GOLDEN NEEDLES
US/Hong Kong, 1974, 92 minutes, Colour.
Joe Don Baker, Elizabeth Ashley, Ann Sothern, Jim Kelly, Burgess Meredith.
Directed by Robert Clouse.
Golden Needles is conventional martial arts meets American thriller material. Directed by Robert Clouse, who made the very effective 'Enter the Dragon' as well as such films as 'The Ultimate Warrior' and ‘The Amsterdam Kill’. the film veers in settings from America a to Hong Kong. It Is quite conventional material and stands out only because of Its cast which Includes Joe Don Baker In a typical heavy hero role but has effective support from Elizabeth Ashley, Burgess Meredith and Ann Sothern.
1. An enjoyable film? A Saturday matinee type adventure? For whom was it made?
2. Was it a film of quality of hackwork for popular audiences? Photography, wide screen, location photography, music etc?
3. How interesting a venture between America and Hong Kong? As a martial arts film? Did it seem genuine or mainly contrived?
4. A successful mystery with another plot involvement for audiences? The importance of the Golden Needles myth? Its visualization? The points behind the myth and the reasons for wanting to own the needles? Self satisfaction greedy achievement?
6. How did the films present the themes of money, greedy violence, death?
7. There was much fighting in the film. How well and excitingly was this filmed? Did the film exploit the martial arts and violence? The role of death in the film and the film's attitude towards it? Callous or feeling?
8. How conventional a hero was Su Lan? How typical in his talk and behaviour, his toughness and ingenuity? His role in the Hong Kong fights? His relationship with Fenzie, his relationship with Felicity? Jeff?
9. The importance with the American violence, the encounters with the Winters, the final chase in Hong Kong where he becomes victim and hero? How conventional a heroine was Felicity? Her role as an agent, used by others, her shrewdness her change of heart?
10. Jeff as a conventional aid to a hero, the African American hero? the martial arts expert?
11. The role of Su Lan and the Hong Kong background? Important for Hong Kong audiences? Martial arts representing the Government?
12 How interesting a villain was Winters? As a portrait of
American eccentricity and greed? Callousness? What values did he stand for? How unscrupulously?
13. The role of Fenzie - an American touch of Hong Kong, a touch of atmosphere, her being tortured, her relationship to Mason?
14. The attitude of the film to Chinese villain? The good and bad Chinese? The obsession with the evil Chinese villain? how Was this film a typical 70s matinee product? What were its main characteristics and conventions? What were its main merits?
