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Super Spies and Secret Lies: Three Undercover Classics from Shaw Brothers [2 X Blu-ray]
 

The Golden Buddha (1966)

 

Angel with the Iron Fists (1967)         The Singing Thief (1969)

 

 

Following the enormous international success of Dr No and From Russia with Love, Bondmania swept the globe and initiated a cycle of Bondsploitation movies. Studios all over the world sought to capitalise on James Bond and the concept of the super-spy – including Hong Kong’s venerable Shaw Brothers, who began producing tales of intrigue, espionage, and grand theft in the mid-1960s. Eureka Classics presents three of their best in this special-edition set: The Golden Buddha, Angel with the Iron Fists and The Singing Thief.

In The Golden Buddha, businessman Paul (Paul Chang Chung, Police Story) finds himself in the crosshairs of the Skeleton Gang after he picks up the wrong briefcase on a flight to Singapore – one containing a small golden Buddha that might just play a part in a vast criminal conspiracy. In Angel with the Iron Fists, a mysterious woman (Lily Ho, Lady with a Sword) arrives in Hong Kong carrying a cache of stolen diamonds and quickly becomes embroiled with the infamous Devil Girl’s Gang. Finally, in The Singing Thief, a master cat burglar (Jimmy Lin Chong, Tropicana Interlude) makes the decision to go straight and pursue a new career as a singer – that is, at least, until he becomes a suspect in a series of jewel heists.

Directed by studio regulars Lo Wei (The Big Boss) and Chang Cheh (The One-Armed Swordsman), The Golden Buddha, Angel with the Iron Fists and The Singing Thief filter a craze for films centred on super-spies and master criminals through the inimitable style of the Shaw Brothers Studio. All three films are presented on Blu-ray for the first time from HD masters supplied by Celestial Pictures.

Posters

Theatrical Release: April 27th, 1966 - February 14th, 1969

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Review: Eureka Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Eureka Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime The Golden Buddha (1966): 1:46:03.774
Angel with the Iron Fists (1967): 1:58:11.250
The Singing Thief (1969):  1:31:15.761      
Video

The Golden Buddha:

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 47,685,940,366 bytes

Feature: 22,516,721,280 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.31 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Angel with the Iron Fists:

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 47,685,940,366 bytes

Feature: 24,736,740,096 bytes

Video Bitrate: 23.92 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

The Singing Thief:

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 37,944,365,284 bytes

Feature: 27,938,965,056 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.90 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate The Golden Buddha Blu-ray:

Bitrate Angel with the Iron Fists Blu-ray:

Bitrate The Singing Thief Blu-ray:

Audio

LPCM Audio Chinese 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Commentaries:

Dolby Digital Audio English 320 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 320 kbps / DN -31dB

or

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Eureka Classics

 

Edition Details:

• New audio commentaries by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema

• International Super Spies – A new interview with James Bond expert Llewella Chapman on global Bondmania in the 1960s (21:51)
• A new interview with Hong Kong cinema scholar Wayne Wong, editor of Martial Arts Studies (16:43)
Reversible sleeve featuring individual sleeve artwork for each film | Original trailers | PLUS: A limited edition collector's booklet featuring new writing on all three films by Iain Robert Smith, author of The Hollywood Meme: Transnational Adaptations in World Cinema


Blu-ray Release Date: November 18th, 2024

Transparent Blu-ray Case inside Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling

Chapters 11 / 12 / 10

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Eureka Classics Blu-ray (January 2025): In their Super Spies and Secret Lies: Three Undercover Classics from Shaw Brothers Blu-ray package Eureka Classics three 1960's Hong Kong (Shaw Brothers) produced Bond-like action flics. They are Lo Wei's The Golden Buddha from 1966, and Angel with the Iron Fists from 1967 as well as Cheh Chang's The Singing Thief from 1969. They are cited as being from "1080p HD presentations on Blu-ray from HD masters supplied by Celestial Pictures" There is occasional inherent softness (maybe even waxy at times) and a few frames may be warped in The Singing Thief but colors are bright and most close-ups have decent detail. Production vales seem fairly modest with weak fight choreography in The Golden Buddha but there are plenty of extras, sets and musical numbers performed. There are a few flashes of nudity (see samples below) and plenty of gadgets. While not a top-shelf appearance, I though, for these 60s films, the 1080P image quality was acceptable if never stellar.  

