Year of the Dragon (1985)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Michael Cimino

Writers:

Robert Daley (novel)
Oliver Stone (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 August 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

It isn't the Bronx or Brooklyn. It isn't even New York. It's Chinatown...and it's about to explode.

Plot:

Using unprecedented degrees of violence, young Joey Tai becomes the head of Chinese mafia in New York and undisputed leader of the Chinese community...

Plot Keywords:

New York | Violence | Chinese Mafia | Vietnam | Chinatown

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Mickey Rourke	...	Capt. Stanley White
John Lone	...	Joey Tai
Ariane	...	Tracy Tzu
Leonard Termo	...	Angelo Rizzo
Raymond J. Barry	...	Louis Bukowski (as Ray Barry)
Caroline Kava	...	Connie White
Eddie Jones	...	William McKenna
Joey Chin	...	Ronnie Chang
Victor Wong	...	Harry Yung
K. Dock Yip	...	Milton Bin
Hon Lam Bau	...	Fred Hung (as Pao Han Lin)
Way Dong Woo	...	Elder
Jimmy Sun	...	Elder
Daniel Davin	...	Francis Kearney
Mark Hammer	...	Commissioner Brendon S. Sullivan
Dennis Dun	...	Herbert Kwong
Jack Kehler	...	Alan Perez
Steven Chen	...	Tony Ho
Paul Scaglione	...	Teddy Tedesco
Joseph Bonaventura	...	Lagnese
Jilly Rizzo	...	Schiro
Tony Lip	...	Lenny Carranza
Fabia Drake	...	Nun
Tisa Chang	...	Nun
Gerald Orange	...	Bear Siku
Mei Sheng Fan	...	White Powder Ma (as Fan Mui Sang)
Yukio Yamamoto	...	Gen. Ban Sung
Doreen Chan	...	Red Hair
Harry Yip	...	Old General
Dermot A. McNamara	...	Scappy Peck (as Dermot McNamara)
Vallo Benjamin	...	D.E.A. Man (as Dr. Vallo Benjamin)
Myra Chen	...	Shanghai Palace Singer
Feng Chin	...	Dragon King
Yuk Fan Yiu	...	Dragon King
Richie Hsiu	...	Dragon King
Jack Lee	...	Dragon King
David Lee	...	Dragon King
Irene Jung	...	Dragon Girl
Josie Lee	...	Dragon Girl
Jiwon Chang	...	Dragon Girl
Kelly Wong	...	Dragon Girl
Chi Moy	...	Dragon Girl
Johnny Shia	...	Chia
Gardell Tung	...	Jade Cobra
Jeff Khowong	...	Jade Cobra
Chao-jung Chen	...	Jade Cobra (as Jerry Chan)
Aileen Ho	...	Jade Cobra Girl
Lisa Lee	...	Jade Cobra Girl
Sammy Lee	...	Pei Brother
Keenan Leung	...	Pei Brother
James Scales	...	Connie's Assassin
Ming C. Lee	...	Jackie Wong
Kader Ma	...	Jackie Wong's Assassin
Paul J.Q. Lee	...	Jackie Wong's Son #1 (as Paul Lee)
Manny Fung	...	Jackie Wong's Son #2
Emily Woo Yamasaki	...	Mrs. Wong (as Emily Woo)
Roza Ng	...	Laura Wong Tai
Gloria Au	...	Joey Tai's Daughter
Jadin Wong	...	Mrs. Harry Yung
Lin Ngan Ng	...	Chinese Widow
Janice Wong	...	Tina
Bruno Millotti	...	Italian Waiter
Lucille D'Agnillo	...	Mrs. Bukowski
Rev. Julian Szumilo	...	Roman Catholic Priest
Cecelia Pei	...	Harry Yung's Secretary
Quan Eng	...	Mortician
George Kodisch	...	Police Sergeant
Bruce Kennedy	...	Surveillance Technician
James Chin	...	Southwind Waiter
Matthew Tung	...	Southwind Waiter
Pat Fuji	...	Shanghai Palace Hostess
Geoffrey Lee	...	Shanghai Palace Musician
Kuni Mikami	...	Shanghai Palace Musician
Billy Asai	...	Shanghai Palace Musician
Chi On Soo Hoo	...	Shanghai Palace Musician
John Sparks	...	Tracy's TV Cameraman
Carmine Venezia	...	Funeral Musician
Anthony Parrillo	...	Funeral Musician
Matthew Castiglione	...	Funeral Musician
Steve Hanson	...	Funeral Musician
Raymond Gardner	...	Funeral Musician
Michael Acampora	...	Funeral Musician

Directed by
Michael Cimino

Writing credits
Robert Daley		(novel)
Oliver Stone		(screenplay) &
Michael Cimino		(screenplay)

