Lung foo fong wan
Tags: cult, neo noir, murder, violence, romantic

Plot synopsis:
William Dudley (Leslie Nielsen) is a corrupt mayor of a nameless Midwestern U.S. city who has allowed an oil refinery to be built right in the center of town, far from any river, lake or reservoir. On one typical hot summer day, Herman Stover (Jonathan Welsh), a dangerously disturbed employee at the works has been denied an expected promotion and in addition, finds himself fired. He then decides to take his revenge against the works by opening the valves to the storage vats and their interconnecting pipes, flooding the area and sewers with gasoline and chemicals. It doesn't take long for this act of petty vandalism to start a fire, which starts a chain reaction that causes massive explosions at the refinery, destroying it and spreading a mushroom-cloud of flame that soon engulfs the entire metropolis. The drama focuses on a newly built hospital which, like the refinery and all civic buildings that went up during the mayor's crooked administration, is shoddily built and poorly equipped where the head doctor, Frank Whitman (Barry Newman), and his staff treat thousands of casualties from the fire while the city fire chief Risley (Henry Fonda) keeps in constant contact with the fire companies fighting a losing battle against the fires, and Maggie Grayson (Ava Gardner), an alcoholic reporter, sees it as her chance to make it nationwide with her coverage of the story of the "city on fire".
A major subplot of the film involves Diana Brockhurst-Lautrec (Susan Clark) a wealthy socialite who is currently and secretly involved with Mayor Dudley to further advance her rank up the social circles and whom also finds herself, along with the mayor, at the hospital assisting the head nurse Andrea Harper (Shelley Winters) with treating the large number of casualties. The womanizing Dr. Whitman also becomes smitten with Diana after meeting her during the hospital's dedication ceremony prior to the fire. Herman Stover also arrives at the hospital having left the refinery before the explosion to stalk Diana, having known her since attending high school. No one ever finds out that Stover is the one responsible for the citywide fire, and on top of that, Stover is not sane enough to understand or regret his actions.
When the hospital becomes surrounded by the fire, Chief Risley orders his son, Harrison (Richard Donat), assemble a fire company to create a "water tunnel" composing of firemen creating a channel across a burning street to evacuate the hospital. Despite some casualties of the hospital staff and patients, the evacuation is successful. Stover is one of the casualties when, distraught and in a daze after Diana rejects him, is killed by falling debris from a building. Nurse Harper is also killed when she attempts to rescue Stover. Diana, Mayor Dudley, and Dr. Whitman are the last ones to make it out of the hospital.
The final scene is set the following day at a quarry outside the city which is set up as a makeshift camp for the thousands of people rendered homeless by the fire as it is finally brought under control. There, Dr. Whitman and Diana acknowledge their love for each other, while Mayor Dudley gives a press statement about his actions and of his intention now to run for governor. Maggie Grayson, still reporting from the studio, signs off her broadcast and leaves with her assistant Jimbo (James Franciscus) on a date for assisting her throughout her coverage. The final scene shows Chief Risley leaving his headquarters with his staff telling them that it takes only one man to set fire and destroy a city.

Review: John Woo's films, and his subsequent transplant to Hollywood is probably the most publicized outcome of the phenomenon, but there are other, more obscure directors and films that have guided some of today's action film success stories.Ringo Lam is a contemporary of John Woo, and it seems that his 1987 film CITY ON FIRE  was an inspiration, if not out-and-out rip-off source material for Quentin Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS.
Chow Yun Fat, the ubiquitous star of the John Woo films A BETTER TOMORROW, THE KILLER, and HARD BOILED, plays Ko Chow, a layabout petty criminal railroaded into service as an undercover agent for the Hong Kong police by the aging, almost washed up Inspector Kwong (Sun Yueh).
One can readily pick out what Tarantino culled from this film, and it has a way of clarifying his creative process in that it is possible to see how he molded it into RESERVOIR DOGS using his own sensibilities..
Chow supplies the gang with guns to prove he is `one of them', however as the job approaches, a special unit of the police begins to close in on the gang and put Chow at risk.I didn't watch this film because it was the inspiration for Reservoir Dogs.
No, I watched it because I'm a big Chow Yun Fat fan and I'm watching some of his films to get me in the mood for Bullet-Proof Monk.
For information, Reservoir Dogs really only focuses on the final part of the film, whereas Longhu Fengyun covers longer story where we always know who the cop is.
