Tai-Pan (1986)
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20% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
38% of users liked it
(1,509 ratings)
Daryl Duke directed this epic adventure, based on James Clavell's best-selling novel, concerning the battle for control of the China trade in early 19th-century Hong Kong. The film takes place in 1842 on the China Coast, where the Chinese object to the British imperialist policy of buying opium… More Daryl Duke directed this epic adventure, based on James Clavell's best-selling novel, concerning the battle for control of the China trade in early 19th-century Hong Kong. The film takes place in 1842 on the China Coast, where the Chinese object to the British imperialist policy of buying opium from the Chinese and then selling it back to them at a higher price. As a result, British warships arrive to pound the recalcitrant Chinese into submission. The outcome of the assault is a treaty giving England the right to operate Hong Kong as a free-port. The problem is who will become the Tai-Pan, or British merchant ruler of Hong Kong? The battle lines for the position are drawn between two swashbucklers -- Dirk Struan (Bryan Brown), a skipping and jumping buccaneer, and Tyler Brock (John Stanton), a weaselly cheat. Brock makes the first move by forcing Straun into bankruptcy, but, thanks to the help of the local prostitute May-May (Joan Chen), who has a score to settle with Brock, Straun is able to raise the money at the last minute. This enrages Brock, who remains bitter through the years and finally confronts Straun in a climactic sword fight. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Daryl Duke
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International
R,
- In Theaters
- Nov 7, 1986 Wide
- Studio
- Vestron Video
Critic Reviews
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Although the film as the first American feature to be shot in the People's Republic of China, there is little visual evidence for this accomplishment.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Bryan Brown
as Dirk Struan/Tai-Pan
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Joan Chen
as May-May
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John Stanton
as Tyler Brock
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Tim Guinee
as Culum Struan
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Bill Leadbitter
as Gorth Brock
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Russell Wong
as Gordon Chen
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Kyra Sedgwick
as Tess Brock
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Janine Turner
as Shevaun Tillman
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John Bennett
as Orlov
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Derrick Branche
as Vargas
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Katy Behean
as Mary Sinclair
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Rosemarie Dunham
as Mrs. Fotheringill
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Robert Easton
as Zergeyev
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Richard Foo
as Lin Din
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Nicholas Gecks
as Horatio
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Tim Guince
as Culum
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Michael C. Gwynne
as Cooper
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Barbara Keogh
as Mrs. Quance
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Chen Kuan-tai
as Wung
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Lisa Lu
as Ah Gip
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Bert Remsen
as Tillman
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Norman Rodway
as Aristotle Quance
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Patrick Ryecart
as Capt. Glessing
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Patty Toy
as Poxed Whore
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Vic Armstrong
as Drunken Sailor
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Jovita Adrineda
as Servant Girl
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Bob Appleby
as British Merchant
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Dickey Beer
as Brock's Crew
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Chan Lub Bun
as Elderly Chinese Woman
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Carol Gillies
as Mrs. Brock
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Pat Gorman
as British Merchant
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Billy Horrigan
as Brock's Crew
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Denise Kellogg
as Nude Model
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Kwang Pan
as Kwang Kuo
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Joycelyne Lew
as Beaten Whore
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Bronco McLoughlin
as Brock's Crew
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Leslie Peterkin
as Piper
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Ian Sheridan
as British Merchant
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Shu Chen
as Chen Sheng
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Kam Siu
as Executioner
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Rob Spendlove
as Nagrek
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Job Stewart
as Dr. Gonzalez
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Mac Wheater
as British Merchant
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Charles Woods
as British Merchant
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Zhang Jie
as Liln
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Chuang Cheng
as Jin Qua
