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Once a Thief

Original title: Chung hang sei hoi
  • 1991
  • R
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
7K
YOUR RATING
Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief (1991)
ActionComedyCrime

A romantic and action packed story of three best friends, a group of high end art thieves, who come into trouble when a love-triangle forms between them.A romantic and action packed story of three best friends, a group of high end art thieves, who come into trouble when a love-triangle forms between them.A romantic and action packed story of three best friends, a group of high end art thieves, who come into trouble when a love-triangle forms between them.

  • Director
    • John Woo
  • Writers
    • John Woo
    • Clifton Ko
    • Janet Chun
  • Stars
    • Leslie Cheung
    • Chow Yun-Fat
    • Cherie Chung
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Woo
    • Writers
      • John Woo
      • Clifton Ko
      • Janet Chun
    • Stars
      • Leslie Cheung
      • Chow Yun-Fat
      • Cherie Chung
    • 34User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 nominations

    Photos17

    Leslie Cheung and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Leslie Cheung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Leslie Cheung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat and Leslie Cheung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Once a Thief (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Leslie Cheung
    Leslie Cheung
    • James - Jim
    Chow Yun-Fat
    Chow Yun-Fat
    • Red Bean Puddin - Joe
    • (as Chow Yun Fat)
    Cherie Chung
    Cherie Chung
    • Red Bean - Cheri
    Kong Chu
    Kong Chu
    • Chu - Dad
    Kenneth Tsang
    Kenneth Tsang
    • Chow - Father
    David Wu
    David Wu
    • Auctioneer
    Fung Woo
    Fung Woo
    • Mr. Cheung
    • (as Wu Fung)
    Pierre-Yves Burton
    • Mr. Le Bond
    • (as Pierre Yves Burton)
    Declan Wong
    • Magician Henchman
    • (as Declan Michael Wong)
    Patrick Hon
    Patrick Hon
    • Hitman
    Yat Kwun Tang
    • Young Red Bean Pudding - Young Joe
    Ka-Fai Tong
    Ka-Fai Tong
    • Young James - Young Jim
    Leila Tong
    Leila Tong
    • Young Red Bean - Young Cherie
    • (as Lina Kong)
    Kin-Shing Choi
    • Guard
    Douglas Kung
    • Chow's Henchman
    • (uncredited)
    John Woo
    John Woo
    • Stanley Wu
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Woo
    • Writers
      • John Woo
      • Clifton Ko
      • Janet Chun
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The time elapsed between the first day of shooting and the first public screening of the finished film was ten weeks.
    • Goofs
      When Joe and Cherie are driving behind the truck, that is transporting the paintings (including their marked one), you can clearly see the rope holding the car of Joe and Cherie close to the truck during the stunt scene.
    • Quotes

      Red Bean Pudding: I've told you so many times. Don't just use D gear. Sometimes use 1st gear, or 2nd gear. I say brake, you don't. I say step on it, you don't. I say ease off the pedal, you don't. You're so stupid!

    • Alternate versions
      All German versions, including the TV-Version, are cut.
    • Connections
      Edited from Red Scorpion (1988)

    User reviews34

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Clever and funny yet not as fast-paced, exciting as most other Woo films
    John Woo's "Once a Thief" is a pretty entertaining movie which is original and clever like most other Woo films. It's mostly a suspense thief picture with lots of comedy mixed in with a romantic love-triangle and a little bit of Chow Yun-Fat/John Woo gunplay action of course. There is never any blood -let in this rather light film. I think John Woo wanted to tone down the violence and put more suspense/comedy in his well-known balance scale. It's pretty obvious when the usually trigger-happy Chow Yun Fat spares the life of a threatening gangster and kicks him out of a window instead. That might be along the "Die Hard" Hollywood terms, but for loyal Chow and Woo fans, it's very surprising. The storyline is one of Woo's most simple and innocent, but it set the film up for a couple of robberies which will grip you until the end. Leslie Cheung is dead serious and good as always, Chow Yun Fat is in his "Better Tomorrow II" mood: his lighter, more comedic mode which is somewhat more likeable. This mode is usually used for Woo's lighter, less serious films which don't need much acting. Chow's "Killer" serious mood is what made him famous for, but he doesn't suit that mood as well as this movie's character does.
    helpful•4
    2
    • MiB-6
    • Sep 12, 1998

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 2, 1991 (Hong Kong)
    • Country of origin
      • Hong Kong
    • Languages
      • French
      • Cantonese
      • English
      • Hakka
    • Also known as
      • Tung Hoanh Tu Hai
    • Filming locations
      • Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France
    • Production companies
      • Golden Princess Film Production Limited
      • John Woo Film Production
      • Milestone Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • HK$33,397,149
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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