HONG KONG – "Blind Bargain" – 1960
This is the pilot episode for the 1960-61 series, HONG KONG. Rod Taylor plays an American news reporter stationed in Hong Kong. This episode runs for 30 minutes. The actual series was expanded to an hour and had some personal changes.
Newsman Taylor walks into the Hong Kong Police Headquarters building to see his chum, Police Inspector, Alex Davion. The two have a daily ritual they go through. That is to check all the names of newly arrived airline passengers. Davion, hoping he can catch a crook or two, and Taylor for a story.
One of new arrivals is a newswoman that Taylor has known for years. The woman, Joanne Moore, has a reputation for bending the rules. She will do anything for a story, even stooping to buying one.
Taylor figures she is here to investigate the disappearance of another reporter, Jack Jobson. Jobson has been grabbed up by the Red Chinese when he strayed too close to the border. Taylor tells Davion that they should both keep a close eye on Moore. "She'll get herself in a mess for sure." Needless to say that Taylor's prediction is right on the mark. Moore sticks her nose into Hong Kong's smuggling underworld. She is looking for any possible leads on the missing man. The smugglers are not amused with Moore. They make a tidy living smuggling contraband into Red China.
The Reds arrange for Moore to be abducted and transported by junk to the mainland. Because Taylor has been right on Moore's tail, the Reds also bag Taylor. A blackjack to the back of his head ends any resistance ideas. They are both tossed on the boat for the trip to the mainland. The Reds are more than happy with having Taylor. He has written a few too many negative articles on them. It will now be time for some payback.
Inspector Davion knows something is amiss when Taylor fails to show for a meeting. He quickly sends out officers to check the docks etc. He discovers that indeed, foul play is afoot. He grabs 5-6 constables and boards a Police patrol boat. No horses are spared as they roar after the junk. They need to catch the vessel before it makes Red Chinese waters.
Once they catch up to the junk, Davion fires a few shots over the ship's bow. What he gets in return is a barrage of bullets. Davion returns fire and disables the Chinese vessel.
During all this, Taylor has managed to get the drop on the man guarding Moore and himself. A couple of solid rights and an overhand left settle the issue. Taylor grabs Moore and they both dive out the window and start swimming. There is a nearby island that is still in Hong Kong waters.
The Reds needless to say give chase. The Chinese commander, Allen Jung, dives in followed by the crew, all armed with pistols etc. Taylor and Moore reach the island first. They fade into the brush to hide. The now thoroughly annoyed, Reds, also make it to the island. They are in the mood for killing. And killing they get, except it is the Reds, who eat dirt. Davion and his boys have landed and quickly tear into the Reds.
The next day, Taylor and Davion see Miss Moore to the airport. She has been booted out of Hong Kong.
A very entertaining, fast paced episode of an under-rated series.
The rest of the cast includes, Maris Wrixon, Judy Dan, Daria Massey, Beal Wong and Victor Sen Yung. The latter is best known as the cook, Hop Sing on the long running western series, BONANZA.
The director is Christian Nyby. Nyby, an Oscar nominated (Red River) film editor, turned to directing in the 50's. He worked on many television series between 1953 and 1975. He also directed the feature film, THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD.
The d of p was three time Oscar nominated, Ted McCord. McCord's work is well known to fans of film noir. These include, FLAMINGO ROAD, SMART GIRLS DON'T TALK, THE DAMNED DON'T CRY, THIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS, I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES and THE BREAKING POINT.
This is the pilot episode for the 1960-61 series, HONG KONG. Rod Taylor plays an American news reporter stationed in Hong Kong. This episode runs for 30 minutes. The actual series was expanded to an hour and had some personal changes.
Newsman Taylor walks into the Hong Kong Police Headquarters building to see his chum, Police Inspector, Alex Davion. The two have a daily ritual they go through. That is to check all the names of newly arrived airline passengers. Davion, hoping he can catch a crook or two, and Taylor for a story.
One of new arrivals is a newswoman that Taylor has known for years. The woman, Joanne Moore, has a reputation for bending the rules. She will do anything for a story, even stooping to buying one.
Taylor figures she is here to investigate the disappearance of another reporter, Jack Jobson. Jobson has been grabbed up by the Red Chinese when he strayed too close to the border. Taylor tells Davion that they should both keep a close eye on Moore. "She'll get herself in a mess for sure." Needless to say that Taylor's prediction is right on the mark. Moore sticks her nose into Hong Kong's smuggling underworld. She is looking for any possible leads on the missing man. The smugglers are not amused with Moore. They make a tidy living smuggling contraband into Red China.
The Reds arrange for Moore to be abducted and transported by junk to the mainland. Because Taylor has been right on Moore's tail, the Reds also bag Taylor. A blackjack to the back of his head ends any resistance ideas. They are both tossed on the boat for the trip to the mainland. The Reds are more than happy with having Taylor. He has written a few too many negative articles on them. It will now be time for some payback.
Inspector Davion knows something is amiss when Taylor fails to show for a meeting. He quickly sends out officers to check the docks etc. He discovers that indeed, foul play is afoot. He grabs 5-6 constables and boards a Police patrol boat. No horses are spared as they roar after the junk. They need to catch the vessel before it makes Red Chinese waters.
Once they catch up to the junk, Davion fires a few shots over the ship's bow. What he gets in return is a barrage of bullets. Davion returns fire and disables the Chinese vessel.
During all this, Taylor has managed to get the drop on the man guarding Moore and himself. A couple of solid rights and an overhand left settle the issue. Taylor grabs Moore and they both dive out the window and start swimming. There is a nearby island that is still in Hong Kong waters.
The Reds needless to say give chase. The Chinese commander, Allen Jung, dives in followed by the crew, all armed with pistols etc. Taylor and Moore reach the island first. They fade into the brush to hide. The now thoroughly annoyed, Reds, also make it to the island. They are in the mood for killing. And killing they get, except it is the Reds, who eat dirt. Davion and his boys have landed and quickly tear into the Reds.
The next day, Taylor and Davion see Miss Moore to the airport. She has been booted out of Hong Kong.
A very entertaining, fast paced episode of an under-rated series.
The rest of the cast includes, Maris Wrixon, Judy Dan, Daria Massey, Beal Wong and Victor Sen Yung. The latter is best known as the cook, Hop Sing on the long running western series, BONANZA.
The director is Christian Nyby. Nyby, an Oscar nominated (Red River) film editor, turned to directing in the 50's. He worked on many television series between 1953 and 1975. He also directed the feature film, THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD.
The d of p was three time Oscar nominated, Ted McCord. McCord's work is well known to fans of film noir. These include, FLAMINGO ROAD, SMART GIRLS DON'T TALK, THE DAMNED DON'T CRY, THIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS, I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES and THE BREAKING POINT.
