On September 9th, the renowned director Pan Wenjie, who directed classic films like “The Crippled Heroes” and “The New Shanghai Bund,” and ignited the Hong Kong “heroic gangster film” trend in the 1990s, passed away in Beijing at the age of 69.
Pan Wenjie joined Lida Television in 1979 as an assistant director. In 1988, his directorial debut “City War” starred Kent Cheng and Tony Leung Chiu Wai. In 1990, he cast the then relatively unknown Stephen Chow and Ng Man-tat in “All for the Winner.”
In 1991, with the recommendation of writer Edward Leung and producer Ronald Wong, Pan directed “The Crippled Heroes,” which grossed 38 million Hong Kong dollars at the box office. The film earned Pan a nomination for Best Director at the 11th Hong Kong Film Awards, ultimately winning awards for Best Film and Best Screenplay. Lead actor Tony Leung gained 40 pounds for his role, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.
“The Crippled Heroes” depicts the journey of a refugee from mainland China to Hong Kong, rising from obscurity to become a major drug lord. The film sparked a trend of producing “gangster biopics” in Hong Kong, such as “Lee Rock” starring Andy Lau and subsequent films like “Casino Tycoon,” “To Be Number One,” and “The Four Detectives,” all influenced by Pan’s work. Pan later collaborated with Tony Leung on films like “The Emperor of Shanghai” and “Emperor of Shanghai II: Conqueror of the World.”
In 1996, Pan directed “The New Shanghai Bund” starring Andy Lau, Leslie Cheung, and Ning Jing. The film narrates the legendary story of Hui Man-keung and Ting Lik at the Shanghai Bund, becoming a cinematic classic. Additionally, Pan directed works such as “Flirting Scholar” and “Shaolin Soccer,” which were widely beloved by audiences.
After 2000, Pan gradually shifted his focus to television and the entertainment industry in mainland China. He directed TV dramas like “Flirting Scholar,” “Shanghai Wang,” “The Four Young Masters of New Capital,” and “Xuan-Yuan Sword: Han Cloud.” His last known work was the 2023 drug-themed movie “Venomous Bees.”
According to Hong Kong screenwriter Edward Leung, who recently moved to Taiwan, Pan Wenjie struggled with obesity and chronic illness in his later years. Edward Leung recalled their last meeting, which was a decade ago, when Pan expressed a desire to direct again. Despite Edward’s willingness to assist, this dream was unfortunately left unfulfilled.