1975 Hong Kong film
The Man from Hong Kong, known in the U.S.A. as The Dragon Flies is a 1975 action film that was the first Australian-Hong Kong co-production being filmed in both nations. The film was also the first Australian martial arts film. It was produced by Raymond Chow and John Fraser, directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith and starred Jimmy Wang-Yu and George Lazenby. The film was restored by the Australian National Film and Sound Archive.[3]
Plot
At Ayers Rock, undercover detectives arrest Hong Kong drug courier Win Chan (Sammo Hung). At Royal Hong Kong Police Police Training School at Wong Chuk Hang where a hang glider piloted by Australian Caroline Thorne (Rosalind Speirs) runs out of air currents and lands on the parade square. She is met by Inspector Fang Sing Leng who has coincidentally been chosen to travel to Sydney to interview Win Chan.
Fang is met by Detectives Gross (Hugh Keays-Byrne) and Taylor (Roger Ward) who have been unable to obtain any information from Win Chan. Fang uses traditional but illegal police methods to elicit cooperation from Win Chan. Fang discovers the connection between Win Chan's drug imports and Sydney "colourful identity" (gangster) Jack Wilton (George Lazenby). Inspector Fang becomes a target of death by various firearms, edged weapons, explosives, fast cars, a crossbow and martial arts by both Australian and Chinese criminals. He also reacquaints himself with Caroline who trains him how to fly a hang glider at Stanwell Park that the Inspector uses to gain access to Wilton's crime headquarters.
Production
The first Australian/Hong Kong co-production was made during the height of the kung fu film craze and the Australian New Wave. According to some sources, Wang Yu directed parts of the film.[4] Trenchard Smith says Yu was difficult to deal with and shooting was hard - "there was a great clash of personalities, coupled with the inevitable mutual distrust that occurs in a co-production where both sides think the other is trying to rip them off."[1] However he says John Fraser of Greater Union was very supportive and encouraging.
Trenchard-Smith received nine offers of co-production after the film's release.[5]
The film was originally costed at $450,000 but the budget increased when the producers wanted more action sequences and a hit song on the soundtrack. A band called Jigsaw recorded 'Sky High' which was used over the opening credits and went number one in several countries.[1] Production funding came from Greater Union, Golden Harvest and the Australian Film Development Corporation.
Wang Yu was injured in a hang gliding sequence whilst Lazenby had severe burns on his hands during a fight scene.[6]
Release
At a screening of a restored print in Sydney, Trenchard-Smith stated that the film didn't do as well as was hoped due to its R adults only rating. However US rights were sold for $200,000 and at Cannes the film sold around the world for a minimum of $500,000 putting it in profit even before it had been released.[1]
