Soldier of Fortune (1955)

The film starts with a rather basic map of what is supposed to be HK in the 50's (it's seems to be set in the same time period it was filmed - i.e. post Communist Revolution and possibly post Korean War).

Moving on, we next get a street scene:

I have no idea where this was but perhaps someone will know something about the advert on the wall on the right hand side. Following on we have a tracking shot down what looks to be Connaught Road West. I've included a couple of shots because more detail is revealed as the camera moves down the road - such as the police platform. Connaught Road is directly referred to in the film as the HQ of Hank Lee - the character played by Gable.

Next we have a great shot of the Central Harbour front with a good shot of the pier in front of Queens Building. With BOC and HSBC in full view.

The next the film cuts away to a more peacful side of HK with Stanley Bay and peninsula stretching out at the back.

Another shot to show the other side of HK life, this time of Aberdeen Harbour and the Holy Spirit seminary roof is just discernable top left.

Finally we finish with a view over Tsim Sha Tsui with the old KCR terminus in full view as well as Salisbury Road and the bus terminus. The single storied Star House can be seen bottom right as can the old signal tower at the Marine Police HQ.

The introduction ends with some shots of the Peak Tram and the view from the front of the tram coming down the hill, but there are screen credits at this point obscuring the view. A second Peak Tram scene is at the end of the film which I will include in a later post.

After arriving in HK, Hayward's character goes to the Marine Police HQ to retrieve some personal items (cameras) of her husbands. This scene involves some footage of the HQ.

Obviously, now that Li Ka Shing has ripped out the grounds in front, the value of this scene has increased somewhat.

Hayward decides to contact Hank Lee (Gable) to see if he can help in the search  for her husband. This sequence is basically a car trip over to Gable's house (king Yin Lei) which starts at the Peninsula. This shot below shows the courtyard and front steps of the Peninsula. At some point in the past the hotel raised the level of its driveway and the front steps have now disappeared.

Departing in Hank's car, the next scene looks to be a vehicular ferry pier somewhere. Can any one identify so I can update the tags?

Next we see a street, assuming it is on HK side. Some adverts can be seen so perhaps someone can identify the street from these?

Next up we see the car driving eastwards on what looks like Bowen Road. Then we see it further along on what is definitely Bowen Road as we can see King Yin Lei peaking out from the top of the trees above.

And then the car turns off a very secluded and undeveloped Stubbs Road into the famous driveway.

Past the gateway - although this looks to be a previous version. I believe the house was given its "King Yin Lei" moniker by Stephen Yow (the owner from 70's - 2007), and perhaps this is when the gateway was also changed?

This sequence ends with some footage inside the house grounds.

the next scene with local footage involves Hayward's character running all over town in a rickshaw in a desperate search for her husband.

What we have is a long sequence with lots of edits, but all look to have been filmed in and around the same area. The tramlines help to narrow it down, but is this De Voeux Road or was it shot further east?

The first still shows a distinctive curved building on the left and in the far background, on the distant curve of the road, a large single building with a blue sign hanging on the front. I'm sure you guys will spot where this is straight away. BTW, that's Hayward's double, not her.

Next shot shows her further up the road by the big building with the blue sign. Continuity being as is it, perhaps the next shot should have come first, but I guess they figured no one would notice.

Finally a back projection shot back in the studio, but there is that same building again. This time we see it from the reverse angle. Is it Wing On?

Hank Lee's offices are on the corner of Connaught Road West where it turns in towards Wing Lok Street and Bonham Strand West.

The first shot is a view over the harbour from here.

Followed by a shot of the 'office'.Does anyone know if the Pedder Industrial Co was a real business, or is the sign there for the benefit of the film?

And another view, later in the day, looking in the opposite direction.

Next we see Hank take a visit one of his contacts at what looks to be the Yau Ma Tei Tin Hau Temple. Interestingly, this location was also used 5 years later for Suzie Wong, but by then a large wall had been built in front of the temple. Here it still looks pretty ramshackle. The building at the back left, on the corner of Temple Street and Public Square Street still stands and contains the Mido cafe

After getting information about Hayward's husband, Hank Lee starts to rally the troops and takes a trip here to coerce some manpower into helping him.

The subsequent scenes shop various shots taken off the coast as Hank's junk sails (supposedly) first to Macau and then into the Mainland for the rescue. Not much to see so I'll skip that and head right to the end...

The film ends with HAyward's husband being rescued and them both boarding a PAA bus outside the Peninsula - offering a great close up of the place as it was in 1955.

They are watched from Salisbury Road by Hank Lee and we get a great look of the whole area including the train terminus and Shell garage opposite.

And finally the film ends as it started on the peak tram.

And finally a shot down the line itself. We can just about discern BOC, HK club, the cricket ground, HSBC etc

Hi Thomas - i believe the copyright ultimately remains in the hands of 20th Century Fox, but feel free to use what you need (at your own risk).

I understand there is a case for 'fair use' if the pictures are incorporated into a larger article where they are used to illustrate part of the text.

Regards

Phil

It could have been Dale Logue who was brought in as Hayward's double for the HK location scenes. She doubled Hayward in many films afterwards.