Monday, November 11, 2013

I Spy (TV Series) - Robert Culp (1965) - Yau Ma Tei Police Station, Yau Ma Tei

A new week and a new episode of I Spy, this time we are viewing stills from the episode Danny Was a Million Laughs. We start by looking at a location that has been seen on many films previously, just not necessarily on this blog (yet). It's a panning shot that shows much of the surrounding area when it was in a process of regeneration and the modern comparison shots are quite enlightening. Anyway, here are the grabs.


The police station has changed little of course. It was built in 1922 and the facade you see there is the same one we can still see currently albeit now sporting the standard grey/blue police colours. But look at the big open space on the opposite side of Canton Road. It looks to be a recent demolition to make way for the Jockey Club clinic which still stands there. Pretty much all of the older buildings you see above have now been demolished and you actually get a nice view from the opposite angle in 1973's Enter the Dragon. The last shots shows a partial view down Public Square Street showing a hill in the background that was once part of King's Park.

Here are the modern views from Streetview.


As you can see the clinic buildings now occupy the whole block opposite and the hill I previously mentioned is still there, but just now obscured by the usual high rises.

4 comments:

YTSL said...

The Yau Ma Tei police station was one of the most recognizable movie locations in Hong Kong for me early on. (I particularly remember it from "Metade Fumaca".)

Another very recognizable Hong Kong movie location: the Tsim Sha Tsui police station (where a bomb exploded in "Rush Hour 2"! ;b).

Phil said...

Metada Fumaca - isn't that what they sing in The Lion King...? ;-)

Yes, very iconic and also seen on (according to Dandan's blog: http://hongkongonfilm.blogspot.hk) Best of the Best, Colour of the Truth, Dr Lamb, Portland Street Blues and Election. I've also posted it here before for The Taxi Driver and I am pretty sure (though I haven't confirmed yet) that we catch a glimpse of its columns in The Private Eyes.

Yes, of course, Rush Hour 2 is sitting here on my pile of things to do :-)

Unknown said...

Just on the side: The Jockey Club clinic buildings and the whole "flyover through the carpark" thing will probably be gone also when the construction for the Kowloon East to Kowloon West car tunnel is being built! They'll keep the police station and the Tin Hau temple though.

Phil said...

As long as they don't lease it to Li Ka Shing and give him carte blance to turn it into another high end mall, that's what matters :-)

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