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A Better Tomorrow ()

Ying hung boon sik (original title)
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A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.

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Cast

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Sung Tse-Ho (as Ti Lung)
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Mark (as Chow Yun Fat)
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Sung Tse-Kit
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Jackie
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Shing (as Lee Chi Hung)
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Father Sung
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Inspector Wu
Yanzi Shi ...
Mr. Yiu
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Ken
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Shing's right hand man
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Mr. Wang (as Hap Wong)
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'Little' Wang
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Uncle Chan
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Mr. Mok
Pierre Tremblay ...
Interpol Officer
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Music Judge (as Tsui Hark)
Shung-Fung Lau ...
Taiwanese Triad
Wei-Ho Tu ...
Taiwanese Triad
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Taiwanese Triad
Sing-Kwong Tsang ...
Taiwanese Triad (as Seng-Kwong Chang)
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Taiwanese Triad
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Taiwanese Triad
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Triad Member
Hsi-Chun Yang ...
Triad Member in Parking Lot
Wai Tong Wong ...
Shing's Gangster
Te-Wei Chu ...
Shing's Gangster
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Shing's Gangster
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Shing's Gangster
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Brawl Extra
Han-Yuan Ma ...
Brawl Extra (as Hon-Yuen Ma)
Patrick Leung
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Danny Ng ...
Henchman (uncredited)

Directed by

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John Woo

Written by

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Hing-Ka Chan ... (written by) (as Chan Hing Kai) &
Suk-Wah Leung ... (written by) (as Leung Suk Wah) &
John Woo ... (written by)

Produced by

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Hark Tsui ... producer (as Tsui Hark)
John Woo ... producer

Music by

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Joseph Koo ... (as Ka-Fai Koo)

Cinematography by

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Wing-Hang Wong

Editing by

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Ma Kam
David Wu

Editorial Department

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Simon Broderick ... colorist

Production Design by

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Chi Leung Lui

Art Direction by

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Bennie Lui

Costume Design by

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Gam-Jan Yeung

Production Management

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Kuo-Chung Chou ... production manager (as Tony Chow)
Yu-Kin Ng ... production manager
Ga-Man Wan ... production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Chi-Ming Leung ... assistant director
Pak-Kin Leung ... assistant director

Stunts

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Blackie Shou-Liang Ko ... action choreographer
Wei Tung ... action choreographer

Camera and Electrical Department

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Lik-Fong Ng ... still photographer
Kim-Kit Wai ... lighting director
Jan-Wah Yuen ... assistant camera

Script and Continuity Department

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Wing-Tuen Chow ... script supervisor

Additional Crew

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Hark Tsui ... presenter (as Tsui Hark)
Wei Tung ... action director
Simon Broad ... adr group (uncredited)
Ping-Keung Cheung ... cantonese voice dubbing: Shi Yanzi (uncredited)
Gui Chin ... cantonese voice dubbing: Tien Fung (uncredited)
Leung Ching-Ping ... cantonese voice dubbing: Waise Lee (uncredited)
Hung Lu ... cantonese voice dubbing: Kam Hing-Yin (uncredited) / cantonese voice dubbing: Shing Fui-On (uncredited)
Chan Wing Shun ... cantonese voice dubbing: Leung Ming (uncredited)
Gregory Snegoff ... voice dubbing: Lung Ti (uncredited)
Doris Lo So-Kuen ... cantonese voice dubbing: Emily Chu (uncredited)
Tinson Lo Tin-San ... cantonese voice dubbing: Hung San-Nam (uncredited)
Stephen Chi-Sing Wong ... cantonese voice dubbing: Ti Lung (uncredited)

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

This story is the tale of two brothers: one a successful counterfeiter and the younger a fledgling graduate of the HK police academy. The plot revolves around the split when the younger brother learns the other is a criminal and the efforts of the criminal brother to reform. Along the way are plenty of heists, double-crosses, and shoot outs. Written by Victor R. Volkman

Plot Keywords
Taglines The movie that began it all......... See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • A Better Tomorrow (Hong Kong, English title)
  • The Essence of Heroes (Hong Kong, English title)
  • Ying xiong ben se (Hong Kong, Mandarin title)
  • 英雄本色 (Hong Kong, Cantonese title)
  • A Better Tomorrow (United States)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 95 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Did You Know?

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Trivia This film became so popular, that kids in Hong Kong started wearing long coats, known as "dusters" to copy the lead character in the film. See more »
Goofs The cello playing at the "audition" (c.11 minutes) is inaccurately mimed. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in A Better Tomorrow II (1987). See more »
Soundtracks Sparrowfall See more »
Quotes Ho Tse Sung: Do you believe there's a God?
Mark Gor: Yes. I am God. You're one. A god can be human. A god is someone who controls his destiny. Sometimes, there's things you can't control. You win some, you lose some.
See more »

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