The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1983 TV series)
The Legend of the Condor Heroes is a Hong Kong wuxia television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. It was first broadcast on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in 1983. The 59 episodes long series is divided into three parts.The serial was re-aired in 1990, 1995-1996, 2012-2013, and 2024 on TVB Jade.
| The Legend of the Condor Heroes | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DVD cover | |||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 射鵰英雄傳 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 射雕英雄传 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Genre | Wuxia | ||||||||||
| Based on | The Legend of the Condor Heroes by Louis Cha | ||||||||||
| Screenplay by | Chan Kiu-ying Cheung Wah-biu | ||||||||||
| Directed by | Johnnie To Ng Yat-fan Lau Si-yuk Siu Hin-fai Ching Siu-tung (action director) | ||||||||||
| Starring | Felix Wong Barbara Yung Michael Miu Sharon Yeung | ||||||||||
| Theme music composer | Joseph Koo | ||||||||||
| Opening theme | 1. Tit Huet Dam Sum (鐵血丹心) 2. Yat Sang Yau Yi Yi (一生有意義) 3. Sai Kan Chi Chung Nei Ho (世間始終你好) performed by Roman Tam and Jenny Tseng | ||||||||||
| Country of origin | Hong Kong | ||||||||||
| Original language | Cantonese | ||||||||||
| No. of episodes | 59 (list of episodes) | ||||||||||
| Production | |||||||||||
| Producer | Wong Tin-lam | ||||||||||
| Production location | Hong Kong | ||||||||||
| Running time | 42 minutes per episode | ||||||||||
| Production company | TVB | ||||||||||
| Original release | |||||||||||
| Network | TVB Jade | ||||||||||
| Release | 21 February – 22 July 1983 | ||||||||||
| Related | |||||||||||
| The Return of the Condor Heroes (1983–84) The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017) | |||||||||||
This 1983 version is considered by many to be a classic television adaptation of the novel and features the breakthrough role of Barbara Yung, who played Huang Rong, During that time, Barbara Yung immediately became TVB's most popular actress.
The series became the highest rated series of that year with a high rating of 99%, The series averaged a rating of 65 points, and has become the most watched series in Hong Kong history so far.
In 1985, it was introduced and broadcast in mainland China by Guangdong TV Station, which triggered a frenzy of people watching it and caused a great sensation,The ratings in China reached 90%, making it one of the top ten highest-rated dramas in China in the 20th century.[1] and one of the most watched TVB series by Chinese people in China, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and around the world.It is also the third highest rated drama in the world, announced by tvb in 1995.[2]
In 2022, the drama was selected as one of ten classic TVB dramas being honoured for a new joint Youku and TVB programme.[3]
Cast
edit- Note: Some of the characters' names are in Cantonese romanisation.
- Felix Wong as Kwok Ching 郭靖
- Fung Chi-fung as young Kwok Ching
- Michael Miu as Yeung Hong 杨康
- Barbara Yung as Wong Yung 黄蓉
- Sharon Yeung as Muk Nim-chi 穆念慈
- Patrick Tse as Yeung Tit-sum 杨铁心
- Louise Lee as Bau Sik-yeuk 包惜弱
- Lau Kong as Yuen-ngan Hung-lit 完颜洪烈
- Chu Tit-wo as Kwok Siu-tin 郭啸天
- Soh Hang-suen as Lei Ping 李萍
- Chun Wong as Chow Pak-tung 周伯通
- Lau Dan as Hung Tsat-kung 洪七公
- Yeung Chak-lam as Au-yeung Fung 欧阳锋
- Kenneth Tsang as Wong Yeuk-si 黄药师
- Lau Siu-ming as Yat-dang
- Ha Yu as Yau Chui-kai
- Kong Ngai as Or Chan-ngok
- Benz Hui as Chu Cung
- Bobby Tsang as Hon Bo-kui
- Tam Chuan-hing as Nam Hei-yan
- Eddy Ko as Chuen Gam-fat
- Ban Ban as Hon Siu-ying
- Cheung Lui as Jebe
- Paul Chun as Genghis Khan
- Wong Jo-see as Wah-tsang
- Lee Ka-wing as young Wah-tsang
- Andy Dai as Tolui
- Lee Ka-ho as young Tolui
- Eddie Kwan as Chagatai
- Lin Wai-kin as Muqali
