Once a Thief (1991)
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Once a Thief (縱橫四海; Zong heng si hai; literally: Criss-Cross Over Four Seas) is a 1991 film directed and written by John Woo. It stars Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, Cherie Chung, Kenneth Tsang and Paul Chu Kong in a lighthearted heist themed action-comedy routine. Although the action sequences are quite faithful to Woo's typical choreography, comic relief and the general mood distinguish it from his grittier works, such as his previous film, Bullet in the Head (1990). Fans of the bloodier John Woo movies may find the bizarre mix of Stephen Chow-like mo lei tau rather confusing. Nonetheless, Woo's endeavor to make something lighter amidst his series of heroic bloodshed films translated to somewhat of a box office success in Hong Kong.
The story is of three orphans (Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, Cherie Chung) and their two father figures (Kenneth Tsang and Paul Chu). They are taken in by both a wealthy crime boss (Tsang) which leads to their close friendship, and a kind police officer (Chu). Nevertheless, the trio grows up learning high-tech methods of theft and specialize in stealing treasured paintings. After a heist in France goes awry, Chow's character is thought to be dead and Leslie takes Chow's place as Cherie's lover. However, Chow returns in a wheelchair and the group begins planning their next heist for themselves, fall out of favor with Tsang, and various complications and gun battles ensue.
See also: The remake: Once a Thief (1996). The movie was remade with Nicholas Lea and Ivan Sergei, and was spun-off into a Canadian television series by the same name which ran from 1997 to 1998.it:Once a Thief