Joseph Koo

Joseph Koo

Birth : 1933-01-01, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Death : 2023-01-03

Profile

Joseph Koo

Movies

顾嘉煇金紫荆慈善演唱会
The Legend of Run Run Shaw
Himself
A tribute to Run Run Shaw by TVB/Pearl.
Fist of Legend
Original Music Composer
Chen Zhen, a Chinese engineering student in Kyoto, who braves the insults and abuse of his Japanse fellow students for his local love Mitsuko Yamada, daughter of the director, returns in 1937 to his native Shangai, under Japanse protectorate -in fact military occupation- after reading about the death of his kung-fu master Hou Ting-An in a fight against the Japanese champion Ryuichi Akutagawa.
The Kung Fu Cult Master
Compositor
A wild and rollicking martial arts fantasy extravaganza that features prized swords and swordsmen, a crazy monk attached to a rolling boulder, serious clan and cult rivalries, and lots of magic and flying.
Thank You Sir
Compositor
Lee Ying, who is the chief inspector of Regional Crime Unit, is newly promoted to Royal Hong Kong Police Cadet School as Deputy Commandant. He confronts a group of youngsters of different social backgrounds, turning them into self-disciplinary and self-contained young men.
A Better Tomorrow II
Original Music Composer
A restauranteur teams up with a police officer and his ex-con brother to avenge the death of a friend's daughter.
Mirage
Music
Photographer and adventurer Tong (Yu Rong-Guang) spots a mirage of a beautiful woman while on a mission and is obsessed by the beauty of her. Heading into Mongolia with best friend (Tsui Siu-Ming), the discovery of the woman and her true nature is anything but beautiful however as she's the leader of a gang of desert bandits.
A Better Tomorrow
Original Music Composer
A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.
Happy Ghost III
Original Music Composer
A young, unsuccessful singer, after committing suicide, is to be reincarnated, this time into a musical family. Her spirit must get to the hospital where her future mother is currently ready to give birth to her, so that she can enter the womb and be born. Unfortunately, she misses her appointed birth time, twice, due to the accidental intervention of a young man, Mr. Hong. At first she is angry and makes life hard for him, but eventually they fall in love, although she can't stay around long as she has one last chance to be born.
The Occupant
Original Music Composer
The Occupant is about a young woman (Sally Yeh) who is trying to write a book/thesis on chinese superstitions. So she arrives in HK and rents a really cheap apartment. In the meantime, she befriends Raymond Wong's shady salesman desperate for a little R&R and Chow Yun Fatt's cop. Well, her apartment is haunted by the spirit of a deceased singer, hence the cheap rent.
The Comedy
Music
A Mo Lai Tau (Nonsense Comedy) directed by Hong Kong New Wave filmmaker Dennis Yu.
Shan T Old Master Q
Music
In their third animated adventure, Old Master Q meets an extraterrestrial at a theme park.
The Drummer
Music
Tommy Chen (Leslie Cheung) wants to become a professional drummer. Because of his loud practice sessions at home he gets into trouble with the neighbors and his father. His grandpa and friends support his ambitions, but he struggles to stay determined and keep his self-confidence.
Old Master Q: Water Margin
Music
The second Old Master Q film has him and friends go back in time to the days of the classic Chinese novel, "Water Margin".
Beware Of Pickpockets
Original Music Composer
Mak Kar, a faithful and honest constable, was ordered to arrest Dean Saki, a pickpocket. However, each time he was caught, he was released by lack of evidence. Although Dean was a tricky man, the money he pickpocketed from those dirty rich people was spent on the seven poor orphans with whom he lived in an old shaky church. Dean had an intention to buy a house where he could keep more orphans.
Man on the Brink
Music
An undercover cop goes deep undercover to inside one of Hong Kong's most notorious Triad gangs only to find him getting consumed by a life of crime and seediness.
