Millionaire's Express
Encyclopedia
Millionaire's Express aka. Shanghai Express is a 1986
Hong Kong
martial arts
action
western film
written and directed by Sammo Hung
. Film starred Hung, Yuen Biao
, Rosamund Kwan
, Mei-sheng Fan and Hwang Jang Lee
.
) goes to Russia to steal goods from the Russian soldiers. Unfortunately he is caught and the soldiers make him strip his clothes down to his underwear. They force him to wear a brassiere and the head of a mop as a wig, and he is made to dance for their amusement. However, he makes his escape, grabbing his grenades as he goes, and throws one into the cabin. Fook Loi (Kenny Bee
) catches Ching and lectures him about his crimes. Ching tries to escape, but in the scuffle, he and Fook end up rolling into a snowball. In the final moments after they both got out of the snowball, Fook tries to look for Ching and is taken by surprise when he jumps down from a tree, grabs his clothes and rushes off back to his hometown.
Bandits dressed in police uniforms (Eric Tsang
, Yuen Wah
, Lam Ching Ying
, Wu Ma
and Mang Hoi) set fire to a large building. Tsao Cheuk Kin (Yuen Biao
) and his fire team race to the scene and save a fat lady and a blind woman. While the fire rages, the bandits rob the town bank, but the manager manages to alert the townfolk before they can escape and two of the bandits are jailed. With the loss of money stolen by the bandits, Mayor Yi (Woo Fung) gives a negative speech. In contrast, Tsao encourages the townfolk and he is given the job of mayor and head of the town's security.
Ching and his assistant move from a hotel to his home town, arriving with a car full of women (Olivia Cheng
, Rosumand Kwan, Emily Chu). Ching's ambition is to get money into the town, so his hotel is cleaned up and redressed. A train is due to pass, carrying numerous passengers, including some criminals and some Japanese tourists (Yasuaki Kurata, Yukari Oshima
, Hwang Jang Lee
). In order to bring custom to his hotel, Ching hatches a plan to force the train to stop at the town. He heads towards the railway station on his motorcycle and sidecar, but is chased away by Tsao riding on horseback. Ching swings a tree branch, which knocks Tsao from his horse. Ching takes the horse and rides the rest of the way. As he prepares the dynamite, Ching is discovered, and ends up fighting with Tsao. After winning, Ching continues to wait for the train.
As the train travels through the country, passenger Han (Richard Ng) sneaks back and forth on roof of the train between his fat wife (Lydia Shum) and his beautiful mistress. The bandits from the town try to board the train. The first bandit (Eric Tsang
), with his body covered in magnets inadvertenly gets stuck to the train, whilst the second second bandit (Lam Ching Ying
) using the rope to climb aboard. However, instead of lassooing the train, his rope catches Han, who is forced to hang on for dear life, whilst the bandit runs alongside the train. The remaining bandits struggle with a cart, but finally manage to get on board. When the train reaches the station, Ching blows the dynamite, derailing the train.
As Ching had planned, the passengers spend time in his home town awaiting the train's repair. In the hotel, the criminals devise a plan to get into the room housing Han's mistress, posing as Japanese tourists. Unfortunately they don't don't know the language, and are forced to hide when the train captain (Billy Lau) and his mistress enter the room. After the train captain goes into the bathroom, the bad guys try to sneak out quietly, but soon have to hide again. Han climbs down the hotel roof, inadvertently scaring the train captain's mistress. The commotion alerts his wife, who accuses him of cheating. To explain the situation, he claims that he is actually an agent spying on the Japanese, and the bad guys use this excuse to come out of hiding.
when Ching asks Chi(Rosamund Kwan)to distract Tsao she comes with all sorts of things most of them saying that she loves him.
Tsao then tells Chi that he's busy and can't dream with her and leaves. Chi captures up with him and asks him not to go and Tsao swings his hat to the side and takes Chi into his hands and starts snogging her. Tsao then says something that makes Chi want to kiss him more.When Chi wants to kiss him more he signals his helpers to take his place and unfortunately Chi opens her eyes and runs away.
