Nancy Kwan Movies
Actress Nancy Kwan was born in Hong Kong to a Chinese father and English mother. Raised in England, Kwan studied and performed with the Royal Ballet, then returned to Hong Kong to maintain her own dance school. She achieved film stardom when she replaced the ailing France Nuyen in The World of Susie Wong (1961); ironically, the makeup men were obliged to make her look "more Chinese." She followed this box-office success with Flower Drum Song (1961), where she sang (or perhaps lip-synched) the Rodgers and Hammerstein standard "I Enjoy Being a Girl." Roles tapered off in quality over the next few years, and by 1967 her career was dwindling. Nancy Kwan has since sustained her movie career in Hong Kong-produced cheapies, and has recently made a TV comeback of sorts promoting a line of cosmetics on a series of late-night infomercials. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 2007
Filmmaker Arthur Dong's documentary Hollywood Chinese pays homage to the first century of the American film industry, as specifically colored and influenced by the Chinese immigrants to whom Hollywood owes an inestimable debt. Dong touches on everyone from actress Anna May Wong, of Limehouse Blues (1934) and Lady from Chungking (1943), to the late cameraman James Wong Howe, responsible for giving the Rock Hudson thriller Seconds (1966) such a creepy and inventive look. Dong also explores the newer generation of Chinese-American filmmakers, including such giants as Wayne Wang and Ang Lee, responsible for such contemporary classics as The Joy Luck Club, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Brokeback Mountain. At the same time, a haunting and telling undercurrent of racism and stereotypes weaves its way in, suggestive of the difficulties that Chinese men and women found working in Hollywood -- particularly in the early years. As a historical footnote, Dong also makes film history by rediscovering and editing in footage from what is alleged to be the first Asian-American film ever made: the 1916 Curse of Quon Gwan, directed by Marion Wong. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Turhan Bey, Joan Chen, (more)
- 2000
Abby (Maura Tierney) and her bipolar mom, Maggie (Sally Field), have a tense confrontation just before Thanksgiving. In a less serious but similar vein, Chen (Ming-Na) uses a family Thanksgiving party as an opportunity to reveal her pregnancy to her mother (Nancy Kwan). Back at the ER, Abby barely survives an explosion in Exam Three; Carter (Noah Wyle) searches for a drug addict that has checked out of the hospital too soon; and Greene (Anthony Edwards) is informed of the severity of his current illness. "Rescue Me" is dedicated to the memory of guest star Anthony Lee (here seen in the role of Mr. Floryea), who was killed shortly before the episode aired. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Late stuntman Bernhard Pock wrote, directed, and starred in this gritty modern-day fairy tale about a biker poet on a journey of self-discovery. Pock is Jeremy, a lone wolf who takes on a traveling companion when he happens on a young kidnapped girl (Amber Tamblyn). Together the duo crosses the country, meeting an oddball menagerie of characters along the way. Nancy Kwan also stars. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
The brief but eventful life of actor and martial arts trailblazer Bruce Lee is portrayed in this drama, based on a biography written by his widow Linda Lee Caldwell. Lee is introduced to the study of martial arts as a child living in Hong Kong by his father (Ric Young); the father dreamed that a demonic armored dragon would take his son from him, and wanted young Bruce to be able to protect himself. Bruce continues his training as he grows to adulthood, and after the cocky teenaged Lee (Jason Scott Lee, no relation to Bruce) seriously injures a prominent British citizen while fighting a gang of troublemakers at a dance, he's sent to San Francisco. While working as a dishwasher, Bruce begins to study philosophy, and in time develops a personal martial arts discipline, Jeet Kune-Do, which blends Kung Fu fighting techniques with lessons gained from his philosophical research. Bruce decides to open a martial arts academy on the advice of his fiancée Linda (Lauren Holly); Linda and Bruce encounter resistance as a mixed-race couple, especially from Linda's mother Vivian (Michael Learned), and Bruce earns the enmity of traditional Chinese martial arts experts for his new style. But after a strong showing in several public tournaments, Bruce's