- Tam Bing-man as Jamukha
- Bonnie Wong as Mui Chiu-fung
- Yeung Yim-tong as Chan Yuen-fung
- Stephan Yip as Yuen-ngan Hung-hei
- Wong Wan-choi as Au-yeung Hak
- Chan Ka-yee as Fung Hang
- Chan On-ying as Sor-ku
- Shih Kien as Kau Chin-yan
- Regina Tsang as Lau Ying
- Rebecca Chan as Ching Yiu-ga
- Kwan Hoi-san as Luk Sing-fung
- Austin Wai as Luk Koon-ying
- Alan Chui Chung-San as Guanyan Bodyguard
- Bak Man-biu as Leung Tsi-yung
- Chan Tik-hak as Sa Tong-tin
- Cheung Ying-choi as Ma Yuk
- Rainbow Ching as Suen But-yee
- Leung Siu-tik as Wong Chui-yat
- Cheng Ka-sang as Kwok Dai-tong
- Bobby Au-yeung as a guard in the Luk Manor
- Francis Ng
- Wilson Tsui
- Stephen Chow (minor roles)
- Wong Yat-fei
- Hui Kin-shun
Episodes
edit- Part 1: The Legend of the Condor Heroes – The Iron-Blooded Loyalists (射鵰英雄傳之鐵血丹心)
- Part 2: The Legend of the Condor Heroes – The Eastern Heretic and Western Venom (射鵰英雄傳之東邪西毒)
- Part 3: The Legend of the Condor Heroes – The Duel on Mount Hua (射鵰英雄傳之華山論劍)
Soundtrack
editThe Legend of the Condor Heroes (射鵰英雄傳 seh diu ying hung juen) is the soundtrack of this television series, released in 1983 by EMI Records (百代唱片). Roman Tam and Jenny Tseng sing the following songs, most which are heard in the series.
| No. | Title | Cantonese | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Iron Blood and Loyal Heart" | 鐵血丹心 Tit huet dan sum | 5:07 |
| 2. | "Mun kong hung" (Roman Tam) | 滿江紅 | 4:38 |
| 3. | "Peach Blossoms" | 桃花開 Tou fa hoi | 3:02 |
| 4. | "Willing to Undertake Love" (Jenny Tseng) | 肯去承擔愛 Hang heui sing dam ngoi | 3:35 |
| 5. | "Ballad of the Great Wall" (Roman Tam) | 長城謠 Cheung sing yiu | 2:58 |
| 6. | "Your Tender Smile" (Jenny Tseng) | 你的淺笑 Nei dik chin siu | 4:01 |
| 7. | "You're the Best in the World" | 世間始終你好 Sai kan chi chung nei hou | 3:30 |
| 8. | "Sinful Love" (Jenny Tseng) | 四張機 Sei cheung kei | 3:51 |
| 9. | "A Meaningful Life" | 一生有意義 Yat sang yau yi yi | 5:02 |
| 10. | "Remembering Our Romance Very Much" (Roman Tam) | 千愁記舊情 Chin Sau Kei Kau Ching | 4:43 |
| 11. | "It Seems that I Owe You in My Previous Life" (Jenny Tseng) | 似是前生欠你 Chi Si Chin Sang Him Nei | 2:59 |
| 12. | "Do Our Best to Create a Bright Future" (Roman Tam) | 美滿前途全力創 Mei Mun Chin Tou Chuen Lik Chong | 5:24 |
worldwide popularity
editAccording to the "Top Ten TV Programs with the Most Viewed People in the World" announced by TVB in 1995, the drama " The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1983 TV Series) " was ranked third. with a total worldwide audience of 356,163,000 people at that time.[4][5]
Production
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According to the behind-the-scenes featurette on the DVD, the Mongolian scenes were filmed on Lantau Island, Hong Kong.
Awards
editThis is the award this series has received.
| Year | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | New York International Film and Television Festival Gold Medal Award | Won |
| 2009 | Second place in CCTV's selection of "Ten Most Unforgettable Classic Dramas Post-80s" | Won |
| 2019 | National Top Ten TV Series in New Era International TV Festival | Won |
| 2022 | Top ten classic TVB dramas being honoured for a new joint Youku and TVB programme | Won |
References
edit- ^ 朱奕錦 (16 October 2018). "中國電視劇收視率排行榜，霍元甲第八，上海灘第七". 香港01. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
- ^ 电影聚焦 (11 April 2019). "TVB十大電視劇亞洲觀眾人數最多". โดย ทีวีบีโทรทัศน์ไต้หวัน. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ 朱奕錦 (18 May 2022). "優酷同TVB合辦綜藝《那年的精彩》 邀兩地人重演10套無綫經典劇". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ 朱奕錦 (18 May 2022). "The ten dramas with the highest ratings in the world announced by TVB". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ OVDO (12 October 2024). ""The ten dramas with the highest ratings in the world announced by TVB". baidu (in Cantonese). Retrieved 18 July 2023.