Those Were the Days... (1995)
A raw Hong Kong crime thriller about a young gangster whose life unravels after tragedy pulls him deep into the drug trade.
Those Were the Days... - Movie Information
- Original Title: 慈雲山十三太保
- Release Year: 1995
- Directed by: Billy Tang
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
- Runtime: 1h 31m
- Original Language: CN
- Spoken Languages: Cantonese
- Release Date (Theatrical): April 22, 1995 (Hong Kong - Category II)
- Alternative Titles: Chi Wan San sap sam tai bo (HK)
- Production Companies: Filmax Production Co. Ltd.
- Production Countries: Hong Kong
Those Were the Days... - Plot
A gangster gets mixed up with drugs after witnessing a friend killed during a gang fight.
Those Were the Days... - Trailer
See the tension and street-level drama of 1990s Hong Kong unfold:
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Those Were the Days... - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Billy Tang
Main Cast
- Eric Moo
- Moses Chan Ho
- Power Chan Kwok-Pong
- Joey Man Yee-Man
- Kent Cheng Jak-Si
- Alice Fung So-Bor
- William Ho
- Lee Siu-Kay
- Wong Jan-Fai
- Teresa Ha Ping
Writers
- Wong Ho-Wa
- Chan Wa
- Raymond Lee Wai-Man
Producers
- Raymond Wong Pak-Ming
Those Were the Days... - FAQs
Who are the main actors in Those Were the Days...?
The film stars Eric Moo as Chan Wah, Moses Chan Ho as Ko Fai, Power Chan Kwok-Pong as Safe-Box, and Joey Man Yee-Man as Kiddy. Kent Cheng Jak-Si and Alice Fung So-Bor also appear as Wah's parents, with William Ho playing the menacing Devil Siu.
What is Those Were the Days... about?
The film follows a young gangster who spirals into the drug trade after watching a close friend die in a brutal gang confrontation. It's a gritty, street-level portrait of triad life in 1990s Hong Kong, exploring themes of loyalty, loss, and the devastating pull of addiction.
Who directed Those Were the Days...?
Those Were the Days... was directed by Billy Tang, a Hong Kong filmmaker known for his unflinching approach to crime and Category III genre cinema. Tang brings a raw, documentary-like intensity to this portrait of triad youth culture in 1990s Hong Kong.
When was Those Were the Days... released?
Those Were the Days... was released on April 22, 1995, in Hong Kong, where it received a Category II classification. It remains a notable entry in the wave of gritty Hong Kong crime dramas that defined the mid-1990s local film scene.
Is Those Were the Days... based on a true story?
The film draws its title and atmosphere from real triad gang culture in Hong Kong's Tsz Wan Shan district, and the original Chinese title references the notorious "Thirteen Princes" gang associated with that area. While fictionalized, it reflects genuine social conditions of the era.
What genre is Those Were the Days...?
Those Were the Days... blends Action, Crime, Drama, and Thriller elements into a tightly wound Hong Kong genre film. It sits comfortably alongside the gritty triad dramas of the early-to-mid 1990s, balancing visceral street violence with a more intimate character study.
How long is Those Were the Days...?
Those Were the Days... runs for 91 minutes, making it a lean, efficiently paced crime thriller. Director Billy Tang keeps the story moving briskly, never letting the tension ease as the protagonist's descent into the drug trade accelerates toward its inevitable conclusion.
What are some movies similar to Those Were the Days...?
If you enjoy Those Were the Days..., you might also like Friday (1995), Buffalo Soldiers (2002), and Survive The Night (1993) for their street-level crime atmosphere. For more recent picks with similar energy, Fast Charlie (2023), Havoc (2025), and The Unforgivable (2021) are worth exploring.
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