NOTE: We have added 150 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Eureka Classics use linear PCM mono tracks (24-bit) in the original Mandarin language although The Golden Buddha also has parts with English, Filipino or Tagalog. There are a handful of less-aggressive conflicts including poison gas, martial arts and machine gunfire from the rear of a sport scar. Effects have some minor depth and the infusive score for The Golden Buddha was by Eddie Wang (Dirty Ho, Clan of the White Lotus, Hex, The Bride From Hell, Killer Constable, Return of the 36th Chamber) as well as Angel with the Iron Fists. The Singing Thief 's occasionally boisterous score is credited to Fu-Ling Wang (The Enchanting Ghost, The Flying Guillotine, The One-Armed Swordsman, The Dragon Missile,) providing a campy edge to the plots. Each film has a nightclub music performance with an exotic dancer in The Golden Buddha and lounge-y numbers, with dancing, in The Singing Thief. Eureka Classics offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Eureka Classics Blu-ray offers a new commentary for each of the three films by Mike Leeder (editor of 100% Jackie Chan: The Essential Companion) and Arne Venema. They discuss the divergence from Shaw studio's period "kung fu" classics, cite Bond references, directors Lo Wei and Cheh Chang with the former also acting in the first two films, the locations, the attractive cast, citing Angel with the Iron Fists as a kind-of remake of Dr No with plenty more discussions ensuing. This commentary pairing is always enthusiastic and fun to listen to. International Super Spies is a new, 22-minute, interview with James Bond expert Llewella Chapman (author of Fashioning James Bond: Costume, Gender and Identity in the World of 007) on global Bondmania in the 1960s. There is also a new 17-minute interview with Hong Kong cinema scholar Wayne Wong, editor of Martial Arts Studies and who teaches in the School of East Asian Studies at the University of Sheffield. He discusses the film's conflict of communism (evil villains) vs. Capitalism and common these present in Bond films. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring individual sleeve artwork for each film plus a limited edition collector's booklet featuring new writing on all three films by Iain Robert Smith, author of The Hollywood Meme: Transnational Adaptations in World Cinema.

All three films, but mostly, The Golden Buddha and Angel with the Iron Fists, have strong Bond vibes. They are more campy with less intensity than, say, Golgo 13 or the delightful Black Tight Killers. Those similar baddies are still here but are more exaggerated in their secrecy and ruthlessness. Hong Kong had a Bond fascination phase of it's own along with Hollywood (Derek Flint, Matt Helm) and Euro film's produced (see the British-made Deadlier Than the Male or French OSS 117). These espionage actioners released in the early 60s gave obvious nods to 007. We have dapper spy-ish heroes (including a female in Angel with the Iron Fists!) - with formal attire, protecting less-worldly characters in distress and always ready for conflict utilizing hidden talents including proficiency in unarmed combat. There are plenty of sexy antagonist drones, techie spy gadgets and gizmos, and amusing super-evil villain clichés. It's hard not to enjoy these films as they evolve with a brisk pace and are both adventurous and fun. I really appreciated the Eureka Classics Blu-ray package of Super Spies and Secret Lies: Three Undercover Classics from Shaw Brothers. A keeper for me. Absolutely recommended.

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

The Golden Buddha

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


Angel with the Iron Fists
 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


The Singing Thief
 

 


 

 


 

 


 

Examples of NSFW (Not Safe For Work) CAPTURES  (Mouse Over to see- CLICK to Enlarge)

  


 

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The Golden Buddha

 

Angel with the Iron Fists

The Singing Thief

 

 
Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Eureka Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 

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