Fook Loi returns from Russia and uses Tsao to capture Ching and put him into jail. At night, Siu-Hon (Olivia Cheng) and her group of ladies free Ching and allow him to make up his mind. The rest of the bad guys arrive on horseback, storming the town and capturing the Japanese tourists.
After Ching makes up his mind, he comes back to his hometown and free the bandits, plus Fook, Tsao and Siu-Hon. He decides to turf the bad guys out of town, beginning by using a chaingun, and later using martial arts. A huge fight breaks out, until the bad guys are dealt with and Ching and Tsao finally take back the map from the Japanese.
by Universe Laser (Region 0). It was re-released in 2006 by Joy Sales (Region 3).
In the US, it was released in 1999 by Tai Seng, under the title The Millionaires Express (with a leading "The" and the apostrophe omitted). It was re-released in 2007 by Dragon Dynasty
, under the export title Shanghai Express.
In the UK, it was released in 2005 by Hong Kong Legends
/ Contender Entertainment Group, under its original title.
Hong Kong films of 1986
A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 1986:.-1986:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 1986 at...
Hong Kong
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
martial arts
Martial arts film
Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...
action
Hong Kong action cinema
Hong Kong action cinema is the principal source of the Hong Kong film industry's global fame. It combines elements from the action film, as codified by Hollywood, with Chinese storytelling and aesthetic traditions, to create a culturally distinctive form that nevertheless has a wide transcultural...
western film
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
written and directed by Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
. Film starred Hung, Yuen Biao
Yuen Biao
Yuen Biao is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist. He specialises in acrobatics and Chinese martial arts and has worked on over 80 films as actor, stuntman and action choreographer...
, Rosamund Kwan
Rosamund Kwan
Rosamund Kwan Chi-lam is a Chinese actress born in Hong Kong with ancestry in Shenyang, Liaoning in China on her father's side and from Shanghai on her mother's side. She is the daughter of Shaw Brothers star Kwan Shan and actress Cheung Bing Sai...
, Mei-sheng Fan and Hwang Jang Lee
Hwang Jang Lee
Hwang Jang Lee is a Korean martial artist and actor. Hwang is perhaps best known as Sheng Kuan in 1978 film Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Wong Chin in 1981 film Hitman in the Hand of Buddha. Variations of his name are often written as Wong Cheng Lee or Wong Cheng Li, in their Cantonese-Chinese...
.
Plot
Ching Fong-Tin (Sammo HungSammo Hung
Sammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
) goes to Russia to steal goods from the Russian soldiers. Unfortunately he is caught and the soldiers make him strip his clothes down to his underwear. They force him to wear a brassiere and the head of a mop as a wig, and he is made to dance for their amusement. However, he makes his escape, grabbing his grenades as he goes, and throws one into the cabin. Fook Loi (Kenny Bee
Kenny Bee
Chung Chun-to , better known as Kenny Bee, is a Hong Kong singer, musician and actor. He is well-known as a member of the Hong Kong English pop and cantopop band the Wynners, and as a solo artist who has been active in the Hong Kong entertainment industry for nearly three decades.-Career:Bee made...
) catches Ching and lectures him about his crimes. Ching tries to escape, but in the scuffle, he and Fook end up rolling into a snowball. In the final moments after they both got out of the snowball, Fook tries to look for Ching and is taken by surprise when he jumps down from a tree, grabs his clothes and rushes off back to his hometown.
Bandits dressed in police uniforms (Eric Tsang
Eric Tsang
Eric Tsang Chi-wai , MH is a prolific Hong Kong actor, film director, film producer and television host best known for hosting the Super Trio series on TVB over the course of 10 years.-Biography:Due to his popularity, he is often the MC in events organized by TVB, and is nicknamed "the Prize Master"...
