Wu Hui(Hong Kong)

Ng Wui (born Ng Yiu-man, December 3, 1913 – March 1, 1996) was a well-known Hong Kong Cantonese film director and actor. His wife was the Cantonese film actress Yip Ping.

Biography

Ng Wui was born into a wealthy family in Guangzhou. He had a passion for drama during his school years, often performing and directing plays with classmates. In 1929, he enrolled in the Drama Department of the Guangdong Film Academy and Guangdong Drama Research Institute, where he studied alongside Lu Dun and Lee Sun-fung. Early in his career, he worked as a silent film narrator in cinemas. He entered the Hong Kong film industry in 1939, playing minor roles in films such as *Blood and Tears of a Love Flower*, later acting in numerous Cantonese films and engaging in behind-the-scenes work.

In 1940, he acted in and produced the mythological film *The Legend of the Dragon Slayer* by Lu Dun. That same year, he joined Daguan Sound Film Co., starring in *Tears of the Sea of People* (1940), which gained attention. Subsequent Daguan productions like *Roar of the Nation*, *Song of Exile*, and *Night Shanghai* also featured him. In 1941, he directed *Tonight We Reunite Under the Moon*, starring Cheung Ying and Wu Mei Lun, and co-directed *The Three Heroes of the Ruan Family* with Lee Sun-fung.

When Japan invaded Hong Kong later that year, he returned to mainland China and formed a theater troupe in Guangzhou Bay with Wong Man-lei, Lee Sun-fung, and Lu Dun. After the war ended and Hong Kong was liberated in 1945, he returned.

Ng rejoined the film industry in 1947, working as both actor and director. His directed films like *Tears Fall on the Land of Love* and *Heavenly Marriage*, and 1948's *Many Children, Many Grandchildren* were scripted by Lee Sun-fung. In 1948, he increasingly became a renowned Cantonese film director, directing up to ten films a year. He later collaborated with emerging director Chun Kim on *A Young Beauty’s Love Cut Short*, a tragic period drama that launched Chun’s directing career.

Known for his rapid yet high-quality productions, he directed over 220 films in various genres. In 1951 and 1952 alone, he directed 17 films each year. His efficiency stemmed from using multiple sets to shoot different scenes simultaneously.

Ng was the first to adapt popular radio novels, known as "Sky Novels," into films. In 1949, he directed *A Broken Dream at Midnight*, based on a novel by Li Ngor and starring Ng Cho-fan and Violet Wong, leading to a boom in adaptations of Li Ngor’s works, of which Ng directed twelve.

He supported Ng Cho-fan’s "Clean Cantonese Film Movement" to curb low-quality productions.

In 1952, Ng co-founded the Union Film Enterprise with 21 Cantonese film veterans, aiming to produce meaningful works. The company’s debut *Family* was directed by Ng. He directed or co-directed 20 of Union’s 44 productions, including *Sisterhood* (1954), *Lotus Lantern* (Parts 1–3, 1956), *Money* (1959), *People* (1960), and *Sea* (1963).

He also directed notable startup productions for other companies, like *The Prodigal Son* (1952) and *Lady Wan* (1954).

The 1959 film *Feast of the Rich and Powerful*, co-directed with Lee Tit, Law Chi-hung, and Lee Sun-fung, is considered a classic of the golden age of Hong Kong cinema. In the 1960s, he and nine other directors—Huang Tai, Mok Hong-see, Lung To, Wu Pang, Fung Chi-keung, Lee Tit, Wong Hok-sang, Lo Yu-kei, and Chu Kei—formed a brotherhood known as the "Ten Great Directors." In 1964, they co-directed *Splendid Paradise*, a major industry event.

In 1970, Ng joined Rediffusion Television (predecessor of Asia Television), initially as a producer/director. He worked on series such as *True Kung Fu* but later focused on acting due to age. He specialized in portraying elderly, fatherly characters such as Yeung Dai-ke in *The Fatherland* and Kwong Tai-chuen in *Chameleon*, which became signature roles with substantial screen time.

Ng’s closest colleagues included Cheung Ying and Lee Sun-fung. In the mid-1980s, he retired to Zhongshan, Guangdong with his wife. He occasionally returned to Hong Kong for film appearances, with his final role being the father "Justice Pao But-tung" in *Hail the Judge*, starring Stephen Chow.

In 1994, he received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild. He passed away on March 1, 1996, in Zhongshan. The Hong Kong film community held a memorial service at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Awards

• 1994: "Lifetime Achievement Award", Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild

External Links

• [Archived] Introduction to Ng Wui
• [Blog] Introduction to Ng Wui (Part I: Overview)
• [Forum] Famous Cantonese Director Ng Wui