A native of Shanghai, Tung’s father Tung Ke Yi is a veteran cinematographer. The father and son moved to Hong Kong in the late 1940s for the film A Forgotten Woman, which marked the debut of Great Wall Pictures Corporation. Tung’s father was the cinematographer of the film while he became the assistant. He later joined Shaw, where director Doe Chin recognized his talents and made Tung a prominent cinematographer. He left Shaw and signed with Motion Picture & General Investment Co Ltd (MP & GI) in 1956, where he became the cinematographer for such screen classics as Our Sister Hedy, Mambo Girl, Her Tender Heart and Forever Yours.

Tung returned to Shaw in 1959 and helmed The Twelve Gold Medallions, The Black Forest, A Maid From Heaven and The Monkey Goes West. Tung was a multiple winner of cinematography kudos at the Asian Film Festival: He first won the Black-and-white category in 1959 (6th) for Doe Chin’s Darling Daughter, followed by the color category in 1966 (13th) for Doe’s The Blue And The Black; Then again in 1970 (16th) for Pan Lei’s Love Without End.

Tung also tried his hands in directing, as he co-helmed The 14 Amazons with Cheng Kang. The film is widely regarded as a classic with its grandeur scenes. He was active from 1950-1978.

(Source: Celestial Pictures) Edit Biography