Hard to Die (1993)

A special agent assigned to protect a wealthy business magnate. However, when the businessman is kidnapped in a daring ambush, he teams up with a seasoned detective to crack the case. But soon he discovers the case isn't that simple.

Directors:

Kirk Wong, Jackie Chan (uncredited)

Writers:

Tin Nam Chun (screenplay) (as Chun Tin Nam), Man Keung Chan (screenplay) (as Chan Man Keung)

Stars:

Jackie Chan, Kent Cheng, Kar-Ying Law

2 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jackie Chan	...	Inspector Eddie Chan
Kent Cheng	...	Detective Hung Ting-Bong
Kar-Ying Law	...	Wong Yat-Fei
Puishan Auyeung	...	Wong's wife (as Au-Yeung Pui Shan)
Christine Ng	...	Gaga
Blackie Shou Liang Ko	...	Captain Ko (as Blackie Ko)
William Duen Wai-Lun	...	Superintendent Cheung (as Duen Wai Lun)
Ken Lo	...	Ng Kwok Yan (as Low Houi Kang)
Fat Chung	...	Ng Kwok-Wah / Wu Kuo Hua (as Chung Fat)
Fat Wan	...	Simen Ting / Simon Ting (as Wan Fat)
Pak-Wo Chu	...	Boat Captain
Hsiang Lin Yin	...	(as Wan Sheong Lam)
Tak-Shing Lam
Rocky Lai	...	Taiwanese Gangster / Restaurant Owner (as Lai Keung Gun)
Lee Chun Chi

Storyline

A dark and handsome true-crime thriller about kidnapping and police corruption in Hong Kong. Once of Jackie Chan's most serious roles, but still overflowing with spectacular acrobatic sequences.

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Plot Keywords:

hong kong | crooked cop | kidnapping | police | corruption | 

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Taglines:

The World's Toughest City Needs More Than An Army To Stop The Mob . . . They Need One Man!

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for martial arts violence, shootings and a sex scene

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese Mandarin Hokkien

Release Date:

24 June 1993 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Hard to Die

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Box Office

Gross:

$194,720 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Golden Harvest Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rumors that Kirk Wong and Jackie Chan did not get along during filming are just that: rumors. On the Dragon Dynasty DVD commentary, Kirk explains that he and Jackie got along just fine. He did, however, express disappointment over the fact that Jackie had made several cuts to the film without his approval. He goes on to say that he and Jackie have never spoken since the film's premiere.

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Goofs

Before the kidnapping, when we first see Wng and his wife in the car, as she reclines her seat because she is felling unwell, they are not wearing their seatbelts. In subsequent shots, they sometimes are and sometimes are not both wearing them.

User Reviews

Chan's serious side

I don't know the background on this one, but it seemed to be based on a true story, and as such there wasn't a lot of room for Jackie Chan's trademark slapstick stuntwork. Not that there aren't any stunts in Crime Story, but they're just lacking the 'fancy' elements from such films as 'Dragons Forever' or the 'Police Story' series.

Nevertheless, this is a good film, if for nothing else than to see a different side of Jackie Chan in a serious role as a haunted cop without the fancy footwork in some of his other films.