Around the World in 80 Days - David Niven (1956) - Cheung Chau

I have to thank Gwulo user, hkspace_wl, who recently posted a screen capture from Around the World in 80 Days showing that it does include some footage, albeit very brief, of Hong Kong and its environs.

The film was shot in 1955 and wiki states that principal photography took place between August and December of that year. It doesn't mention it specifically, but I assume this included all the location footage as well. It's interesting to me because Hong Kong is not listed in the film's page over at the AFI catalog. The history section of the film is an interesting read and well worth a few minutes of your time.

The actors' scenes were obviously shot on a film set and not on location in Hong Kong. Even by 1955 standards, Hong Kong was a modern city and would not have been able to provide the proper period setting for any close up scenes. It's this same reason why Cheung Chau was chosen as the best representation of the Victorian-era colony for the wide angle shots. Sadly it's only two, too brief snippets.

Both images are supposedly of Victoria Harbour, but obviously are looking west from Cheung Chau. The island on the centre left is Shek Kwu Chau where Hong Kong's new waste incinerator is currently being constructed. The second image shows the view further to the right (north) and shows a bit more of Lantau's southern coastline.

The main thing to note from the top photo is that the building bottom centre, with the roof terrace and flag, is still around. You can read a bit more about it on the Gwulo screen capture link I posted above.

Yellow Emanuelle - Chai Lee (1977) - Cheung Chau

George follows Emy home on the ferry and the establishing shots we have for Emy's distant outlying home island is the inner harbour of Cheung Chau. The shots are looking west as the "Man Choy" ferry (which used to do the Wilmer Street to Sham Shui Po ferry run) arrives at the dock.

The Night My Number Came Up - Michael Redgrave (1955) - Flying Over Cheung Chau

A quick last post from this film and it is a brief shot of the plane as it leaves for its journey to Japan and is flying over Cheung Chau - in the complete opposite to where it should be going! The land mass in the distance is the Chi Ma Wan peninsula of south Lantau island. Cheung Chau's busy bay can be seen lower right.

Felicity - Glory Annen (1978) - Tai Shek Hau Tin Hau Temple, Cheung Chau

We shall exit Felicity, so to speak, with a quick trip back to Cheung Chau. This scene occurs after Felicity is reunited with her boyfriend (after he has had an accident during his sailing trip) and they go and sit on a waterfront somewhere to have a chat. Note the temple in the background because this was a real pain to find.

It turns out that this is the Tai Shek Hau Tin Hau Temple at the southern end of Cheung Chau's western coast. The reason it took me so long to find is that Cheung Chau, like the rest of the territory, has also undergone a fair bit of reclamation and this former waterfront location is now approximately 100 metres inland with Chung Hing Street running along the front. Here's how far away from the water it is now.

Felicity - Glory Annen (1978) - Cheung Chau, Outlying Islands

The girls get together again and this time head out on a boat for Cheung Chau.

Les Fruits de la Passion - Klaus Kinski (1981) - Cheung Chau, Outlying Islands

In case you doubt my willingness to try and make this blog as complete a record of HK film locations as possible, I present to you Les Fruits de la Passion. It's a French/Japanese co production starring Klaus Kinski as some rich dude who makes his mistress join a brothel in order to show her devotion to him. Probably one of the worst films I've ever watched for this blog (and don't forget I covered T.N.T Jackson a few weeks back).

Anyway, the first few scenes show various people arriving by boat on a small waterfront somewhere. I initially figured it to be Sai Kung - a place that has been on quite a few films here already - but on closer examination realised it was in fact Cheung Chau.

The scene also ends with a brief glimpse of a temple front. It's the Pak Tai temple on Cheung Chau - quite recognisable despite the poor film quality. It looks like that stone incense urn is still there.

Les Tribulations d'un Chinois en Chine - Jean-Paul Belmondo (1965) - Cheung Chau

Well, in case you hadn't guessed it already, the fictitious "Sey Chang" is in fact Cheung Chau. I've only been to Cheung Chau a couple of times and haven't really properly explored, however, I believe there are still a few recognisable houses along the waterfront. It's probably a good excuse to head over there one day again. Anyway, here are the pictures.

 I think a few of the houses in this shot are still around including far left and far right.

Yellowthread Street (TV Series) - Bruce Payne (1990) - Cheung Chau, Outlying Islands

As we slowly wind down the look back at Yellowthread Street (I've already done 70 posts for it - the highest count for a single show on this blog so far), here are some locations from the very last episode I Knew A Man.

Head-cop Vale (played by Ray Lonnen, who passed away just last year in 2014) heads out to Cheung Chau to try and find the culprit behind a bunch of illegal immigrant drownings.

Of course, first he has to head to the Outlying Islands ferry pier...

...and then we get treated to the very familiar (well, to me at least) view of the centre of Cheung Chau Island as the ferry pulls in. 

The lower picture is of course the view looking from Cheung Chau towards Lantau Island in the background.