A Queen's Ransom (Eureka)

[cooey]

Release date: 27th May, 2024

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 Man 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 of 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 princess (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 The 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.

SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY FEATURES:

Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling [First print run of 2000 copies only]
1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray of the original Hong Kong theatrical cut from a brand new 2K restoration
1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray of the original English language export cut from a brand new 2K restoration
Original Mandarin and optional classic English dub (Hong Kong theatrical cut)
Classic English dub (Export version)
Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
Brand new audio commentary on the Hong Kong theatrical version by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
Brand new audio commentary on the export version by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
Brand new documentary featurette by martial artist and actor Michael Worth
Reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork
Trailers
PLUS: A limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by James Oliver [First print run of 2000 copies only]

[cooey]

Updated with release info

[OldPangYau]

Their info is a bit vague, but the English on the HK cut isn't an "English with Mandarin patches" track like the Shout Factory DVD, but rather a seemingly previously unreleased uncut 70s era English dub. The export cut uses the same dub as a base, but there's some minor differences here and there, mainly to help tighten up the cuts.

Also... the export cut uses a couple of shots of Lazenby from Man From Hong Kong, lol.

[navydavey]

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

Also... the export cut uses a couple of shots of Lazenby from Man From Hong Kong, lol.

Speaking of, hopefully someone brings out The Man From Hong Kong over here soon, I've been hovering over the German version for ages but would rather support a domestic release.

We need more Jimmy Wang Yu on blu.

[OldPangYau]

Originally Posted by navydavey

Speaking of, hopefully someone brings out The Man From Hong Kong over here soon, I've been hovering over the German version for ages but would rather support a domestic release.

We need more Jimmy Wang Yu on blu.

Not sure who may have the UK rights (though Twilight Time last had it in the US), but the German 4K is honestly hard to top. Easily the best I've seen it since being lucky enough to catch a 35mm print ten years ago.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

Not sure who may have the UK rights (though Twilight Time last had it in the US), but the German 4K is honestly hard to top. Easily the best I've seen it since being lucky enough to catch a 35mm print ten years ago.

I think Network had the rights to The Man from Hong Kong, but they went under. Agree about the German 4K, picked up after Christmas, and it's the only way to watch the film and blew the previous Umbrella release out of the water.

[drush9999]

There's also the Angela Mao / George Lazenby movie Stoner, which I've never seen and was supposedly meant to be the next Bruce Lee vehicle.

[OldPangYau]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

I think Network had the rights to The Man from Hong Kong, but they went under. Agree about the German 4K, picked up after Christmas, and it's the only way to watch the film and blew the previous Umbrella release out of the water.

Yeah, I think the Umbrella and Twilight Time versions used the same master, which I always thought looked a bit too... "eh"? Not terrible, per se, just could've been better. The German 4K honestly looks like it could've been OCN-based, but I could be wrong.

But hey, if the UK rights are up for grabs, I'd love to see one of "my regulars" grab it so I could assist in some capacity, lol.

[supertwix_64]

What's the general consensus on this one? Doesn't seem to be that many reviews floating around. The trailer looks fun and I love Lazenby and Wang Yu so I'll probably pick it up at some point at least.

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

Their info is a bit vague, but the English on the HK cut isn't an "English with Mandarin patches" track like the Shout Factory DVD, but rather a seemingly previously unreleased uncut 70s era English dub. The export cut uses the same dub as a base, but there's some minor differences here and there, mainly to help tighten up the cuts.

Also... the export cut uses a couple of shots of Lazenby from Man From Hong Kong, lol.

I’ve never seen this film. Does George Lazenby’s real voice turn up in any of the tracks?

[GlacierTuba]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

I think Network had the rights to The Man from Hong Kong, but they went under. Agree about the German 4K, picked up after Christmas, and it's the only way to watch the film and blew the previous Umbrella release out of the water.

I have the Umbrella release. Great film, thoroughly enjoyed it. Is the 4K coming to UK/Ireland? Is it worth upgrading?

Never heard of Queens Ransom, is it a similar sort of film?

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by GlacierTuba

I have the Umbrella release. Great film, thoroughly enjoyed it. Is the 4K coming to UK/Ireland? Is it worth upgrading?

It was released by Camera Obscura, a German label, but the release is English friendly and also includes English subs. There were three version released of it, I picked up the DigiBook B:

[FoulMouff]

Anyone get this flick yet? Thoughts on it? The cast looks fantastic, so I'll probably grab it up. I've never seen it.

[RossyG]

I wondered if the picture was slightly squished (like the first edition of Battle Creek Brawl) but I think it might be the lenses they used where a lot of the time everything in the foreground and background is in sharp focus.

If so, then the picture quality is very good.

The film is entertaining but I wish they’d used George Lazenby’s voice. It’s choppily paced at times and martial arts fans might be disappointed by how little fighting there is. Bolo Yeung gets little to do which seems a waste. The booklet says it more of a tense thriller in the Day of the Jackal vein and that’s a good way of looking at it.

I liked the character in the mini moke who looked like a Chinese Shaggy and it’s fun seeing a mid-70s Hong Kong in all its glory.