Hong Kong Legends


Hong Kong Legends was a United Kingdom DVD distribution company, based in Hertfordshire and operating from the UK and Australia between 1999 and 2007. Hong Kong Legends was initially part of Medusa Communications, who, along with Soulblade bought up the UK distribution rights for film titles previously owned by Eastern Heroes label.
Hong Kong Legends released 101 Hong Kong classic films, primarily martial arts films and other action films. In preparing the DVDs, they gained access to the vaults of Hong Kong studios such as Golden Harvest, selecting the films with the highest quality prints available. Hong Kong Legends also added audio commentaries, most notably by Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan, conducted interviews with key actors, directors and other film crew, performed new translations for subtitles and cleaned up damage to the films.
Their catalogue of films included releases featuring Hong Kong stars such as Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Jet Li, Chow Yun-fat, Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh. The company also issued special collector's edition versions of some of the films, which included extra content such as trailers, commentaries and photo galleries.

History

In 2004, Contender Entertainment Group purchased Medusa Communications, including both Hong Kong Legends, and their sister brand, Premier Asia.
Brian White, who had been the Brand Manager and prime mover of the label, left Contender. He was also a close personal friend of Bey Logan. Logan decided it was time to leave Contender as well and shortly afterwards moved to the US.
Harvey Weinstein would bring on board both Bey Logan & Brian White to begin working in a similar capacity for The Weinstein Company's East Asian DVD distribution company Dragon Dynasty, with White also serving as Vice-President of Asian Brand Management and Post Production.
With the loss of both Bey Logan & Brian White, Contender had to cancel many of the planned Hong Kong Legends releases and as there was no attempt to bring in replacement staff to perform audio commentaries, or to create bonus features, the release schedule significantly dropped.
The directors of Medusa went on to start a new company, Showbox Media Group.
In September 2005, Contender entered into a co-operation pact with magazine / partwork publisher De Agostini to bring a selection of the more better known Hong Kong Legends titles, which were released as part of a fortnightly magazine giving facts and backgrounds on the featured film. The titles that were released included Fist of Fury, Drunken Master, Island of Fire, Once Upon a Time in China and The Killer. The series continued for 47 issues.
On 5 November 2007, Contender discontinued the Hong Kong Legends label after releasing the last few DVDs.
On 18 March 2011, Cine-Asia announced a revival of the Hong Kong Legends titles under the banner of Cine-Asia Presents Hong Kong Legends which were released under license from Entertainment One UK. The press release featured new artwork for The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Game of Death, and Way of the Dragon.

Releases

Films

2000 ADArmour of GodThe Avenging FistBattle Creek BrawlBeast CopsA Better Tomorrow IIThe Big BossThe Blacksheep AffairBody WeaponBullet in the HeadA Chinese Ghost StoryA Chinese Ghost Story IICity HunterCity on FireCrime StoryDragon FistDragon from RussiaDragon LordDragons ForeverDreadnaughtDrunken MasterDuel to the DeathEastern CondorsEncounters of the Spooky KindEnter The DragonExecutionersThe Fearless HyenaFirst OptionFist of FuryFlaming BrothersFull ContactGame of DeathGame of Death IIHand of DeathHapkidoHeart of the DragonHeroes Shed No TearsHeroic TrioHitmanHong Kong 1941The Iceman ComethIn the Line of DutyIron Fisted MonkIron MonkeyIsland of FireThe KillerKing of BeggarsKnockaboutLast Hurrah for ChivalryLegend of a FighterMagnificent BodyguardsMagnificent ButcherMagnificent WarriorsThe MasterMillionaire's ExpressMiraclesMr. VampireMoon WarriorsMy Lucky StarsNaked KillerNaked WeaponNew Dragon Gate InnNew Fist of FuryNew Police StoryNinja in the Dragon's DenThe Odd CoupleOnce a ThiefOnce Upon a Time in ChinaOnce Upon a [Time in China II]Once Upon a Time in China IIIOutlaw BrothersThe Peacock KingPeking Opera BluesPolice AssassinsPolice StoryPolice Story 2The Postman Fights BackPrison On FirePrison On Fire 2The Prodigal SonProject AProject A Part IIThe ProtectorPurple StormRed WolfRiki-Oh: The Story of RickyThe Scorpion KingSeoul RaidersSeven SwordsSex and ZenShaolin Wooden Men aka Shaolin Chamber of DeathShe Shoots StraightSkinny Tiger, Fatty DragonSnake & Crane Arts of ShaolinSnake in the Eagle's ShadowSpiritual Kung FuThe SwordsmanTai Chi BoxerTiger on the BeatTwinkle, Twinkle, Lucky StarsWarriors TwoWay of the DragonWheels on MealsWing ChunWinners and SinnersThe Young Master

Documentaries

An Introduction To Hong Kong LegendsBruce Lee: The Legend & Bruce Lee: The Man and the LegendHeromakersJackie Chan: My Story / ''My Stunts''

Box Sets

Bruce Lee 30th Anniversary CommemorativeThe Donnie Yen CollectionThe Epic Action CollectionThe Fantasy Swordplay CollectionThe Jackie Chan CollectionThe Jackie Chan Project A CollectionThe Jet Li CollectionThe John Woo CollectionManga in MotionThe Michelle Yeoh CollectionThe Police Story Double Disc Set

7 DVDs and Magazines

Bruce Lee: The Intercepting FistA Chinese Ghost Story IIIExecutionersHeroic TrioPeking Opera BluesPrison on FirePrison on Fire II
Release information taken from various sources, including the now defunct official Hong Kong Legends website, IMDB
and online stores such as HKFlix.