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IMDbPro

Once a Thief

Original title: Chung hang sei hoi
  • 19911991
  • RR
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
6.8K
YOUR RATING
Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief (1991)
ActionComedyCrime
A romantic and action packed story of three best friends, a group of high end art thieves, who come into trouble when a love-triangle forms between them.A romantic and action packed story of three best friends, a group of high end art thieves, who come into trouble when a love-triangle forms between them.A romantic and action packed story of three best friends, a group of high end art thieves, who come into trouble when a love-triangle forms between them.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
6.8K
YOUR RATING
    • John Woo
    • John Woo(screenplay)
    • Clifton Ko(screenplay)
    • Janet Chun(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Leslie Cheung
    • Chow Yun-Fat
    • Cherie Chung
    • John Woo
    • John Woo(screenplay)
    • Clifton Ko(screenplay)
    • Janet Chun(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Leslie Cheung
    • Chow Yun-Fat
    • Cherie Chung
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 35User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Photos17

    Chow Yun-Fat and Leslie Cheung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Leslie Cheung and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Leslie Cheung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Leslie Cheung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat and Leslie Cheung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat in Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Leslie Cheung
    Leslie Cheung
    • James - Jim
    Chow Yun-Fat
    Chow Yun-Fat
    • Red Bean Puddin - Joe
    • (as Chow Yun Fat)
    Cherie Chung
    Cherie Chung
    • Red Bean - Cheri
    Kong Chu
    Kong Chu
    • Chu - Dad
    Kenneth Tsang
    Kenneth Tsang
    • Chow - Father
    David Wu
    David Wu
    • Auctioneer
    Fung Woo
    Fung Woo
    • Mr. Cheung
    • (as Wu Fung)
    Pierre-Yves Burton
    • Mr. Le Bond
    • (as Pierre Yves Burton)
    Declan Wong
    • Magician Henchman
    • (as Declan Michael Wong)
    Patrick Hon
    Patrick Hon
    • Hitman
    Yat Kwun Tang
    • Young Red Bean Pudding - Young Joe
    Ka-Fai Tong
    Ka-Fai Tong
    • Young James - Young Jim
    Leila Tong
    Leila Tong
    • Young Red Bean - Young Cherie
    • (as Lina Kong)
    Kin-Shing Choi
    • Guard
    Douglas Kung
    • Chow's Henchman
    • (uncredited)
    John Woo
    John Woo
    • Stanley Wu
    • (uncredited)
      • John Woo
      • John Woo(screenplay) (story)
      • Clifton Ko(screenplay)
      • Janet Chun(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The time elapsed between the first day of shooting and the first public screening of the finished film was ten weeks.
    • Goofs
      When Joe and Cherie are driving behind the truck, that is transporting the paintings (including their marked one), you can clearly see the rope holding the car of Joe and Cherie close to the truck during the stunt scene.
    • Quotes

      Red Bean Pudding: I've told you so many times. Don't just use D gear. Sometimes use 1st gear, or 2nd gear. I say brake, you don't. I say step on it, you don't. I say ease off the pedal, you don't. You're so stupid!

    • Alternate versions
      All German versions, including the TV-Version, are cut.
    • Connections
      Edited from Red Scorpion (1988)

    User reviews35

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    The real Thief
    Once a thief how it was originally conceived by John Woo. And although it was nice that they let him remake(remade) his own work (but sadly for a TV audience as an appetizer for a TV show), this still is the real deal!

    Chow Yun Fat is captivating as ever, but you also have the great Leslie Cheung, who sadly took his own life a few years ago. But roles like this one make him unforgettable. Overall the movie is a little bit lighter than your average John Woo film, although that doesn't mean you won't recognize it as one! Normally this shouldn't be the first John Woo film you watch, but even if so, it doesn't matter, because you will enjoy it either way! :o) (at least that's what a Woo fan like me is saying/thinking!)
    helpful•2
    0
    • kosmasp
    • Apr 6, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 2, 1991 (Hong Kong)
      • Hong Kong
      • French
      • Cantonese
      • English
      • Hakka
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France
    • Production companies
      • Golden Princess Film Production Limited
      • John Woo Film Production
      • Milestone Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 48 minutes
      • Color

    Related news

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    Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Cherie Chung in Once a Thief (1991)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Once a Thief (1991) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
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