Dear old Andrew has been rather occupied by writing obituaries recently as we continue to mourn Hong Kong stars who have made such an imprint on our lives. As the deaths of Lee Hoi-Sang (李海生) and Norman Chui (徐少強) have been confirmed, I thought I would take over the responsibility, but in a slightly different way. The best way to honour their memory, in my opinion, is to see them at their best; below are five films from each unmistakable legend that I hope you’ll take the opportunity to either reacquaint yourself with or even watch for the first time. The choices below are not necessarily the best films they have appeared in overall, but the best films to show off their legacy.

LEE HOI-SANG

There are few more recognisable faces in Hong Kong cinema than Lee Hoi-Sang, perennial villain of martial arts films and 80s action flicks. Long face, wild eyes, a bald head…when he appeared you knew things were about to get interesting. (I recommend the excellent video Lee Hoi-Sang…UNSUNG Legends of Kung Fu Cinema on the SureBros. Entertainment channel on YouTube)

1. Magnificent Butcher (1979)

We’ll start with a blindingly obvious one. ‘Magnificent Butcher’ is a wonderful film, one of Sammo Hung’s best, one of Yuen Woo-Ping’s best and one of the genre’s best. The cast is packed with quality; the aforementioned Sammo alongside Kwan Tak-Hing, Yuen Biao, Fung Hak-On, Fan Mei-Sheng all shine in this exceptional film. Yet, it could be argued, Lee Hoi-Sang manages to steal every scene he is in. Playing the film’s chief antagonist, Master Ko, Lee is an oddly sympathetic villain whose downfall is down to pride and his allegiance to his dreadful offspring (expertly played by Fung Hak-On). This extra dimension allows Lee to show off his acting chops and he excels in one of the more challenging roles he has had. Nevertheless, it’s mainly about his dreaded Cosmic Palm technique which is highlighted in one of the best fight scenes ever – the showdown with Sammo at the film’s finale. ‘Magnificent Butcher’ is absolutely immense and Lee Hoi-Sang is a major part of that.

2. The Gold Hunters (1981)

Slightly more obscure and much less available is ‘The Gold Hunters’, directed by Fung Hak-On and produced by Jackie Chan. Lee Hoi-Sang gives his comedic side a chance, starring as one of a trio of duplicitous protagonists hunting for the gold of the title. The comedy is broad, but amusing and features some outstanding action. Not a great fisticuff showcase for the man himself, but he’s an excellent dim, but good-hearted hero in this.

3. Project A (1983)

There are few films I would suggest are perfect, but ‘Project A’ might be one of them. Like ‘Magnificent Butcher’, the cast is wedged full of quality and it might be easy to overlook Lee. However, he proves to be a memorable henchman and his clocktower fight with Jackie Chan is about as good as cinema gets.

4. The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin (1978)

This is a tough one. Lee Hoi-Sang appeared in a few great Shaw Brothers films that have ‘Shaolin’ in the title, namely ‘Shaolin Prince’, ‘Shaolin Intruders’ and ‘Disciples of the 36th Chamber’, but his role in the original Liu Chia-Liang classic stands out. It’s a small but pivotal role for Lee and he’s involved in the two best fight scenes of the film. He’s not a villain and certainly not comic relief, offering an interesting obstacle for the hero to traverse. And it is a great role for a great performer.

5. Last Hurrah For Chivalry (1979)

John Woo’s melancholy genre swordplay film is a fascinating watch with an aura quite unlike anything else. This seems the perfect setting for a very severe looking Lee Hoi-Sang to exude menace and as one of the chief antagonists he is excellent. His skill has rarely been showcased as well as it is here and he gets to take on both heroes at once…and barely seems to break into a sweat doing it. For confirmation that Lee Hoi-Sang belongs in the great pantheon of Hong Kong heavies, look no further than ‘Last Hurrah for Chivalry’.

NORMAN CHUI

There was always something quite suave about Norman Chui, a fact that meant he could play the hero or the ‘respectable’ villain without breaking into a sweat. His thin, twinkling eyes gave him the look of Lee Van Cleef while his general swagger always stood out when he was introduced. His filmography was even more varied than Lee Hoi-Sang’s with a comfortable transition into Hong Kong cinema’s heroic bloodshed phase in the late 80s.

1. Bastard Swordsman (1983) / Return Of The Bastard Swordsman (1984)

In probably his most famous heroic role, Norman Chui takes on the mantel of the fighter of questionable parentage in these two remarkable Shaw Brothers features. A mind-blowing swordplay flick that has to be seen to be believed, the original shows Chui’s ability to play the downtrodden orphan and then the resplendent hero. The sequel isn’t quite as good, but this is still the Norman Chui show.

2. The Loot (1980)

Someone, somewhere, please give us a remastered Blu-Ray of this absolute gem. Chui and David Chiang are a wonderful double-act in this buddy kung-fu film that has action, wit and a whodunnit plot that would make Agatha Christie proud. Chui seems to be relishing the chance to star as a more playful hero and it’s such a shame that this classic never got a proper follow-up (‘The Challenger’, made with the same cast and crew, was a much more straightforward kung-fu film).

3. Duel To The Death (1983)

From the playfulness of ‘The Loot’ to the austere, yet spectacular ‘Duel to the Death’. Chui plays Japanese swordsman Hashimoto and gives the part the gravitas it needs; it says much for him that, though the film is peppered with remarkable set-pieces, the eponymous duel has a unique weight to it. Chui adds a touch of class to every scene he is in.

4. Three Against The World (1988)

One of the most underrated films of Andy Lau’s vast catalogue, ‘Three Against the World’ is an action caper that has largely been forgotten about. That’s a shame as it’s enormous fun and Norman Chui is great as Sharp-Shooter Ma – he clearly loved playing these stylish antagonists. Slick, debonair and deadly, only Chui could have played this part so well.

5. Sword Master (2016)

People will clamour for his more famous roles, but for my last choice goes to one of Chui’s final appearances. Chui had appeared in ‘Death Duel’ in 1977 and now appears in the remake, Derek Yee’s ‘Sword Master’. A visual treat and an excellent remake, ‘Sword Master’ gives Chui a smaller role but he is outstanding in it. As the cult leader, Chui (and a pair of very severe eyebrows) makes a very welcome addition to the cast and steals every scene he is in.