The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1983 TV series)

*The Legend of the Condor Heroes*
The Legend of the Condor Heroes
	DVD cover
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	射鵰英雄傳
Simplified Chinese	射雕英雄传
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Shè Diāo Yīng Xióng Zhuàn
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping	Se6 Diu1 Jing1 Hung4 Zyun6
Genre	Wuxia
Based on	The Legend of the Condor Heroes; by Louis Cha
Screenplay by	Chan Kiu-ying; Cheung Wah-biu
Directed by	Johnnie To; Ng Yat-fan; Lau Si-yuk; Siu Hin-fai; Ching Siu-tung (action director)
Starring	Felix Wong; Barbara Yung; Michael Miu; Sharon Yeung
Theme music composer	Joseph Koo
Opening theme	1. Tit Huet Dam Sum (鐵血丹心); 2. Yat Sang Yau Yi Yi (一生有意義); 3. Sai Kan Chi Chung Nei Ho (世間始終你好); performed by Roman Tam and Jenny Tseng
Country of origin	Hong Kong
Original language	Cantonese
No. of episodes	59 (list of episodes)
Production
Producer	Wong Tin-lam
Production location	Hong Kong
Running time	42 minutes per episode
Production company	TVB
Original release
Network	TVB Jade
Release	21 February –; 22 July 1983
Related
	The Return of the Condor Heroes (1983–84); The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017)

The Legend of the Condor Heroes is a Hong Kong wuxia television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. It was first broadcast on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in 1983. The 59 episodes long series is divided into three parts.The serial was re-aired in 1990, 1995-1996, 2012-2013, and 2024 on TVB Jade.

This 1983 version is considered by many to be a classic television adaptation of the novel and features the breakthrough role of Barbara Yung, who played Huang Rong, During that time, Barbara Yung immediately became TVB's most popular actress.

The series became the highest rated series of that year with a high rating of 99%, The series averaged a rating of 65 points, and has become the most watched series in Hong Kong history so far.

In 1985, it was introduced and broadcast in mainland China by Guangdong TV Station, which triggered a frenzy of people watching it and caused a great sensation, The ratings in China reached 90%, making it one of the top ten highest-rated dramas in China in the 20th century.^[1] It was one of the most watched TVB series by Chinese people in China, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and became the third highest rated drama in the world.^[2]

In 2022, the drama was selected as one of ten classic TVB dramas being honoured for a new joint Youku and TVB programme.^[3]

Cast

Note: Some of the characters' names are in Cantonese romanisation.

Felix Wong as Kwok Ching 郭靖
- Fung Chi-fung as young Kwok Ching
Michael Miu as Yeung Hong 杨康
Barbara Yung as Wong Yung 黄蓉
Sharon Yeung as Muk Nim-chi 穆念慈
Patrick Tse as Yeung Tit-sum 杨铁心
Louise Lee as Bau Sik-yeuk 包惜弱
Lau Kong as Yuen-ngan Hung-lit 完颜洪烈
Chu Tit-wo as Kwok Siu-tin 郭啸天
Soh Hang-suen as Lei Ping 李萍
Chun Wong as Chow Pak-tung 周伯通
Lau Dan as Hung Tsat-kung 洪七公
Yeung Chak-lam as Au-yeung Fung 欧阳锋
Kenneth Tsang as Wong Yeuk-si 黄药师
Lau Siu-ming as Yat-dang
Ha Yu as Yau Chui-kai
Kong Ngai as Or Chan-ngok
Benz Hui as Chu Cung
Bobby Tsang as Hon Bo-kui
Tam Chuan-hing as Nam Hei-yan
Eddy Ko as Chuen Gam-fat
Ban Ban as Hon Siu-ying
Cheung Lui as Jebe
Paul Chun as Genghis Khan
Wong Jo-see as Wah-tsang
- Lee Ka-wing as young Wah-tsang
Andy Dai as Tolui
- Lee Ka-ho as young Tolui
Eddie Kwan as Chagatai
Lin Wai-kin as Muqali
Tam Bing-man as Jamukha
Bonnie Wong as Mui Chiu-fung
Yeung Yim-tong as Chan Yuen-fung
Stephan Yip as Yuen-ngan Hung-hei
Wong Wan-choi as Au-yeung Hak
Chan Ka-yee as Fung Hang
Chan On-ying as Sor-ku
Shih Kien as Kau Chin-yan
Regina Tsang as Lau Ying
Rebecca Chan as Ching Yiu-ga
Kwan Hoi-san as Luk Sing-fung
Austin Wai as Luk Koon-ying
Alan Chui Chung-San as Guanyan Bodyguard
Bak Man-biu as Leung Tsi-yung
Chan Tik-hak as Sa Tong-tin
Cheung Ying-choi as Ma Yuk
Rainbow Ching as Suen But-yee
Leung Siu-tik as Wong Chui-yat
Cheng Ka-sang as Kwok Dai-tong
Bobby Au-yeung as a guard in the Luk Manor
Francis Ng
Wilson Tsui
Stephen Chow (minor roles)
Wong Yat-fei
Hui Kin-shun