Produced by
Dino De Laurentiis	....	producer

Original Music by
David Mansfield

Cinematography by
Alex Thomson

Film Editing by
Noëlle Boisson
Françoise Bonnot

Casting by
Joanna Merlin

Production Design by
Wolf Kroeger

Art Direction by
Victoria Paul		(as Vicki Paul)

Set Decoration by
Robert Drumheller
Richard Kane
Randy Ostrow
Gretchen Rau

Costume Design by
Marietta Ciriello

Makeup Department
John Caglione Jr.	....	special effects makeup artist (as John Caglione)
Alberto Fava	....	makeup designer
David Forrest	....	makeup artist (as David Craig Forrest)
John Sahag	....	hair style designer

Production Management
Fred C. Caruso	....	executive in charge of production (as Fred Caruso)
Fred C. Caruso	....	unit production manager (as Fred Caruso)
Randy Cheveldave	....	unit production manager: Vancouver
Michael Fuller	....	unit production manager: Thailand
Ted Kurdyla	....	assistant unit production manager: North America
Eda Lishman	....	assistant unit production manager: Vancouver
Terry Needham	....	unit production manager: Thailand

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Aaron Barsky	....	second assistant director: North America
Matt Earl Beesley	....	second assistant director: North America
Brian W. Cook	....	first assistant director (as Brian Cook)
Michael Stevenson	....	second assistant director: Thailand

Art Department
Albert Blackshaw	....	construction coordinator: North America
Robert Guerra	....	assistant art director
Andrew Holder	....	sculptor
Bobby Huber	....	construction rigger (as Robert Huber)
Reginald Keywood	....	master carpenter
Basil Lombardo	....	paint foreman (as Bazil Lombardo)
Enno Poersch	....	graphic designer
Ken Powell	....	master plasterer
Jimmy Raitt	....	property master (as James Raitt)
James T. Singelis	....	assistant art director (as James Singeles)
Peter Voysey	....	sculptor
James T. Woods	....	master scenic artist (as James Woods)
Steve Davis	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Brian Kontz	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Leslie A. Pope	....	buyer (uncredited)
Mark S. Turner	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard Adams	....	sound editor (as Richard W. Adams)
Arthur Carelli	....	sound recordist
Carlos Delarios	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Carlos De Larios)
Jay M. Harding	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jack Kirschner	....	sound editor
James J. Klinger	....	supervising sound editor
Jas. Klinger	....	assistant sound editor (as Jas Klinger)
Michael J. Kohut	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Michael Kohut)
Skip MacDonald	....	assistant sound editor
David Stephenson	....	sound mixer
Rich Steven	....	sound editor
Michael Tucker	....	sound boom
Rosemarie Urioste	....	apprentice sound editor

Special Effects by
Mike Edmonson	....	special effects foreman (as Michael Edmonson)
Jeff Jarvis	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Michael Adams	....	stunt coordinator (as Mike Adams)
William H. Burton	....	stunt coordinator (as Bill Burton)
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt coordinator
Jerry Brutsche	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hannah Kozak	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Diane Peterson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Debby Porter	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Blazevicius	....	best boy electric
George Boner	....	rigging electrician (as George Bonner)
Tony Cridlin	....	key grip (as Anthony Cridlin)
Eamonn Dunne	....	rigging electrician
Glenn Dunn	....	rigging electrician
Louis Goldman	....	still photographer
David Griffis	....	grip
Francis Grumman	....	director of photography: second unit
Chris Helcermanas-Benge	....	still photographer: Vancouver
Neil Holcomb	....	rigging electrician
W.C. 'Chunky' Huse	....	best boy grip (as Chunky Huse)
Roy Larner	....	chief lighting technician
Roger McDonald	....	focus puller
Warren Mearns	....	rigging gaffer
David Morani	....	rigging electrician (as Dave Maroni)
Brendan Murphy	....	rigging electrician
John Rogers	....	rigging electrician
John Sheeren	....	clapper loader (as John Sheeran)
Anthony Stephens	....	grip
Alex Thomson	....	camera operator
Chyna Thomson	....	assistant camera
Tony Turner	....	set grip (as Anthony Turner)
Bobby Brown	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Drew Davidson	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Steve Graves	....	rigger (uncredited)
Jim Cody Harrington	....	grip (uncredited)
John W. Scott	....	best boy (uncredited)

Casting Department
Judy Dennis	....	casting associate
Amy Wells	....	extras casting: North America

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Al B. Arden	....	wardrobe: Ms. Ariane
Marianna Åström-De Fina	....	costume supervisor: North America (as Marianna Astrom De Fina)
Cesarini	....	wardrobe: Ms. Ariane
Charles DeCaro	....	associate costume designer (as Charles De Caro)
Dimitri	....	wardrobe: Mr. Lone and Mr. Rourke
Andrea Jovine	....	wardrobe: Ms. Ariane
Christian Kent	....	wardrobe: Ms. Ariane
Richard Little	....	key costumer
Julia Mansford	....	costume supervisor: Thailand
Claude Montana	....	wardrobe: Ms. Ariane

