Those who grew up in Hong Kong in the 1970s definitely remember the Wynners, a band formed by Alan Tam, Kenny Bee, Bennett Pang, Danny Yip, and Anthony Chan. They first dabbled into the film industry with Let's Rock in 1975, and in 1978 Taiwanese director Chen Yao Chi created another Wynners movie Making It. With a script tailored for the Wynners, youth film Making It is an updated Chinese version of The Prince and the Pauper. Five up-and-coming young music lovers, played by none other but the Wynners, overcome a lot of difficulties before they have a chance to perform at a restaurant. However, one of the band members, Alan (Alan Tam), suddenly feels ill and is hospitalized. His four friends fortunately come across the rich Sylvester (also Alan Tam) who looks exactly like Alan, and the four desperate band members ask him to take Alan's place for the performance. Meanwhile, Sylvester's parents, busily fetching Sylvester to fulfill an arranged marriage, mistake Alan as Sylvester...
Acting
Alan Tam playing against himself with surprising charm
Costume
Peak 70s Hong Kong fashion that slaps
Score
The Wynners performing their actual hits
Director
Chen Yao-chi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Wynners were Hong Kong's biggest band in the 70s, making this essentially the Cantonese-pop equivalent of A Hard Day's Night — if The Beatles had identical twin shenanigans.
Director Chen Yao-chi was Taiwanese, not Hong Kong native, which explains the slightly outsider's-eye view of local youth culture.
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