Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Kill a Dragon - Jack Palance (1967) - Hongkong Hilton, Central
As mentioned in a previous post, Aldo Ray's character is a tour guide for the Hilton Hotel and so we get to see him taking some hotel guests on a boat trip followed by bus journey back to the hotel. In this post we get to see the bus arrive back at the hotel.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Yellowthread Street (TV Series) - Bruce Payne (1990) - Sai Street, Sheung Wan
We return to an already used location here at the top of Sai Street where it meets with Tai Ping Shan Street in front of Blake Garden. Recall the place in Power Play (episode 1) where Bruce Payne mixes it with some local ruffians whilst eating his noodles. Well, the film crew returned for Key Witness (episode 3) as one of the locations picked by the fugitive as a meeting point - only to have the meeting interrupted by a bunch of gun-toting Triads.
Here's a repeat look at the modern Streetview grab. Note the wall at the far end still has the rough bit at the base.
Kill a Dragon - Jack Palance (1967) - Nathan Road, Kowloon
On their way back from their boat trip to Aberdeen, the hotel guests are on a tour bus taking what must be the worlds longest detour, because they are actually travelling down Nathan Road (in Kowloon) on their way back to a hotel that was on HK Island.
How do we know it's Nathan Road? Well, one of the buildings we pass is the instantly recognisable Sun Ya Hotel. We've seen this place before on this blog courtesy of Golden Needles. It was located at 639 Nathan Road.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Kill a Dragon - Jack Palance (1967) - Aberdeen Harbour and the Wan Fu
More nostalgia for those of a certain age who may remember the boat owned and operated by the HongKong Hilton Hotel. It was called the Wan Fu - apparently a reproduction of an 1840's British Brigantine - and used to take hotel guests on fully-catered harbour and island tours.
It seems as though the film makers of Kill a Dragon couldn't be bothered with organising their own boat tour and instead decided to hijack an existing one. I guess it is fair enough though because the character played by Aldo Ray in the film is actually a tour guide for the hotel.
Yes, the Wan Fu was a real boat and it was operated by the HongKong Hilton - no need to create fake boat names and signposts for these shots.
Yes, the Wan Fu was a real boat and it was operated by the HongKong Hilton - no need to create fake boat names and signposts for these shots.
Here are a couple of further pictures that show the Wan Fu circa 1990 - just a few years before the Hilton was demolished. The boat still exists - albeit landlocked - at Nansha Marina near Guangzhou.
http://www.hkmemory.hk/collections/hkplaces/All_Items/images/201107/t20110723_43123.html
Friday, July 25, 2014
Yellowthread Street (TV Series) - Bruce Payne (1990) - Mount Austin Road, The Peak
More specifically the area around the famous and rather antique "Umbrella Seat" that sits at the junction of Mt Austin Road and the nameless path that connects it to Lugard Road down the slope. The cops are following the so-called Middleman and follow him here from the vehicular ferry pier (because its just a short walk away, right...?). The first shots esatablish the location bu giving us a nice (although a bit hazy even for 1989) view over the harbour starting with a side view of #25 Lugard Road (see first pic below).
A familiar view to anyone who has been up to the Peak, but vastly different from the current view due to the addition of many new buildings - too many to list.
We get to look down the nameless path that connects Mt Austin Rd with Lugard Rd.
Those last two shots show the so-called Umbrella Seat with its great view over the harbour. According to comments over on Gwulo (see earlier link), this 1989 version of the seat was actually erected in the 1920's. The roof was changed at some point to a slatted version before the original was restored - perhaps because the people responsible (don't ask me who it would be, HK Govt is notoriously filled with Depts and sub-Depts that spend all their useful time passing the buck around themselves, no one ever willing to take responsibility for anything) realised its provenance?
Here's how it looks today courtesy of Streetview. Note the roof seen in 1989 is back in place following its short vacation sometime in the 00's. Or perhaps it is just an identical replacement? Who knows...?
The final shot shows us looking back down Mt Austin Road as the Middleman is not-too-subtly followed back. There isn't much of a wide angle in the screencap, but you can see from the Streetview that the garden on the right has had a bit of a revamp. We've also lost a lot of trees in the background - I'll assume that happened when they built the houses on the left - part of The Mount Austin development.
A familiar view to anyone who has been up to the Peak, but vastly different from the current view due to the addition of many new buildings - too many to list.
We get to look down the nameless path that connects Mt Austin Rd with Lugard Rd.
