Why Jackie Chan considers this 1989 crime comedy his most sophisticated directorial achievement
In short: Set in 1930s Hong Kong, Miracles is a stylish homage to Hollywood musicals and classic cinema. Directed by and starring Jackie Chan, the film follows a kind-hearted man who inadvertently becomes a gang boss. Despite production disasters, including a typhoon, it remains one of Chan's personal favorites among his extensive filmography.
Released in 1989, Miracles is a creative adaptation of Frank Capra's Lady for a Day and Pocketful of Miracles, which were based on the 1929 short story Madame La Gimp by Damon Runyon. The narrative centers on Kuo Cheng-Wah, a country boy who finds himself thrust into the leadership of a criminal organization after accidentally assisting a dying gang leader. His journey involves balancing his new, reluctant role as a boss with a desire to help a local flower seller, Madame Kao, maintain a facade of wealth for her visiting daughter.
The production was famously difficult, spanning from December 1988 to March 1989. A typhoon destroyed many of the film's sets, necessitating a costly rebuild, and Chan suffered a significant injury—a deep cut over his left eye—during a stunt involving a rickshaw. Despite these setbacks, the film is celebrated for its technical ambition. Chan, an admirer of Hollywood musicals, utilized sophisticated camera work, including a notable steady cam crane shot by Arthur Wong during the musical number Rose, Rose I Love You, which captures multiple perspectives in a single, fluid take.
While the original Hong Kong cut ran for 127 minutes, international audiences received a truncated 102-minute version that removed several subplots, including interactions between Kuo and Inspector Ho. The film earned HK $34,036,029 at the local box office and secured the Best Action Choreography award for the Jackie Chan Stunt Team. Chan has noted that his directorial approach differs from American methods; while US directors often move the camera to heighten the frenetic pace of action, Chan prefers to keep the camera steady to emphasize the choreography of his performers.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Miracles (1989 film)
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