Man Kai-ming, better known as Cowman, started his own publishing house with his apprentices in 1992. The newly established comic books publisher debuted with the Teddy Boy series, which tells the rivalries between triad gang leader Chan Ho-nam and his enemies. Film veteran Manfred Wong, also an avid comic fan, saw the potential of this series and convinced fellow filmmaker Wong Jing to produce a film adaptation of it with Andrew Lau as the director. Young and Dangerous features idol singer Ekin Cheng as Chan Ho-nam–which has become an iconic role in his acting career–as well as pop music trio 'Wind Sea Fire' and Jerry Lamb as Chan's men, setting a trend for this genre by portraying gangsters as young heroes. Chan's rival is played by Francis Ng, bringing to life the villain who insidiously alienates one of Chan's subordinates from him. Cowman and Lun Yu-kwok, one of the chief cartoonists, even guest-appeared as gang seniors. The film was surprisingly well-received and created a mania of gangster films shortly thereafter, as well as a wave of film adaptations from local comics.

© 1996 WBEI

# Post-screening talk with Manfred Wong, Cowman & Lun Yu-kwok
* Post-screening talk with Manfred Wong

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