Those last two shots show the so-called Umbrella Seat with its great view over the harbour. According to comments over on Gwulo (see earlier link), this 1989 version of the seat was actually erected in the 1920's. The roof was changed at some point to a slatted version before the original was restored - perhaps because the people responsible (don't ask me who it would be, HK Govt is notoriously filled with Depts and sub-Depts that spend all their useful time passing the buck around themselves, no one ever willing to take responsibility for anything) realised its provenance?
Here's how it looks today courtesy of Streetview. Note the roof seen in 1989 is back in place following its short vacation sometime in the 00's. Or perhaps it is just an identical replacement? Who knows...?
The final shot shows us looking back down Mt Austin Road as the Middleman is not-too-subtly followed back. There isn't much of a wide angle in the screencap, but you can see from the Streetview that the garden on the right has had a bit of a revamp. We've also lost a lot of trees in the background - I'll assume that happened when they built the houses on the left - part of The Mount Austin development.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Kill a Dragon - Jack Palance (1967) - Tsing Bik Villa, Tuen Mun
This next place's Chinese name - 青碧別墅 - pronounced Tsing Bik Bit Seui - roughly translates as "Blue/Green Villa". However, I believe the proper English name it was given was "Green Jade".
A few years ago a picture of it was posted up on Gwulo.com and IDJ, the poster, was asking if anyone knew anything about it. It was only when reviewing these locations for Kill a Dragon that the penny dropped and I realised it was the same location used in this film as the bad guy's (played by Fernando Lamas) HQ. It was a rather attractive building, I feel, built in the "Chinese Renaissance" style. If you follow the comments on that page you will know it also features in Tragic Hero, after which is was demolished.
As you can see it was a nice looking place. It's a real shame most of these former grand mansions are all gone. In this case the property and its extensive garden were redeveloped into a residential development called "Bayview Terrace". I'm sure that it's no coincidence that the Chinese name of the new development (碧翠花園) uses the same Bik character that can be found in the villa's original name: 碧
I was wondering if the chase scenes set around the building were also filmed at the same location and it seems, judging from the following screencap, that it was. Look carefully in the picture and you can see Pearl Island with its causeway in the background.
A few years ago a picture of it was posted up on Gwulo.com and IDJ, the poster, was asking if anyone knew anything about it. It was only when reviewing these locations for Kill a Dragon that the penny dropped and I realised it was the same location used in this film as the bad guy's (played by Fernando Lamas) HQ. It was a rather attractive building, I feel, built in the "Chinese Renaissance" style. If you follow the comments on that page you will know it also features in Tragic Hero, after which is was demolished.
As you can see it was a nice looking place. It's a real shame most of these former grand mansions are all gone. In this case the property and its extensive garden were redeveloped into a residential development called "Bayview Terrace". I'm sure that it's no coincidence that the Chinese name of the new development (碧翠花園) uses the same Bik character that can be found in the villa's original name: 碧
I was wondering if the chase scenes set around the building were also filmed at the same location and it seems, judging from the following screencap, that it was. Look carefully in the picture and you can see Pearl Island with its causeway in the background.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Kill a Dragon - Jack Palance (1967) - Ma Nam Wat Village, Sai Kung
To break up the Yellowthread Street posts a bit (because, like I Spy, there will be quite a few) here is another offering from the 1960's starring Jack Palance as a sort of mercenary with a heart. Some really good and interesting places to see in this film, including the location of the main village that features in the film.
The film starts with a nice panning shot across the water of what is the small inlet that sits between Trio Beach and the Tai Ngam Hau peninsula. The camera then settles on the village (Chinese name: 麻南笏村) that sits on the north shore line of the headland.
The village is now largely abandoned but I have no idea how long it has been like that. The area is popular with walkers and so the area still sees a lot of activity and it seems as though some Spanish-style village houses have popped up so I am sure someone must still be there. Look at the following shots and you will see the village Tin Hau Temple. Is it still there? This building features quite prominently in the film so it would be nice to know it still stands...
The view below is looking east from the shoreline over towards what would be Marina Cove area in the distance. Trio Beach is hidden by the coast that juts out behind the white launch.
The film starts with a nice panning shot across the water of what is the small inlet that sits between Trio Beach and the Tai Ngam Hau peninsula. The camera then settles on the village (Chinese name: 麻南笏村) that sits on the north shore line of the headland.
The village is now largely abandoned but I have no idea how long it has been like that. The area is popular with walkers and so the area still sees a lot of activity and it seems as though some Spanish-style village houses have popped up so I am sure someone must still be there. Look at the following shots and you will see the village Tin Hau Temple. Is it still there? This building features quite prominently in the film so it would be nice to know it still stands...
