The Golden Lotus (1974) (88 Films)

[MifuneFan]

88 Films will be releasing the Shaw Brothers film The Golden Lotus (1974) on Blu-ray tentatively in September!

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-G...lu-ray/363814/

Although most famous for their kung fu movies, Hong Kong's legendary Shaw Brothers studio made more than just chop socky; taken from a (famously saucy) classic novel, Golden Lotus is an epic tale of a passionate - and sometimes destructive - love affair between a rich man and a poor women, a potent story of lust and power. Co-starring no less than Jackie Chan in one of his earliest roles and directed by the award-winning Li Han Hsiang, Golden Lotus reveals the true strength and diversity of Hong Kong filmmaking. 88 Films are proud to present this under-seen masterpiece on blu-ray.

[Walter Kafka]

Tien "Tanny" Ni

[MegatronX]

It's funny how this is probably Jackie Chan's most prestigous film role prior to him becoming a star (even though it's not a martial arts film), but his ghost-written autobiograhpy makes no mention of this, even as its invents ficticious credits for him in COME DRINK WITH ME and A TOUCH OF ZEN.

[Danespina]

Originally Posted by MegatronX

It's funny how this is probably Jackie Chan's most prestigous film role prior to him becoming a star (even though it's not a martial arts film), but his ghost-written autobiograhpy makes no mention of this, even as its invents ficticious credits for him in COME DRINK WITH ME and A TOUCH OF ZEN.

Do you have any more information to share on Jackie Chan's pre-starring roles? If Golden Lotus is his most prestigious, what would you say comes after?

All I know is The Cub Tiger from Kwang Tung, but boy does that footage look rough on YouTube.

[mike6001]

Just watched this... not as "erotic" as it makes out to be... very little nudity. Jackie Chan (which is why I bought it) is in the opening scene (he has the opening line) and has a great semi-comedic part early in the movie, with several minutes of screen time. The trailer interestingly had a lot more nudity than was actually in the film... wonder if Shaw cut it up? At 1h50min or so it doesn't appear cut... but I reckon 1/3 of the trailer's scenes weren't in it.

As for it's quality... the movie's a bit of a convoluted sex drama, with some very awkward views on women by today's (and even 1974's) standards. The foot binding plot is pretty distasteful, but I guess it's historical.

88's transfer is pretty good for a film of this nature. Not as great as some later Chan's but certainly as good as most of the Shaw releases coming out from other labels. Only trailer and image gallery on disc, which is a shame. Would have liked a commentary or some info n it's origins.

Chan's other early film, Facets of Love (1973) is out next month.

[grim_tales]

Jackie appears in another erotic film called All in the Family (1975) according to his autobiography.
I don't know why it says he's in Come Drink with Me, maybe he was uncredited among the kids, or only on screen for a few seconds or something? Before her death, Cheng Pei Pei has often disputed his claim he appeared in it.

[Danespina]

Originally Posted by grim_tales

I don't know why it says he's in Come Drink with Me, maybe he was uncredited among the kids, or only on screen for a few seconds or something?

There's an in-depth article about it here.
http://www.thorstenboose.de/en/2017/...-me-from-1966/

[grim_tales]

Thanks! An interesting read. So the ghost writer or Jackie just got confused in his biography?

[Danespina]

Yes. Mixed up with LADY OF STEEL (1970), also with Cheng Pei-Pei and also from Shaw Bros. It's a film that wasn’t rediscovered until years after Jackie's autobiography publication in 2007. At least according to that writer, Thorsten Boose.

[Grimmy11]

Originally Posted by mike6001

Just watched this... not as "erotic" as it makes out to be... very little nudity. Jackie Chan (which is why I bought it) is in the opening scene (he has the opening line) and has a great semi-comedic part early in the movie, with several minutes of screen time. The trailer interestingly had a lot more nudity than was actually in the film... wonder if Shaw cut it up? At 1h50min or so it doesn't appear cut... but I reckon 1/3 of the trailer's scenes weren't in it.

The one review of this on Amazon is complaining that this is cut by around 90 seconds from and old tape version they have. Although that could be PAL speedup? They mention the trailer too though.

[take1leave1]

Took a dive on this because Jackie Chan is in it. Also curious about what an erotica shaw bros movie would be like.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by take1leave1

Also curious about what an erotica shaw bros movie would be like.

Then check out Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan because most of the others (this one included) are crap.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Then check out Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan because most of the others (this one included) are crap.

I actually this one was pretty good. Not one of the best Shaw films, but straight forward and entertaining.

[asianguyvwhk]

Did anyone else get this in the clear case vs the black cases that 88 films has been using recently?

Noticed my copy also had a barcode sticker over the shrinkwrap and when I peel it off, the slipcover barcode is different.

Same thing with "The Shadow Boxing", got it in the clear thicker case compared to the slim black ones USA 88 films has been using.

[Dave_Zero1]

Originally Posted by asianguyvwhk

Did anyone else get this in the clear case vs the black cases that 88 films has been using recently?

Noticed my copy also had a barcode sticker over the shrinkwrap and when I peel it off, the slipcover barcode is different.

Same thing with "The Shadow Boxing", got it in the clear thicker case compared to the slim black ones USA 88 films has been using.

All 3 shaw films came in clear cases for me

[saturnhst]

They always use clear Scanavo cases for Shaw releases.

[deckard82]

Originally Posted by Grimmy11

The one review of this on Amazon is complaining that this is cut by around 90 seconds from and old tape version they have. Although that could be PAL speedup? They mention the trailer too though.

so does anyone know whether this release actually is censored? Because that Amazon review also mentions that scenes with nudity were censored.

[Markgway]

Don't trust Amazon reviews.