The rest of the cast are all good but it is difficult to judge performances when it is all subtitled (I find it hard anyway), however there are no weak links.Overall this is a stylish thriller from Hong Kong.
It was Quentin Tarantino's inspiration for his Reservoir Dogs (1992), and Quentin wanted to express his admiration and passion for Hong Kong film makers and their films by updating Lam's themes for his debut film.
Chow Yun-Fat plays cop Chow, who has traumatic past as he betrayed his criminal friend to the police force.
Unfortunately, Chow notices it is too late to undo what he's done again, and again he finds himself betraying a friend, but this time the results are more horrific.The theme of the film is friendship and loyalty between two people at opposite sides of the law.
Two years later Danny Lee and Chow Yun-Fat would play similar roles in John Woo's The Killer (1989), in which Lee is the cop and Chow the criminal/killer.
These themes are very usual in Hong Kong action thrillers, in which people love and value their friends and are ready to die for them.
Never have I seen such a strong use of atmospheric smoke and blue than in these Hong Kong films, and the finale of CITY ON FIRE is as gorgeous looking as the scenes in Danny Lee's true crime thriller Dr. Lamb, 1992.
CITY ON FIRE, however, suffers a little because of weak characters and that especially Chow isn't too well written and doesn't act as believably as possible.
Ringo Lam is among my favorite Hong Kong directors and his real, unbelievable, masterpiece FULL CONTACT (1992, starring again Chow) finally established him among the greatest Hong Kong directors and in the action genre, at the same position with John Woo..
"City on Fire" develops the characters more, and gives them a background.But other than that, the major difference between the 2 movies is that, ultimately, there's a very different take on the notions of honor, loyalty, and brotherhood - I was surprised by both endings, in very different ways.This movie is also a good companion piece to "The Killer" by John Woo. Chow Yun-Fat and Danny Lee star in both movies, but in reversed roles of cop and thief..
chow yun-fat worked very hard for the best actor award he got for this film.
first of all tarantino gives credit to chow yun-fat as an influence at the start of the screenplay for reservior dogs.
This is certainly an inspiration that deserves credit, but it is Tarantino's skill as a writer and director, as well as the amazing actors, that made Reservoir Dogs as great as it is.
It is a very dangerous mission, not just because the gang might discover his true identity but because many of the police suspect he may well be a criminal.The movie that inspired Tarantino's superb Reservoir Dogs, and, as it turns out, that's the only possible reason to watch City On Fire.
I'm gonna try to keep my comments relatively brief, this is a huge point I'm trying to come across with) and direct them at the issue of Quentin Tarantino's (with Avary) Reservoir Dogs, not at my opinion that City on Fire stands as great film of noteable orginality.This is about a relationship which exists, between two films by different directors from different backgrounds, solely because Tarantino 'borrowed' ideas from Ringo Lam.After seeing Reservoir Dogs for the first time many years ago, I was blown away.
The latter evokes some laughter on my part, because having a cult film being based on the original work of another cult film, really says something about the audience who follows such an unoriginal film without trying to truly discover its roots.Now, does this take anything away from Reservoir Dogs or City on Fire for that matter?
I have seen this movie and it really shows Chow Yun Fat's acting ability.
Chow Yun-Fat plays the cop with his usual style and class.
Director Ringo Lam has created an explosive actionmovie that inspired Tarantino to make "Reservoir Dogs".
CITY ON FIRE is a rough and ready crime thriller from celebrated Hong Kong director Ringo Lam, featuring Chow Yun Fat in another of his star-making performances.
Eventually he's coerced into going undercover and joining the gang himself, with violent consequences.This is a noticeably lower budgeted production than much later fare by Lam, but the rough and tumble nature of the story means it doesn't matter and in some cases the gritty, shoot-on-the-street style of filming makes it more realistic than a slicker production might have been.
The various heist sequences are very well filmed, and there's a neat turn from Danny Lee as the leader of the gang; the two would later pair up to famed effect in Woo's THE KILLER.
Tarantino loved this film so much he borrowed copiously from the climax for his own RESERVOIR DOGS..
This is a no frills undercover cop story directed by Ringo Lam. With an average budget the film tells its story quite tightly with fine performances.
Chow Yun Fat stars as the undercover policeman who is also having relationship problems.
Yueh Sun Stars as an older cop who has lost his son years ago in the force and is bending the rules to have Chow undercover.I think Ringo Lam takes inspiration as much from French New Wave cinema as he douse from Hong Kong.
