Eastern Condors

Eastern Condors (Chinese: 東方禿鷹) is a 1987 Hong Kong action film directed by Sammo Hung, who also starred in the lead role. The film co-stars Yuen Biao, Joyce Godenzi, Yuen Wah, Lam Ching-ying, Yuen Woo-ping, Corey Yuen and Billy Chow. The film was released in Hong Kong on 9 July 1987.

Eastern Condors
Original film poster
Directed bySammo Hung
Produced byCorey Yuen
Wu Ma
Jeffrey Lau
Leonard Ho
Written byBarry Wong
StarringSammo Hung
Yuen Biao
Joyce Godenzi
Yuen Wah
Lam Ching-ying
Yuen Woo-ping
Corey Yuen
Billy Chow
Music bySherman Chow
CinematographyAu Gaam Hung
Arthur Wong
Edited byPeter Cheung
Production
company
Bo Ho Films
Paragon Films
Distributed byGolden Harvest
Release date
  • 9 July 1987 (1987-07-09)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese
English
Box officeHK$21,606,063[1]

It was set in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Although set in Vietnam, the most of the film was shot in the Philippines. The scenes set in the United States were actually filmed in Canada. The ensembles of convict soldiers in the film are reminiscent of similar squads in American action war films like The Dirty Dozen. Hung believed his normal size and body shape, whilst suited to his comedic characters in his other films, would be inappropriate for a soldier. In order to get into shape for the lead role, Hung lost 30 pounds in 3 months by surviving on a diet of nothing but chicken and rice.[2]

Plot

Lieutenant Colonel Lam is an American army officer given a top-secret mission by the US military. The mission entails entering Vietnam to destroy an old American bunker filled with missiles before the Viet Cong can get to them.

Due to the dangerous nature of the mission, a group of Chinese American soldier convicts are selected to accompany him, led by Tung Ming-sun. Survivors are promised a pardon, U.S. citizenship and $200,000 each. After a brief training session they are dropped into Vietnam. During the jump, Lam learns too late that the mission has been aborted.

Once in enemy territory, they are met by some Cambodian guerrillas led by Godenzi and take refuge in a small town. There they meet Weasel (aka Chieh Man-yeh), and his mentally ill "Uncle", Yeung.

Later, the squad is captured and incarcerated in a POW camp, where the prisoners are forced to play Russian roulette in a similar manner to the film The Deer Hunter. After escaping, they discover that one of the Cambodian guerrillas is a traitor. With the Vietnamese military in pursuit, they are able to reach the bunker, where a final showdown with the (giggling) Vietnamese general occurs.

Cast

Theme song

Accolades
Accolades
Ceremony Category Recipient Outcome
8th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Joyce Godenzi Nominated
Best New Performer Ha Chi-chun Nominated
Best Action Choreography Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah,
Corey Yuen, Hsiao Ho		 Nominated

Home media

On 2 April 2001, a Region 2 DVD was released by Hong Kong Legends in the United Kingdom.

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See also

References
  1. "Eastern Condors (1987)". Hong Kong Movie Database. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  2. Sammo Hung (April 2001). Eastern Condors, interview (DVD). Contender Entertainment Group.
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