Saxophone is the weapon of choice for Teddy Robin’s score to City On Fire (1987). I couldn’t help but think of the David Sanborn sax sound to the Lethal Weapon soundtrack. What I love about Hong Kong cinema in the 1980s (and into the 1990s) is that circuit loop, of taking on influences from western cinema (saxophone for a cop thriller) and in turn influencing western cinema (dynamic action and stunts, cool iconography). The first time I heard about City On Fire was an article discussing the short film, Who Do You Think You’re Fooling?, whose thesis was that Quentin Tarantino ripped this film off for Reservoir Dogs. Both movies are about an undercover cop in a crew that robs a jewellery store. When you see City On Fire, there’s about 7 minutes or so near the end that have similarities; it’s clear that Tarantino did something different and unique with all his influences (the “Mr. Blue” code names coming from Taking of Pelham 123, for example). As a result of that connection, I recorded City On Fire from SBS through a VCR when I first watched it.
Chow Yun-Fat is compelling as the undercover cop, whose identity is only known to his uncle, using him to nail a heist crew wanted for murder. Ringo Lam as a director is interested in a gritty, street-level crime thriller, comparable to Walter Hill or Michael Mann rather than the over-the-top bullet-ballet of John Woo. And yet there is a goofy quality with the romance sub-plot with Yun-Fat chasing after his exasperated girlfriend.
The budding brotherhood of Yun-Fat and one of the thieves, Danny Lee (co-stars in John Woo’s The Killer), occurs quite late in the film, and doesn’t have enough to make the fatalistic conclusion have full weight. More hitting is the workplace infighting between the Uncle character (played by Sun Yueh) and the younger, ambitious cop put in charge, the sense of personal ambition and toadying that creates the stronger sense of frustration (at the system).
Great blues-rock theme tune (translated as ‘Strive For Happiness’), and outfits that Yun-Fat wears (combat boots, denim shirt, scarf, leather jacket with fur collar). Subtitled and dubbed versions available on Tubi. Recommended.
VHS Tracking 