This approach is effective.We all know what film it ended up inspiring and Ringo Lams comparisons with his contemporary John Woo, Rather than ad to the subject dominance of the former I will just comment on the latter in That Woo only made one film better than this and it was The KIller.
Take risks like they do with stunt-work.The script is way above average for a Hong Kong cop drama.
It was due to its interesting music, shoot outs, superior cinematography and a brilliant performance by Chow-Yun Fat as the undercover agent sent to join a gang headed by the excellent Danny Lee. Only the ending bears comparison to Reservoir Dogs with the rest of the film building up to this moment.
Quinten Tarantino ripped off Ringo Lam. I saw Reservoir dogs and thought that it is one the best films I had ever seen.
Now even though they Reservoir Dogs ends different the bulk of the film is what Ringo Lam did with City on Fire except since City on Fire is longer Lam gave the characters more of a story and made the viewer feel for both sides of the law he also put the notion to the viewer what would you do you were a criminal and your best friend who you thought was on your side turned out to be a policeman or to put that in a more everyday circumstance what would you do if you thought someone was your best friend and they turned out to be using you..
Brooding, dark and intense cop film from director Ringo Lam. City On Fire is a gritty and bombastic action packed thriller and the first in the "On Fire" series by director Ringo Lam. The "On Fire" series also includes Prison On Fire 1 and 2(which also star Chow Yun Fat) and School On Fire.
Roy Cheung appears in all four films and in this installment he is an overzealous cop at odds with Chow Yun Fat's character (Ko Chow)who is an undercover cop infiltrating a gang of violent jewel thieves.
Chow Yun Fat gives a scathing and electrifying performance of an undercover cop who's life and career is on the edge of collapse.
From his strained relationship with his girlfriend, to his reluctant undercover work with Danny Lee's gang and dealing with Roy Cheung's group of cops following and chasing him all over Hong Kong.
He and Chow Yun Fat have great chemistry and work well here and a year later in John Woo's classic The Killer.
Chow Yun Fat worked frequently with both directors, giving amazing performances for both parties.
Instead of spending the entire movie in the warehouse, this film goes and shows more of the undercover cop's life and his relationship with his girlfriend.
A far superior film to Reservoir Dogs not least because of its originality but also because its character study is far more involved.
The story seems to have been lifted en masse, the only obvious differences being the colour naming of characters, the cop torture scene and the films portrayal in very few locations whilst looking back on the disastrous robbery.
Ringo Lam remains a far more thoughtful director compared to John Woo and this brings out the best in Chow Yun-fat..
The interplay of the side story makes Chow Yun-Fat's life even harder.The ending of this movie is the basis for Resivoir dogs with some scenes virtually identical..
City On Fire is an average crime drama from Hong Kong that is raised above the level of obscurity because of it's final forty minutes remarkable similarities to Reservoir Dogs.
That's here, though it's slightly different.Despite the fact that it's such a blatant rip-off, Reservoir Dogs is still probably the better of the two films.
From beginning to end, it featured a well-painted character played by Chow Yun-Fat. So, you're wondering, why have I given it only 7/10?
However, City on Fire unnecessarily introduces a feminine character who Chow Yun-Fat must take as a bride.This problem is very vividly seen in South Indian action films like Thupakki (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2187153/?ref_=nv_sr_2).
I'm not saying these films are necessarily bad, I am just stating that the pace and tension of these films are blown apart by silly, unnecessary drama.City on Fire is otherwise a great film, having it's remarkable plot extend to one of the greatest films of all times: Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs..
City on Fire is another classic Hong Kong cinematic experience, but Reservoir Dogs is definitely not a rip off.
People question Tarantino's originality because of this film, but other than the similarities in the ending gunpoint scene and the 'undercover cop' story their different movies entirely.City on Fire focuses on one man and only one man, we follow his struggle through the intensity and risk of being undercover and the slightly less focused point of balancing work and relationships.
Yun Fat Chow is again outstanding, from the Hong Kong cinema I have seen there is no one quite like that man, and in City on Fire he really does show that he is a leading man and not a supporting one.
His performance is up their with Hard Boiled and that is saying something.One thing Hong Kong crime thrillers seem to do so well is music and action, and City on Fire really does mix the slow paced, relaxing jazz with the powerful action and grittiness of the characters and plot.It's no wonder Tarantino got his 'inspiration' from this film because its a good watch with strong acting from the lead roll and also captures Hong Kong perfectly especially the underbelly of the crime world.
