Hong Kong Movie Tours: 1979

Duel of the 7 Tigers - Tsing Shan Monastery

Tsing Shan Monastery is a popular pilgrimage site for Bruce Lee fans as that's where the finger pointing scene for Enter the Dragon was filmed. Meanwhile there are even information boards on the monastery grounds at the exact locations where Bruce Lee stood. Duel of the 7 Tigers is of course not such an iconic milestone as Enter the Dragon, but still an absolutely recommendable Kung Fu classic.

The Lama Avenger - North Kowloon Magistracy

With The Lama Avenger (aka The Three Avengers) we are re-entering the dubios realms of Bruceploitation. Bruce Li and his friends digest Chin Yuet-Sang's guilty verdict on Tai Po Road in front of the North Kowloon Magistracy.

The Lama Avenger - Nai Chung

Chin Yuet-Sang and the other convicts pick up trash on the beach. The guys did a great job, when I was there the beach was clean.

The Lama Avenger - Pik Uk Prison

Chin-Yuet Sang's sentence is over. Pik Uk Prison is located in the beautiful Sai Kung District, which is probably of little consolation for those incarcerated there.

The 36 Deadly Styles - Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall

Regular readers of my blog may have already noticed that some of the oldschool filming locations in Hong Kong's New Territories have been used more then once. Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall was a very popular place for filmmakers, especially at the end of the seventies. I've already written a few posts about it, but I have three more for you here. Just in case you are losing faith in your eyesight: Yes that is actually Chong Li from Bloodsport. A few years younger and with a slightly different hairstyle.

Odd Couple - Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall

This masterpiece needs no introduction. Sammo Hung's and Lau Kar-Wing's martial arts weaponry at its very best. Just like The 36 Deadly Styles, Odd Couple was released in 1979. If you lived near Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall at that time, you had a good chance to watch some of the best kung fu actors of all times live at work.

The 36 Deadly Styles - Yu Yuen Mansion

Thanks to director Joseph Kuo, the abandoned and meanwhile very dilapidated luxury villa can be admired in its '79 glory. This was the second filmshoot for actor Nick Cheung on the property. Two years before The 36 Deadly Styles, he had already filmed a fight scene for the film 10 Magnificent Killers at this location.

The 36 Deadly Styles - Poster

Shaolin Abbot - Lung Ha Wan

Today, I decided to rewatch Shaolin Abbot, starring David Chiang, Lo Lieh and Lily Li. One scene jumped right into my eye because I recognized its filming location from another Shaw Brothers classic: Ten Tigers of Kwang Tung. In both films, we can see this rock formation from a more or less similar angle. By the way, both films were released in 1979. The whole Lung Ha Wan area can be seen in many martial arts films from the late 70s and early 80s. Mainly Shaw Brothers productions. If you want to see all my entries about this beautiful coastal strip, just click HERE.

Shaolin Abbot - Behind the Scenes

Shaolin Abbot - Poster

Dance of the Drunk Mantis - Poster

The Fearless Hyena - Deleted Scenes

Jackie toughening his hands in this deleted scene from his directorial debut. I've never seen any video footage of this, but I still hope for some lost rolls in a studio vault somewhere.

Dance of the Drunk Mantis - Chat Sing Temple

Hwang Jang-Lee, Corey Yuen and Brandy Yuen Jan-Yeung communicate with their fists in the opening fightscene of Yuen Woo-Ping's follow up to Drunken Master. Once again, the videogenic Chat Sing Temple provides a proper backdrop for the combatants' kicks and punches.

Hell's Windstaff - Chat Sing Temple

Following the example of Drunken Master and its stylistics, Hell's Windstaff (aka The Dragon and the Tiger Kids) features some of the same actors and also some of the same filming locations. Another great opportunity to watch some of Hong Kong's finest on-screen fighters duke it out in front of the beautiful Chat Sing Temple.