6.8 /10 1 Votes
Traditional 新半斤八兩 Mandarin Xīn Bàn Jīn Bā Liǎng Directed by Philip Chan Director Philip Chan Producer Michael Hui | 6.7/10 IMDb Simplified 新半斤八两 Cantonese San Bun Gan Baat Leong Produced by Michael Hui Box office 26.35 million HKD Screenplay Michael Hui, Philip Chan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Initial release 24 August 1990 (Hong Kong) Cast Sam Hui, Michael Hui, Ricky Hui, Louise Lee Similar The Private Eyes, Security Unlimited, Three of a Kind, Games Gamblers Play, Winner Takes All | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Front Page is a 1990 Hong Kong comedy film directed by Philip Chan and starring Michael Hui, Samuel Hui and Ricky Hui. The film is a remake of the Hui Brothers' 1976 film, The Private Eyes.
Contents
Plot
Hui (Michael Hui) is the chief editor of "Truth Weekly" (內幕周刊), which is based on intellectual contents, resulting in sluggish sales. Because of this, the magazine company is on the verge for closure. Martial arts instructor Mad Bill (Samuel Hui) was recently dismissed from his job and applies for a position at the magazine company. Bill suggests Hui to transition the magazine to an entertainment news magazine, focusing on scandals of female celebrities. Hui accepts this idea, and along with Bill another staff member, Fly (Ricky Hui), the trio fabricates gossip to be used as a headline for the next issue of the magazine.
The trio decides to track on Sandy Cheung (Catherine Hung), known for being pure and innocent in the entertainment circle, whom is bale to be married to the son of jewellery magnate. The trio follows her to a beauty salon intending to snap photos of her having a breast transplant, hoping to cause a hype. However, it turned out Sandy was at the beauty salon for skin care only. Later, the trio play dumb to win Sandy's sympathy to get close to her. The trio were later successful in taking photos of intimate pictures of Sandy with Bill and intends to use them to report about her infidelity.
The night before publishing the news, when Bill and Fly's conscience caught up with them, they take the negatives of the photos and returns them to Sandy at her engagement party. However, they encounter robbers who have seized control of the venue and takes Sandy hostage to threaten her fiance to hand them all of the jewellery from his jewellery shop. At this time, Hui, Bill and Fly also snap a large amount of photos of the robbery scene there. Sandy's fiance refuses to hand over his property, putting Sandy's life on the line. Fortunately, Bill rescues her and repels the robbers with his martial arts skills. Finally, "Truth Weekly" was resurrected by the report of the robbery and attracted a large sale. The robbers, whom attempted to flee from Hong Kong, were also apprehended. Hui and his staff were awarded Good Citizen Awards and cash by the police force, while Bill also wins Sandy's heart.
Cast
Theme song
Insert theme
Critical
Andrew Saroch of Far East Films gave the film a score of four out of five stars, praising the confidence and slickness of the three lead actors and its slapstick and moral message, describes it as "sophisticated comedy". In the book, The Hong Kong Filmography, 1977–1997: A Reference Guide to 1,100 Films Produced by British Hong Kong Studios, John Charles gave the film a score of 5/10 and describes it as "short on fresh ideas", but "fairly pleasing if one;s expectations are held in check."
Box office
The film grossed HK$26,348,480 at the Hong Kong box office during its theatrical run from 24 August to 2 October 1990.