, Yuen Wah
Yuen Wah
Yuen Wah is a Hong Kong based Chinese action film actor, action choreographer, stuntman and martial artist who has appeared in over 160 films and over 20 television series.-Early life:...
, Lam Ching Ying
Lam Ching Ying
Lam Ching Ying was a Hong Kong actor, action director and director. A physically talented and graceful martial artist, Lam was best known for playing the stoic Taoist priest in Mr. Vampire...
, Wu Ma
Wu Ma
Wu Ma is a Chinese actor, director, producer and writer. Wu Ma made his screen debut in 1963, and with over 180 appearances to his name , Wu Ma is one of the most familiar faces in the history of Hong Kong Cinema...
and Mang Hoi) set fire to a large building. Tsao Cheuk Kin (Yuen Biao
Yuen Biao
Yuen Biao is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist. He specialises in acrobatics and Chinese martial arts and has worked on over 80 films as actor, stuntman and action choreographer...
) and his fire team race to the scene and save a fat lady and a blind woman. While the fire rages, the bandits rob the town bank, but the manager manages to alert the townfolk before they can escape and two of the bandits are jailed. With the loss of money stolen by the bandits, Mayor Yi (Woo Fung) gives a negative speech. In contrast, Tsao encourages the townfolk and he is given the job of mayor and head of the town's security.
Ching and his assistant move from a hotel to his home town, arriving with a car full of women (Olivia Cheng
Olivia Cheng
Olivia Cheng , born 14 February 1960, is a Hong Kong based former actress. She won the 1979 Miss Hong Kong Pageant and was also elected "Miss Photogenic." She represented Hong Kong in Miss Universe 1979 in Perth, Western Australia, where she went unplaced but ranked a very respectable 21st place...
, Rosumand Kwan, Emily Chu). Ching's ambition is to get money into the town, so his hotel is cleaned up and redressed. A train is due to pass, carrying numerous passengers, including some criminals and some Japanese tourists (Yasuaki Kurata, Yukari Oshima
Yukari Oshima
Yukari Ōshima is a Japanese actress and martial artist. Born Tsumura Yukari in Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan, to a successful Japanese businessman and fashion designer and to a Chinese woman...
, Hwang Jang Lee
Hwang Jang Lee
Hwang Jang Lee is a Korean martial artist and actor. Hwang is perhaps best known as Sheng Kuan in 1978 film Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Wong Chin in 1981 film Hitman in the Hand of Buddha. Variations of his name are often written as Wong Cheng Lee or Wong Cheng Li, in their Cantonese-Chinese...
). In order to bring custom to his hotel, Ching hatches a plan to force the train to stop at the town. He heads towards the railway station on his motorcycle and sidecar, but is chased away by Tsao riding on horseback. Ching swings a tree branch, which knocks Tsao from his horse. Ching takes the horse and rides the rest of the way. As he prepares the dynamite, Ching is discovered, and ends up fighting with Tsao. After winning, Ching continues to wait for the train.
As the train travels through the country, passenger Han (Richard Ng) sneaks back and forth on roof of the train between his fat wife (Lydia Shum) and his beautiful mistress. The bandits from the town try to board the train. The first bandit (Eric Tsang
Eric Tsang
Eric Tsang Chi-wai , MH is a prolific Hong Kong actor, film director, film producer and television host best known for hosting the Super Trio series on TVB over the course of 10 years.-Biography:Due to his popularity, he is often the MC in events organized by TVB, and is nicknamed "the Prize Master"...
), with his body covered in magnets inadvertenly gets stuck to the train, whilst the second second bandit (Lam Ching Ying
Lam Ching Ying
Lam Ching Ying was a Hong Kong actor, action director and director. A physically talented and graceful martial artist, Lam was best known for playing the stoic Taoist priest in Mr. Vampire...
