A QUEEN'S RANSOM
(Hong Kong 1976)
Original Title: E Tan Qun Ying Hui 鱷潭群英會 (aka) Operation Regina; International Assassins
Directed by Ting Shan Hsi Produced by Raymond Chow, Dean Shek, Lu Mao Action by Luk Chuen Starring: Jimmy Wang Yu, Angela Mao, George Lazenby, Chun Hsiung Ko, Judith Brown, Ni Tien, Sammo Hung, Charles Heung, Dean Shek, Bolo Yeung, Wu Chia Hsiang, Helen Poon, Han Ling, Shen Wang Reviewing: Eureka Video UK Blu-ray Release Genres: Thriller / Action
Rating - 2.7 / 5
Eureka Video UK Blu-ray Synopsis: Perhaps even God can't save the Queen in Golden Harvest's A Queen's Ransom (also known as International Assassin), an explosive action-thriller starring George Lazenby (The Mas From Hong Kong), Angela Mao (Lady Whirlwind) and the legendary Jimmy Wang Yu (The One-Armed Swordsman). As Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Hong Kong for a state visit, a band of skilled mercenaries plan her assassination. Contracted by an Irish Republican (Lazenby), the international group of hired killers includes a Japanese explosives expert (Chang Pei-Shan), a Thai boxer (Bolo Yeung), a Filipino sniper (Peter Chan Lung) and a veteran of the National Liberation Front on South Vietnam (Wang Yu). As the conspirators move to carry out their plot, two police officials (Ko Chun-Hsiung and Charles Heung) work with a young socialite (Tanny Tien Ni) in a race against time to save the Monarch's head – while also trying to manage a crisis that has brought a huge number of refugees to Hong Kong, including a young Cambodian proncess (Mao). Written and directed by Ting Shan-Hsi (Rebel Boxer), A Queen's Ransom was Golden Harvest's attempt to capitalise on the popular success of the political thriller in the wake of Day Of The Jackal. Eureka Classics is proud to present the film for the first time ever on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration. (96 / 92 Mins)
Joy Sales HK VCD Synopsis: Bar girl Jane reports to the police that one of her customers, a Philippine told her he would assassinate the Queen of England. Since it's the eve of Queen's visit to Hong Kong, Superintendent Ko sends his man Wah to investigate it. George, a reactionary from North Ireland, comes to Hong Kong with his girlfriend Black Rose, planning to assassinate the Queen. His assistant hires six killers for him. Chan, the Philippine is among the list. George assigns the six killers to locate different sites where the Queen is about to pass by, so that they can carry out the plan. Meanwhile, the police get news that large quantities of gold will be smuggled into Hong Kong by some Cambodian governors. When the police get he clues about the six killers and successfully arrest them, the major criminals George and Black Rose disappear. Actually, by using his assistant to transfer the polices attention, they go to get the gold from the Cambodian. After a severe fight between them, lots of people die and get hurt while George is caught by the police. (92 Mins)
Views: Long before Jackie Chan took on the IRA in the fantastic action-thriller The Foreigner, his previous workplace had already tackled a similar subject matter with Jimmy Wang Yu, Charles Heung and Angela Mao Ying in the lead. Golden Harvest was still quite a young studio at the time and after the success of Bruce Lee, big boss Raymond Chow continued his mission of reaching out to a bigger international audience. Of course, what better way to do so than having James Bond himself, George Lazenby, play a Northern Irish republican involved in a ploy to kill the Queen on a visit to Hong Kong. An interesting plot piece considering Northern Ireland was at the height of the troubles during this point in time!
Also known as International Assassins and Operation Regina, the film opens with an explanation of the refugee situation in Hong Kong voiced over stock footage from the Vietnam war. Incidentally, this would be the same footage that would later be reused at the beginning of Sammo Hung's Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars as a throw away joke. This is followed with footage from Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Hong Kong in 1975 which continues to show throughout, bringing a raw, realistic feel to it all, and I'd love to have known if she was ever aware of her role in a Hong Kong action film. Compared to other Golden Harvest productions of this time, A Queen's Ransom moves along at a snails pace, playing out like a 1960's spy drama with little excitement in its first half but for a quick skirmish between the late Jimmy Wang Yu and great Bolo Yeung. Although it's story is complex and the film well made, perhaps casting a host of well known kung-fu stars in a film that presents itself as Golden Harvest's answer to the Hollywood hit, Day Of The Jackal, wasn't really the greatest idea. This no doubt lead to its abysmal box-office takings during its release, with fans disappointed at the lack of action on offer...
