986) - The Romance of the White Hair MaidenThe Romance of the White Hair Maiden (1986 TV series)The Romance of the White Hair Maiden is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Liang Yusheng's novel Baifa Monü Zhuan. The series was first broadcast on ATV in Hong Kong in 1986.-Cast:*Bonnie Ngai as Lin Ngai-seung*Savio Tsang as Cheuk Yat-hong...
(1986) - Aces Go Places 4Aces Go Places 4Aces go Places 4 also known in the United States as Mad Mission 4: You Never Die Twice is a 1986 Hong Kong action-comedy film directed by Ringo Lam, and starring Sam Hui and Karl Maka.-Cast:* Sam Hui - King Kong* Karl Maka - Albert Au...
(1986) - The Millionaires' Express (1986)
- Three Against the WorldThree Against The WorldThree Against The World is a 1988 Hong Kong film directed by Brandy Yuen starring Andy Lau and Rosamund Kwan.-Summary:When Charlie Chan's friend's father's insurance company undertakes to look after a priceless copy of the Koran while it is on display, Charlie vows to help protect the scroll...
(1988) - Return of the Lucky StarsReturn of the Lucky StarsReturn of the Lucky Stars is a 1989 Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Stanley Fung. It is the fifth film out of the Lucky Stars series.-Plot:...
(1989) - Funny Ghost (1989)
- The Iceman ComethThe Iceman ComethThe Iceman Cometh is a play written by American playwright Eugene O'Neill in 1939. First published in 1940 the play premiered on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on 9 October 1946, directed by Eddie Dowling where it ran for 136 performances to close on 15 March 1947.-Characters:* Night Hawk-...
(1989) - Aces Go Places 5 (1989)
- Demoness from Thousand Years (1990)
- It's a Wonderful LifeIt's a Wonderful LifeIt's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra and based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern....
(1994) - How to Meet the Lucky StarsHow to Meet the Lucky StarsHow to Meet the Lucky Stars is a 1996 Hong Kong film and the final film in the Lucky Stars film series. Featuring the "Lucky Stars" Sammo Hung , Eric Tsang, Richard Ng, Stanley Fung, Michael Miu and new cast member Vincent Lau as Hung's younger cousin and Françoise Yip as their love interest...
(1996) - A Gambler's Story (2001)