) using the rope to climb aboard. However, instead of lassooing the train, his rope catches Han, who is forced to hang on for dear life, whilst the bandit runs alongside the train. The remaining bandits struggle with a cart, but finally manage to get on board. When the train reaches the station, Ching blows the dynamite, derailing the train.
As Ching had planned, the passengers spend time in his home town awaiting the train's repair. In the hotel, the criminals devise a plan to get into the room housing Han's mistress, posing as Japanese tourists. Unfortunately they don't don't know the language, and are forced to hide when the train captain (Billy Lau) and his mistress enter the room. After the train captain goes into the bathroom, the bad guys try to sneak out quietly, but soon have to hide again. Han climbs down the hotel roof, inadvertently scaring the train captain's mistress. The commotion alerts his wife, who accuses him of cheating. To explain the situation, he claims that he is actually an agent spying on the Japanese, and the bad guys use this excuse to come out of hiding.
when Ching asks Chi(Rosamund Kwan)to distract Tsao she comes with all sorts of things most of them saying that she loves him.
Tsao then tells Chi that he's busy and can't dream with her and leaves. Chi captures up with him and asks him not to go and Tsao swings his hat to the side and takes Chi into his hands and starts snogging her. Tsao then says something that makes Chi want to kiss him more.When Chi wants to kiss him more he signals his helpers to take his place and unfortunately Chi opens her eyes and runs away.
Fook Loi returns from Russia and uses Tsao to capture Ching and put him into jail. At night, Siu-Hon (Olivia Cheng) and her group of ladies free Ching and allow him to make up his mind. The rest of the bad guys arrive on horseback, storming the town and capturing the Japanese tourists.
After Ching makes up his mind, he comes back to his hometown and free the bandits, plus Fook, Tsao and Siu-Hon. He decides to turf the bad guys out of town, beginning by using a chaingun, and later using martial arts. A huge fight breaks out, until the bad guys are dealt with and Ching and Tsao finally take back the map from the Japanese.
Cast
- Sammo HungSammo HungSammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
- Ching Fong-Tin - Yuen BiaoYuen BiaoYuen Biao is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist. He specialises in acrobatics and Chinese martial arts and has worked on over 80 films as actor, stuntman and action choreographer...
- Fire Chief Tsao Cheuk Kin - Rosamund KwanRosamund KwanRosamund Kwan Chi-lam is a Chinese actress born in Hong Kong with ancestry in Shenyang, Liaoning in China on her father's side and from Shanghai on her mother's side. She is the daughter of Shaw Brothers star Kwan Shan and actress Cheung Bing Sai...
- Chi - Kenny BeeKenny BeeChung Chun-to , better known as Kenny Bee, is a Hong Kong singer, musician and actor. He is well-known as a member of the Hong Kong English pop and cantopop band the Wynners, and as a solo artist who has been active in the Hong Kong entertainment industry for nearly three decades.-Career:Bee made...
- Fook Loi / Lai Fu - Peter ChanPeter ChanPeter Chan Ho-sun , is a film director and producer.-Life and career:Chan was born in Bangkok to Chinese parents. He spent his teens in and studied in Hong Kong and United States, and he attended film school at UCLA. He returned to Hong Kong in 1983 for a summer internship in the film industry....
- Firefighter/Security officer - Olivia ChengOlivia ChengOlivia Cheng , born 14 February 1960, is a Hong Kong based former actress. She won the 1979 Miss Hong Kong Pageant and was also elected "Miss Photogenic." She represented Hong Kong in Miss Universe 1979 in Perth, Western Australia, where she went unplaced but ranked a very respectable 21st place...
- Siu-Hon - Chin Kar-lok - Firefighter / Security Officer
- Emily ChuEmily ChuEmily Chu is a Hong Kong film actress.-Filmography:* Magic Sword * The Spiritual Love * Visa to Hell * Angel or Whore * Dignified Killers * The Plot...