fighting skill and charisma attracts the attention of TV producer Bill Krieger (Robert Wagner). Bruce is cast as Kato, the karate-trained sidekick on the series The Green Hornet, and while the show is short-lived in America, it's a huge success in Asia, leading to a series of films based around Bruce's remarkable fighting skills. Sadly, shortly before the release of the film that would make him a major screen star in the United States, Enter The Dragon, a mysterious brain disorder sends Lee into a coma that soon kills him. In a tragedy with eerie timing, Bruce Lee's real-life son Brandon Lee died shortly before this film was released, the result of an accidental shooting while completing the picture The Crow. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Scott Lee, Lauren Holly, (more)
- 1990
Miracle Landing is a quickly but carefully made TV movie dramatizing an actual near-disaster in the air. The tale begins with Aloha Airline's Flight 737 making a routine trip between Hilo and Honolulu. As the plane reaches an altitude of 24,000 feet, the top portion of the fuselage suddenly strips off, depressurizing the cabin and exposing the passengers to flying debris and deadly winds. The film then concentrates on the cool professionalism of the flight attendants and 3-person crew, as they calm down the 89 passengers and bring the severely damaged plane for a safe landing. Miracle Landing is cut-and-dried for the most part, but isolated moments are impossible to forget--notably a shot of an anguished passenger with a shard of metal grotesquely fused to his face! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Three close friends begin to obsess about infants, breast-feeding, disposable diapers and the like in the made-for-TV Babies. Lindsay Wagner plays a thirtysomething career woman who'd like the responsibilities of motherhood without the complication of a man in her life. Dinah Manoff is a married lady who can't conceive; she tries to convince husband Alan Arkin that adoption is the way to go. And Marcy Walker is carrying a baby who may require delicate prebirth kidney surgery. Babies was first telecast September 17, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
- R
In this violent L.A.-set police drama, a hard-boiled cop and a parole officer work together to bring a vicious gang leader to justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1989
- NR
In this black comedy starring Randy Quaid, a dead dog, a red-hot date, and a Zen-quoting cabbie with strange connections provide the ingredients for the most frustrating night in poor Michael Latchmer's heretofore dull life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Randy Quaid, Frank Whaley, (more)
- 1986
Defying the orders of General Stockwell (Robert Vaughn), the A-Team heads to Hong Kong when Hannibal vanishes during a secret mission involving stolen plutonium. The plot thickens when Stockwell is captured, requiring the Team members to stage two different rescues--and to come full circle by robbing another bank! This episode prominently features two future TV-series stars: 21 Jump Street's Dustin Nguyen, and Star Trek: The Next Generation's Rosalind Chao. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Terry Lester stars as Joe Blade in this unclaimed TV pilot film. An American, Blade works in Hong Kong, the home of his adoptive father Keye Luke. When Luke is killed and a wealthy man is kidnapped, Blade springs into action (Maybe he's a switch-Blade. Forget we said that.) Ellen Regan, Leslie Nielsen, Anthony Newley and a pre-infomercial Nancy Kwan co-star in this location-filmed actioner. Blade in Hong Kong was foisted on the public on May 15, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Terry Lester, Keye Luke, (more)
In this action-crime drama, Jason Walk, an L.A. cab driver, suffers a luckless life. He not only has marital woes at home, he is unable to collect the money from the people he runs numbers for. One day the luck changes when the gun-toting Christine enters his hack. She is out to get revenge upon the man who murdered her husband and son, but the cab driver doesn't know this as he takes her to her fateful appointment with the killer. Soon he finds himself hopelessly entangled in the mess and is pursued by both the police and crooks. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Forster, Joe Spinell, (more)
- 1983
In this martial arts movie, an American art dealer, who doubles as a Ninja, must use his fighting skill, to save a group of scientists being held hostage by terrorists in Dallas. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1981
