The Taxi Driver - David Chiang (1975) - Kowloon Park

After being accused of being one of the bank robbers, Chen decides to go into hiding an waits for his friend at one of the old barrack buildings in Kowloon Park. This building is still around and now forms part of the Heritage Discovery Centre along with the other block. The area between the two blocks is now a landscaped garden and an additional building has been constructed that joins the two blocks at the other end. It's well worth a visit if you get the chance.

The Dragon from Russia - Sam Hui (1990) - Park Lane Shoppers Boulevard, Tsim Sha Tsui

Next up is an oldie starring Sam Hui in what is apparently a version of Crying Freeman, although I haven't read the manga, so I can't comment as to how closly it follows the story. In this film, Sam Hui is "Yao", a Manchurian (i.e Northern Chinese) living in Moscow with his girlfriend and adopted family. The leader of the "800 Dragon" assassins sees Yao's potential as a killer and kidnaps him, brainwashes him and trains him as a deadly killer.

One of the odd things about this film is the leader of the 800 Dragons is played by Yuen Tak in a very odd prosthetic face and I wonder if it has anything to do with the initial scenes being filmed on location with Yuen Wah as the character, then perhaps not being able to complete the film once back in Hong Kong? It's very odd because Yuen Tak also turns up later, minus prosthetics, as Yao's equally capable killer assistant.

Anyway, the first scene involves a fight between the 800 Dragon head (Yuen Tak) and his mortal Japanese enemy, Mr Kushida (Lau Shun). It takes place in what looks like a modern temple setting but is actually a rudimentally disguised entrance to Kowloon Park on the Nathan Road side. The famous "fight not fight" hand sculpture (actually, it's called "Please") by sculptor, Van Lau, still located along the "Park Lane Shoppers Boulevard", figures as part of the scenery. I seem to recall it being a donation from the HK Rotary Club.

Snowden - Joseph Gordon-Levitt (2016) - Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui

The film gives us the odd view across Kowloon from the general area of The Mira. I think it was to show the view from Snowden's room, but it looks like the film makers thought the view was actually a bit better from the neighbouring The One mall (built on the site of the old Tung Ying Building), because that's where I think these various shots were taken from.

Soldier, Soldier - Robson Green (1992) - Kowloon Park Chinese Garden, Tsim Sha Tsui

In a rather strange scene involving Loudon Wainwright 3rd as an obnoxious American tourist, we find ourselves at some sort of alfresco dining and dance experience. In reality it's the Chinese garden at Kowloon Park.

Other than a different roof on this pavilion, the garden hasn't really changed at all. If I manage to make it down there at some point I'll try and take a decent comparison shot seeing as Streetview has yet to venture into these kind of places.

Soldier, Soldier - Robson Green (1992) - Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

There's a scene where Tucker's (Robson Green's character) wife, Donna, queues up to catch the bus into Sai Kung. The bus route and sign seem to be in order - because there is a #94 bus that runs between Sai Kung and Wong Shek Pier - but the place she is catching it is way off the mark: Haiphong Road in Tsim Sha Tsui.

KMB #94 to Sai Kung?

Haiphong Road is quite easy to recognise due to the shading banyans on the north side of the road (where Rosie Rowell, who plays Donna, is standing) along with the old wall that marks the southern boundary of what was Whitfield Barracks but is now more commonly known as Kowloon Park.

Perhaps the bus sign was a spare that the local production company had lying around? Or perhaps in 1992, the bus did actually go this far? I can't comment on the latter because it is before my time but I suspect the more likely reason is the former.

Anyway, never mind. Here is the modern Streetview grabs for comparison. The white building at the background of the first picture is the Kowloon Centre over on Ashley Road.