Editorial Department
Russell Briggs	....	apprentice film editor
Martine Mory	....	consulting assistant editor
John Murray	....	assistant film editor
Emmy Scharlatt	....	apprentice film editor
Lesley Topping	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
David Mansfield	....	conductor
David Mansfield	....	music arranger
David Mansfield	....	orchestrator
Joel Moss	....	music recordist
Joel Moss	....	music supervisor
Todd Hayen	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Rudy Ugland	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Yvonne Axeworthy	....	script supervisor (as Yvonne Axworthy)
Peter Benoit	....	unit publicist
Dino De Laurentiis	....	presenter
Judy Dennis	....	dialogue coach
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Pat Fuji	....	supervising production coordinator
Gail Kearns	....	production coordinator: North America
John Kerr	....	key set production assistant
George Kodisch	....	technical police consultant
Les Pendleton	....	sign coordinator
Deborah Ricketts	....	location assistant
Deborah Ricketts	....	researcher
Victor T. Salant	....	location auditor: North America (as Victor Salant)
Rudy Ugland	....	boss wrangler
Lynda Van Damm	....	post-production accountant
Stanley White	....	technical police consultant
Robert Rothbard	....	location manager (uncredited)
Rick Washburn	....	weapons coordinator (uncredited)
John Wildermuth Jr.	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• AMLF (1985) (France) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (1986) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Lucernafilm - Alfa (1991) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Entertainment Company (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG) (1985) (non-USA) (all media)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Thorn EMI Video Australia

Other Companies

• Brett Lewis Jewelry  clothes: Ms. Ariane
• Giorgio Armani  clothes: Ms. Ariane
• Government of Thailand, The  thanks
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  insurance
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Joe Dunton Cameras America  camera and lenses
• Nike  clothes: Ms. Ariane
• North Carolina Film Corp.  catering
• The Royal Thai Army  thanks

Runtime:

134 min

Country:

USA

Language:

Mandarin | English | Cantonese | Vietnamese | Polish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Singapore:M18 | Iceland:16 | Brazil:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Norway:18 | Peru:14 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Company:

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)

Trivia:

The exterior shots of New York City were actually sets built in North Carolina. Said sets proved realistic enough to fool even Stanley Kubrick, who attended the movie's premiere. Co-writer/director 'Michael Cimino' actually had to convince the Bronx-born Kubrick this film's exteriors were shot at a sound-stage and not on location.

Goofs:

Continuity: The first time Stanley is shown on screen his hair is gray and white all over. The next time Stanley is shown in the police station his hair is brown with gray only visible on his temples. In other scenes of the film his hair changes color from gray/white to brown with graying at the temples.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Tracy Tzu: Captain McKenna, any leads in the murder of Jackie Wong?
William McKenna: Nothing at this time.
Tracy Tzu: Do you think this killing means there's some kind of war going on in the Chinatown Tongs?
William McKenna: No, I don't. This is basically a situation where the youth gangs are lashing out at the establishment. The community is cooperating. The situation's under control.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Soundtrack:

Dream Dance (Tian Mi Mi)

very good eighties movie, not yet cinema

This is the first movie in Rourke's golden years: Year of the dragon (1985), 9 1/2 weeks (1986), Angel Heart (1987), Barfly (1987): every single one underrated IMO. His glory started to erode heavily with Johnny Handsome (1989), really hit an all-time low with Wild Orchid (1990) and confirms that as the Marlboro Man's sidekick Harley Davidson (1991). Nevertheless I'm sorry that his footage was cut out of the Thin Red Line (1998), because I like his style. Michael Cimino (Thunderbolt&Lightfoot, Deerhunter) and cinematographer Alex Thomson (Excalibur, the Keep, Legend) apparently know their way in the eighties as well, although the story plays just before.

Is the recent wave of violence in Chinatown caused by Stanley White, the new (Polish originate) gung-ho sheriff in N.Y. Chinatown, or by the hunger for power by the young chinese gangsters? White, ironically, makes his own job harder because he has serious trouble respecting the Chinese in any way. Stanley hits the crime in chinatown like Popeye Doyle in the tradition of the French Connection, instead of a sheriff with brains. He will have to pay for his callousness and hypocrisy.

'Year of the dragon' depicts some of the the money and gambling problems of the Chinese in an early but profound eighties' style. The score sounds cheap, but fortunately is scarce too. I particularly like the noirish feel of this way-above-average cop-flick. Michael Mann could only wish he made this: it's one of my favourite tv-movies. The few negative points are probably due to interference of producer Dino de Laurentiis. 8/10