Layout

1977 1h 27m ZH

🤯

9.7

MASTERPIECE

★9.7TMDB · 3

Action

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The place: Shanghai. The time: 1921. The Japanese aggression towards China is getting stronger each day. Enter Hsueh Ao-Lin, an agent of the government sent to uncover the Chinese traitors helping the enemy. Once inside, Hsueh must fight both the Japanese and his countrymen for his sake, and the future of China.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Chen Kuan-Tai
Hsieh Hsiao-Lin
Sha-Li Chen
Lady Boss Shen Chiu-Ku
Han Chiang
Boss Tung Chin-Sheng
Tien Yeh
Boss Tu Chang-Kuei
Ma Chi
Boss Lung Ah-Lu
Hu Chin
Tu Hsueh-Fa
Chen Mu-Chuan
Killer
Chiang Tao
Nien's Bodyguard

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Pao Hsueh-Li
Writers: Katy Chin Shu-Mei
Languages: Mandarin
Countries: Taiwan, Hong Kong

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

87 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

49 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Taiwan, Hong Kong.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Pao Hsueh-Li, shot by Chuang Yan-Chien. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Frankie Chan Fan-Kei. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Chen Kuan-Tai and Sha-Li Chen and Han Chiang carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0198636 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Pao Hsueh-Li directs. Chuang Yan-Chien behind the camera. Frankie Chan Fan-Kei scores. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Taiwan, Hong Kong. Dialogue in Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

187 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
249 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3International production across 2 countries: Taiwan, Hong Kong.
4Directed by Pao Hsueh-Li, shot by Chuang Yan-Chien. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Frankie Chan Fan-Kei. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Chen Kuan-Tai and Sha-Li Chen and Han Chiang carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0198636 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.