"You are going to Hong Kong? They say it is a dangerous city. People just
disappear". Well, considering our hero Private Eye Ryan just found a dead
Chinese woman in his apartment and then someone tried to push him off a bridge,
how much more dangerous could Hong Kong be. A nifty beginning to this Euro-Crime
film. The woman had just brought a coffin from Hong Kong with the remains
of her dead husband. She tells this to an unseen man and asks "What can I
do now". Die of course as he pulls out a gun and shoots her. So much for
doing favors. The woman's wealthy father-in-law puts a pile of money on Ryan's
desk and tells him to go to Hong Kong and find out what his son had been
up to. Ryan isn't fond of finding dead women in his apartment shot with his
own gun, not even pretty ones like this and so accepts. Ryan is played by
Heinz Drache who appeared in loads of Krimi's and other assorted and sordid
films in the 1960s. And we are going to Hong Kong. What could be better.
He calls his friend Bob (Ralf Wolter) to come along and be the comedy relief
and off they go.
Hong Kong is wonderfully welcoming as the hotel manager sends Ryan to have
a drink at the Green Snake where he finds himself the attention of a dozen
ladies in cheongsams, red lipstick and eyes full of dollar signs. One he
is told will arrive in his room in thirty minutes. When he returns, he finds
another beauty unpacking his suitcase. She is played by Angela Yu-chien a
star at the Shaw Brothers in films such as The Cave of the Silken Web, King
Drummer and The Millionaire's Chase - always a welcome presence. Yes, this
is Hong Kong. Be sure to check into the Celestial Empire Hotel the next time
you go. He is soon welcomed with another beauty of a sort - a large scorpion
under his pillow. Someone wants him dead and he tries to make it easy for
them by walking into traps and performing some of the worst martial arts
known to man - but it is good enough because the Chinese know none of their
own. Dastardly Westerner using this secret weapon called kung-fu.
Back at the Green Snake everyone is dancing close, real close and death is
just as close. Ahead of Ryan lies the Forbidden City, a man in a Blue Mask,
a high tide at exactly 1:13 in a locked room, a blonde with a twisted ankle
at a convenient time and a boat ready to blow up. But the real pleasure of
this film is the location shooting. Besides the usual shots of the airport,
ferry, harbor, skyline, overhead and sampan's at the docks, there is a fair
amount walking around the city through the bustling crowds and rickshaws.
What a cool city back then. And it was great seeing Angela for a few minutes
away from Shaw. A little clunky in execution but good fun and a mastermind
who just has to kill Ryan in some ridiculous way as opposed to just shooting
him and dumping his body into the sea for the sharks.
