Thursday, December 9, 2021

Tokyo Gang vs Hong Kong Gang - Ken Takakura (1964) - View over Happy Valley, Hong Kong

The next establishing shot for this film is a panning shot taken from the area above Happy Valley. The football ground you can see at the bottom of the frame was the precursor to today's Hong Kong Football Club stadium. I have no idea if it was this also back in the 1960s but it wouldn't surprise me. The only difference back then is that it appears to have covered stands completely surrounding it. Sadly, my copy of the film, although legitimately bought from Japan, is not the greatest quality.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Phil,

Based on the Tsim Sha Tsui screen capture, Ocean Terminal wasn't there yet. My previous employer started their business in Ocean Terminal back in 1966. In this respect I tend to agree of your suggestion that the movie was made, or the clip was made much earlier than 1964.

T

Phil said...

Hi Thomas, yes, Ocean Terminal wasn't there until 1966. But in a later post you will see the Ming Sun building on Wun Sha Rd that was completed in 1964...so I think anytime from late 1963 onwards is a good guess. Phil

Anonymous said...

Hi Phil,

Yes, the big pier\wharf was there before 1966 as shop\office space were added on top of the pier. From this clip even the pilars of the pier were not in yet.

Maybe able to cross check other landmarks on screen, if only the screen quality is better. OTOH we could not rule out it was stock footage by others.

T

Anonymous said...

Hi Phil,

Checked out HKMS 2.0 and found there had been very few aerial photos back in the early 1960s. We have 1963 & 1964 of the area. The 1963 photo showed the very slim Pier part of the Ocean Terminal is already completed and the 1964 one showed a building frenzy over that, widening of the pier was in progress.

Thus the photo clip was taken likely before 1962, maybe even earier if we could match up the TST skyline and buildings.

T

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