To Kill with Intrigue (Chinese: 劍花煙雨江南, Korean: 신당산대형) is a 1977 historical action-drama film directed by Lo Wei. A joint Hong Kong and South Korean co-production with martial arts, revenge and romance film elements,[1][3] the film stars Hong Kong action movie star Jackie Chan with Taiwanese actress Hsu Feng and South Korean actress Jeong Hee.[1] The movie was filmed in South Korea.

To Kill with Intrigue
Original film poster
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese劍花煙雨江南
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinjiàn huā yān yǔ jiāng nán
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinggim3 faa1 jin1 jyu5 gong1 naam4
Directed byLo Wei
Written byGu Long
Produced byHsu Li-hwa[2]
Lo Wei
StarringJackie Chan
Hsu Feng
Jeong Hee
George Wang
Chu Feng
CinematographyChen Chong-yuan[2]
Edited byKwok Ting-Hung
Music byFrankie Chan
Production
companies
Lo Wei Motion Picture Co., Ltd.
Distributed byLo Wei Motion Picture Company
Release dates
  • 22 July 1977 (1977-07-22) (Hong Kong)
  • 24 September 1977 (1977-09-24) (South Korea)[1]
Running time
106 minutes
CountriesHong Kong
South Korea
LanguagesMandarin
Korean
Box officeUS$254,826 (est.)

Plot

Ding Can-ren (Hsu Feng) leads a gang known as the Killer Bees on a revenge mission to kill Lei Shao-feng (Jackie Chan) and his family. However, she kills everyone but Lei Shao-feng and falls in love with him.

Cast

  • Jackie Chan – as Lei Shao-feng
  • Hsu Feng – as Ding Can-ren
  • Jeong Hee (credited as Yu Ling Lung) – as Qian-qian (also known as Chin Chin)
  • Shin Il-Ryong – as Jin-chuan
  • George Wang – as Dragon Escort Master
  • Chan Wai Lau – as assassin's chief
  • Chan San Yat – as assassin
  • To Wai Wo – as assassin
  • Yuen Biao – as assassin
  • Chin Yuet Sang – as castle guard

Production

Jackie mentions, in his book I Am Jackie Chan, how much of the plot is confusing, and he was sure that even the director, Lo Wei, didn't even know what was going on.[4] He has also gone on to express that the generally cold weather at the time of filming made for a frustrating experience.[5]

Box office

In Hong Kong, the film grossed HK$292,664.90[6] (US$62,804).[7] In South Korea, it sold 103,265 tickets in Seoul,[1] equivalent to an estimated gross revenue of approximately 92,938,500[8] (US$192,022).[9] This adds up to a total estimated gross of approximately US$254,826 in Hong Kong and Seoul, equivalent to US$1.364 million adjusted for inflation.

Trivia

  • For the Japanese release of this film, the name of Chu Feng's character, Chin Chin, had to be changed because Chin Chin is the slang for penis in Japan.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "영화정보" [Movie Information]. KOFIC (in Korean). Korean Film Council. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b Charles, John (2000). The Hong Kong Filmography, 1977–1997: A Reference Guide to 1,100 Films Produced by British Hong Kong Studios (2009 ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina, and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 315. ISBN 978-0-7864-4323-9.
  3. ^ "To Kill with Intrigue". Amazon.com. 88 Films. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  4. ^ Chan, Jackie; Yang, Jeff (1999). "Wooden Men and Chen". I Am Jackie Chan: A Life in Action (1999 with new postlude ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. p. 227. ISBN 0-345-42913-3. Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b Chan, Jackie; Yang, Jeff (1999). "My Films". I Am Jackie Chan: A Life in Action (1999 with new postlude ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. p. 371. ISBN 0-345-42913-3. Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  6. ^ "To Kill with Intrigue (1977)". Hong Kong Movie Database. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Official exchange rate (HK$ per US$, period average)". World Bank. 1977. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  8. ^ Park, Seung Hyun (2000). A Cultural Interpretation of Korean Cinema, 1988-1997. Indiana University. p. 119. Average Ticket Prices in Korea, 1974–1997 [...] * Source: Korea Cinema Yearbook (1997–1998) * Currency: won [...] Foreign [...] 1977 [...] 900
  9. ^ "Official exchange rate (KRW per US$, period average)". World Bank. 1982. Retrieved 7 December 2018.