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The Man from Hong Kong

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"The Dragon Flies" redirects here. Not to be confused with dragonflies or dragonfly (disambiguation).

The Man from Hong Kong
US film poster by Arnaldo Putzu
Directed byBrian Trenchard-Smith
Written byBrian Trenchard-Smith
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRussell Boyd
Edited by
  • Ron Williams
  • Peter Cheung
Music byNoel Quinlan
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 31 July 1975 (1975-07-31) (Hong Kong)
  • August 1975 (1975-08) (US)
  • 5 September 1975 (1975-09-05) (Australia)
Running time
106 minutes
Countries
  • Australia
  • Hong Kong
Languages
  • English
  • Mandarin
BudgetA$550,000[1]
Box office
  • A$1.07 million (Australia)[2]
  • HK$1.09 million (Hong Kong)[3]

The Man from Hong Kong (Chinese: 直搗黃龍), originally released in the US as The Dragon Flies, is a 1975 action film written and directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith in his directorial debut and starring Jimmy Wang Yu and George Lazenby, with Hugh Keays-Byrne, Roger Ward, Rosalind Speirs, Rebecca Gilling, Grant Page, Sammo Hung and Frank Thring in supporting roles. The first film to be made as an international coproduction between Australia and Hong Kong, it serves as a satire of the James Bond and Dirty Harry franchises, combined with tropes of the concurrent chopsocky craze.[4][5] Its plot follows Inspector Fang Sing Leng (Yu) of the RHKPF's Special Branch, who travels to Sydney to perform an extradition, only to find himself locked in battle with Jack Wilton (Lazenby), the city's most powerful crime lord.

Having gained experience as an editor of film trailers and director of television documentaries, Trenchard-Smith established a connection with Golden Harvest producers Raymond Chow and Andre Morgan while making two TV specials, The World of Kung Fu (1973) and Kung Fu Killers (1974). Originally conceived as a Bruce Lee vehicle, the film was reconfigured as Yu's English-language debut following Lee's death; much of the remaining cast and crew had previously worked on Trenchard-Smith's documentary films and on Sandy Harbutt's outlaw biker film Stone (1974). Its budget was jointly funded by Golden Harvest, Greater Union and the Australian Film Development Commission.[6]

The Man from Hong Kong features multiple large-scale action scenes with elaborate, dangerous stunts. It includes a fight scene between Hung and Ward atop Uluru/Ayers Rock as the film's opening setpiece, several car chases devised by Stone's Peter Armstrong, hang-gliding sequences performed over Hong Kong and Sydney Harbour by Page — who would achieve further recognition as the stunt coordinator of Mad Max (1979) — and a climactic battle between Yu and Lazenby in which the latter is briefly set on fire, which caused injury to the actor's hand.[6] The film's theme song, "Sky High" by Jigsaw, became a one-hit wonder during the latter half of 1975.[7][8]

Although the film was released in a wide array of markets and turned a profit, The Man from Hong Kong was not the blockbuster Trenchard-Smith and the film's producers had hoped it would be upon its initial release; in Australia, its box office performance was limited as a result of its R rating.[6] Later restored by the Australian National Film and Sound Archive,[9] it has since garnered a cult following as one of the key films of the Ozploitation cycle and Trenchard-Smith's career,[5] and was prominently featured in the documentary Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008).[10]

Plot

While working undercover at Ayers Rock, Inspector Bob Taylor of the Australian Federal Narcotics Bureau confronts Win Chan, a Chinese drug courier, and his partner; Chan gives chase, leading to a fight on top of the site during which Taylor eventually bests him, while his partner is killed when his car crashes and explodes after being pursued by a police helicopter. Due to Chan's refusal to cooperate and inability to speak English, the Royal Hong Kong Police Force assigns one of its Special Branch's finest officers, Inspector Fang Sing Leng — who is not only a polyglot but also a deadly master of kung fu and sharpshooting — to assist Taylor and his partner, Sergeant Morrie Grosse, in extraditing him.

Prior to leaving for Sydney, Fang's exercises at the RHKPF's training school at Wong Chuk Hang are interrupted by the unexpected arrival of journalist Caroline Thorne via a hang-glider, which she flew while conducting research for an article. Although the kite is confiscated, Fang and Caroline flirt and share a tryst, after which Fang agrees to return the glider and rendezvous with her while he is in Sydney.

