Benson - Robert Guillaume (1984) - View from the Peak

Here's a flashback to my own childhood growing up in the UK in the 70s and 80s. Benson was a comedy starring Robert Guillaume as Benson Dubois, a head of household for a US Governor, Eugene X. Gatling (John Noble). It turns out the Benson character was originally part of the US comedy series, Soap, which I remember my parents watching when I was a youngster. The series theme tune was an immediate trip down memory lane for me but I have no idea what year I used to watch it or whether the two episode about to be featured were ever seen by me.

Anyway, Season 6 - originally broadcast in 1984 - features a double episode (episode 6 & 7) that was shot on location in Hong Kong. There looks to be a bit of library footage scattered around during the various transitions, but in general the show appears to have been largely shot on location. The episodes are Made in Hong Kong: Part 1 and Part 2.

The show starts with the main characters preparing for a business trip to Hong Kong where a big deal is made of Clayton's (René Auberjonois) portfolio folder. This turns out to be a crucial 'Macguffin' as it mistakenly identifies Clayton as a successful, but secretive, fashion designer carrying around his latest fashion designs - something coveted by a Hong Kong based fashion villain, Ursula (Marian Mercer).

The Hong Kong part begins about 5 minutes into the initial epsiode as we are presented with the establishing scenes as the group arrive at Kai Tak. Unfortunately the copy I took these images from was most likely a digitised VHS recording as the quality is quite low (like many other bits of hard to find footage).

Bullet for Hire - Simon Yam (1991) - Caine Lane Garden, Sheung Wan

Han takes San away from Ngok's apartment and tries to escape with her, but she gets nervous and jumps out of the car on Caine Lane right next to the weirdly designed garden/playground there (it looks like someone assembled it with Duplo™ bricks). Shan catches up with them and a gunfight ensues between them and Boss's men. The film's finale takes place a the boss's house which I covered back in this post, so this is the last one for this film.

Bullet for Hire - Simon Yam (1991) - Somerset House, Tai Koo Shing

We are supposed to believe that this rooftop is the top of the building where Ngok lives with his daughter, however, this shot was filmed a short distance away from the previous establishing shot and was instead snapped at the top of Somerset House within Tai Koo Shing. This place was demolished circa 2015/2016 to make way for a much taller replacement called "One Taikoo Place". I'm not sure you would be able to convince me to stand quite so close to the edge as Lo Lieh, mind you.

The boss's other gang members have tracked the pair down anyway and a rooftop shootout ensues.

Bullet for Hire - Simon Yam (1991) - Lei King Wan Estate, Shau Kei Wan

We are back in the vicinity of the earlier killing of the Interpol peeps as we are given an establishing shot of where Ngok supposedly lives. This is a view of Site A of the Lei King Wan development along Tai Hong Street. Han goes here because he has a hunch that his buddy is still alive. They go to talk on the roof, but as you'll see in the next post, this was filmed at a separate location.

The lower image shows Han and Ngok's daughter escaping from the gunmen, but this scene was actually filmed on another part of the estate, next to Tower 15 on what is called Site D. You can tell it was here by the diagonal plane of the block in the back left of the image.

Bullet for Hire - Simon Yam (1991) - Hebe Haven Yacht Club

Boss has ordered another rival killed and Ngok is disguised as a waiter to initiate the killing. Meanwhile Han and Shan are nearby to provide cover. However, it's actually a setup by Interpol to help Ngok escape in return for him giving evidence against his boss. The location is the Hebe Haven Yacht Club.

Bullet for Hire - Simon Yam (1991) - Lion's Club Pavilion, The Peak

Elaine takes Ngok up to the Lion's Club Pavilion on the Peak to make him an offer for his cooperation.

Bullet for Hire - Simon Yam (1991) - D'Aguilar Street, Central

Ngok is driving around one night when he accidentally hits someone with his car but it turns out to be a setup orchestrated by Elaine, the Interpol agent. She threatens to arrest him but offers him the chance to help bring down the gang boss. This all takes place on D'Aguilar Street at the top of Lan Kwai Fong.

Bullet for Hire - Simon Yam (1991) - Hau Wong Road, Kowloon City

The boys' next hit is a drive-by shooting in Kowloon City. They drive north along Hau Wong Road with the wet market building in the background and gun down several men standing on the pavement.

Bullet for Hire - Simon Yam (1991) - Chater Road, Central

Still out and about enjoying themselves, the next shot was filmed on Chater Road next to Statue Square.

Bullet for Hire - Simon Yam (1991) - Hebe Haven, Sai Kung

Still living it up on their earnings, the boys take a boat out onto the waters of Hebe Haven in Sai Kung.