Among the whole Hong Kong academy of actors, there was one who has a big influence on my life when I was in my growing years. This man is Ti Lung.
Ti Lung is not exactly the greatest actor ever to come out of Hong Kong. In
fact, by Hong Kong standards, he's mediocre but there was something about his
persona that I like very much. In my pre-teen and teen years, going to the
movies was a big thing for me.
In those days, RTM was mainly in black and white and when the ordinary Joe wants
to "escape" into another world, he would inadvertently choose the cinema. The
trouble was I was always walking around "poket kosong" (impoverished). So those
few times when I was able to watch a movie or two, it was usually memorable.
In the 70s, the Shaw Brothers of Hong Kong was the top dog of the eastern film
world. And in the midst of all this were that dynamic duo, Ti Lung and David
Chiang. Before every young boy wanted to be like Bruce Lee, I had already made
up my mind that I wanted to be like Ti Lung.
There was something about Ti Lung that had a kinship with me. Hey, I may not be
as tall as him or as muscular but it was something that I had aspired to. In my
mind, Ti Lung was a warrior on the exterior but in his heart he was always a
gentleman. I had this ambition that I could be like that.
When the lights are dimmed inside the cinema and the wheels of the film machine
are turning, a person can literally be anything he wants. When you are 10 and
below, it all begins with a dream and it is actually the greatest adventure one
could have for the price of one cinema ticket.
Over the years, I have followed Ti Lung's career, not like a bloodhound but
intermittently when his name slipped into the gossip columns of magazines or
newspapers. I am glad he's still there, hanging on and occasionally making a
name for himself.
I noticed he hasn't changed much, personality-wise. He's still that gentleman
whom I had perceived him to be. Yes, he has his ups and downs but generally he's
doing better than expected. I am glad I have not been wrong in choosing him as
my hero and role model. A lot of people want to be Albert Einstein, Gandhi,
Bruce Lee, John Wayne, Thomas Edison or even Genghiz Khan, but I was that
day-dreamer of a kid who was rooting for Ti Lung.
Below is Ti Lung's story - my cinema hero.
When you hear the name David Chiang, you tend to conjure the image of another
guy as well - Ti Lung. However, in Hong Kong, David Chiang had a bigger share of
the spotlight. Both guys were the favourites of director Chang Cheh at the
height of their fame in the 70s.
Since David was undisputedly the better actor, he always played the hero. Ti
Lung was that regular side-kick who jumped in and helped demolish the rest of
the opponents when David got into trouble in a fight. Standing at more than
183cm, Ti Lung had a physical presence on screen that was undeniable. His
handsome looks enhanced his muscular body which directors of his early films
never failed to exploit.
So the slightest shoulder or body injury in a scene called for the immediate
shedding of the shirt or period costume which Ti Lung was wearing. Ti Lung was
born on our National Day (Aug 31) in 1946 in Guangdong, China. His real name is
Tam Furong (in pinyin). His early years saw him studying in Hong Kong's Eton
School.
After graduation, he did a stint in the tailoring line. His friends must have
seen his potential as an actor, so Ti Lung auditioned for a part in Chang Cheh's
movie Dead End. He soon signed a contract with Shaw Brothers. As Tam Furong, the
young man would not have attracted much media attention, so he was given the new
name of Ti Lung which means "Dragon Ti" in Mandarin. However, there was another
side to the name.
Probably tongue-in-cheek, in Cantonese, "Ti Lung" sounds like "De Lon", as in
Alain Delon. Some quick-thinking Hong Kong producer must have figured that it
would be a wise move to capitalise on that French actor's fame in the 70s. Shaw
Brothers has its own training school for actors who didn't have the necessary
fighting skills.
So Ti Lung quickly learnt a number of convincing moves in sword-fighting and use
of the Shaolin long pole. Besides weapons, Ti Lung also studied under a Wing
Chun master. Shortly after he joined Shaw Brothers, Ti Lung teamed up with David
Chiang. Together, the fighting duo made about a dozen movies over a period of
three years.
These were Vengeance (1970), Heroic Ones (1970), Duel of Fists (1971), Duel of
Iron Fist (1971), New One-Armed Swordsman (1971), Deadly Duo (1972) and Angry
Guests (1972). Critics have described Ti Lung as being magnificent in scenes
where he was seriously wounded or died. They even said that "suffering superbly
remained a permanent staple of his screen persona".
I recall that in one film (probably Heroic Ones), Ti Lung wielded a silver
spear. In the last scene where he dies after suffering some deadly cuts, he
overturned his spear, stuck it to the ground and leant on it and died. That
memorable scene gave new meaning to the phrase "died standing".
In 1972, Ti Lung acted in two more notable films with David Chiang - Blood
Brothers and The Water Margin. With the advent of Bruce Lee, Ti Lung and David
Chiang began to take a backseat to the new cinema sensation from the US. Ti Lung
soon parted ways with David Chiang.
Rumour at that time had it that David was peeved when Ti Lung got the bigger
role in director Lee Hanxiang's The Express Dowager in 1974. Because of his
association with director Chang Cheh whom he regarded as his mentor, Ti Lung
continued to act in his films which were filmed in Taiwan. Some of these were
Five Shaolin Masters (1975) and Shaolin Temple (1976).
In the second half of the 70s, Ti Lung worked with other directors like Sun
Chong (Avenging Eagle, Kung Fu Instructor, Deadly Breaking Sword) and Chor Yuen
(Magic Blade, Sentimental Swordsman, The Jade Tiger, Clans of Intrigue). In the
1980s, Shaw Brothers' winning streak came to an end. With that, Ti Lung's career
also plummeted. Actors like Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung began to rule the screen.
In 1984, Shaw Brothers shut down its film-making facilities. It was a bad time
for Ti Lung. Exiled into limbo, it was rumoured that Ti Lung took to the bottle.
Then in 1986, one of Chang Cheh's former assistant directors called on Ti Lung
to act in A Better Tomorrow (Ying Hung Boon Sik). It was a smash and Ti Lung's
film career was back on track. The following year, Ti Lung was in the sequel
Better Tomorrow II.
His career was now on firm ground. With a receding hairline and qualifying for
senior citizen status, Ti Lung took on more mature roles in the late 90s
onwards. Some of his films during this period were Drunken Master II, The Kid,
High Q and Paramount Hotel.
Ti Lung has been married to To Man Ming for over 30 years. They have a son Shaun
Tam Jun-Yin who is following his father's footsteps. Ti Lung is one of the few
Hong Kong actors who has pursued his acting career well into the new century.
Along the way, he has picked up a few prestigious awards.
He has acted in 98
films stretching from 1969 to 2005. As an actor, his reputation is rock solid.
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