THE NORTH AND SOUTH CHIVALRY (1978?)

[Libretio]

I started a thread over at the Kung Fu Fandom forum concerning an extremely obscure late-1970's 3-D film entitled THE NORTH AND SOUTH CHIVALRY, which I've been trying to identify for a few years now. It isn't listed at HKMDB, but a few respondents at the KFF forum were kind enough to include illustrations which prove the film's existence. What little info I've been able to dredge up in the past suggests it was a Hong Kong production, filmed in 1978 (the same year as that other 3-D extravaganza, MAGNIFICENT BODYGUARDS), though it may have been a Taiwanese production, filmed somewhere between 1975-79.

As such, the film does seem to belong in the HKMDB database, so here's a link to the KFF thread, which may throw more light on the subject:

http://p081.ezboard.com/fkungfufandomfr ... 1766.topic

[dleedlee]

One more image - 南北雙俠

[Bruce]

Here's a little info:
http://movie.gio.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=18791&ctNode=38

[Libretio]

Many thanks for that extra titbit, dleedee.

Can I ask about the way you've rendered the Chinese title? You've arranged the characters in a manner which is the direct opposite of the placement in the ad-mat you provided (ie. the 'first' character in your version is 'last' in the ad-mat, etc.). The transliteration service at xuezhongwen.net seems to bear your version out, as the title seems more 'natural' (for want of a better phrase!) as Nan bei shuang xia than the ad-mat equivalent Xia shuang bei nan. However, I'm still a novice at this sort of thing, so I thought I'd better ask and confirm...

[Bruce]

Until around 1980, Chinese was generally written right to left (when not written vertically); then it reversed and from that time on was left to right. I have my theory as to why this was done at that time, but I have not seen it confirmed in writing so I'd better not voice it and make a fool of myself. Suffice it to say, that if you see horizontal Chinese screen credits for any movie before 1980, you will need to reverse the characters.

[Libretio]

Bruce, that link to the entry in the Taiwanese cinema database was particularly interesting. If I haven't made a mess of the transliteration, the movie appears to have been produced in 1977, directed by Liu Rong-hua. However, despite its appearance on a specifically Taiwanese DB, this phrase -

出品國家：中華民國

- seems to indicate it's a mainland China production (中華民國 = Republic of China). Am I wrong?

[Libretio]

Until around 1980, Chinese was generally written right to left (when not written vertically); then it reversed and from that time on was left to right. I have my theory as to why this was done at that time, but I have not seen it confirmed in writing so I'd better not voice it and make a fool of myself. Suffice it to say, that if you see horizontal Chinese screen credits for any movie before 1980, you will need to reverse the characters.

That explains why I've seen a small handful of such 'reversals' at HKMDB. Truly, you learn something new every day around here!! Thanks, Bruce...

[dleedlee]

Many thanks for that extra titbit, dleedee.

Can I ask about the way you've rendered the Chinese title? You've arranged the characters in a manner which is the direct opposite of the placement in the ad-mat you provided (ie. the 'first' character in your version is 'last' in the ad-mat, etc.). The transliteration service at xuezhongwen.net seems to bear your version out, as the title seems more 'natural' (for want of a better phrase!) as Nan bei shuang xia than the ad-mat equivalent Xia shuang bei nan. However, I'm still a novice at this sort of thing, so I thought I'd better ask and confirm...

Uhh, I can't actually read Chinese, so I can't justify it but it felt right to me. Nam Bei seems more common or natural than Bei Nam, sort of like North South is more common than South North in English. Plus, what Bruce said...very confusing, huh?

[Bruce]

...However, despite its appearance on a specifically Taiwanese DB, this phrase....seems to indicate it's a mainland China production (....= Republic of China). Am I wrong?

Yes, you are wrong. "Republic of China" is the official name of Taiwan. Mainland China is "People's Republic of China".

[Libretio]

So, a Taiwanese production it is, then! Methinks the lid has finally been put on this one...

[Bruce]

Film added:
http://www.hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mht ... ay_set=eng