The Sword
Music
Li Mak-Jan is a swordsman who has wandered for a number of years searching for the reclusive master swordsman Hua. After encountering two fellow swordsmen, Li comes across his old love, who tells him that not only has their town fallen on hard times (the temple is in ruins) but, worst of all, in the time he has been away she has moved on and married another man. Turns out, her husband is quite evil, of course, and just a little bit insanely jealous as well as very interested in swords, particularly those belonging to masters. The husband sends his henchman to kill Li, but Li escapes.
Full Moon Scimitar
Music
A talented young swordsman has beaten many veterans before his inherited martial arts manual gets stolen. After encountering his first defeat in life, in despair, he comes across a gorgeous girl, daughter of the head of a mysterious sect.
The Extras
Original Music Composer
A comedy film directed by Hong Kong New Wave filmmaker Yim Ho.
Rainbow In My Heart
Music
Chung is in charge of an advertising company in Hong Kong. He's about to marry a model Woo. But Chung finds that Woo is cheating on him on her birthday. He's hurt so he goes to Korea for his new commercial. Chung starts to appreciate a Chinese singer Chelsia Chen by watching TV. He invites her to join his commercial shooting and they fall in love with each other. The commercial's successful in Hong Kong and Chelsia becomes a star now. Chung's uncle urges Chung to invite Chelsia to come to Hong Kong and he does so. Woo suddenly comes up and requires to cooperate with Chung again but gets refused. Woo's mad then turns to cooperate with another directo Choi. However, she's not happy with Choi and still wants to go back to Chung.
Orchid in the Rain
Original Music Composer
Love story about a man who falls for a cabaret hostess.
The Girlie Bar
Music
A widower forces his three beautiful daughters to work in his seedy bar and must do what they are told no matter what. The film features Lin Chen-chi who had just starred in Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold.
The Double Crossers
Original Music Composer
Detective Lung is investigating the murder of his father and discovers his father belonged to a syndicate of smugglers. He finds out the murderer used to be his father's business partner and that he's now living in Hong Kong under a new name (Wang). Lung tries to lure Wang to Bali where he hopes to get his revenge.
Chelsia My Love
Music
For many years, Mr. Lee has been keeping a secret from his wife and two daughters that his elder daughter, Chelsia, is having some serious heart disease. Only his good friend, Dr. Fong, who made the diagnosis knows about it. Chelsia meets Ma, an overseas Chinese, at her secondary school graduation ball and gradually they fall in love with each other. Doctor Ma's son Chileung, who grows up with Lee's daughters, is fond of Chelsia while the younger daughter Chelwin loves him. However, neither of their affection is returned.
Hand of Death
Original Music Composer
A young monk must face the Extended Iron Claw technique of a powerful warlord seeking to destroy Shaolin.
Love in Hawaii
Original Music Composer
Taiwanese romance film.
Love in Hawaii
Songs
Taiwanese romance film.
Princess Chang-Ping
Original Music Composer
A beautiful Cantonese opera about the forbidden love between a princess and a scholar. The backdrop is Ming dynasty China and the two would rather die than be apart.
The Last Message
Doctor in operation
Li (Sam Hui) works at a sanitarium as a male nurse, and Ah Tim (Michael Hui) is a handy man. One day, a bearded old man is sent into the sanitarium with a large bag. Ah Tim manages to steal the bag, and finds antique fragments inside. When the old man dies, the pair learn from his daughter that there is a sunken vessel that is loaded with much more than they already have, so they decide to go after the sunken treasure.
The Dragon Tamers
Original Music Composer
Carter Wong plays a young chinese martial arts student who travels to Korea to learn Taekwondo. Soon he comes up against a vicious gang who want all the local martial arts schools to join their evil association. But before he can defeat the bad guys, he has to learn to master his own strong desire to fight.
The Happy Trio
Jiao's pianist
Following the lives of three downtrodden but resilient outcasts, John Lo Mar's gritty social drama paints a sense of realism rarely seen in Hon Kong movies. Li Ching - the best actress of her era - play Ah Chiao is a girl from a rural village stranded in the city, who befriends a kind-hearted transient and a retired actor. They are poor, but they are happy. Although her fortune changes for the better when she becomes a singer, she ultimately learns money can't buy happiness.
