The Crazy Bumpkins

1974 Hong Kong film
  • John Law
  • Yang Chang
Written by
  • Lan Shu
  • On Szeto
Produced byRun Run ShawStarring
  • Ye Fong
  • Wang Sa
  • Ti Ai
CinematographyFa-Shen WuEdited byWing-Chan LeungMusic byJoseph Koo
Production
company
Shaw Brothers
Release date
  • 1 June 1974 (1974-06-01) (Hong Kong)
Running time
92CountryHong KongLanguages
  • Mandarin
  • Cantonese

The Crazy Bumpkins (Chinese: 阿牛入城记) is a 1974 Hong Kong comedy film directed by John Law and produced by the Shaw Brothers that stars Ti Ai and Singaporean comedy duo Ye Fong and Wang Sa. The Crazy Bumpkins broke box office records in Singapore and Hong Kong on release.[1]

Plot summary

Ah Niu (Fong) decides to move from his rural hometown to Hong Kong with his uncle (Wang), but due to his naivety, he becomes a target of gangs and scammers.

Cast

  • Ye Fong as Ah Niu
  • Wang Sa as Chou Ta Shu
  • Ti Ai as Ah Hua

Production

Ye Fong stated that the film took 2 months to make.[2]

Release

The Crazy Bumpkins was well received, having broken box office records in Singapore and Hong Kong.[1] Due to the film's success, three more films were made, namely Return of the Crazy Bumpkins (1975), Big Times for the Crazy Bumpkins (1976), and Crazy Bumpkins in Singapore (1976).[3]

Reception

Renee Ng of Asian Movie Pulse stated that Ye Fong's character, Ah Niu, was reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin's Tramp and Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean.[4]

For his performance in the film, Ye Fong won the Best Comedy Actor award at the 20th Asian Film Festival.[2]

The Crazy Bumpkins helped propel Ye Fong and Wang Sa's career as comedians, making them celebrities in both Hong Kong and Singapore in the 1960s and 70s.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Thomas, Bob (9 July 1974). "Hong Kong comic is new movie star". The Day. p. 12. Retrieved 25 February 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Lim, Richard (18 June 1974). "A 'WELL DONE' KISS FOR COMEDIAN DAD". New Nation. p. 2. Retrieved 25 February 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  3. ^ "Return of the Crazy Bumpkins with Sakura in tow". The Straits Times. 11 February 1975. p. 4. Retrieved 25 February 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. ^ Ng, Renee (25 January 2024). "Film Review: The Crazy Bumpkins (1974) & Return of the Crazy Bumpkins (1975)". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  5. ^ Lim, Jason; Lee, Terrance (2016). Singapore: Negotiating State and Society, 1965-2015. Taylor & Francis. p. 82. ISBN 9781317331520.
  • The Crazy Bumpkins at IMDb