Tai-Pan (1986)

20% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
38% of users liked it
(1,489 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 from… 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

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 10 min.
Directed By: Daryl Duke
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International

In Theaters: Nov 7, 1986 Wide
On DVD: Jun 1, 2004
Studio: Vestron Video

Critic Reviews

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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Cast

            Bryan Brown as Dirk Struan/Tai-Pan

            Joan Chen as May-May

            John Stanton as Tyler Brock

            Tim Guinee as Culum Struan

            Bill Leadbitter as Gorth Brock

            Russell Wong as Gordon Chen

            Kyra Sedgwick as Tess Brock

            Janine Turner as Shevaun Tillman

            John Bennett as Orlov

            Derrick Branche as Vargas

            Katy Behean as Mary Sinclair

            Rosemarie Dunham as Mrs. Fotheringill

            Robert Easton as Zergeyev

            Richard Foo as Lin Din

            Nicholas Gecks as Horatio

            Tim Guince as Culum

            Michael C. Gwynne as Cooper

            Barbara Keogh as Mrs. Quance

            Chen Kuan-tai as Wung

            Lisa Lu as Ah Gip

            Bert Remsen as Tillman

            Norman Rodway as Aristotle Quance

            Patrick Ryecart as Capt. Glessing

            Patty Toy as Poxed Whore

            Vic Armstrong as Drunken Sailor

            Jovita Adrineda as Servant Girl

            Bob Appleby as British Merchant

            Dickey Beer as Brock's Crew

            Chan Lub Bun as Elderly Chinese Woman

            Carol Gillies as Mrs. Brock

            Pat Gorman as British Merchant

            Billy Horrigan as Brock's Crew

            Denise Kellogg as Nude Model

            Kwang Pan as Kwang Kuo

            Joycelyne Lew as Beaten Whore

            Bronco McLoughlin as Brock's Crew

            Leslie Peterkin as Piper

            Ian Sheridan as British Merchant

            Shu Chen as Chen Sheng

            Kam Siu as Executioner

            Rob Spendlove as Nagrek

            Job Stewart as Dr. Gonzalez

            Mac Wheater as British Merchant

            Charles Woods as British Merchant

            Zhang Jie as Liln

            Chuang Cheng as Jin Qua
See full cast

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