In a tale of drama and adventure, young journalist Andy Cameron (Robert Walker) has to get into Cambodia (it is assumed this is during the genocidal reign of Pol Pot). Cameron has to smuggle out his girlfriend Mieng (Nit Alisa) before she is killed (along with the other two million Cambodians), but he cannot manage this alone. He enlists the aid of an American Vietnam vet and the help of a few Khmer men. Eventually, Cameron makes his way into Cambodia where he encounters many dangers, some human and some inhuman (though the thousands of landmines that pose a continuing threat to a now peaceful Cambodia are not mentioned here). ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher George, Woody Strode, (more)
- 1979
Just before assuming the hosting chores of TV's Hour Magazine, Gary Collins headed the cast of Streets of Hong Kong. An orphaned American male is raised by a kindly, wealthy Chinese gentleman. Problems arise when the American expresses a desire to marry his mentor's daughter. Nancy Kwan costars in this slow-moving meller. You know, it's just possible that Streets of Hong Kong was made quite a few years before its official 1979 release; at least, everyone in the cast looks a lot younger than they were in '79. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this jungle thriller, a vicious big-game-hunting adventure writer finds his inflated sense of machismo threatened by his fear of the man-eating black leopard who attacked him on his Southeast-Asian island paradise. He decides that the only way to end his fear is meet it head on and so goes in search of the deadly big cat. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donald Pleasence, Nancy Kwan, (more)
This low-budget action film stars Leslie Nielsen as Jonathan Trevor, a spy who defects and is chased by drugged-out hitmen in the Philippines. Trevor ends up hooked on drugs himself and suffers painful withdrawals while attended to by girlfriend Nancy Kwan. Gary Lockwood co-stars with Vic Diaz, who must have some sort of deal allowing him to appear in every crummy Filipino co-production ever made. For high-camp buffs curious to see Naked Gun star Nielsen go through D.T.'s and perform some unconvincing martial arts, this may be a good bet. Director William Girdler went on to make The Manitou. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- 1975
An international cockfighting tournament in the Republic of the Philippines draws Seth Calhoun (Ross Hagen) and his beloved game fowl, Friendly. Local promoter and gangster Seeno Nono (Subas Herrero) is concerned by the American's confidence in placing only one cock in the competition, so he dispatches his loyal employee Yuki Chang (Nancy Kwan) to learn more about the flamboyant cowboy. An offer to buy Friendly is rebuffed, so the gangster sends his henchmen to steal the rooster, but they haven't counted on Calhoun's skills with fisticuffs and guns. Meanwhile, Yuki is falling in love with Calhoun, though an attempt at a tryst is interrupted when Friendly is successfully kidnapped. With the help of Yuki, assistant cock trainer G.I. Joe (Tony Lorea), and a band of helpful street urchins, the fighting fowl is recovered just in time to compete. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide
- 1974
- PG
A courageous stick fighter takes on a wicked Spanish governor to fight for the rights of oppressed Filipinos in this martial arts adventure. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1973
- PG
An evil woman makes a good living by kidnapping famous athletes, chopping them up and selling their remaining viable parts to the elderly riche until an insurance detective catches on and saves the day in this horror thriller. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nancy Kwan, Ross Hagen, (more)
- 1970
Apparently Carl Betz had no immediate offers after wrapping up the TV series Judd for the Defense. Thus it was that Betz scurried off to the Mysterious East to film the modestly budgeted actioner That Lady From Peking. The "maguffin" in this one is a potentially explosive tell-all diary. Betz isn't the only one looking for this item; leading lady Nancy Kwan and a few less attractive, more disreputable types are also on the trail. Featured in the cast are onetime teen singing idol Bobby Rydell and perennial comic foil Sid Melton. That Lady From Peking was directed by Eddie Davis, who cut his teeth on such low-cost 1950s TV series as Highway Patrol and Sea Hunt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
