-
Millionaires' Express AKA Shanghai Express AKA Foo gwai lip che AKA Fu gui lie che AKA Nobles' Express AKA Wealthy Train AKA The Millionaire's Express (1986)
Multi-genre flick (western, martial arts, comedy, adventure, etc.) with an all-star cast about a man who returns to his home town.Director: Sammo Hung Kam-Bo
Year of Copyright: 1985
OVERALL: R1-
OVERALL: R1
The R1 release for additional extra features and the R3 edition for the DTS track.
Do note however that the R2 UK / R4 Australian releases have an interview with Yukari Oshima and the R3 release has an exclusive interview with Yuen Biao.
The R0 release is non-anamorphic and has weak extras but is the only one with HK Version #1 we are aware of (see general note below).
GENERAL NOTES:
Thanks to user Greg Freeman for his time and the following information.
There were often alternate cuts released in HK because they had so much footage and they couldn't use it all in one version of the film. This resulted in multiple version in HK for different territories.
The Universe DVD contains the version we will call HK Version #1, whilst the Joy Sales release includes the version we will call HK Version #2. The Universe version has a scene or two that's not in the Joy Sales version, and vice versa. It also has differently timed music cues and some extra short little scenes here and there.
The international version which was released on VHS in the 80s had a whole sub plot cut out and dubbed into English. The scenes removed include Sammo getting into town at night and talking all romantically with one of his hookers, Yuen Biao as the Police chief going into the hookers hotel room while they're sitting their pretending to paint, the scene where Rosamond Kwan is trying to seduce Yuen Biao, and some stuff about policemen and the Japanese thieves sneaking along roof tops.
As far as we are aware the true international version is yet to be found on DVD. The HK Version #2 is often erroneously referred to as this version though.
To see the differences between the two HK versions, visit Movie-Censorship (though note they incorrectly refer to HK Version #2 as the International version).
GENERAL NOTES:
The film exists in a number of cuts:
- the Hong Kong theatrical version (~97 mins at 24fps/~93 mins at 25fps)
- a so-called "international version" (~102 mins at 24fps/~98 mins) intended for other Asian territories which deleted the introduction of the prostitutes and the hero's impassioned speech defending of them from a mob of angry wives while adding in some scenes missing from the Hong Kong theatrical cut including an introdutory scene for characters played by Richard Norton and Cynthia Rothrock (who do not turn up until the final act of the Hong Kong version);
- the English export version title "Shanghai Express" (~92 mins at 24fps/~88 mins at 25fps) which is a slightly shorter version of the Hong Kong theatrical version with further deletions including the second scene with the hero and the prostitutes (who are not introduced in this version until they arrive in town with the hero by car);
- the Hong Kong Blu-ray featuring an odd alternate cut (~90 mins at 24fps/~87 mins at 25fps) with several additional arbitrary-seeming trims to scenes;
- a hybrid cut on the British Blu-ray compiling material from all three versions runs ~109 mins at 24fps. -
CUTS:
- R0 Hong Kong- Universe Laser and Video Co. Ltd. - No cuts - HK Version #1 (96:34 NTSC).
- R1 America- Genius Products - No cuts - HK Version #2 (101:50 NTSC).
- R2 France- Metropolitan Film - No cuts - HK Version #2 (97:15 PAL) and French version (89:03 PAL). Both versions start with 11 seconds of the Metropolitan logo.
- R2 United Kingdom- Hong Kong Legends - No cuts - HK Version #2 (97:36 PAL).
- R3 Hong Kong- Joy Sales - No cuts - HK Version #2 (101:07 NTSC).
- R4 Australia- Hong Kong Legends - No cuts - HK Version #2 (98 mins PAL).
-
Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!
-
Comparison added by Adrian_Busby on 22/07/02
Comparison last updated by Eric_Cotenas on 15/07/21UPDATE LOG:
22/07/02: Initial entry.
Please ensure you read our disclaimer.
31/05/11: Fixed numerous typos and added the R3 release.
10/07/11: Corrected audio track on R3.
11/02/12: Added R4 Australia.
19/07/15: Updated listing.
23/04/21: Added France, added DVDBeaver, updated title.
-