The film begins following the British victory of the first Opium War and the seizure of Hong Kong. Although the island is largely uninhabited and the terrain unfriendly, it has a large port that both the British government and various trading companies believe will be useful for the import of merchandise to be traded on mainland China, a highly lucrative market.
Production
Massive Hong Kong sets built in China—before it was cool or politically complicated.
Costume
Bryan Brown's aggressively colonial wardrobe choices.
Director
Daryl Duke
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The massive Hong Kong harbor set was built in a Chinese fishing village—ironically, in a country where the film was banned for its depiction of the Opium War.
This was Dino De Laurentiis's attempt to out-epic his own 'Dune,' adapted from James Clavell's novel that spawned a massive franchise—yet somehow nobody remembers this film existed.
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Reactions from the web
I'm reading this book. Had no idea there was a movie
@JacqueLaMerde 11
My god Joan Chen is so gorgeous...even at 57 she's still a looker.
@angusmac2037 18
30 years after seeing this trailer on TV, and I still remember, 'Come to me, Tai-Pan' lol
@gideonwaxfarb 7
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