Film Archive to present "Legends of HK Film Comedies, 1980s and 1990s" exhibition (with photos)
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Hong Kong comedy films thrived in the 1980s and 1990s, and many of the popular works produced at the time are now regarded as classics. Through different angles in three thematic zones, the exhibition outlines the local comedy film scene in these two decades.
In the exhibition zone "Roomfuls of Laughter", nearly 100 exhilarating excerpts from classic Hong Kong film comedies will be screened under four themes, namely "Classic Combos", "The Art of Exaggeration", "Laughing with the Times" and "The Nonsensical Art of Mo Lei Tau". Comedies include "Wheels on Meals" (1984), "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1987), "All for the Winner" (1990), and "Forbidden City Cop" (1996), which are selected to depict and deconstruct the design and tactics of the jokes in comedy films.
The other zone in the exhibition, "Oral History: Our Comedy Hour", will screen two thematic videos of interviews with filmmakers including Wong Jing, Clifton Ko, Tenky Tin, Alfred Cheung and Mak Kai-kwong, along with actors including Teresa Mo and Sandra Ng. The two videos are titled "The Birth of Comedy" and "Behind the Jokes: The Making of a Comedian". The former unveils the development and creative process of Hong Kong comedy films from aspects such as creative inspiration, story concept and casting, while the latter explores how actors characterise their roles, interact with other actors and provide reflections on their film careers, illustrating the professionalism of Hong Kong comedy film stars.
Decorated as a karaoke lounge, which was popular in the 1980s and 1990s, the exhibition zone "Happy Karaoke Sing-A-Long" features more than 20 theme songs or interludes in film excerpts, including "Ex-love is Like a Dream" from "92 The Legendary la Rose Noire" (1992), "A Love Affair" from "Let's Make Laugh" (1983) and "We Meet Again Stranger" from "All's Well End's Well" (1992). Visitors can enjoy the songs in the videos and revisit the enduring pop culture comedy moments.
The exhibition features installations for visitors to take pictures for their joyful moments, including a "poster waterfall" comprising numerous posters of classic comedy films, such as "All the Wrong Clues (…For the Right Solution)" (1981), "Aces Go Places" (1982) and "Sixty Million Dollar Man" (1995). There is also a Comedy Wall of Fame displaying actors and filmmakers' insights into comedy films, as well as a feature wall which integrates multiple classic comedy scenes and iconic landmarks of Hong Kong, such as the Bank of China Tower, the Clock Tower in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
Two seminars will be held during the exhibition period. The first seminar will be held at the HKFA Cinema on June 22 (Sunday), featuring director Clifton Ko and actress Teresa Mo, and hosted by veteran film critic Thomas Shin. Details of the second seminar will be announced on the HKFA website (www.filmarchive.gov.hk) later.
Admission is free. For details of the exhibition, please visit www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2025/comedy-e/pe-event-2025-comedy-e.html or call 2739 2139. Fortune Star Media Limited is the partner organisation for the exhibition.
This year, the LCSD presents the third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival, themed "More Than Joy". For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, May 23, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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