The Association
Original Music Composer
Plain-clothes detective Wang is the best in his trade. One day he stumbles across a young girl's body who apparently is died of abortion. Wang investigates the guilty abortionist who leads Wang to a secret organization called "The Welfare Association". Actually it is an international prostitution racket. Wang sneaks into the association. When he is about to arrest the association's organizer, a girl, Lei, whose sister's death cause by the secret society, saves Wang in certain death. Wang arrests the organizer but has set her free from headquarter. Wang and Lei get together in getting the commander dismissed.
Slaughter in San Francisco
Original Music Composer
A Chinese-American cop, skilled in martial arts, battles the most powerful criminal gang in San Francisco that is responsible for the death of his partner.
Naughty! Naughty!
Original Music Composer
Wu Te-chuan is a young man trying to make a living in an easy way. But now he is penniless and will being thrown out of his Macau hotel. Kind- hearted hotel maid Hsiao Yen is the only one to help him in the world. One day, Wu plays a trick on the hotel owner. The scheme backfires and Wu has to flee to Hong Kong. Wu saves desperate painter Hsin. He convinces Hsin that his painting will sell if he is dead. After Hsin pretend to be dead, his paintings really can be sold well, but backfires finally. Then, Wu and Hsin team up and engage themselves full time in con games, gambling and sex inclusive. Finally, Wu is being chased by the ring enforcers but is saved. Finding himself in love with Hsiao Yen, Wu decides to turn a new leaf and live properly ever after.
Friends
Original Music Composer
Hua Heng is a poverty-stricken aspiring painter whose day job involves painting the ads that go up on the sides of buildings. He and his buddies hang out in a makeshift gym set up in an abandoned building where they train and practice kung fu. His girlfriend is Gao Xin, a bar maid who is in debt to loan sharks. Into their lives comes Jiaji, who happens upon Hua Heng in a street fight with local thugs who'd made fun of the painting he's carrying and decides to help him out.
Chinatown Capers
Original Music Composer
Ever the pair of do-gooding drifters, Embroidered Pillow and Chili Boy always come to the aid of Hong Kong's downtrodden and oppressed - even if it means traveling all the way to America! This time the two friends are off to San Francisco's Chinatown in search of a millionaire's missing daughter (Sylvia Chang, who also appears in Slaughter in San Francisco), who has vanished under shady circumstances. Typical Backalley Princess shtick ensues, including the duo's disastrous stint waiting tables in a Chinese restaurant and run-ins with the local street gangs. But just when things are looking hopeless, Sam and Polly find the lead they need, and the chase is on!
The Country Bumpkin
Original Music Composer
The Country Bumpkin is a Hong Kong Comedy starring Stanley Fung.
The Fate of Lee Khan
Original Music Composer
Lee Khan, a high official under Mongolian Emperor Yuan of the Yuan dynasty procures the battle map of the Chinese rebel Chu Yuan-Chang's army. Rebel spies, aided by treachery within Khan's ranks, strive to corner him in an inn.
Bruce Lee: The Man and the Legend
Original Music Composer
This documentary tells the story of Bruce Lee and his unsuccessful efforts to start a acting career in the U.S., he returned to Hong Kong where he became an international star, and his death at age 32.
Outside the Window
Original Music Composer
Brigitte Lin's debut film is a melodrama in which her character gets involved in a socially unacceptable relationship and then forced into marriage.
Outside the Window
Presenter
Brigitte Lin's debut film is a melodrama in which her character gets involved in a socially unacceptable relationship and then forced into marriage.
None But the Brave
Music
Story is about how a revolutionist, played by Cheng Pei Pei, taking on the identity of a Captain's (Ou Wei) long lost sister who is actually dead. Cheng manages to fool the Captain for a while, but little by little, the Captain catches on to her and the revolutionist's plan to stop Chinese-Japanese relations.