After meeting Taylor and Grosse, Fang — to Taylor's amusement and Grosse's outrage — brutally interrogates Chan and learns that he works for Jack Wilton, an import/export businessman whose varied portfolio — including the operation of a martial arts school — is merely a smokescreen for his criminal activities; his wide array of legitimate and illegitimate interests effectively make him Sydney's most powerful man and near-impossible to arrest. Just before his trial, Chan is shot dead, prompting Fang to chase the sniper, John Grantley, through the streets of Paddington and into a Chinese restaurant, where they fight, leading to Grantley's death; Fang discovers he was a martial arts instructor in Wilton's employ.

Despite Taylor and Grosse's warnings, Fang insists on confronting Wilton; a meeting with Mallory, his chief secretary, proves fruitless. During his morning exercise, he recalls his promise to meet with Caroline after seeing a pigeon in-flight, which reminds him of her hang-gliding; she takes him as her guest to a party at Wilton's mansion. After a "demonstration" between Fang, Wilton and his thugs turns brutal, he is ordered to leave after Wilton trains a crossbow on him. Fang then infiltrates his martial arts school and is near-fatally injured in an extended fight with its staff and students. He hitches a ride with two university students, Angelica and her friend Mei Ling, who take him to the veterinary clinic of the former's father in the countryside of Bathurst. Fang romances Angelica as he is nursed back to health, but insists on returning to Sydney.

Angered by Fang's interference, Wilton has Mallory trace his whereabouts from the licence plate of Angelica's van, and sends a squad of assassins after him as he and Angelica drive back to the city. A bomb planted on the van causes it to crash, killing Angelica. Enraged, Fang commandeers a Chrysler Valiant Charger and defeats the gangsters through a series of violent car chases. Learning of Fang's survival, Wilton barricades himself in the penthouse of his skyscraper headquarters.

With Caroline's help, Fang flies her glider from Stanwell Park over Sydney Harbour, landing on the roof of the skyscraper. Allowing a line of rope to reach the bottom of the building, he swings into the penthouse, where he battles and overpowers Wilton after his clothes and hand are burnt by his fireplace. Retrieving a bag of heroin from a nearby safe — which is heavily stocked with drugs and weapons — Fang tapes a grenade to Wilton's mouth and threatens to arm it unless he writes and signs a confession describing his crimes. Wilton does so, but Fang accidentally pulls the pin when he is distracted by one of Wilton's guards, prompting him to seal Wilton in the safe. He abseils to the ground, where he is met by Taylor and Grosse, presenting the drugs and confession to them as evidence. The grenade detonates the other bombs in the safe, killing Wilton and destroying the penthouse in a spectacular explosion. Finally won over by Fang's methods, Taylor and Grosse laugh in amazement.

Cast

  • Jimmy Wang Yu as Inspector Fang Sing Leng
    • Roy Chiao as Inspector Fang Sing Leng (voice, uncredited)
  • George Lazenby as Jack Wilton
  • Hugh Keays-Byrne as Sergeant Morrie Grosse
  • Roger Ward as Inspector Bob Taylor
  • Ros Speirs as Caroline Thorne
  • Rebecca Gilling as Angelica Pearson
  • Grant Page as John Grantley, Wilton's Assassin
  • Sammo Hung (as Hung Kam Po) as Win Chan
  • Frank Thring as Willard
  • Deryck Barnes as Dr. Derek Pearson, Angelica's Father
  • Ian Jamieson as Drug Courier
  • Bill Hunter as Peterson, Martial Arts School Manager
  • Elaine Wong as Mei Ling, Angelica's Friend
  • John Orcsik as Charles, Caroline's Boyfriend
  • Geoffrey Brown as Martial Arts Heavy
  • Kevin Broadribb as Martial Arts Heavy
  • Brian Trenchard-Smith as Martial Arts Heavy
  • Peter Armstrong as Wilton's Bodyguard
  • Rangi Nikora as Wilton's Bodyguard
  • Bob Hicks as Wilton's Bodyguard
  • Max Aspin as Wilton's Bodyguard
  • Robert Fay as Wilton's Bodyguard
  • Ruth Erica as Wilton's Target Girl
  • Andre Morgan as Rooftop Guard (uncredited)
  • Phillip Avalon as Taylor's Uluru Partner (uncredited)

