[2023.10.27] MARY JEAN REIMER REMEMBERS DANNY CHAN'S KISS

Catherine Chau and Michelle Wai raise their hands for the premiere as soon as they learn about the ENCORE re-release

Danny Chan's siblings with Albert Yeung
courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

Mary Jean Reimer laments that Danny Chan, Leslie Cheung and Paul Chung were at the release, but now she is the only one 

Catherine Chau and Michelle Wai watch ENCORE for the first time
courtesy of mingpao.com

The Emperor Motion Picture ENCORE (HOK CHOI) 4K Digitally Restored Edition's charity premiere took place two nights ago. Emperor Group chief Albert Yeung Sau Sing, director Choi Kai Kwong, lead actress Mary Jean Reimer (Yung Jing Jing), Shirley Yim (Suet Lei), Manfred Wong (Man Jun), Philip Chan Yan Kin and Cheng Kwok Kong attended. Danny Chan Pak Keung's brother Chan Pak Ling, sister Chan Siu Yee, Catherine Chau Ka Yi, Gladys Li Ching Kwan, and Ramon Lo (Law Kai Ho) attended in support. The just announced policy address released HK$ 20,000 allowance to encourage child birth, Michelle Wai Sze Nga said that with the allowance she would have 4. Chan Pak Ling joked, "I don't know how Mr. Yeung talked Papa into making this rare movie with Danny. Now after over 40 years through technology it has been restored, viewers would be very surprised by this image of Danny, letting us see Danny's handsome, real and very chicken side." Yung Jing Jing also joked, "I hope not only the movie but I got restored as well, after over 40 years I still have the guts to stand on the stage. Everyone should give me more applause. If after another 20 years for the 8K restoration, I might have to go to the stage with a cane. Then they would have to restore my face too!"

Yeung Sau Sing revealed that ENCORE was the first movie he invested in. The film started production in 1979, next year it became the summer's biggest hit. Its box office was close to HK$ 3 million. He joked that Man Jun regretted that the Hong Kong Film Awards did not exist back then, otherwise it definitely would have won awards. He also stated that in commemoration of 30th anniversary of Danny's passing, the original plan was to rush for a release on his birthday. However they could not make it in time, so the release could only be scheduled for the anniversary of his passing two nights ago. He said, "The most handsome were still Danny and Cheung Kwok Wing, naturally handsome and also geniuses." The film was Danny's first, Yeung Sau Sing said that he did not feel it was risky or worried that Danny did not know how to act. "I have no regret, my decision isn't wrong."

Attending the ENCORE premiere 43 years later, Yung Jing Jing sentimentally said, "For the premiere 43 years ago everyone was there but now I am the only one. That's the biggest difference. We were kids, hee hee ha ha very happy." She recalled, "Danny was a few years older than me and was only 19, I was 15 and a half and child labor. I remember back then we rushed to shoot a sunset kiss scene. At the time we only had 5 minutes to shoot it. We kids didn't feel we weren't right for the kiss, so we argued with the director. In the final several minutes when we really had to shoot, Danny kissed me on the forehead. The director jumped up like thunder, but the result was rather innocent. Even the director praised the beauty on the screen, so sometimes kids are right to act up!" She also revealed that back then the salary was only HK$ 3,000, Mommy joked that Mr. Yeung's offer was low. Mr. Yeung asked her to go to his watch store to pick a watch.

"Danny, Yeung Sau Sing and Chan Yan Kin are family friends, they gave me this opportunity to make movies. However an adult said that Yeung Sau Sing's offer was too low, only HK$ 3,000. Yeung Sau Sing then asked me to go to his watch store and pick a watch. I listened to Mama and choose a diamond watch that he retailed, worth around HK$ 100,000. It was my first diamond watch, which I still have today. The style is modern, even if I wear it now it wouldn't look outdated. I was very lucky to be able to make this movie and met a group of good friends."

Neither Wai Sze Nga nor Chau Ka Yi has seen ENOCRE. Wai Sze Nga has only seen the play, but she would like to hear Danny's original singing version the most; Chau Ka Yi was a Cheung Kwok Wing fan, whether Gor Gor was singing or acting she would like it. Speaking of the just announced policy report that included a HK$ 20,000 allowance to encourage child birth, Chau Ka Yi joked, "This has nothing to do with me, I don't even have a guy yet!" Wai Sze Nga was rather supportive of the government encouraging child birth. "Before the allowance I already planned to have 3, because I am one of 3 siblings. Now with the allowance I would add another to have 4." Has she already communicated with her other half? She joked, "I will do it later, no need to communicate. Women can call their own shots, haha!"