Film Archive's "Morning Matinee" to feature To Ping's acting talents (with photos)
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The 81-year-old To Ping, originally named Peter Cheung, received actors' training from the Union Film Enterprise Limited in 1958 and was taken in by renowned Cantonese film actor Ng Cho-fan as a disciple. To usually portrayed a villain on-screen in his early career. He subsequently played a wider range of roles, acting in more than 70 films including melodramas, wuxia films and youth musicals. To was later recruited by TVB and joined the household variety show "Enjoy Yourself Tonight" at its premiere. He also appeared in various television dramas and hosted many major programmes.
To in his debut film "Road" (1959) acts alongside his mentor Ng Cho-fan as well as a star-studded cast, including Cheung Wood-yau, Pak Yin, Tsi Lo Lin, Lee Ching and Mui Yee, giving a vivid performance as a virtuous young man in the wartime.
"Human Relationships" (1959), an adaptation of Ba Jin's novel "Spring Dream in Old Garden", is the film celebrating the seventh anniversary of the Union. To plays the eldest son of a miserable old heir (Ng). Though not appearing until halfway through the film, To steals the scene with his gripping performance.
Adapted from a newspaper serial novel written by Yuen Long, "The Cruel Hand" (1960) follows a white-collar worker (Ng) and an heir (Cheung Ying) meeting each other at a drug den. With a righteous persona, To helps the duo quit drugs. To excels in the film, appearing at ease and showing mature acting skills.
In "Long Live Money" (1961), To stars as a slimly lowlife who sponges off his wife by marrying her off to an old tycoon as his eighth concubine.
"A Sorrowful Millionaire" (1963) was To's first colour film and the first in which he played a leading role. Paired with Patricia Lam Fung, one of the most popular female stars at the time, To starred as a modest young heir who shows unwavering love for Lam. To gained popularity among audiences with his likeable role.
"Say It with Flowers" (1966), also known as "I Want You", features an elder sister (Patsy Kar Ling) who focuses on family business and has remained single. Her younger siblings attempt to arrange a marriage for her with a down-and-out young man (Lui Kay). However, a father (Tang Kei-chen) and his son (Yu Ming) try hard to win Kar Ling's heart and wealth and To, playing her young brother, shares a number of comedic scenes with the duo. This was the first on-screen co-operation between To and Lui, who had been Union actors' training course classmates, and their scenes together have a natural screen chemistry.
In "Young Lady's Heart" (1966), also known as "Romance of a Teenage Girl", Josephine Siao Fong-fong endeavours to help Woo Fung escape poverty, but Woo impulsively joins a drug cartel, which puts Siao's life at risk. To, playing a nightclub manager, brings in amusing scenes and also resolves the misunderstandings of the two protagonists in the film.
Based on a TVB sitcom, Chor Yuen's "Hong Kong 73" (1974) features more than 70 movie stars and artists, among which To and Shek Sau star as siblings, playing an assistant director and a television cameraman respectively. The film follows the hot-button social issues of the time in a satirical way.
"Convivial Trio" tells of an heiress who goes for a television audition, and is a production of the film company established by To and Chan Chai-chung, another key figure in "Enjoy Yourself Tonight". Apart from featuring television stars, such as Nancy Sit Kar-yin, Tam Bing-man, Lydia Sum and Wong Oi-ming, the special appearances of numerous pop singers also double the fun in the film.
All of the films are in Cantonese. "Hong Kong 73" has Chinese and English subtitles and the other films are without subtitles. The programme is guest-curated by Yuen Tsz-ying.
Tickets priced at $30 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme details, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/CulturalService/HKFA/en_US/web/hkfa/programmesandexhibitions/mm/film.html, or call 2739 2139.
Ends/Saturday, March 4, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:00
Issued at HKT 11:00
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