Erotic Journey: Love Affair in Hong Kong - Hirokazu Inoue (1973) - Repulse Bay, various locations

Sumio goes to Repulse Bay with his new found (and definitely criminal) friend in order to kidnap women. Yes, suffice to say his downward spiral happened quite fast. The initial views can be seen as the pair approach Repulse Bay along Repulse Bay Road in the west, passing Eucliffe on the way. The car pulls off the road outisde #15 South Bay Road (since redeveloped) and the pair get out and head to the Tin Hau Shrine area. Remember, the building next to the statues is not a temple, it's the rather ornate HQ of the Hong Kong Life Guard Association.

Actually, this is the second time we see Repulse Bay because Sumio goes there earlier in the film as he is wandering around random places looking for his wife. This is the top image below (I've never seen it so busy!)

One of the Eucliffe towers in the foreground

#15 South Bay Road

Dallas - Victoria Principal (1985) - Tin Hau Temple, Repulse Bay

The 'temple' building behind the Tin Hau Statue at the eastern end of Repulse Bay beach is actually the Hong Kong Life Guard Club, but it seems that most people still refer to it as the Tin Hau Temple, so I shall continue that convention. This place has been in so many films and shows over the years due to its quirky, mosaic-tiled statues and sculptures. I've still never been so perhaps I shall make a big effort in the new year and try to get as many comparison shots as possible.

Anyway, in this final Hong Kong-based episode of Dallas (Season 8 Episode 23: Trial and Error) this is where the two friends meet to decide what to do now that the truth about "Mr Swanson" has been revealed to Pam.

Yellow Emanuelle - Chai Lee (1977) - Repulse Bay Tin Hau Shrine

A popular location for foreign films due to the quirky nature of the place, adorned with oversize statues and tile covered oddities. It took me along to to realise that the large building in the back is not a temple but the training HQ of the Hong Kong Life Saving Society. It blends in well with the surroundings and over the years has served (in film) as a private house and even a bath house. In Yellow Emanuelle it appears to be a restaurant or cafe where Emy goes with her "saviour" following her attempted suicide.

Harry's Hong Kong - David Soul (1987) - Tin Hau Temple, Repulse Bay

One of Harry's clients has hired him to find her missing husband and he meets up with her in Repulse Bay in front of the Tin Hau temple, which is masquerading as a cafe.

Felicity - Glory Annen (1978) - Tin Hau Temple, Repulse Bay

These guys really get about because the next stop on their trip is the Tin Hau Temple at Repulse Bay.

Black Cobra Woman - Laura Gemser (1976) - Tin Hau Temple, Repulse Bay

Judas' brother introduces Eva to one of his girlfriend, Gerri, and they immediately strike up a rapport. The venue for this meetup is the Tin Hau Temple at Repulse Bay where Eva is having a bit of a swim in the bay.

Les Fruits de la Passion - Klaus Kinski (1981) - Tin Hau Temple, Repulse Bay

The final location from this film (other than an old mansion which may take a long time to locate) is the Tin Hau Temple down in Repulse Bay. It's cropped up quite a few times on this blog previously.

Oliver's Story - Ryan O'Neal (1978) - Tin Hau Temple, Repulse Bay

A quick romantic moment is had by the pair at the waterside next to the Tin Hau Temple. This looks as though it was before all the other structures were added to the site (the pavilion, longevity bridge etc).

Bons Baisers de Hong Kong - Les Charlots (1975) - Tin Hau Temple, Repulse Bay

The baddy, played by Mickey Rooney, is holding the Queen captive at the Tin Hau Temple in Repulse Bay.

If anyone can recognise the refurbished fishing junk in the background of the third picture, feel free to let me know what it was called and what happened to it.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life - Angelina Jolie (2003) - Tin Hau Temple, Repulse Bay

A nice bright setting that we keep bumping into to on these overseas productions is the Tin Hau Temple at Repulse Bay. I've still not made it down there personally despite living in HK for nearly 10 years, so I may make the effort and try to recreate some of the camera angles.

In the meantime, here is Angelina speaking to her underlings via something very similar to a pair of Google glasses (several years before they were released, mind you).

Knock Off - Jean Claude Van Damme (1997) - Tin Hau Temple, Repulse Bay

Whoops! I totally forgot to publish this post from the start of Knock Off when the police are conducting the operation to apprehend the bomb smugglers. There are lots of sweeping camera moves all over the Tin Hau Temple and grounds at the eastern end of Repulse Bay beach.

Of course we've seen this place several times previously including That Man Bolt, Flatfoot in Hong Kong and Noble House (and I'm sure there are more). Here are the screencaps.

And we finish with a quick shot of the baddies escaping in their car along South Bay Road, just behind the temple.

That Man Bolt - Fred Williamson (1973) - Tin Hau Temple, Repulse bay

This place has cropped up a few times here on this blog under various guises. In this film it's supposed to be somewhere called the Fan Tan Bath House.

Actually, for me the most interesting picture from this little sequence is the following one that shows the view to the west across the beach to the headland opposite. Until the 1980's this area had a large expansive mansion on it built by Eu Tong Sen called 'Eucliffe'. It was a castle-like construction that was also the scene for a particularly barbaric atrocity committed by Japanese troops (one of many, I hasten to add) against Allied defenders on Hong Kong in December 1941. Multiple prisoners who had surrendered to advancing troops were rounded up, tied, bayoneted, beheaded and cast down the cliff onto the rocks below. The site is now occupied by a large luxury mixed development called "Royal Cliff". Anyway, you can see one of Eucliffe's towers in the background behind Fred Williamson below.