Aces Go Places 最佳拍檔 (1982): The Movie That Brought James Bond to Hong Kong, Made HK$27 Million, and Launched the Studio That Changed Everything

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The Movie That Changed Hong Kong Cinema

Before Aces Go Places, Hong Kong comedies were mostly low-budget affairs. Then came 1982, and everything changed.

最佳拍檔 (Aces Go Places) was the film that proved Hong Kong could produce a blockbuster. Directed by Eric Tsang and written by Bak-Ming Wong, the film brought together two of the biggest stars of the era: Samuel Hui, the "God of Song," and Karl Maka, the bald comedian who would become an icon.

The budget was HK$6 million — a massive sum for the time, equivalent to four or five ordinary films. Samuel Hui alone was paid HK$2 million, making him the highest-paid actor in Hong Kong.

But the gamble paid off. The film earned **HK$27 million** at the box office, becoming the first Hong Kong film ever to cross the HK$20 million mark. It was the highest-grossing film of 1982, beating even Shaolin Temple and Dragon Lord. It also won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor — Karl Maka's only win.

What Is It About?

The plot is classic 007-style action comedy.

King Kong (Samuel Hui) is a master thief who steals a bag of diamonds from an Italian smuggling ring. He's also a master of disguise, a gadget freak, and a smooth talker. He's basically James Bond, but funnier.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong police think the thief is the notorious "White Gloves," an international criminal. They call in a top American detective — the "Baldy Detective," played by Karl Maka.

Baldy is arrogant, bumbling, and completely out of his depth. He's partnered with a no-nonsense female officer named Ho Tung-si (Sylvia Chang).

King Kong and Baldy become rivals, then partners, then friends. And they must work together to stop the real White Gloves and recover the diamonds.

The Scene That Made It Iconic

The film's most famous scene is the opening heist. King Kong uses a jetpack to fly over the city, a gadget that was cutting-edge for 1982 Hong Kong cinema. It's absurd, it's thrilling, and it sets the tone for the entire film.

Another unforgettable moment is the car chase through Hong Kong's streets — a sequence that rivaled anything Hollywood was doing at the time.

Why It Still Matters

Aces Go Places was the film that established Cinema City as a major studio. It allowed Karl Maka, Dean Shek, and Bak-Ming Wong to compete with giants like Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest.

It also launched a franchise. Four sequels followed: Aces Go Places 2 (1983), Aces Go Places 3 (1984), Aces Go Places 4 (1986), and The New Aces Go Places (1989).

But the first film remains the best. It's funny, fast-paced, and endlessly rewatchable.

Have you seen Aces Go Places? What's your favorite scene — the jetpack, the car chase, or the final showdown? Let me know in the comments.

Tom De · The Movie Prince 🎬