Seaman No. 7
Original Music Composer
When a sailor accidentally kills a Japanese man in a bar room brawl, he tries to escape the law by hiding himself in a freighter heading for Japan only to find himself in the middle of a massive drug war.
Back Street
Original Music Composer
Two rival street gangs from Kowloon go to war over turf and bar girls so as to dominate the area and maximize their takings; however things go from bad to worse as the girls start to get involved in the bloody feud.
Back Alley Princess
Original Music Composer
Polly Shang Kwan and Sam Hui are con artists who befriend a family of street venders and entertainers. The group constantly faces financial problems as they are ripped off by thugs, their rent is raised and car breaks down. Polly Kuan (who portrays a man for the entire film) lies, cheats, and steals to come up with the cash that everyone needs. Things get more serious when triad thugs kidnap the daughter of the family, and sell her to a triad boss, killing Carter Wong in the process.
A Man Called Tiger
Original Music Composer
A young man suspects his father's suicide was actually a murder committed by gangsters. Using his expertise in martial arts, he gets himself hired by the gangsters who he suspects are responsible for his father's death.
3 Pussycats
Original Music Composer
Hong Kong drama film.
The Snake Girl
Original Music Composer
Big Madam poisons her husband and throws her adopted sister into a snake pit where she has sex with the snakes and gives birth to the beautiful Snake Girl. When her son falls in love with Snake Girl, Big Madam tries to kill her.
Story of Mother
Original Music Composer
A young boy witnesses his mother’s cheating ways and, after the death of his sick father, grows to despise her. When he’s adopted by another family, the road to reconciliation proves achingly difficult.
A Girl Fighter
Original Music Composer
Ton Chard is a vicious murderer, who terrifies people with his crimes. He is protected by his father, the powerful Shi Fong, ruler of the district. Su Ma offers herself to seek and arrest the criminal. Once done that, she has to take him to the law court where he will be judged. But Shi Fong will do everything to stop her.
血愛
Music
Hong Kong 1972. Shiu Pang is a poorly paid photographer with a very jealous fiancee. One day he meet an innocent girl and he falls in love with her. His fiancee decides to give a lesson to the young girl by sending a bunch of youngsters beating her and things goes worse and worse, the photographer's best friend dies in fighting the gangsters and the girl loses his mind, ending up in an asylum.
Love Is Smoke
Original Music Composer
Chiu Ling introduces his girlfriend Ma San to work for his uncle Chiu Chi. Ma San and Chiu Chi gradually fall in love with each other.
The Way of the Dragon
Original Music Composer
Tang Lung arrives in Rome to help his cousins in the restaurant business. They are being pressured to sell their property to the syndicate, who will stop at nothing to get what they want. When Tang arrives he poses a new threat to the syndicate, and they are unable to defeat him. The syndicate boss hires the best Japanese and European martial artists to fight Tang, but he easily finishes them off.
Fist of Fury
Original Music Composer
Chen Chen returns to his former school in Shanghai when he learns that his beloved instructor has been murdered. While investigating the man's death, Chen discovers that a rival Japanese school is operating a drug smuggling ring. To avenge his master’s death, Chen takes on both Chinese and Japanese assassins… and even a towering Russian.
Bus Stop
Original Music Composer
A gangster thriller.
The True and False Wife
Original Music Composer
Taiwanese romantic comedy.
Hotel Esquire
Original Music Composer
Chong has been dedicating to run the Hotel Esquire for more than thirty years. Business is booming. However, a double room rented by a newly married couple is said to be haunted. Business thus declines sharply. Chong employs a private detective to look into the matter first, and then a taoist to play exorcism. But nothing has changed. One day, Chong and a tenant see a woman in weird dressing go into the room. They then plot to catch the backstage manipulator of this haunting event.
Maria
Original Music Composer
Romantic tragedy based on John Lo Mar's story "Love Under the Cross".