- Prostitute Employee Bo - Chung Fat - Bandit
- Fan Mei Sheng - Bandit (as Mei-sheng Fan)
- Hsiao HoHsiao Ho (actor)Hsiao Ho, is a Hong Kong martial arts film actor, stunt performer and action choreographer. He has acted in many films directed by Lau Kar-leung, including Mad Monkey Kung Fu and Legendary Weapons of China...
- Siu Hau - Hwang Jang LeeHwang Jang LeeHwang Jang Lee is a Korean martial artist and actor. Hwang is perhaps best known as Sheng Kuan in 1978 film Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Wong Chin in 1981 film Hitman in the Hand of Buddha. Variations of his name are often written as Wong Cheng Lee or Wong Cheng Li, in their Cantonese-Chinese...
- Yukio Fushiki - Yasuaki Kurata - Samurai
- Phillip Ko - Bandit
- Lam Ching YingLam Ching YingLam Ching Ying was a Hong Kong actor, action director and director. A physically talented and graceful martial artist, Lam was best known for playing the stoic Taoist priest in Mr. Vampire...
- Security officer / Bank Robber - Billy Lau - Train Captain
- Lau Chau Sang - Fireman, security officer
- Lau Kar WingLau Kar WingLau Kar Wing is a Hong Kong martial arts film director, action choreographer and actor.-Background:Born in the Xinhui District of Jiangmen in Guangdong, China, Lau Kar Wing was the fourth child of Lau Cham , a martial arts master who studied under Lam Sai Wing, pupil of the legendary Chinese folk...
- Kang - Mang Hoi - Security officer / convict / Bank Robber (as Randy Mang)
- Richard NgRichard NgRichard Ng Yiu-Hon is a Hong Kong actor. He is known for playing comedic roles, particularly in Hong Kong films of the 1980s and 90s.-Film and television career:...
- Han - Lydia ShumLydia ShumLydia Shum Din-Ha, also known as Lydia Sum , was a Hong Kong comedienne, MC, and actress known for her portly figure, signature dark rimmed glasses and bouffant hairstyle. She was affectionately known to peers and fans as Fei-fei...
- Han's wife - Richard NortonRichard NortonRichard Norton is a martial artist, action film star, and stuntman. Norton worked as a bodyguard in the entertainment business before pursuing an acting career...
- Bandit - Yukari ÔshimaYukari OshimaYukari Ōshima is a Japanese actress and martial artist. Born Tsumura Yukari in Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan, to a successful Japanese businessman and fashion designer and to a Chinese woman...
- Samurai - Cynthia RothrockCynthia RothrockCynthia Rothrock is an American martial artist and actress specializing in martial arts films. -Martial arts achievements:Rothrock is five-time World Karate Champion in forms and weapons between 1981 and 1985...
- Bandit - Shih KienShih KienShek Wing-cheung , better known as Shih Kien, was a Chinese actor from Hong Kong. He is sometimes credited as Shek Kin or Kien Shih...
- Master Sek - James TienJames Tien (actor)James Tien Chun is a Hong Kong actor from Guangdong, China. He appeared in almost 70 films, primarily in Hong Kong action cinema, including roles in the films of martial arts stars including Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. He often played villains or supporting roles...
- Yun Shiyu / Shi Yu - Eric TsangEric TsangEric Tsang Chi-wai , MH is a prolific Hong Kong actor, film director, film producer and television host best known for hosting the Super Trio series on TVB over the course of 10 years.-Biography:Due to his popularity, he is often the MC in events organized by TVB, and is nicknamed "the Prize Master"...
- Jook Bo - Jimmy Wang YuJimmy Wang YuJimmy Wang Yu is a Chinese actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. He shot to fame with the Shaw Brothers Studio's martial arts film, The One-Armed Swordsman, in 1967...
- Master Wong Kei YingWong Kei YingWong Kei-ying , also known as Wong Leung-ying, was a Chinese martial artist and physician who lived during the late Qing Dynasty.... - Dick WeiDick WeiDick Wei is a Taiwanese actor, director and writer who specializes in martial arts and action films.-Early life & career:...