Episodes

Part 1: The Legend of the Condor Heroes – The Iron-Blooded Loyalists (射鵰英雄傳之鐵血丹心)
Part 2: The Legend of the Condor Heroes – The Eastern Heretic and Western Venom (射鵰英雄傳之東邪西毒)
Part 3: The Legend of the Condor Heroes – The Duel on Mount Hua (射鵰英雄傳之華山論劍)

Soundtrack

The Legend of the Condor Heroes (射鵰英雄傳 seh diu ying hung juen) is the soundtrack of this television series, released in 1983 by EMI Records (百代唱片). Roman Tam and Jenny Tseng sing the following songs, most which are heard in the series.

No.	Title	Cantonese	Length
1.	"Iron Blood and Loyal Heart"	鐵血丹心 Tit huet dan sum	5:07
2.	"Mun kong hung" (Roman Tam)	滿江紅	4:38
3.	"Peach Blossoms"	桃花開 Tou fa hoi	3:02
4.	"Willing to Undertake Love" (Jenny Tseng)	肯去承擔愛 Hang heui sing dam ngoi	3:35
5.	"Ballad of the Great Wall" (Roman Tam)	長城謠 Cheung sing yiu	2:58
6.	"Your Tender Smile" (Jenny Tseng)	你的淺笑 Nei dik chin siu	4:01
7.	"You're the Best in the World"	世間始終你好 Sai kan chi chung nei hou	3:30
8.	"Sinful Love" (Jenny Tseng)	四張機 Sei cheung kei	3:51
9.	"A Meaningful Life"	一生有意義 Yat sang yau yi yi	5:02
10.	"Remembering Our Romance Very Much" (Roman Tam)	千愁記舊情 Chin Sau Kei Kau Ching	4:43
11.	"It Seems that I Owe You in My Previous Life" (Jenny Tseng)	似是前生欠你 Chi Si Chin Sang Him Nei	2:59
12.	"Do Our Best to Create a Bright Future" (Roman Tam)	美滿前途全力創 Mei Mun Chin Tou Chuen Lik Chong	5:24

worldwide popularity

According to the "Top Ten TV Programs with the Most Viewed People in the World" announced by TVB in 1995, the drama " The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1983 TV Series) " was ranked third. with a total worldwide audience of 356,163,000 people at that time.^[4]^[5]

Production

According to the behind-the-scenes featurette on the DVD, the Mongolian scenes were filmed on Lantau Island, Hong Kong.

Awards

This is the award this series has received.

Year	Award	Result
1983	New York International Film and Television Festival Gold Medal Award	Won
2009	Second place in CCTV's selection of "Ten Most Unforgettable Classic Dramas Post-80s"	Won
2019	National Top Ten TV Series in New Era International TV Festival	Won
2022	Top ten classic TVB dramas being honoured for a new joint Youku and TVB programme	Won

References

^ 朱奕錦 (16 October 2018). "中國電視劇收視率排行榜，霍元甲第八，上海灘第七". 香港01. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
^ 电影聚焦 (11 April 2019). "TVB十大電視劇亞洲觀眾人數最多". โดย ทีวีบีโทรทัศน์ไต้หวัน. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
^ 朱奕錦 (18 May 2022). "優酷同TVB合辦綜藝《那年的精彩》邀兩地人重演10套無綫經典劇". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 19 May 2022.
^ 朱奕錦 (18 May 2022). "The ten dramas with the highest ratings in the world announced by TVB". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 19 May 2022.
^ OVDO (12 October 2024). ""The ten dramas with the highest ratings in the world announced by TVB". baidu (in Cantonese). Retrieved 18 July 2023.

External links

The Legend of the Condor Heroes at IMDb

[1] 朱奕錦 (16 October 2018). "中國電視劇收視率排行榜，霍元甲第八，上海灘第七". 香港01. Retrieved 15 November 2022.

[2] 电影聚焦 (11 April 2019). "TVB十大電視劇亞洲觀眾人數最多". โดย ทีวีบีโทรทัศน์ไต้หวัน. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.

[3] 朱奕錦 (18 May 2022). "優酷同TVB合辦綜藝《那年的精彩》邀兩地人重演10套無綫經典劇". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 19 May 2022.

[4] 朱奕錦 (18 May 2022). "The ten dramas with the highest ratings in the world announced by TVB". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 19 May 2022.

[5] OVDO (12 October 2024). ""The ten dramas with the highest ratings in the world announced by TVB". baidu (in Cantonese). Retrieved 18 July 2023.

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