Company - Ajay Devgan (2002) - The Regent Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui

As you are probably sick of hearing from me by now, the Intercontinental Hotel in Kowloon has been rebranded to The Regent following the IHG acquisition of Regent Hotels. This hotel really does seem to be the most popular one for film companies coming to Hong Kong. Even this same suite with the direct rooftop access has been used multiple times now. In Company, this is where Mallik sets up shop with his cronies, leaving Chandu and his girlfriend to go and rent a place elsewhere. A significant amount of the Hong Kong scenes were shot in the suite and adjacent terrace.

Awarapan - Emraan Hashmi (2007) - The Regent Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui

Next up is the 2007 Hindi film, Awaparan. It stars Emraan Hashmi as Shivam, the right hand man of an Indian businessman/gangster, Malik (Ashutosh Rana), who operates hotels in Hong Kong. Shivam is tasked with keeping tabs on Malik's girlfriend, Reema (Mrinalini Sharma), a victim of trafficking who has plans to esacpe back to Pakistan with her secret boyfriend.

Shivam spots them together and is tasked with killing them both, but Reema's personality reminds him of his dead girlfriend who was accidentally killed during a confrontation between Shivam and his girlfriend's father. It's complicated, but ultimately he betrays his loyalty to Malik and tries to help the couple in their escape attempt.

Wiki states that "some scenes" were shot in Hong Kong, but I would venture to say that a significant proportion of the film was shot here, with some Thailand (Bangkok and Pattaya I think), and supposedly Lahore thrown in for good measure. I think there are even some aerial views of New York that are being passed off as Hong Kong. All the locations have been merged into an amalgam of Hong Kong for the film, so places that are obviously distant (Bangkok and Hong Kong) are brought together for convenience in the film.

Sadly, the only copy I could find that was available was a 240p resolution upload on Youtube here, so the screencaps are poor quality, though not the worst I've ever used. I would have been tempted to show afew more of the general skyline views had the resolution been a bit better.

Anyway, the film kicks off with Reema being trafficked to some white dude in what looks like Pattaya (supposed to be Hong Kong), before switching to a view of our protagonist as he survey's his kingdom from atop of his hotel (in reality the then Intercontinental Hotel). In fact, this is the "Presidential Suite" at the hotel which is a duplex suite with rooftop private swimming pool.

It's a place we return to a few times throughout the movie - although given the cost of hiring the suite (US$100K+) they most likely filmed all those scenes in one day. 

Dallas - Victoria Principal (1985) - The Regent Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui

Back to The Regent as Sue Ellen catches up with Pam on the small walkway that runs along the south/harbour side of the hotel. I'm not even sure you can walk here anymore, I think there are barriers at the far end (background of the top image) that stop people from accessing it now. Most likely to stop passers-by gawping at you while you eat your buffet breakfast.

Dallas - Victoria Principal (1985) - The Regent Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui

Back to The Regent, a repeated location only because it is part of another episode, as is my tendency when covering episodes of a show.

Dallas - Victoria Principal (1985) - The Regent Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui

I guess I should be calling this place "The Regent" again following its recent renaming back to the name it had prior to being called the "Intercontinental Hong Kong". The first glimpse we have of it is in Shattered Dreams as Sue Ellen and Pam sit down for drinks and chat to Mr Chen. A fellow Texan then pops up to say hello but is rebuffed by the women.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Adam Baldwin (2000) - The Regent Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui

Once the Regent, then the Intercontinental, and now back to the Regent again. This well-known hotel has been a feature in many films (and shows) I have covered in the blog. In this movie it is where the happy couple are staying while they are on vacation.

I'm not a big fan of the building but despite its age it still looks a lot nicer than the new monstrosities that have been built next to it (K11 Musea & Atelier).

Mad Mission 3: Our Man from Bond Street - Sam Hui (1984) - New World Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui

Not the most aesthetically pleasing of buildings, but the New World Centre was demolished a few years back and replaced by something arguably much worse (in my opinion anyway). This is where the diamond exhibition is being held and where Kingkong and cohorts, dressed as Santas, perform their rather ambitious heist (despite getting the wrong gemstone). The interior was a studio set but there are a few shots on location of the area, including from the roof, that are worth including here.

Outside the main entrance with the (now) Regent Hotel behind

On the roof

Sheraton Hotel poking up into view on the right

Regent Hotel at the rear,New World Centre on the left

Although the NWC has gone,those steps are still there

Blade in Hong Kong - Terry Lester (1985) - The Regent Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui

Blade goes to fund raiser at, what was, The Regent Hotel. It later became the Intercontinental Hotel but is now due to be renamed back to The Regent following that hotel group's sale to the Intercontinental Group.

Ghosts Can't Do It - Bo Derek (1989) - The Regent Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui

Despite Bo going skinny dipping in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel's pool, this isn't the hotel she appears to be staying at. The hotel where we see her in her room is actually on the other side of the harbour and is The Regent. The Regent was owned by New World (of Chow Tai Fook, Citybus, First Bus, First Ferry, Rosewood etc fame) but sold to - what became - the InterContinental group in 2001 when it was renamed. InterContinental sold the building again in 2015 but have retained the management contract.

This time we get both a shot from inside Derek's hotel room as well as the more recognisable forecourt.

Anyway, this is its third appearance on the blog under the Regent name (previously featuring on Noble House and Detonator 2: Night Watch - both starring Pierce Brosnan).

Detonator II: Night Watch - Pierce Brosnan (1995) - The Regent Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui

Back to the former Regent Hotel for Brosnan just a few years after filming here for the Noble House series. The hotel had yet to be taken over by Intercontinental so we can still see the old name on the outside wall. There was quite a bit of filming done here including some shots of the interior when the two agents first arrive, posing as a married couple, to later in the film when an abduction takes place.

Noble House (Mini series) - Pierce Brosnan (1988) - The Regent Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui

What we now know as the rather plush Intercontinental Hotel, used to be called The Regent Hotel and was owned and operated by New World Development (Cheng Yu-tung's company - he also owns the Chow Tai Fook jewellery chain) before being sold off to the Intercontinental Group circa 2001. It was rebranded and has operated as the flagship Intercontinental since then.

Funnily enough, Intercontinental have also just recently sold off the hotel to another owner. But all is not lost for your IC fans because the brand will continue thanks to a deal they struck to retain management of the hotel for at least the next 40 or so years...

In the above picture we are looking back the other way towards Salisbury Road and it's quite interesting to see (if you can just make it out) the old signal tower on Blackhead Point (top right). The grey building beyond the van is the Mariner Club along Middle Road. Suffice to say the open sky at the back is now filled with high-rises.

The two shots above are snipped from Episode 2, but we also return to the hotel during Episode 3 when Dunross goes to meet Brian Kwok, only to find out he is 'indisposed'. So in Epsiode 3 we also get a brief look inside the hotel lobby. From what I can remember of the place it hasn't changed much.