Hong Tche, Tsao


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Johan Melle
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Hong Tche, Tsao

Post by Johan Melle » 24/01/2022, 19:02

Tsao Hong Tche.jpg
Tsao Hong Tche, in Roman Holiday (1953)
Tsao Hong Tche was an Asian generico who was active in Italian cinema from at least the end of the 1940s and until the late 1960s.

He was a bit of a pioneer in the sense that he was one of the first Asian actors to find steady employment in Italian cinema - an impressive feat considering the lack of roles for Asians at the time. He seems to have kept busy himself busy thoughout the 1950s, though, with appearances in several comedies, films with Asian settings and even a few Hollywood productions shot in Rome.

It looks as if Tsao's only on-screen credit was in Tre supermen a Tokio (1968), but he also has a handful of credits on ANICA, confirming his identity.

Identifying features are his double chin, combed back hair and round glasses, and there are no doubt many more roles to be found for Tsao.

Filmography

1949
  1. Signorinella .... The Lapicellas' cook (uncredited)

    1950
  2. Totò sceicco .... Nightclub customer (uncredited)

    1952
  3. Il tallone di Achille .... Chinese delegate at the medical conference (uncredited)
  4. When in Rome .... Chinese priest (uncredited)

    1953
  5. I sette dell'orsa maggiore .... Nightclub customer (uncredited)
  6. Legione straniera .... Man outside the hospital (uncredited)
  7. Roman Holiday .... Dignitary waiting to meet Princess Ann (uncredited)
  8. Via Padova 46 .... Asian tourist at the airport (uncredited)

    1954
  9. Camilla .... Man leaving customs (uncredited)
  10. Disonorata senza colpa .... Japanese prisoner of war (uncredited)
  11. La figlia di Mata Hari .... General Yoto (uncredited)

    1956
  12. La fortuna di essere donna .... Hotel guest (uncredited)
  13. Land of the Pharaohs .... Subject bringing tribute (uncredited)

    1957
  14. Vivendo cantando... che male ti fò? .... Role? (uncredited)

    1960
  15. L'ultimo zar .... Servant of the Tsar (uncredited)
  16. Letto a tre piazze .... Chinese airplane passenger (uncredited)
  17. Sotto dieci bandiere .... Refugee-Prisoner (uncredited)

    1961
  18. Il pianeta degli uomini spenti .... United Commission representative (uncredited)

    1966
  19. Upperseven, l'uomo da uccidere .... Oriental agent (uncredited)

    1967
  20. Killer calibro 32 .... Chang, the undertaker (uncredited)
  21. Operazione San Pietro .... Priest (uncredited)

    1968
  22. Tre supermen a Tokio .... Professor Togo (credited)

Titles to check
  • La bisarca (1950) - ANICA
  • Non vogliamo morire (1954) - ANICA
Last edited by Johan Melle on 21/10/2023, 14:20, edited 14 times in total.

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Re: Hong Tche, Tsao

Post by Johan Melle » 24/01/2022, 19:04

Signorinella (1949) as The Lapicellas' cook
Signorinella - Tsao Hong Tche1.jpg
Signorinella - Tsao Hong Tche2.jpg

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Re: Hong Tche, Tsao

Post by Johan Melle » 24/01/2022, 19:07

Totò sceicco (1950) as Nightclub customer.

Shot only from behind, but this is one of his credits listed on ANICA, and we see just about enough of Tsao's nose, chin and glasses to recognize him.
Toto Sceicco - Tsao Hong Tche1.jpg
Toto Sceicco - Tsao Hong Tche2.jpg
Toto Sceicco - Tsao Hong Tche3.jpg

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Re: Hong Tche, Tsao

Post by Johan Melle » 24/01/2022, 19:08

Il tallone di Achille (1952) as Chinese delegate at the medical conference
Tallone Di Achille - Tsao Hong Tche1.jpg
Tallone Di Achille - Tsao Hong Tche2.jpg
Tallone Di Achille - Tsao Hong Tche3.jpg

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Re: Hong Tche, Tsao

Post by Johan Melle » 24/01/2022, 19:10

When in Rome (1952) as Chinese priest
When In Rome - Tsao Hong Tche1.jpg
When In Rome - Tsao Hong Tche2.jpg
When In Rome Still.jpg

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Re: Hong Tche, Tsao

Post by Johan Melle » 24/01/2022, 19:13

Roman Holiday (1953) as Dignitary waiting to meet Princess Ann
Roman Holiday - Tsao Hong Tche1.jpg
Roman Holiday - Tsao Hong Tche2.jpg

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Re: Hong Tche, Tsao

Post by Johan Melle » 24/01/2022, 19:14

Via Padova 46 (1953) as Asian tourist at the airport
Via Padova 46 - Tsao Hong Tche1.jpg
Via Padova 46 - Tsao Hong Tche2.jpg
Via Padova 46 - Tsao Hong Tche3.jpg
Via Padova 46 - Tsao Hong Tche4.jpg

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Re: Hong Tche, Tsao

Post by Johan Melle » 24/01/2022, 19:16

I sette dell'orsa maggiore (1953) as Nightclub customer, enjoying Eleonora Rossi Drago's act
Sette Dell'Orsa - Tsao Hong Tche1.jpg
Sette Dell'Orsa - Tsao Hong Tche2.jpg
Sette Dell'Orsa - Tsao Hong Tche3.jpg
Sette Dell'Orsa - Tsao Hong Tche4.jpg

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Re: Hong Tche, Tsao

Post by Johan Melle » 24/01/2022, 19:18

La figlia di Mata Hari (1954) as General Yoto
Figlia Mata Hari - Tsao Hong Tche1.jpg
Figlia Mata Hari - Tsao Hong Tche2.jpg
Figlia Mata Hari - Tsao Hong Tche3.jpg
Figlia Mata Hari - Tsao Hong Tche4.jpg
Figlia Mata Hari - Tsao Hong Tche5.jpg

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Re: Hong Tche, Tsao

Post by Johan Melle » 24/01/2022, 19:19

Disonorata senza colpa (1954) as Japanese prisoner of war
Disonorata - Tsao Hong Tche1.jpg
Disonorata - Tsao Hong Tche2.jpg
Disonorata - Tsao Hong Tche3.jpg
Disonorata - Tsao Hong Tche4.jpg
Disonorata - Tsao Hong Tche5.jpg

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