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Filmed in Panavision® The story of the rise to prominence of Luk, a Shanghai fruit seller who became one of the most powerful men in China in the first half of the 20th Century. Gaining favor with the local Shanghai Police Chief Wong for his courage and knowhow, Luk takes a job under Wong. When Wong sends Luk to foil the theft of an opium shipment by General Yuan, Luk, ever the opportunist, mediates an agreement between Wong and Yuan and soon, the French Consulate is "persuaded" to give the opium rights to the now rich threesome. After various conflicts and adventures, his fortunes then pit him on the side of the Kuomintang, who is poised to attack local laborers and student leaders. Realizing he has been used by the Kuomintang Army, Luk inventively creates an economic empire in order to destroy them. [Rim Films Catalog]
The movie is essentially a biography of Lu Yun San (Ray Lui), who rose from being an illiterate fruit stand seller to the most powerful man in Shanghai. Lu is a man with a heart of gold but with two flaws: too willing to help out his friends, and too willing to gamble. Lu's first big break came when he befriends Huang Quan Rong (Kent Cheng, a powerful Police Chief Inspector in Shanghai and getting a job working for him (at a very brutal price I may add). As Huang's right hand man, Lu is sent to investigate a missing opium shipment from Generay Yuan Su Chan (Elvis Tsui Kam-Kong). Lu does one better by getting an agreement between Huang and General Yuan. Not only does Lu get this agreement, the French in the French Concession are also persuaded to give the selling opium rights to Lu, Huang and Yuan. This makes them instant millionaires. Later on, the trio is forced to make the difficult decision of choosing sides - union (Communist) or Kuomintang. [summary by Yellow Hammer] |
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