Chow yun fat made this movie for me.
I saw some of this in the movies he had done for America, but never in this extended range.This movie is centered around Chow yun fat who plays a cop whose in deep deep cover attempting to balance his real life relationship with his girlfriend with being toss in to deeper cover by his superiors to catch a criminal.If this sounds like every Kung Fu film made in the 80's with an English dub, that's because it is, but unlike the police Drama Police Story in which Jacky Chan plays a man dedicated to his heroics to a fault, Chow yun Fat plays a man who wants out but his boss needs to keep him in as he's the only one who can capture the main villain.
"Long hu feng yun" ("City on Fire") is a pretty damn cool action film.
This film is directed by Ringo Lam and stars Chow Yun Fat.
I myself need to check out MORE films starring Chow Yun Fat and ones directed by Ringo Lam.
Not only was it the basis for a great american film (reservoir dogs, Tarantino), but it's an example of how greatly americans have been influenced by great hong kong directors..
Great performances are given by Chow Yun Fat and Danny Lee who play in roles that are atypical.
Chow Yun Fat shows here why he is an awesome actor and Danny Lee in the role of Fu shows that he is a solid actor.
Resevoir Dogs(1992) is not a rip off of City on Fire(1987) despite some similarities between the two films.
However the action is what Lam is usually noted for, and he handles the gunplay here very effectively with his usual stylish skill.At times, the film feels like it's weighing itself down with too much baggage, mainly with the romance between Chow and his fiancée.
It's a drama about the emotional pressures an undercover police officer faces when he is ordered, against his better judgement, to infiltrate a gang of violent, gun-toting jewel robbers.That Ko Chow (Chow Yun Fat) is having problems with his fiancée makes the situation all the more difficult for him.
It just doesn't convince that one conversation between them about their childhoods would make them so close that one would die for the other.In this respect, the script construction of CITY ON FIRE is a little weak.However, credit should be given to director/writer Ringo Lam for bringing the theme of misplaced loyalty to the undercover cop genre.And though RESERVOIR DOGS is criticised here for stealing the core plot elements of CITY ON FIRE, it has to be said that the structure of Taratino's film is far superior to Lam's.
Long Hu Feng Yun/City on Fire(1987) is the film that put director Ringo Lam's name on the map for it would put him on a par with action guru John Woo.
Chow Yun Fat performance in the movie tops the one he gave in A Better Tomorrow(1986) as he gives his character a sense of doomed loyality.
Ringo Lam wanted to depict violence in City on Fire(1987) that was much more realistic then that seen in John Woo's groundbreaking gangster classic.
One excellent scene in the movie is the jewel robbery that ends with Fat's undercover cop taking a bullet for Danny Lee.
One difference in the two films is that Danny Lee's character survives in City on Fire(1987) while the same character in Resevoir Dogs(1992) played by Harvey Kitel is killed off at the end of the movie..
Chow Yun-Fat Stars In Early Ringo Lam Action Film.
Chow Yun-Fat stars in one of Hong Kong Director Ringo Lam's earlier action films: City On Fire.
The characters are short on development, but Chow Yun-Fat impresses as the man that wants to leave police work, only to face conflicting loyalties between his job and the gang he infiltrates; he carries the whole film.
This is the famous scene that inspired Quentin Tarantino to make Reservoir Dogs.
Ringo Lam is a master on filmmaking, in this film he builds a story of friendship and betray and a new vision of the crime world..Chow yun fat is amazing as always that he works on China, his character an undercover cop who finally become friend with one of the guys that he must betray.
This film is one of my all time favorite, the action, the plot, the acting everything is great.
Where as Prison on Fire is an action film, City on Fire is a thriller.
He earns his living by robbing jewelry stores while the police officer earns his living by arresting criminals.City on Fire is a dark, tragic movie that looks at the pain of the life of an undercover cop.
Inspiration for Reservoir Dogs is a much more complex film, but not necessarily better.
This is the film that was supposed to have been ripped off by Quentin Tarantino for Reservoir Dogs, though to be fair now having seen the film Tarantino's film is essentially an expansion of the final fifteen minutes to half an hour of the film.The plot here concerns Chow Yun Fat who is a cop working undercover.
I like the film in its gritty hard edged Hong Kong way, but at the same time I think I'd prefer to re-watch Tarantino's film.