Saturday, May 7, 2011

Soldier of Fortune - Clark Gable (1955) - King Yin Lei, Wanchai

Here's another one from Soldier of Fortune - quite apt seeing as the location has just recently been back in the news following its 3 year restoration. I'm talking about King Yin Lei (or Lane as some people insist on calling it). In the film it's used to represent the opulent residence of the film's anti-hero, Clark Gable. The scene above shows the main entrance just off Stubbs Road. Those familiar with the place will see that actually, it hasn't changed at all in all the intervening years - a remarkable achievement considering we are talking about Hong Kong.


The next shot is of the bottom of the driveway at the side of the house. Readers of my other blog will know I have yet to make it inside this place so don't have any photos for comparison, but from what I have seen the grounds remain unchanged.


The above shot is from the other side of the house, actually I have no idea if this is counted as the front or the back but either way it's on the side that faces the harbour. Anyway, here are a few shots of the house I took a couple of years ago when the Govt had only just managed to replace the roof (it had been unceremoniously ripped off by the new owner before the Govt stepped in after a public uproar).

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

A magnificent building! Is this owned by the government now? And if so, do they have any plans for it?

Anonymous said...

Haha... well, if they did, they wouldn't have to worry about you tearing up the roof. ;)

Phil said...

Hi Dave - yes, this was taken over by the Govt in a controversial land swap deal and the last owner (responsible for the damage) funded the repairs.

There have been a couple of open days now that the restoration is complete but as to what it will become they still have no idea.

Personally I think they should donate it to me because our little flat here in Honkers is getting too small for the 5 of us :-)

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