The Teahouse

The Teahouse
Film poster
Directed byKuei Chih-Hung
Screenplay byOn Szeto
Story byChiang Chih-Nan
Produced byRunme Shaw
Starring
CinematographyChi Yu
Edited byChiang Hsing-Lung
Chang Shao-Hsi
Distributed byShaw Brothers
Release date
  • 19 October 1974 (1974-10-19)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese

The Teahouse is a 1974 Hong Kong crime drama directed by Kuei Chih-Hung. Written by On Szeto, the film is about an immigrant restaurant owner trying to protect his family from juvenile gangs. It was such a hit that the film was followed by a 1975 sequel, Big Brother Cheng, with kung fu star Chen Kuan Tai reprising the eponymous role.

Plot

In the 1970s, Big Brother Shing (大哥成, played by Chen Kuan‑tai) is a middle-aged new immigrant who had fled from mainland China to Hong Kong. Together with several fellow villagers, he opens the Shing Kee Teahouse; through hard work, they made a living, and the business flourished. Unfortunately, the teahouse staff become embroiled several times in conflicts involving triad interests. Big Brother Shing steps forward to protect them, which in turn provokes two major underworld factions, Lei Kung Tong (雷公同) and Prince Kei (太子基). Big Brother Shing matches wits and strength with the gangs, eventually infuriating Prince Kei, who leads a large group of men to storm Shing Kee Teahouse. Big Brother Shing and his staff rise up in resistance. The police arrive, and Prince Kei and his followers are all arrested. The authorities demand that Big Brother Shing hand over whatever triad intelligence he knows, while Lei Kung Tong simultaneously attempts to lure him into their organization. All of this plunged Big Brother Cheng into deep conflict and anguish; he felt as though he had lost even the right to be a good person. Driven by the pressing circumstances, he was left with no choice but to continue his life on the run.

Cast

References

  1. ↑ "The Tea House". www.hkmemory.hk (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 5 September 2026.