On July 24, veteran Hong Kong artist Patrick Tse passed away, while 94-year-old Fung Woo held a Red Hall concert. The two iconic industry veterans represent distinct spirits of the golden Hong Kong film era.
In July, two veteran figures in Hong Kong’s entertainment industry captured the attention of the entire internet: on one hand, the passing of Tse Yin—who had previously won the Hong Kong Film Award for Lifetime Achievement and, at an advanced age, was crowned Best Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards; on the other hand, 94-year-old Hu Feng took the stage at the Hong Kong Coliseum to hold a solo concert.
Both are living legends in the industry who have witnessed the entire journey of Hong Kong cinema, from its infancy to its heyday.In the late 1950s, as Cantonese-language films were just taking off, the 17-year-old Tse Yin entered the industry and threw himself into film sets. Thanks to his striking looks and relentless dedication to his craft, he quickly became one of the most sought-after first-generation idols of the time. Industry insiders nicknamed him “Fourth Brother,” a moniker that has stuck with him for a full seventy years.Hu Feng, who entered the industry at the same time as him, was also one of the famous “Four Young Leading Men” of early Hong Kong cinema. After his peak popularity, he settled down to focus on supporting roles, a path he has followed for most of his life.
Xie Xian was known for his forthright and principled nature; he could not tolerate half-hearted or lazy work from those in the industry and once publicly reprimanded a junior colleague for a lack of professionalism. The nickname “The Playboy” followed him for many years, and his proud spirit never waned even in his old age.Hu Feng, on the other hand, was always gentle and kind-hearted. He frequently mentored younger colleagues and remained indifferent to fame and fortune. Approaching the age of 100, he had never been the subject of any scandal and consistently upheld the professional integrity expected of veteran artists.When the Hong Kong Film Awards presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Tse Yin, all the veteran artists in attendance rose to their feet in tribute, with no one raising any objection. On the day he won the Best Actor award, the celebration at the Hong Kong Coliseum continued well into the early hours of the morning, with the crowd’s chants of “Fourth Brother” echoing throughout the venue long after the ceremony had ended.
On the evening of
July 24, at Hu Feng’s concert, the spotlight fell on his face, every line of which bore the marks of decades of steady, solid work in the industry. When the segment where the entire audience sang along came to an end, many of the veteran fans in the audience had tears in their eyes.
Xie Xian embodies the forthright spirit ingrained in the fabric of Hong Kong’s entertainment industry—unafraid to love or hate, he has weathered half a century of the industry’s ups and downs with unyielding resolve;Hu Feng, on the other hand, embodies the calm and steady character that lies at the very foundation of the Hong Kong entertainment industry—staying true to his original aspirations and taking each step with solid determination. Deng Guangrong, Zeng Jiang, and others who once forged their paths alongside them during the golden age of Hong Kong cinema have long since passed away.Of the two remaining, one has captured the unrestrained and expansive spirit at the heart of the Hong Kong film industry, while the other has steadfastly upheld its solid, forward-moving foundation—both are irreplaceable hallmarks of an era.
Two news stories
from the same day: one marks the closing of a chapter in life, while the other heralds the beginning of a new chapter on the stage. If you, too, have spent time in the past watching Hong Kong films, why not pause for a moment to bid farewell to these two veterans who have spent their entire lives working on stage?
