Eureka Video UK Blu-ray Synopsis: A versatile British-Chinese filmmaker whose career has spanned nearly fifty years, Po-Chih Leong has worked in a variety of genres, from action in Foxbat to horror in The Island, comedy in Ping Pong and the gangster movie in Shanghai 1920, which was nominated for Best Feature at the Chicago International Film Festival. His masterpiece, though, is Hong Kong 1941 – an affecting war drama starring Cecilia Yip (Nomad), Alex Man (Rich and Famous) and Chow Yun-fat (The Killer) in his breakout role. Executive produced by Sammo Hung, Hong Kong 1941 follows three Hongkongers forced to negotiate life under occupation as their homeland falls to the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Ha Yuk-nam (Yip) is a young woman locked in a love triangle with her close friends Yip Kim-fei (Chow) and Wong Hak-keung (Man). As they dream of escape, their complicated personal relationships play out against the background of oppression and brutality that was brought to Hong Kong by Japanese rule between 1941 and 1945. A story of loyalty and love, Leong’s film deals with one of the darkest periods in Hong Kong’s history and was nominated for no less than eight awards at the 1985 Hong Kong Film Awards – winning for its breathtaking cinematography by Brian Lai (The Postman Strikes Back). It also launched Chow Yun-fat to stardom two years before his first collaboration with John Woo in A Better Tomorrow. The Masters of Cinema series is honoured to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time outside of Asia. (100 Mins)

 

Hong Kong Legends UK DVD Synopsis: With a powerful ensemble cast including 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' star Chow Yun-fat and acclaimed actress Cecilia Yip-tong, director Po Chieh-leong delivers an emotive and hard-hitting portrayal of the lives of three young friends, as they struggle to keep their dignity and fulfil their dreams,when faced with the emotional and physical terrors of War. Dealing with the rarely considered Japanese occupation of Hong Kong from Dec. 1941 to Aug. 1945, this acclaimed action-drama shines a light on the harrowing effects of a conflict which shattered the dreams of a nation during almost four years of bitter repression. (97 Mins)

 

Views: Released as number 320 of Eureka Video's Masters of Cinema series on Blu-ray, Hong Kong 1941 is a film that I feel has long been forgotten by fans since it's UK DVD release by Hong Kong Legends back in 2001, which is a bit of a shame – because it really is a fantastic film. One of the first films produced under the D&B banner alongside Bo Ho Films; both of which the legendary Sammo Hung partnered, the film was a big enough achievement that it set in place the quality of cinematic outings that D&B Films became well known for and proved to be a very credible production that boosted many careers – including that of John Shum who served as the film's main producer and would go onto produce many D&B classics, and more, through to 2008. Gaining an extended two week run in Hong Kong cinemas, the film tells the story of three friends caught in a love-triangle while trying to survive the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong towards the end of 1941 as told by Nam, the attractive young daughter of a wealthy rice merchant!

 

Shot in Macau, which allowed for the doubling of Hong Kong during this particular period, the film was directed by the wonderful Po-Chih Leong, a British-Chinese born in Northampton in 1939. Raised in Britain, Po Chih began training his craft early on with the BBC before moving out to Hong Kong in the 1960s where he would work for TVB. In 1976, he would make his feature film directorial debut with the fantastic Jumping Ash – an action thriller starring Josephine Siao who also wrote and co-directed, Michael Chan Wai Man, Chen Sing, and Po Chih himself. This would be followed up with the Philip Chan scripted Foxbat (1977) – his first full English language feature and a film quite similar to the Hollywood made Firefox (1982), although predating it by five years. Over the years, Po Chih Leong would deliver a host of great titles including Itchy Fingers (1979), Banana Cop (1984), Welcome (1985), The Island (1985), Ping Pong (1986), Fatal Love (1988), and Shanghai 1920 (1991) with John Lone. As well as appearing in his own works – including this one – starred in Tsui Hark's Dangerous Encounters of the 1st Kind (1980) and Peking Opera Blues (1986). In the late 1990s, Po Chih headed back West where he was given the chance to direct a young Jude Law in the exciting vampire thriller Immortality (1998). He would return to work in television, directing a number of TV films and shows such as Cabin by the Lake (2000) and it's sequel, Return to Cabin by the Lake (2001), The Darkling (2000), and Walking Shadow (2001). Surprisingly, he was the man behind Steven Seagal's 2004 action-thriller Out of Reach – a film initially supposed to be directed by the late Ringo Lam. Leong would follow this up with The Detonator (2006) starring Wesley Snipes, and has since made a couple of other titles such as Baby Blues (2013) and The Jade Pendant (2017). But none compare to his earlier Hong Kong works, and especially that seen here in Hong Kong 1941...