Four Moods
Music
Directed by some of most well known Chinese-language directors of the time, the portmanteau film Four Moods was an attempt to alleviate Li Han-hsiang’s financial troubles during the late 1960s. Arguably one of his best works, King Hu’s short Anger is an adaptation of the famous Peking opera San Cha Kou; set to opera instrumentation and stylishly shot, the film deftly captures the tense showdown between political schemers, avengers and vagabonds inside an inn. Li Han-hsiang’s Happiness, inspired by the Strange Tales of Liaozhai, tells a tale of reprieve for a kind-hearted ghost, while Pai Ching-Jui’s Joy and Lee Hsing’s Sadness both explore the fateful encounters between mortal men and ghostly women.
Young Lovers
Original Music Composer
Jade Dragon
Original Music Composer
Old school weepy sword fighting epic with Melinda Chen Man Ling, Cathay's answer to Cheng Pei Pei.
Darling, Stay at Home
Original Music Composer
The misadventures of a beautiful but bored housewife Wang Yui-chuan and her chauvinistic salary-man husband Chang Wei-min reaches madcap proportions upon his denying her the opportunity to work outside the home. With calculating smarts, Wang takes action with the help of her scheming neighbors Lily and her mother Mrs. Hsu to change her identity and land a situation in her husband's firm where she successfully advances within the ranks in direct competition with Chang for promotion. A madcap comedy of errors ensue.
Four Sisters
Original Music Composer
Mandarin-era Hong Kong film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.
Till the End of Time
Original Music Composer
Jenny Wu is a singer who charms the well-to-do Peter Chen, but his parents object to a union between their only son and a lowly cabaret singer. He ignores their advice and marries her anyway, and for a time, they find some manner of wedded bliss. But the years are not entirely kind. He works hard to make ends meet, but his health pays the price.
The Lark
Original Music Composer
A musical staring Carrie Ku Mei as a singer named Xiaoyun Shi, who comes to Hong Kong after a tour of other Asian countries, hoping to develop her career.
Crocodile River
Music
Crocodile River features Romeo And Juliet-flavored story. Families are against each other. Yodi is the Romeo and Lee Ting is his Juliet. The two students love each other from across a river that is filled with crocodiles.
Pink Tears
Original Music Composer
The socialite Pai Li-Lan's life is disrupted when she contracts tuberculosis.
Song of Orchid Island
Original Music Composer
Dr. Ho decides to move to a backward island off the coast of Taiwan to look for his missing father. He meets nurse Ya Lan (Cheng Pei-Pei) who falls in love with him. But dastardly doings are afoot as Dr. Ho's enemies plot against him.
Sons of the Good Earth
Original Music Composer
War film set during the second Sino-Japanese war.
The Crimson Palm
Original Music Composer
Ling Bo is Lin, a young man engaged to the daughter of a rich man, who now despises Lin because of his family's declining status. Lin visits his beloved fiancee before he heads towards the imperial city to participate in the civil service examination, only to find her maid lying dead in blood. Lin is then accused of murder. How can Judge Bao prove his innocence?
The Dancing Millionairess
Original Music Composer
Chen Hou is a chauffeur who gets caught in a mistaken identity scandal linking him to businesswoman Lok Dai. Chen was supposed to audition for a job as her chauffeur, but a proposed musical show is far more attractive to the aspiring dancer. When a rumor gets out that the two are involved in an affair, she's angry and confronts him, but his charms overwhelm her, and it's revealed that she too desires to dance. Soon she's bankrolling the affair, the sets are being built, and the singing and dancing begin!
Love Parade
Original Music Composer
The winning couple of Linda Lin Dai and Peter Chen Hu light up the screen in the delightful Shaw Brothers musical Love Parade!
A Lovely Girl's Lovely Dreams
Music
Songstress Mui Yee-wah falls head over heels for painter Wai Tik-fung despite their age difference. Because Wai is a married man, Mui's mother is against the match. Mui falls ill from grief. Rich heir Siu Kar-wai seizes the chance to successfully propose to Mui. However, Siu is unable to let go of Mui's past. In a fit of anger, he fires a deadly shot at Wai.