Not only that, but 1976 was a big year for Hong Kong cinema with A Queen's Ransom having to go up against films such as Shaw Brothers titles like 7 Man Army, Boxer Rebellion, Black Magic 2, Challenge Of The Masters, Killer Clans, and The Dragon Missile, along with classics like 18 Bronzemen, Blazing Temple, Bruce Lee The Man The Myth, Hand Of Death, The Himalayan, Killer Meteors, New Fist Of Fury, Master Of The Flying Guillotines, and Michael Hui's Private Eyes which was the highest grossing film at the time. Although the film was seemingly crafted towards an international audience, it didn't gain a UK release until a year later and only hit North America in 1981 with the export cut coming in around 6 minutes shorter, cutting some sex scenes and slower moments as well as intercutting some quick shots of A Man From Hong Kong which came out just the year before. While the story may be somewhat complex and slow, ultimately failing to grip its audience quick enough, there is one thing A Queen's Ransom impresses on and that's the cast involved – including Queen Elizabeth II herself.
A Queen's Ransom sees the re-teaming of Jimmy Wang Yu and George Lazenby, together one more time after their reportedly rocky pairing on The Man From Hong Kong – the former James Bond actors' second film for Golden Harvest after the fun, but slightly crazy Stoner that saw him star alongside the wonderful Angela Mao Ying. Here, Mao Ying plays the Princess of Cambodia who quickly becomes the love interest of a young Dean Shek – the wonderful Hong Kong film legend who also doubles-up as the assistant director. All play roles in the team of international assassins under the lead of Lazenby who stars as a Northern Irish terrorist, along with the aforementioned Bolo Yeung as his heavy, the late great Peter Chan as a Filipino sniper, with prolific actors Chang Pei Shan, Hon Yee Sang, and Chang Ching Po appearing as the rest of his crew. In the good corner, the handsome Charles Heung – founder of the popular Wins Entertainment and China Star Entertainment, recognisable for his role as Chow Yun Fat's bodyguard in God Of Gamblers and others – stars as the cop that attempts to take them on, led by Ko Chun Hsiung who stars as his police chief. The lovely Tanny Tien Ni stars as Wang Yu's troubled long-lost sister and troubled prostitute, while the prolific Hao Li Jen, who starred in over 230 movies between 1957 through to his death in 1978, plays Dean Shek's old uncle.
The action, when it comes about, is handled by Luk Chuen a veteran of the Hong Kong film industry who has worked with Jimmy Wang Yu on a number of projects from his early days with Shaw Brothers. Although probably more recognisable to modern action fans for his role in the aforementioned God Of Gamblers, Chuen has also starred in or directed the action in hits such as A Killers Romance, Casino Raiders, Final Run, and the forgotten Jackie Chan/Lo Wei classic, Magnificent Bodyguards. And while the action here in A Queens Ransom does have its moments, its mostly saved for its great finale with Luk showing up throughout as on of Mao Ying's bodyguards. The film is beautifully shot by Chris Chen – the same eye behind hits such as The Big Boss, Fist Of Fury, A Man Called Tiger, The Valiant Ones, Half A Loaf Of Kung Fu, World Of Drunken Master, The Young Master, and Dragon Lord to name but a few, and has never looked better than it does in this new restoration from Eureka Video. It was directed by Ting Shan Hsi, a man who had been working behind the camera from the late 1960's and was certainly no stranger to the HK film world having penned the classic Come Drink With Me, as well as many Wang Yu flicks such as Furious Slaughter and Knight Errant – both of which he also directed. And although his filmography is pretty long, there aren't many titles that have been hailed as memorable hits. But that said, Ting certainly left his mark – right up to his very last movie with Wang Yu's fun wuxia flick, The Beheaded 1000. And while A Queen's Ransom may not have been one of his most exciting, it still makes for a fun watch – neatly directed, beautifully shot, and an entertaining in its own different kind of way!
Overall: Although its a slow burner, A Queens Ransom makes for an interesting watch at least once, and while fairly ambitious for its time, really should have been so much more!
Eureka Video Blu-ray Extras: 2K Restoration, Audio Commentary with Frank Djeng & Michael Worth (Hong Kong Version), Audio Commentary with Mike Leeder & Arne Venema (International Version), Training George Lazenby Documentary by Michael Worth, Trailers
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