Eureka Entertainment has announced three new titles to join their collection on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray this May: A Queen’s Ransom (1976), The Valiant Ones (1975), and Prison Walls: Abashiri Prison I-III (1965). These represent an explosive action-thriller, the last true wuxia film directed by celebrated Taiwanese filmmaker King Hu, and the first three entries in a landmark yakuza series. Details on these films can be found below:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itdc8B9gD0g]
A Queen’s Ransom
Street Date: May 28, 2024
Synopsis: Perhaps even God can’t save the Queen in Golden Harvest’s A Queen’s Ransom (also known as International Assassin), an explosive action-thriller starring George Lazenby (The Man from Hong Kong), Angela Mao (Lady Whirlwind) and the legendary Jimmy Wang Yu (The One-Armed Swordsman).
As Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Hong Kong for a state visit, a band of skilled mercenaries plan her assassination. Contracted by an Irish Republican (Lazenby), the international group of hired killers includes a Japanese explosives expert (Chang Pei-shan), a Thai boxer (Bolo Yeung), a Filipino sniper (Peter Chan Lung) and a veteran of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (Wang Yu). As the conspirators move to carry out their plot, two police officials (Ko Chun-Hsiung and Charles Heung) work with a young socialite (Tanny Tien Ni) in a race against time to save the Monarch’s head – while also trying to manage a crisis that has brought a huge number of refugees to Hong Kong, including a young Cambodian princess (Mao).
Written and directed by Ting Shan-hsi (Rebel Boxer), A Queen’s Ransom was Golden Harvest’s attempt to capitalize on the popular success of the political thriller in the wake of The Day of the Jackal. Eureka Classics is proud to present the film for the first time ever on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration.
The first print run of 2000 copies in each territory will feature an O-card slipcase and collector’s booklet.
Bonus Materials
- Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling (First Pressing only)
- 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray of the original Hong Kong theatrical cut from a brand new 2K restoration
- 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray of the original English language export cut from a brand new 2K restoration
- Original Mandarin and optional classic English dub (Hong Kong theatrical cut)
- Classic English dub (Export version)
- Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
- Brand new audio commentary on the Hong Kong theatrical version by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
- Brand new audio commentary on the export version by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
- Brand new documentary featurette by martial artist and actor Michael Worth
- Reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork
- Trailers
- Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by James Oliver (First Pressing Only)
The Valiant Ones [4K UHD and Blu-Ray]
Street Date: May 28, 2024
Synopsis: The Valiant Ones is perhaps the last true wuxia film directed by celebrated Taiwanese filmmaker King Hu, an undisputed master of the genre. Shot back-to-back with The Fate of Lee Khan (but not released until two years later), it stands as a worthy follow-up to his earlier works Come Drink with Me, Dragon Inn and A Touch of Zen.
During the reign of the Jiajing Emperor (Chao Lei), China’s coastal regions have come under attack by wokou – Japanese pirates under the leadership of the infamous Hakatatsu (Sammo Hung). To combat this threat, the Emperor tasks a trusted general, Zhu Wan (Tu Kuang-chi), with assembling a group of skilled warriors to find and eliminate the pirates. Under the command of General Yu Dayou (Roy Chiao), the band of soldiers – including husband-and-wife sword-fighters Wu Ji-yuan (Wing Bai) and Wu Ruo-shi (Feng Hsu) – set out to draw Hakatatsu, his ally Xu Dong (Han Ying-chieh) and their pirate clan into a series of spectacular showdowns.
Inspired by historical events and featuring several storied figures drawn from Chinese history, The Valiant Ones is a standout wuxia film produced during the dying days of the genre, as audience tastes were shifting towards more grounded kung fu cinema. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the film on 4K Ultra HD for the first time.
Presented from a brand new 4K restoration on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, and part of the Masters of Cinema Series, the first print run of 2000 copies of each format in each territory will feature a Limited edition O-card slipcase.
Bonus Materials
- Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju) (First Pressing Only)
- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation, presented in Dolby Vision HDR from a 4K digital restoration of the original negatives gifted by director King Hu to the Hong Kong Film Archive
- Uncompressed original Mandarin mono restored from the original soundtrack negative
- Optional English subtitles newly translated for this release
- Brand new audio commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
- Tony Rayns on The Valiant Ones – Brand new interview with critic and Asian film expert Tony Rayns
- Brand new video essay by David Cairns
- The Life of a Lucky Stuntman – Brand new interview with stuntman Billy Chan
- My Father and I – Brand new interview with actor Ng Ming-choi
- Archival 2003 interview with actress Hsu Feng by Frédéric Ambroisine
- Archival 2003 interview with Roger Garcia (Hong Kong International Film Festival Society) by Frédéric Ambroisine
- Archival 2016 interview with actor Ng Ming-choi by Frédéric Ambroisine
- Limited Edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Jonathan Clements (First Pressing Only)
Prison Walls: Abashiri Prison I-III
Street Date: May 28, 2024
Synopsis: Constructed in the late nineteenth century to house political prisoners, Japan’s infamous Abashiri Prison served as the inspiration for a popular and prolific run of yakuza movies released between 1965 and 1972. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the first three entries in this landmark series, directed by the “King of Cult” Teruo Ishii (Shogun’s Joy of Torture) and starring a titan of Japanese genre cinema, Ken Takakura (The Bullet Train).
In Abashiri Prison, Takakura stars as Shinichi Tachibana, a yakuza sent to Abashiri as punishment for an attack on a rival gangster. He intends to serve his time as a model prisoner until he is shackled to the bullish Gonzo Gonda (Kōji Nanbara), unwittingly roped into an escape attempt orchestrated by Heizo Yoda (Tōru Abe) and forced to face the frozen wilderness of Hokkaidō. In Another Abashiri Prison Story, Tachibana has just been released when he stumbles across a stash of diamonds recently stolen in a bank heist – and attracts unwanted attention from criminals and cops alike. Finally, in Abashiri Prison: Saga of Homesickness, Tachibana reunites with his former yakuza associates, who are trying to go straight. That is, at least, until old rivals come looking for trouble…
Ken Takakura would reprise the role of Tachibana in another seven films under the Abashiri Prison banner – all of them helmed by Teruo Ishii – before the series was rebooted as New Abashiri Prison in 1968, leading to a further eight instalments with Takakura in the lead. It all began with these early entries, presented here for the first time ever on Blu-ray from brand new restorations of the original film elements by Toei.
Available as part of The Masters of Cinema Series, the first print run of 2000 copies in each territory will feature an O-card slipcase.
Bonus Materials
- Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Tony Stella (First Pressing Only)
- 1080p HD presentation of all three films from restorations of the original film elements supplied by Toei
- Optional English subtitles newly translated for this release
- Original Japanese audio (uncompressed LPCM mono)
- Brand new audio commentary tracks by Tom Mes, Chris Poggiali and Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
- Tony Rayns on Abashiri Prison – brand new interview with critic and Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns
- Brand new video appreciation by Jasper Sharp and Mark Schilling
- Trailers
- Collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Mark Schilling (First Pressing On
Before we let you go, we have officially launched our merch store! Check out all of our amazing apparel when you click here and type in GVN15 at checkout for a 15% discount!
Make sure to check out our podcasts each week including Geek Vibes Live, Top 10 with Tia, Wrestling Geeks Alliance and more! For major deals and money off on Amazon, make sure to use our affiliate link!
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.