The view below is looking east from the shoreline over towards what would be Marina Cove area in the distance. Trio Beach is hidden by the coast that juts out behind the white launch.
Yellowthread Street (TV Series) - Bruce Payne (1990) - Chatham Road South, Kowloon
Another aerial shot from Key Witness. This one holds some interest because it shows the land being formed for what became the Science and History museums in East Tsim Sha Tsui. The first picture below gives us a nice angle on the Park Hotel as well - that's the curved grey-coloured building that sits on the corner of Cameron Road. It's one of TST's older hotels, being built in the 1960's, and is still going strong...for the time being at least.
On the right hand side is the bare piece of land that now holds the aforementioned museums. Strictly speaking that particular patch of land now houses the small park that leads up to the museums. I know the History museum moved here in 1998, and considering this aerial view was most likely taken in 1989 or thereabouts I'm not sure why it took so long for the site to be completed. Actually, on second thoughts that sounds exactly like HK.
The cluster of buildings on this side of Chatham Road South are still around and host a variety of office and commercial premises. The one most prominent (centre right) is Energy Plaza and fans of 80's HK movies will realise this is the building that Michael Wong was dangling from in Royal Warriors. The upper floors also used to house a gym and training facility patronised by many stars of yesteryear and run by a fellow called Eddie Maher. I'm not sure when it closed down - possibly sometime in the early to mid-90's?
Monday, July 7, 2014
Yellowthread Street (TV Series) - Bruce Payne (1990) - Island Eastern Corridor, Hong Kong
Some action shots from Key Witness as the cops, Eden and Marenta (played by Bruce Payne and Robert Taylor, respectively), attempt a stakeout with some rudimentary disguises (i.e. silly hats). We get some shots of them driving along in Eden's muscle car including some shots of the Island Eastern Corridor at various places including...1. just past the North Point Fire Station (you can see the training tower on the right).
The contemporary view from Streetview reveals rather a large amount of development around this area, although the fire station (and the overhead road sign) are still around.
A few seconds later and they also pass the City Garden residential development (that's it on the right of the screen).
We also see them driving past the now demolished North Point Estate (razed in 2003), so I guess we have a little bit of North Point history preserved forever on screen (although I am sure this isn't the only bit of cinema/TV that has featured it before). The space it occupied is actually still just empty at the moment (or at least it is on Streetview, I don't know if any construction has been started there yet).
A bit further on we see the car drive past the huge slab of concrete that goes by the name of Provident Garden. To be honest, this place is very...ugly, but probably has some of the best harbour views to be had in this part of the island - right on the harbourfront.
And finally, back the other way as the road curves around into the Quarry Bay section of North Point. That's Kwun Hoi Mansion in the last pic on the right.
The contemporary view from Streetview reveals rather a large amount of development around this area, although the fire station (and the overhead road sign) are still around.
A few seconds later and they also pass the City Garden residential development (that's it on the right of the screen).
We also see them driving past the now demolished North Point Estate (razed in 2003), so I guess we have a little bit of North Point history preserved forever on screen (although I am sure this isn't the only bit of cinema/TV that has featured it before). The space it occupied is actually still just empty at the moment (or at least it is on Streetview, I don't know if any construction has been started there yet).
A bit further on we see the car drive past the huge slab of concrete that goes by the name of Provident Garden. To be honest, this place is very...ugly, but probably has some of the best harbour views to be had in this part of the island - right on the harbourfront.
And finally, back the other way as the road curves around into the Quarry Bay section of North Point. That's Kwun Hoi Mansion in the last pic on the right.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Yellowthread Street (TV Series) - Bruce Payne (1990) - View over Central from Midlevels, Hong Kong
Now, remember the post a couple of weeks ago from Dumbarton Road in Kowloon Tong for the Key Witness episode? Well, you won't believe the view that you can get from there! We see Marenta (Robert Taylor) enter the house at the front, and then he walks into the living room and is confronted by the following vista.
Wow! Pretty amazing heh? Now you know why real estate prices in Kowloon Tong are so high - you are paying for the view over the harbour!
Okay, for those not familiar with Hong Kong geography, this is actually the view from Central mid-levels - from the angle I would say perhaps from Magazine Gap Road area, perhaps Rose Gardens or Magazine Court? - the film makers are just taking liberty with HK geography.
Wow! Pretty amazing heh? Now you know why real estate prices in Kowloon Tong are so high - you are paying for the view over the harbour!
Okay, for those not familiar with Hong Kong geography, this is actually the view from Central mid-levels - from the angle I would say perhaps from Magazine Gap Road area, perhaps Rose Gardens or Magazine Court? - the film makers are just taking liberty with HK geography.