- Bandit - Woo Fung - Mayor Yi
- Shirley Gwan - Lai
- Wu MaWu MaWu Ma is a Chinese actor, director, producer and writer. Wu Ma made his screen debut in 1963, and with over 180 appearances to his name , Wu Ma is one of the most familiar faces in the history of Hong Kong Cinema...
- Security officer / convict / Bank Robber - Pauline Wang Yu-wan - Prostitute
- Bolo YeungBolo YeungYang Sze , better known as Bolo Yeung, is a former competitive bodybuilder and a martial arts film actor. Primarily cast as the villain in the movies he stars in, he is best known for his performances as Bolo in Enter the Dragon and as Chong Li in Bloodsport, and also for his many appearances in...
- Cotton weaver - Yuen WahYuen WahYuen Wah is a Hong Kong based Chinese action film actor, action choreographer, stuntman and martial artist who has appeared in over 160 films and over 20 television series.-Early life:...
- Security officer/convict - Wu MaWu MaWu Ma is a Chinese actor, director, producer and writer. Wu Ma made his screen debut in 1963, and with over 180 appearances to his name , Wu Ma is one of the most familiar faces in the history of Hong Kong Cinema...
- Bank Robber - Yuen Miu - Bank Robber
- Johnny Wang - Train Robber
- Cho Tat WahCho Tat WahCho Tat-wah or Tso Tat-wah was a film actor of Hong Kong, most famous for the roles he played in a number of Wuxia films in the 1950s and 1960s....
- Shanghai Chief Inspector - Teddy YipTeddy YipTheodore "Teddy" Yip was a businessman from Indonesia who was instrumental in developing Macau as a tourist destination and who was a Formula One team owner in the 1970s.-Early life and business career:...
- Siu Hon Kisser - Teresa Ha - Cotton weaver's wife
- Meg Lam - 7th Aunt
- Shirley Gwan - Lai
- Deborah Dik
- Yuen Tak
- Chin Siu HoChin Siu HoChin Siu Ho is a Hong Kong actor and martial artist, notable for acting with Jet Li in The Tai-Chi Master and Fist of Legend...
(deleted scene) - Anthony ChanAnthony ChanAnthony Chan is a well known economist interviewed mainly by CNBC's Squawk Box, Bloomberg Television and Radio on employment figures and interest rates. Currently he is chief economist for JP Morgan. Until then, he had been at Bank One.-References:...
- Alfred CheungAlfred CheungAlfred Cheung Kin-ting is a Chinese actor, director, writer and producer.-Biography:On graduating from the Chinese Language & Literature Faculty of the Hong Kong Baptist University, Alfred Cheung earned a diploma in film production from the Chinese University of Hong Kong...
- Patrick Tse
- Danny Yip
- Yip Seung-Wa
- Poon Lai-Yin
- Yeung Yau-Cheung
- Kam Hing
- Lui Hung (deleted scene)
- Tai Po
DVD releases
The film was initially released on DVD in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
by Universe Laser (Region 0). It was re-released in 2006 by Joy Sales (Region 3).
In the US, it was released in 1999 by Tai Seng, under the title The Millionaires Express (with a leading "The" and the apostrophe omitted). It was re-released in 2007 by Dragon Dynasty
Dragon Dynasty
Dragon Dynasty is a joint venture started by The Weinstein Company and Genius Products. The company was created on May 23, 2006 for the sole purpose of distributing East Asian films on DVD in the US, whose licenses are held by, or will be acquired by The Weinstein Company...
, under the export title Shanghai Express.
In the UK, it was released in 2005 by Hong Kong Legends
Hong Kong Legends
Hong Kong Legends was a United Kingdom DVD distribution company, based in Hertfordshire and operating from the UK and Australia between 1999 and 2007...
/ Contender Entertainment Group, under its original title.