Impetuous Fire
Encyclopedia
Forever and Ever or Impetuous Fire (Original title: Jin sheng jin shi), is a 1977
Hong Kong
romantic drama film, directed by John Law
(Mar Lo). Its Chinese title, “Jin Shung Jin Shi,” literally means “This Life, This World.”
The film stars Alan Tang
(Tang Kwon-Wing,), one of the notable actors in Hong Kong romantic and martial arts
films during the 1970s. It co-stars a young Candice Yu
(Yu On-On,)in one of the earliest projects in her career. She would later go on to become the first wife of Chow Yun-fat
. The score was composed by Joseph Koo
Ka-Fai.
The film is often mistakenly listed as a 1972 film by the Hong Kong films archives, given that the leading actress Candice Yu would have been only 12 years old in 1972.
, has her parents’ consent to travel the world before the end.
Accompanied by her governess Mrs. Hsia, she comes to Hong Kong
for only seven days. She runs into a convicted killer Tai-Lun (Alan Tang) upon arriving, and as telepathy
will have it, they fall deeply in love. Tai-Lun, who has just broken out of jail in Macau
, is an orphan brought up by Father Ma. He is sentenced to death for accidentally killing three people in a fight.
The two lovers, each facing a mutual plight, choose to love the moment and hide the truth from each other. Their guardians, Mrs. Hsia and Father Ma, find out about their love and decide to confide in each other and help the pair keep up their fantasy. There Iris and Tai-Lun are able to enjoy their bitter-sweet love for only the seven days.
Critically, the film drew mixed reviews. One critic called the script “insipid and dull” while others expressed approval of the fictional and fantasized story line. The love scene in the film deserves a special mention, given that most Chinese romance movies at the time avoided sexual themes and only featured light, conservative “dry” kisses, Tang and Yu embrace in a very passionate kissing scene, with Tang baring his chest and Yu wearing only lingerie. The kissing scene along with the partial undressing, exceeded usual standards at this time and appeared well ahead of its time.
in 1994. The low-budget remake, starring actor Tim Chang, and introducing a very young, singer-actress Sandy Wu, became a surprise hit. It was directed by H. C. Tang, a successful producer-director in the Chinese-American entertainment industry.
The remake followed much of the storyline as the original, with the only major change being its location-from Hong Kong to the US. It also focused more on the love story of the leading couple and paid less attention to the supporting roles. Whereas comparing to the fighting scenes in the original, leading man Tim Chang did some singing instead in the remake, while Wu sings for the title song herself.
The love scene in the remake by Chang and Wu was also highly sexualised and realistic. The remake has not been released worldwide.
Hong Kong films of 1977
This is a list of films produced in Hong Kong in 1977.-1977:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 1977 at...
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
romantic drama film, directed by John Law
John Law (film director)
John Law Ma, also known as Mar Lo or Lo Mar, was a Hong Kong film director and screenwriter best known for his films of the 1970s.-Film career:...
(Mar Lo). Its Chinese title, “Jin Shung Jin Shi,” literally means “This Life, This World.”
The film stars Alan Tang
Alan Tang
Alan Tang Kwong-Wing was a Hong Kong film actor, producer and director.-Biography:Tang was born in Shunde, Guangdong, China, He is the youngest of four children, having two older brothers and one older sister...
(Tang Kwon-Wing,), one of the notable actors in Hong Kong romantic and martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
films during the 1970s. It co-stars a young Candice Yu
Candice Yu
Candice Yu born Yu De Ying on 22 October 1959) is a Hong Kong film actress and occasional singer, best known for her films with Shaw Studio of the 1970s and 1980s...
(Yu On-On,)in one of the earliest projects in her career. She would later go on to become the first wife of Chow Yun-fat
Chow Yun-Fat
Chow Yun-fat, SBS is an actor from Hong Kong. He is best known in Asia for his collaboration with filmmaker John Woo in heroic bloodshed genre films A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard Boiled; and to the West for his role as Li Mu-bai in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon...
. The score was composed by Joseph Koo
Joseph Koo
Joseph Koo Kar-Fai, MBE, SBS is one of the most respected composers in Hong Kong. He used the pen name Moran for Mandarin songs. He is the younger brother of famous Chinese singer Koo Mei .-Career:...
Ka-Fai.
The film is often mistakenly listed as a 1972 film by the Hong Kong films archives, given that the leading actress Candice Yu would have been only 12 years old in 1972.
Plot
Young Iris (Candice Yu), diagnosed with an incurable diseaseDisease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
, has her parents’ consent to travel the world before the end.
Accompanied by her governess Mrs. Hsia, she comes to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
for only seven days. She runs into a convicted killer Tai-Lun (Alan Tang) upon arriving, and as telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
will have it, they fall deeply in love. Tai-Lun, who has just broken out of jail in Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, is an orphan brought up by Father Ma. He is sentenced to death for accidentally killing three people in a fight.
The two lovers, each facing a mutual plight, choose to love the moment and hide the truth from each other. Their guardians, Mrs. Hsia and Father Ma, find out about their love and decide to confide in each other and help the pair keep up their fantasy. There Iris and Tai-Lun are able to enjoy their bitter-sweet love for only the seven days.
Cast
- Candice YuCandice YuCandice Yu born Yu De Ying on 22 October 1959) is a Hong Kong film actress and occasional singer, best known for her films with Shaw Studio of the 1970s and 1980s...
- Iris - Alan TangAlan TangAlan Tang Kwong-Wing was a Hong Kong film actor, producer and director.-Biography:Tang was born in Shunde, Guangdong, China, He is the youngest of four children, having two older brothers and one older sister...
- Tai-Lun - Tang Ching - The Cop
- Jenny HuJenny HuJenny Hu , is a Hong Kong actress of Chinese and German origin best known for her leads in Shaw Brothers productions throughout the 1960s and early 1970s....
-The Teacher - Ou-Yang Sha Fei-The Priest
- Cho Kin
- Chen Kuan Tai
Reception and critique
Due to the general lack of accurate record keeping by respective filming commissions in Asian countries back in the 1970s, The exact earnings of this film was unknown. However, it was certainly not a top grossing film that year. Its legacy might be that it inspired a successful remake many years later.Critically, the film drew mixed reviews. One critic called the script “insipid and dull” while others expressed approval of the fictional and fantasized story line. The love scene in the film deserves a special mention, given that most Chinese romance movies at the time avoided sexual themes and only featured light, conservative “dry” kisses, Tang and Yu embrace in a very passionate kissing scene, with Tang baring his chest and Yu wearing only lingerie. The kissing scene along with the partial undressing, exceeded usual standards at this time and appeared well ahead of its time.
1994 remake
This film was remade into a made-for-TV movie for a Chinese TV sub-network in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1994. The low-budget remake, starring actor Tim Chang, and introducing a very young, singer-actress Sandy Wu, became a surprise hit. It was directed by H. C. Tang, a successful producer-director in the Chinese-American entertainment industry.
The remake followed much of the storyline as the original, with the only major change being its location-from Hong Kong to the US. It also focused more on the love story of the leading couple and paid less attention to the supporting roles. Whereas comparing to the fighting scenes in the original, leading man Tim Chang did some singing instead in the remake, while Wu sings for the title song herself.
The love scene in the remake by Chang and Wu was also highly sexualised and realistic. The remake has not been released worldwide.