 

Hong Kong 1941 scores big with it's cast listing, starting with the incredible and always charming Chow Yun Fat who leads the way as Yip Kim Fei. One of TVB's top actors, Chow was already established in the movie world just a few years before this as the lead of Ann Hui's Story of Woo Viet (1981). Films such as The Head Hunter (1982), Postman Strikes Back (1982), The Bund (1983) and others would follow. Interestingly, just before this in the same year, Chow would work once more for Ann Hui on Love In A Fallen City – a film that had many similarities to Hong Kong 1941, least of all being set during the same time period. Of course, as Yip Kim Fei, Chow delivers yet another powerful performance and clearly shows why he is the global superstar that he is today. Chow is supported on screen by two young stars. The first being the wonderful Alex Man, and the second Cecilia Yip. Making his feature film debut in Ann Hui's dramatic thriller The Secret (1979) before moving to Shaw Brothers to star in films such as Bastard Swordsman (1983), Hong Kong Hong Kong (1983), An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty (1984), Journey Of The Doomed (1985) and more, Alex Man has since starred in close to 100 films to date and would join Chow Yun Fat on screen again a few years later for Rich & Famous (1987) and it's sequel Tragic Hero (1987) – two great films by Taylor Wong (also available on Blu-ray from Eureka Video). In Hong Kong 1941, Man does a fantastic job as Chow''s feisty friend and adversary in love, Wong Hak Keung.

 

The lovely Cecilia Yip stars a girl torn between two loves – the opium addicted young daughter of a rice merchant, played by the prolific Shek Kin. Having only been acting a couple of years before winning her role in this in films such as Coolie Killer (1982), Nomad (1982), Winners & Sinners (1983), Let's Make Laugh (1983), and Esprit D'Amour (1983). Impressing in her role here as Nam, Yip delivers as much of a powerful performance as her co-stars and proved her worth that has helped keep her on-screen even today, but it would be over ten years later before her and Chow Yun Fat would star together again in the underrated and highly enjoyable, Peace Hotel (1995) for director Wai Ka Fai and producer John Woo. Joining them is a bevy of Hong Kong cinema greats including the aforementioned Shek Kin from Enter The Dragon (1973), Ku Feng, Wu Ma, Paul Chun, Billy Lau, Hon Yee Sang, and the great Stuart Ong as the evil Japanese General Kanezawa. Making his feature debut in Patrick Tam's Nomad (1982) only a couple of years earlier alongside Cecilia Yip, Alex Man and Ku Feng in Maybe It's Love (1984) just after that, and with Chow Yun Fat in Ann Hui's Love In A Fallen City (1984) – it's clear that Po Chih Leong had a winning team on his hands from the start...

 

Proving to be an ambitious yet very distinguished production, Hong Kong 1941 features some brutal and exciting action scenes choreographed by the late great Mr. Vampire himself, Lam Ching Ying. Brian Lai, director of photography and cinematographer of films such as Love Massacre (1981), Coolie Killer (1982), The Head Hunter (1982) and Postman Strikes Back (1982), delivers some incredible visuals which now look even more spectacular in this new 4K restoration. Unfortunately, this would also be his last film to date in that job role – but what a film to go out on. Dramatic, beautiful, and wonderfully directed, Hong Kong 1941 is something special and an underrated flick for all involved that has finally gotten the treatment it deserves. It might also be worth pointing out that 10 years later, Wong Jing presented a remake of sorts called 1941 Hong Kong On Fire (1994) – a poor adaptation that sees his him take the violence and sleaze to another level, sprinkled with his usual silly humour and an uneven script. It's certainly an experience, but it's not even close to the cinematic gem that is Hong Kong 1941.

 

Overall: Wonderfully directed, acted, and captured, Hong Kong 1941 is an underrated gem of 80s Hong Kong cinema that deserves to be seen!

 

Eureka Video Blu-ray Extras: 4K Restoration, Audio Commentary with Frank Djeng, Tony Rayns on Hong Kong 1941, Interview with Po Chih Leong, Directors Masterclass at Udine FEFF 2023, Archival Interviews with Chow Yun Fat, Cecilia Yip & Paul Chun, Trailers

 

Hong Kong Legends DVD Extras: Audio Commentary with Bey Logan, Interview Gallery with Chow Yun Fat & Cecilia Yip, Chow Yun Fat Biography, Trailers

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