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Once Upon a Time in China (1991)

Directed by Tsui Hark · Cinematography by Arthur Wong Ngok-Tai, David Chung, Wilson Chan Pui-Ka, Andy Lam Kwok-Wah, Bill Wong Chung-Piu

R134 min61 frames

ActionDrama

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Stills, screencaps & shots from Once Upon a Time in China

16 of 61 frames — the full set is searchable by lighting, lens, shot size, color and mood with a free account.

Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: fullbody — A man in simple period attire crouches on a textured, dry thatched roof. He holds a wooden…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: medium — A dark wooden structure features torches providing light against a rustic, unfinished…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: medium — A woman stands in a dim, wooden interior space with traditional structural beams. She points…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: closeup — A close-up of a folding paper fan featuring elaborate black Chinese calligraphy and ink…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: wide — A spacious room with wooden pillars and tiled flooring features a communal gathering. A small…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: closeup — A dimly lit room with blurred figures standing in the background. A woman's head is held…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: fullbody — An ancestral hall features large wooden pillars, brick walls, and intricate wooden doors. A…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: closeup — A man stands before a brick wall textured with long vertical shadow bands. He holds a large,…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: medium — A patch of dry dirt is covered in scattered, small metallic silver coins. A person stands…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: medium — A dimly lit room with bamboo walls features a white fabric room divider. A woman in a white…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: closeup — An interior space with out-of-focus background details suggesting a simple, unadorned room.…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: wide — A dim, moisture-filled stone hall features a single glowing lattice window in the distance. Two…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: medium — A rustic, multi-level wooden warehouse interior is filled with stacked burlap sacks and…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: wide — A dark, wooden storage space is filled with stacked burlap sacks and timber supports. Two men…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: wide — A wooden platform features a central dignitary surrounded by guards in red tunics. Several…Once Upon a Time in China (1991) movie still: fullbody — A high-ceilinged room with white molding and neoclassical wall panels features a fireplace.…
Once Upon a Time in China (1991) — © Paragon Films, Orange Sky Golden Harvest

Once Upon a Time in China — official trailer

What is Once Upon a Time in China about?

In late 19th-century Canton, legendary hero Wong Fei-Hung battles foreign forces' (English, French and American) plundering of China. When Aunt Yee returns from America totally westernised, Wong assumes the role of protector. This proves difficult when his martial arts school and local militia become involved in fierce battles with foreign and local governments. As violence escalates, even Aunt Yee has to question her new western ideals, but is it possible to fight guns with Kung Fu?

Once Upon a Time in China is a 1991 Hong Kong martial arts film directed, produced, and co-written by Tsui Hark. It stars Jet Li as Wong Fei-hung, a Chinese martial arts master, physician, and folk hero in late-19th-century Guangzhou. The film also features Yuen Biao, Jacky Cheung, Rosamund Kwan, and Kent Cheng.

Second paragraph from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where can you watch Once Upon a Time in China?

US availability for Once Upon a Time in China (1991). Data by JustWatch, listings on TMDB. Availability changes — check the provider for current listings.

Who stars in Once Upon a Time in China?

Who made Once Upon a Time in China?

What does the cinematography of Once Upon a Time in China look like?

Sampled across 61 frames, the coverage of Once Upon a Time in China leans on medium shots (41% of the sample) and wide compositions (26%). The camera returns again and again to low angles. Cinematographer Arthur Wong Ngok-Tai keeps 54% of it in soft, naturalistic light. Anamorphic glass shapes the frame.

What is the color palette of Once Upon a Time in China?

The dominant colors across the sampled frames of Once Upon a Time in China (1991) are #362f2a, #ceb48f, #524e48, #d6cab2, #8e7055, #968975 — measured from the per-frame color data FrameThrower extracts for every film.

  • #362f2a
  • #ceb48f
  • #524e48
  • #d6cab2
  • #8e7055
  • #968975

See the full Once Upon a Time in China colour palette — every hex with its share, plus warmth, saturation and luminance.

A reference database for filmmakers

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Techniques in this film

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