Stunt Team

  • Peter Armstrong - Stunt Coordinator
  • Grant Page - Stunt Coordinator
  • Sammo Hung - Martial Arts Choreographer
  • Rangi Nikora
  • Sha Yuan-Pian
  • Ian Jamieson
  • Yin Yuan
  • Bob Hicks
  • Robert Chan
  • Max Aspin
  • To Wai-Wo
  • Gerry Gauslaa
  • Ke-Ming Lin
  • Alan Walker

Production

The first Australian/Hong Kong co-production was made during the height of the kung fu film craze and the Australian New Wave. According to some sources, Wang Yu directed parts of the film.[11] Trenchard Smith says Yu was difficult to deal with and shooting was hard - "there was a great clash of personalities, coupled with the inevitable mutual distrust that occurs in a co-production where both sides think the other is trying to rip them off."[1] However he says John Fraser of Greater Union was very supportive and encouraging. The film's team of producers also included the late David Hannay.

Trenchard-Smith received nine offers of co-production after the film's release.[12]

The film was originally budgeted at $450,000 but increased when the producers wanted more action sequences and a hit song on the soundtrack. British band Jigsaw recorded "Sky High" which was used over the opening credits. It went number one in several countries.[1] Production funding came from Greater Union, Golden Harvest and the Australian Film Development Corporation. The film's production company, The Movie Company, was owned 50% by Trenchard-Smith and 50% by Greater Union.

Wang Yu was injured in a hang gliding sequence whilst Lazenby had severe burns on his hands during a fight scene.[13]

Release

At a screening of a restored print in Sydney, Trenchard-Smith said the film didn't do as well as was hoped due to its R adults only rating. However US rights were sold for $200,000 and at Cannes the film sold around the world for a minimum of $500,000 putting it in profit even before it had been released.[1]

The film was released in the US as The Dragon Flies.

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 6 reviews, and an average rating of 7.2/10.[14]

Andrew L. Urban from Urban Cinefile called it "one of the few Australian made kung fu action movies and is also notable for its cinematography by Russell Boyd, who went on to win the Oscar for his work on Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.[15]

The Los Angeles Times called it "a slick, shallow, well-photographed Australian-Chinese movie which has substituted do-it-yourself decapitation with mass demolition."[16]

The Observer called it "a witless display of non-stop mayhem."[17]

Accolades

Peter Cheung won the Golden Horse Film Festival Award for Best Film Editing.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Richard Brennan, 'Brian Trenchard-Smith', Cinema Papers, Dec-Jan 1979-80 p 600
  2. ^ 'Australian Films At the Australian Box office' Film Victoria accessed 28 September 2012
  3. ^ "The Man from Hong Kong (1975)". Hong Kong Movie DataBase. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  4. ^ Vagg, Stephen (31 December 2019). "Top Ten Australian James Bond Homages". Filmink.
  5. ^ a b Caterson, Simon (27 September 2016). "Return of the Ozploitation gem 'The Man from Hong Kong'". Daily Review.
  6. ^ a b c "The Man from Hong Kong". Ozmovies. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  7. ^ "1975 One Hit Wonders page at Tunecaster". Tunecaster.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Who Do You Think You Are? A one-hit wonder for several different groups". DangerousMinds.net. 25 January 2011. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Kodak/Atlab". National Film & Sound Archive.
  10. ^ Partridge, Des (31 July 2008). "Quentin Tarantino backs Mark Hartley's Ozploitation doco". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  11. ^ p.218 Hardy, Phil & the British Film Institute The BFI Companion to Crime 1997 Continium International Publishing Group
  12. ^ p.237 Reade, Eric History and Heartburn: The Saga of Australian Film 1896-1978 1981 Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
  13. ^ Teo, Stephen. "Australia's Role in the Global Kung Fu Trend: The Man from Hong Kong | Senses of Cinema". Archive.sensesofcinema.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  14. ^ "The Man from Hong Kong (The Dragon Flies) (1975)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  15. ^ Urban, Andrew L. (20 March 2018). "Man from Hong Kong, The: DVD". Urban Cinefile. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  16. ^ Gross, Linda (20 August 1975). "MOVIE REVIEW: Mass Demolition in 'Dragon Flies'". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. pp. e15. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  17. ^ More about Nashville: CINEMA Milne, Tom. The Observer (1901- 2003) [London (UK)] 5 October 1975: 21.
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