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Golden Needles

  • 1974
  • PG
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
433
YOUR RATING
Joe Don Baker, Jim Kelly, Burgess Meredith, and Ann Sothern in Golden Needles (1974)
Various factions are fighting each other to gain possession of a very special statue. The statue itself is not worth much, the needles inside it are the true prize. These "golden needles" hold extraordinary and unique properties, if inserted in the right positions in a man he will gain super sexual prowess, if placed incorrectly he dies.
Play trailer2:52
1 Video
73 Photos
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Various factions are fighting each other to gain possession of a very special statue. The statue itself is not worth much, the needles inside it are the true prize. These "golden needles" ho... Read allVarious factions are fighting each other to gain possession of a very special statue. The statue itself is not worth much, the needles inside it are the true prize. These "golden needles" hold extraordinary and unique properties, if inserted in the right positions in a man he wil... Read allVarious factions are fighting each other to gain possession of a very special statue. The statue itself is not worth much, the needles inside it are the true prize. These "golden needles" hold extraordinary and unique properties, if inserted in the right positions in a man he will gain super sexual prowess, if placed incorrectly he dies.

  • Director
    • Robert Clouse
  • Writers
    • S. Lee Pogostin
    • Sylvia Schneble
  • Stars
    • Joe Don Baker
    • Elizabeth Ashley
    • Jim Kelly
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    433
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Clouse
    • Writers
      • S. Lee Pogostin
      • Sylvia Schneble
    • Stars
      • Joe Don Baker
      • Elizabeth Ashley
      • Jim Kelly
    • 8User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:52
    Watch Trailer

    Photos73

    Joe Don Baker in Golden Needles (1974)
    Joe Don Baker and Elizabeth Ashley in Golden Needles (1974)
    Elizabeth Ashley in Golden Needles (1974)
    Pat E. Johnson and Burgess Meredith in Golden Needles (1974)
    Joe Don Baker and Elizabeth Ashley in Golden Needles (1974)
    Joe Don Baker, Elizabeth Ashley, and Jim Kelly in Golden Needles (1974)
    Elizabeth Ashley in Golden Needles (1974)
    Joe Don Baker in Golden Needles (1974)
    Ann Sothern in Golden Needles (1974)
    Joe Don Baker in Golden Needles (1974)
    Ming Shih in Golden Needles (1974)
    Roy Chiao in Golden Needles (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joe Don Baker
    Joe Don Baker
    • Dan
    Elizabeth Ashley
    Elizabeth Ashley
    • Felicity
    Jim Kelly
    Jim Kelly
    • Jeff
    Burgess Meredith
    Burgess Meredith
    • Winters
    Ann Sothern
    Ann Sothern
    • Finzie
    Roy Chiao
    Roy Chiao
    • Lin Toa
    Frances Fong
    Frances Fong
    • Su Lin
    Kung-Wu Huang
    Kung-Wu Huang
    • Kwan
    • (as Tony Lee)
    Alice Fong
    • Lotus
    Sonny Barnes
    • Claude
    • (as Clarence Barnes)
    Pat E. Johnson
    Pat E. Johnson
    • Winter's Man
    • (as Pat Johnson)
    Edgar Justice
    • Bobby
    Shao-Hung Chan
    Shao-Hung Chan
      Tiet Wo Chu
      Tiet Wo Chu
        Ju Fang
        Ju Fang
          Yuen Fang
          • Acupuncturist
          • (uncredited)
          Raven Grey Eagle
          • Taxi Driver
          • (uncredited)
          Li-Jen Ho
          Li-Jen Ho
          • Patient
          • (uncredited)
          • Director
            • Robert Clouse
          • Writers
            • S. Lee Pogostin
            • Sylvia Schneble
          • All cast & crew
          • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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          Storyline

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          Did you know

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          • Trivia
            Played for only one day in Hong Kong theaters and had a box office revenue of 18 Hong Kong dollars.
          • Connections
            Featured in Trailer War (2012)

          User reviews8

          Review
          Review
          Featured review
          8/10
          ''The One Who Owns Them Can Rule The World''!
          ''Golden Needles'' was one of American International Pictures 20 year anniversary releases. A mixture of the then-popular Martial Arts genre with a ''Maltese Falcon'' like plot, it's a fast-moving, popcorn movie, the kind they used to make in the 40's. Starring Joe Don Baker (''Walking Tall'') and Elizabeth Ashley(''Rancho Deluxe''), the film spins an actionful tale, set in the seamy section of Hong Kong.Baker is a soldier of fortune-turned Antique Dealer, (or, maybe the other way around) who is hired by a mystery woman (Ashley) to steal a priceless ancient statue with the power to bestow long life (and sexual vigor) or instant death to he(or she) who owns it. Ashley herself has been cheated out of the statue by a powerful Chinese gang leader Roy Chiao) and she's after it for HER employer (a wizened Burgess Meredith, having a ball with his eccentric character). Karate star Jim Kelly (''Enter The Dragon'') appears briefly as Baker's partner in the Antique business. The legendary Ann Sothern is also aboard,and she's fine as another of Baker's pals, the tough but good-hearted proprietor of a seedy bar. Beautiful Frances Fong is around as well, as an agent for the Hong Kong government and also in pursuit of the statue.Double-crosses, fights, chases and mayhem ensue, but though the plot has more than it's share of threads, it is never confusing, thanks to ''Dragon's'' director, Robert Clouse, who treats it like the old-fashioned ''B'' movie it really is. Though produced on a low budget, as was the case with most American International movies,it looks like every penny spent is on the screen. The location photography is excellent, as is the classy art direction, and both lend plenty of atmosphere to the story.

          The sets are also impressive,one in particular at the start of the film, is very reminiscent of the witch's lair in ''Suspiria'',but it pre-dates that film by 2 years. High praise goes to Lalo Schifrin's pulsating score as well. Though Meredith and Sothern were obviously added for their name value and have little to do,they, along with the rest of the cast seem to be enjoying themselves immensely,and if the viewer can suspend disbelief a bit and just go along with the story, they will, too. Previously available only in Canada, on a pan-and scan videotape, ''Golden Needles'' was released on DVD as part of the ''MGM DVD ON DEMAND'' series. It's presented in it's original Panavision format, with rich color and strong (if a bit grainy) picture quality. The sound is always intelligible,though slightly distorted here and there. But, all in all, it's a welcome release of a film that's been sadly neglected over the years. And one that may now get the attention it deserves.
          helpful•4
          0
          • phillindholm
          • Jul 16, 2012

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          Details

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          • Release date
            • July 17, 1974 (United States)
          • Country of origin
            • United States
          • Languages
            • English
            • Chinese
          • Also known as
            • The Chase for the Golden Needles
          • Filming locations
            • Hong Kong, China
          • Production companies
            • American International Pictures (AIP)
            • Sequoia Pictures
          • See more company credits at IMDbPro

          Technical specs

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          • Runtime
            1 hour 32 minutes
          • Color
            • Color
          • Sound mix
            • Mono
          • Aspect ratio
            • 2.35 : 1

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