TAIPAN

US, 1986, 127 minutes, Colour.
Bryan Brown, Joan Chen, John Stanton, Kyra Sedgwick, Janine Turner.
Directed by Daryl Duke.

Taipan is the film version of James Clavell’s novel about the origins of Hong Kong. Clavell (who directed such films as Walk Like a Dragon, To Sir With Love, The Last Valley) is best known as a novelist of such huge tomes as Shogun and Noble House. Shogun was a successful television mini-series with Richard Chamberlain.

However, Taipan was not a successful film. While it is spectacular and is something of a pageant, blame was laid on the screenplay (written by Oscar-winning writer John Briley (Gandhi) and Stanley Mann). It was directed by Daryl Duke, director of such films as Griffin and Phoenix and Florence Nightingale, as well as The Thorn Birds.

Bryan Brown (who appeared in The Thorn Birds) gets top billing with Australian John Stanton coming next. The supporting cast is not particularly well known, a mixture of American, British and Chinese actors.

The film is very colourful and attractive to look at (photography by director Jack Cardiff) with music by Maurice Jarre. However, it is probably the equivalent of a Reader’s Digest version of Clavell’s story.

1.Enjoyable film? Spectacle and pageant? History of Hong Kong?

2.The work of James Clavell, the 19th century history, Asia? The scope of the story?

3.Wide screen photography, Chinese locations? Re-creation of period, costumes and décor? The pageantry? Special effects, the hurricane? The musical score?

4.The background of 19th century trade, China and its suspicions, British Empire pirates, the role of the British, the smuggling of opium and other goods, the reaction of the Chinese royalty, their anger, the burning of the opium?

5.The British Taipan and the head trader in the region? Struhan and his authority? The clash with Brock and his ambitions? Their ships, cargo, followers? The establishing of Hong Kong as a trading centre? Confrontations?

6.Struhan’s character and presence, his family, Scottish background? His bond with the China Lady? Collum and his love for his son? The decision to found Hong Kong? The land, the clashes with Brock, personality, trading? Struhan going into debt, the repayment with the silver? Building Hong Kong, the ambitions for Noble House? The place of Hong Kong society, his influence? The relationship with Mary, the young officer and her engagement? Collum and the building of the church? Collum’s plan to marry, the clash with Brock’s son? Killing him in the fair fight? Brock and his anger, the plan for the marriage, the duel? The ball and the China Lady not being able to go, upset, her pregnancy, the loss of the child? Struhan building up Hong Kong, the hurricane, the destruction of the buildings, his death with the China Lady?

7.Brock and his severity, ambition, his wife, pride in his son, ruthlessness, money and debt, using his wits? Tricked by Collum? His place in the new society? His ships? His son, the marriage of his daughter? Pleading the cause with Struhan? His son’s death, his anger, the duel? Surviving – and offering to bury the Taipan? The confrontation by Collum?

8.Collum, Scots background, devotion to his mother, scandal at the China Lady? Religion, ingenious about the clash between his father and Brock and the sale of the land? Friendship with the captain? Friendship with Brock’s son? Attracted to the daughter, support of his friends, going to the brothel, the plan for him to be infected, his leaving the woman? Marrying Brock’s daughter on ship? Surviving and becoming the Taipan, standing up to Brock?

9.The contrast between the two sons, Brock’s son as vicious in his friendship, his death?

10.The women of the East: the wives and society, the ladies of society, Mary as the prostitute making good, the Chinese mistress and her being held out of sight – yet beloved by the Taipan, their time together, love, discipline and cruelty, pregnancy and death?

11.The presentation of the colonials, the merchants, the army, sailors – their role, building up Hong Kong society?

12.The establishing of the colony, its style and manners, relationship with China? The final credits and the presentation of modern Hong Kong and the achievement?

13.Popular epic and treatment of 19th century history?