The Singing Thief is a 1969 Shaw Brothers gangster film.
The titular hero, Diamond Poon, used to be a former Gentleman Thief and mob hitman, but has since turned straight to be with his beloved Darling Fang. But when his past comes back to him, he will have to fight his way out.
Contains equal amounts of action, and equal amounts of singing, and is suitably known as one of the most action-packed musicals released by Shaw Brothers. Also notable that the eponymous hero is played by Lam Chung, a real-life Taiwanese singer.
Shaw Brothers will revisit the concept of this film a year later with the David Chiang vehicle The Singing Killer
The Singing Thief includes examples of:
- Abandoned Warehouse: The final shootout takes place in an empty warehouse in an industrial zone, before leading to the outside.
- Affectionate Nickname: Diamond Poon frequently called Darling Fang "silly child" or "silly little girl". She doesn't mind a bit.
- Attack Hello: Diamond Poon and his former mentor Boss Wang, meeting each toehr for the first time in years, the first thing they did which is fighting each other.
- The Chanteuse: A male example with Diamond Poon.
- Chiaroscuro: Used to frame Diamond Poon's face in night scenes, especially the finale.
- Covers Always Lie: The above poster shows the female lead in a leather outfit she never wears in the entire film.
- High-Class Gloves: Worn by Darling Fang in all her nightclub scenes.
- Job Title: Our hero, ladies and gentleman. Former Gentleman Thief, now a nightclub singer.
- Musical Episode: This is probably the first instance of an Action-Musical made by Shaw Brothers.
- Pool Scene: Diamond Poon had a lounge scene in his personal pool, complete with a male version of a Sexy Surfacing Shot.
- Professional Killer: Diamond Poon's former job, before he turned straight and became a singer. He still retains his skill in taking names however as seen in the finale.
- Retired Badass: Diamond Poon is an ex-hitman and mob enforcer who changed his career to become a singer instead.
- Pre-Mortem One-Liner: Diamond Poon delivers a really badass one right before executing Wang, the Big Bad."Now that I've seen your face, I know you are my sworn enemy. And you know I'm your opponent. You will know me as a danger and a threat, as well, and that shall be your last lesson alive." (shoots him dead)
- Something about a Rose: Diamon Poon's Calling Card in his younger days as an assassin is a red carnation he leaves at each scene of his kills. His old enemies uses this to force Diamond Poon out of hiding by leaving carnations at the scene of crimes.
- Step into the Blinding Fight: The film's final action scene had Diamond Poon taking on Boss Wang and his mooks in a dimly-lit industrial zone, in the middle of night. Despite the poor visibility Diamond gets to take plenty of names.
- Railing Kill: A few mooks in the finale get flung to their deaths while fighting Diamond Poon on high ledges.
