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Peking Opera Blues

Original title: Do ma daan
  • 1986
  • TV-14
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
Cherie Chung, Brigitte Lin, and Sally Yeh in Peking Opera Blues (1986)
Home Video Trailer from Miramax
Play trailer2:04
1 Video
99+ Photos
ActionComedyHistory

Set in chaotic 1920s China, when warlords fought each other for power while Sun Yat-Sen's underground movement tried to establish a democratic republic, the movie tells the story of three yo... Read allSet in chaotic 1920s China, when warlords fought each other for power while Sun Yat-Sen's underground movement tried to establish a democratic republic, the movie tells the story of three young women and two young men who are thrown together. One young woman grabs a box of jewels... Read allSet in chaotic 1920s China, when warlords fought each other for power while Sun Yat-Sen's underground movement tried to establish a democratic republic, the movie tells the story of three young women and two young men who are thrown together. One young woman grabs a box of jewels during the looting when one warlord takes Peking. A deserting soldier joins her, but the ... Read all

  • Director
    • Hark Tsui
  • Writer
    • Raymond To
  • Stars
    • Brigitte Lin
    • Sally Yeh
    • Cherie Chung
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    2.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Hark Tsui
    • Writer
      • Raymond To
    • Stars
      • Brigitte Lin
      • Sally Yeh
      • Cherie Chung
    • 22User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    Peking Opera Blues
    Trailer 2:04
    Peking Opera Blues

    Photos376

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    + 370
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    Top cast25

    Edit
    Brigitte Lin
    Brigitte Lin
    • Tsao Wan
    Sally Yeh
    Sally Yeh
    • Pat Neil
    Cherie Chung
    Cherie Chung
    • Sheung Hung
    Mark Ho-nam Cheng
    Mark Ho-nam Cheng
    • Ling Pak-Hoi
    • (as Mark Cheng Ho-nam)
    Kwok-Keung Cheung
    Kwok-Keung Cheung
    • Tung Man
    • (as Guoqiang Zhang)
    Kenneth Tsang
    Kenneth Tsang
    • General Tsao
    Ku Feng
    Ku Feng
    • Commander Liu
    • (as Feng Ku)
    Wu Ma
    Wu Ma
    • Mr. Wong
    Paul Chun
    Paul Chun
    • Fa Gum-Sao
    Po-Chih Leong
    Po-Chih Leong
    • Mr. Kam
    Kwok Chi Tsang
    Kwok Chi Tsang
    • Comander liu's man
    Hoi-Sang Lee
    Hoi-Sang Lee
    • Soldier with Moustache
    Huang Ha
    Huang Ha
    • General Tun
    • (as Ha Huang)
    Yin Szema
    Yin Szema
    • Ms. Choi
    Ching Tien
    Ching Tien
    • Sung
    Kai-Man Tin
    Kai-Man Tin
    • Cart pusher
    David Wu
    David Wu
    • General Tsao's interpreter
    Wing-Keung Lai
    • General Tun's adjuntant
    • (as Paul Lai)
    • Director
      • Hark Tsui
    • Writer
      • Raymond To
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    7.22.9K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    10susansweb

    Great fun

    Before I saw this movie, I had always considered Chinese opera rather boring. Now I would be willing to give it a chance. Not that any Chinese opera would be like this movie. Even though the movie is full of amazing stunts and also very funny, the film doesn't veer in the realm of ridiculous like a lot of movies in this genre do. Part of the credit must go to the three convincing female leads, each one with a different strength. Director Tsui Hark also should be given credit by keeping the movie together even while our three heroines are pursuing different goals (success, greed and justice). A fun movie for all.
    9p_h_a_r_o_a_h_e

    Kung Fu Hustle meets John Woo...Except better!

    This film is simply amazing. It is the most entertaining movie I have ever seen and it is well filmed. This movie didn't have the biggest budget, but it has the largest ambition.

    I would recommend seeing Farewell My Concubine(great movie) first to better understand the setting of this movie, which takes place in 1920's China. Once you have seen Farewell My Concubine, this movie becomes much more accessible to the casual viewer.

    Peking Opera Blues has a bit of everything...and then some. Tons of comedy, excellent action sequences, dramatic twists, well implemented music, fast pacing, etc. Peking Opera Blues has all the ingredients of a recipe for success, and I would say it is the ultimate light hearted flick.

    NOTE: The once infamous subs are now fixed with YesAsia's version of the DVD. It has a really clear image too. Buy it now!
    10Haruka-2

    This Movie is Awesome

    You'd never see a movie like this in Hollywood. A pack of strong, intelligent women dominating every scene, of course not. The characters are interesting and distinct. Each action scene is fun and engaging. This film has everything you could ever want in a film, comedy, violence and a touch of romance. Not to mention the excellent lead actress Brigitte Lin who's performance is memorable.
    johnrlewis

    Tsui Hark's best action-comedy. One of best HK films ever.

    A strange, unique, but very accessable mix of hard action and outrageous comedy. Bigitte Lin is disguised as a man as usual. Great rooftop kungfu and shooting action. This is one of the best Hong Kong films ever made. Another difference from standard HK fare is that the three heroes are all women.
    10coconutkungfu-30704

    One Of My All-Time Favorite Movies

    An incredible cast lead by the amazing Birgitte Lin star in this expertly crafted film from auteur Tsui Hark. The comedy is funny, the music is great, the acting is good and the action scenes are well done. Add to this an interesting plot and a fast pace and you get an amazing film that expertly jumps between genres. Entertaining from frame one, this is one of my all-time favorites.

    10 out of 10

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    Related interests

    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Liam Neeson in Schindler's List (1993)
    History

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Quentin Tarantino referred to Peking Opera Blues as one of the greatest films ever made in an interview for the Rolling Thunder Video Collection.
    • Goofs
      About 25 minutes in, when Tso-Wan (Brigitte Lin) cranks the Rolls Royce to start it, the sound track has the sound of a starter motor cranking an engine.
    • Alternate versions
      The UK film was cut on its original release by 10 seconds to remove the sight of a man rubbing salt and sand into a woman's back wounds. It was passed uncut in 2005.
    • Connections
      Featured in Troldspejlet: Episode #4.6 (1991)

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    FAQ14

    • How long is Peking Opera Blues?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 22, 2025 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Hong Kong
    • Languages
      • Cantonese
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • Knife Horse Dawn
    • Production companies
      • Cinema City
      • Film Workshop
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 44m(104 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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