The Fate of Lee Khan - Tien Feng (1973) - Pak Shek Au, North District

Another quickie, this time only two locations but I wanted to include them because they were both major locations for many films during the 1960s and 70s. The Fate of Lee Khan was filmed in 1973, back to back with The Valiant Ones. However, for some reason, the latter film had its release delayed by two years.

Several years ago Chaplin Chang told me that Golden Harvest had agreed to fund the films but for some reason Raymond Chow, notoriously difficult to get any money from, had kept putting off payment to King Hu and so production was stalled for several months. In the end Chaplin, who was working for King Hu at the time (Hu's production offices were in Yau Yat Tsuen), was sent around to Golden Harvest to "remind" Chow that he still owed the money for the films.

Anyway, this film is largely set inside an inn, the "Welcome Spring Inn", where various rebels conspire to overthrow a powerful prince, Lee Khan (Tien Feng), who has arrived in the area to collect a military map from a spy. Lots of subterfuge and intrigue, as with most of King Hu's films, as well as appearances by some famous names and faces including Li Li-hua, Tien Feng, Feng Hsu, Han Ying-chieh, Pai Ying and the always great to watch, Angela Mao.

The first of the two exterior locations is the area I have previously identified as Pak Shek Au. I don't know if this is the name that applies to the whole area but for the purpose of this blog it is a location immediately west of Kwu Tung in North District. We previously saw it on The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires and the images below are a very similar angle to the top image in that linked post. The bumpy ridgeline in the background belongs to Tai Shek Mo - the same hill (from a different angle) that can be seen in Enter the Dragon and Snake in the Eagle's Shadow.

Unfortunately, although there has been no major development here (no malls at least), much of the area is now used for the scurge of the NT - plant hire and small industrial warehouses that now litter the area. So the place is no longer the quiet, empty area it used to be.

In the image below, the small hillock (centre frame) was located where the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals campground / football field is now located. Judging from aerial images from the 1970s, it looks as though this small hill was actually excavated to make way for the camp ground and a small adjacent industrial space. 
 

The following two images are from the end of the film as the rebels ride off into the sunset. This was actually filmed much closer to the now removed hillock. In the last image below, as they ride past the camera, the hill in the background is still around and looks pretty much the same today as it did then - unlike the surrounding area which is now overgrown slightly. It's located immediately west of the football ground.

Tokyo Gang vs Hong Kong Gang - Ken Takakura (1964) - Tai Pak Restaurant, Aberdeen

Kitahara and Chang arrange to meet at the Tai Pak in Aberdeen in order to discuss their deal. We get a few shots around the harbour but it's a low quality panning shot that gets a bit blurry when the camera moves so not much to make out. However, when the camera stops to focus on the floating restaurant, it's quite obvious to see that the open section of the restaurant was only at one end of the structure (I had previously assumed it was at both ends).

Tokyo Gang vs Hong Kong Gang - Ken Takakura (1964) - Des Voeux Road Central

One of the rendezvous points, where Kitahara has planned to meet Chang, is at the junction of Chater Road, Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road Central (DVRC). We can see the DVRC entrance of the General post Office in the background of several shots. I hadn't realised there was more than one entrance to the old GPO so that was a nice surprise. Other buildings include the former Jardine House on the south west corner of Pedder Street and DVRC.

GPO on the right, (old) Jardine House on the left. View is looking west

Looking east with the corner of (old) Alexandra House on the left

Tokyo Gang vs Hong Kong Gang - Ken Takakura (1964) - Kui In Fong, Sheung Wan

As Kitahara makes his way to his meeting with the local Hong Kong gang, he can be seen walking up Kui In Fong - the extension to Square Street that leads up the hillside towards Po Hing Fong. One of the main indentifiers of this location is the former Caine Road Police Quarters that can be seen in the background, up the hill. These were demolished in the mid-70s but the site was left empty and has since been turned into the Caine Road Garden.

Tokyo Gang vs Hong Kong Gang - Ken Takakura (1964) - Square Street, Sheung Wan

One of the many streets that the camera follows the actors up is Square Street. The first image shows the side of the Man Mo Temple at the end of the street. You can also see it on the extreme left in the far background of the middle image. the bottom image shows the right angle turn in Square Street where it turns south. The view is obviously looking north back down the hill. For an idea of what that view looks like now you can see this post which shows the same area (albeit from a slightly different angle).

Tokyo Gang vs Hong Kong Gang - Ken Takakura (1964) - Shing Wong Street, Sheung Wan

Despite walking along Bridges Street before turning north (downhill) into Shing Wong Street, the next scene shows Kitahara walking down the section of Shing Wong Street that is directly south of the Bridges Street Market. He pauses at the junction with Wing Lee Street before continuing down to hill.

Tokyo Gang vs Hong Kong Gang - Ken Takakura (1964) - Bridges Street, Sheung Wan

After getting out of his taxi, Kitahara takes to the streets and wanders around, seemingly with no purpose, but it appears he realises he is being followed and is attempting to lose his tail. He walks past the old Bridges Street Market and then decides to turn down Shing Wong Street. The building in the background is the Bridges Street Market building. It's still there today and is designated as a heritage building.

Tokyo Gang vs Hong Kong Gang - Ken Takakura (1964) - Man Mo Temple, Hollywood Road

Another of the locations the taxis drive past whilst Chang follows Kitahara is the Man Mo Temple. It's only a brief, in-car shot. 

Vintage Movie Posters - new online store

A break from usual programming and a quick detour into the slightly related world of vintage movie posters. I was contacted by a local movie buff, Hendrik, who has just launched a new online vintage movie poster shop https://vintoz.com/. It turns out he has quite the selection and there are several lobby posters for some of the older movies I have covered in the blog. I'm a big fan of lobby posters and wish I had more space for them because I do like the artistic style of them. Anyway, in case you are lacking some inspiration for the movie buff in your life, please check it out.

Tokyo Gang vs Hong Kong Gang - Ken Takakura (1964) - Connaught Road, Central

In the taxi driving scene from the Star Ferry we catch a brief glimpse of the old police pagoda that was located at the junction with Connaught Road and Jubilee Street. Actually, it's a bit difficult to know exactly where this platform was because it appears to have moved over the years, or perhaps there was more than one. Regardless, I think this one was most likely around the junction with Queen Victoria Street but I'm happy to be corrected if anyone knows more details.