Pan Lei

Directing

Pan Lei

Born — Died

1927-08-04 — 2017-07-22

Place of birth

Haiphong, Vietnam

Known for

Directing

Credits

40 titles

Pan Lei (潘壘), a Taiwanese film director and writer, was born on August 4, 1927, whose original name was Pan Chengde(Chinese: 潘承德), also known as Pan Lei(Chinese: 潘磊) and his pen name Xinxi(心曦). After joining the army to fight the Japanese at the border of China and India, he came to Taiwan in 1949 and became a well known writer and journal publisher. He began his film career as a scriptwriter and directed his first film in 1959. His third film Typhoon (颱風; 1962) was outstanding among its contemporary films with its bold presentation of female desire and artistic achievement, which won him the praise of "Father of Taiwanese Art Cinema" (台灣藝術電影之父) and the invitation to make films for the Shaw …

Known for

New Fist of Fury poster
6.0

A brother and sister escape from Japanese-occupied Shanghai to Japanese-occupied Taiwan, to stay with their grandfather who runs a Kung-Fu school there. However, the master of a Japanese Kung- Fu school in Taiwan has plans to bringing all other schools on the island under his domination, and part of his plan involves the murder of the grandfather.

New Fist of Fury

1976

Spiritual Kung Fu poster
6.0

Jackie Chan plays the part of the class clown in a shaolin temple whose deadliest secret is stolen. All is lost until Jackie's character discovers dancing blue ghosts with bright red hair who haunt the library.

Spiritual Kung Fu

1978

The Fastest Sword poster
6.5

A great "swordfighter" learns humility after he is defeated by a master martial arts monk. But his reputation always precedes him, leading to danger, destruction, challenges, cruelty, kidnapping, and killing.

The Fastest Sword

1968

Lover's Rock poster
6.0

In a tiny Chinese fishing village, two rival fishermen compete for a young woman's love. She does love one of them, but as she is obligated to the other, she cannot marry him. Tragedy is averted when the one she is obliged to falls in love with another. Happiness briefly ensues as the men, with their respective mates, resume their friendship. Unfortunately, they set out to sea and disappear.

Lover's Rock

1964

The Sword poster
7.0

The spoiled and sword-obsessed Hsia Ho Wei desires to own the best sword in the world. But is he willing to betray his family and love to obtain it?

The Sword

1971

Downhill They Ride poster
7.0

Northeastern China is infested with bandits. Hsiao Kai (Paul Chang Chung), a wandering knight, captures a white horse from thieves. His skilful handling of the horse earns his admiration of fellow traveler Chu Ching Hsu (Wong Chung Shun). They arrive at Lo Lung Kow, where the villagers hunt for a living and are constantly terrorized by bandits. Grocer Ting Tze Pao (Ngai Ping Ngo) returns from his negotiations with the bandits with bad news. They intend to collect furs from the villagers at a fixed price. Village leader Mu (Yuen Sam and his daughter Tsui Ying (Pat ting Hung) run a tavern. She wonders how the white horse belonging to a Sinkiang youth named Sha Yi Ti (Man Ling) is now in the possession of Hsiao Kai.

Downhill They Ride

1966

Behind the camera

New Fist of Fury poster
6.0

A brother and sister escape from Japanese-occupied Shanghai to Japanese-occupied Taiwan, to stay with their grandfather who runs a Kung-Fu school there. However, the master of a Japanese Kung- Fu school in Taiwan has plans to bringing all other schools on the island under his domination, and part of his plan involves the murder of the grandfather.

New Fist of Fury

1976

Spiritual Kung Fu poster
6.0

Jackie Chan plays the part of the class clown in a shaolin temple whose deadliest secret is stolen. All is lost until Jackie's character discovers dancing blue ghosts with bright red hair who haunt the library.

Spiritual Kung Fu

1978

The Fastest Sword poster
6.5

A great "swordfighter" learns humility after he is defeated by a master martial arts monk. But his reputation always precedes him, leading to danger, destruction, challenges, cruelty, kidnapping, and killing.

The Fastest Sword

1968

The Fastest Sword poster
6.5

A great "swordfighter" learns humility after he is defeated by a master martial arts monk. But his reputation always precedes him, leading to danger, destruction, challenges, cruelty, kidnapping, and killing.

The Fastest Sword

1968

Lover's Rock poster
6.0

In a tiny Chinese fishing village, two rival fishermen compete for a young woman's love. She does love one of them, but as she is obligated to the other, she cannot marry him. Tragedy is averted when the one she is obliged to falls in love with another. Happiness briefly ensues as the men, with their respective mates, resume their friendship. Unfortunately, they set out to sea and disappear.

Lover's Rock

1964

Lover's Rock poster
6.0

In a tiny Chinese fishing village, two rival fishermen compete for a young woman's love. She does love one of them, but as she is obligated to the other, she cannot marry him. Tragedy is averted when the one she is obliged to falls in love with another. Happiness briefly ensues as the men, with their respective mates, resume their friendship. Unfortunately, they set out to sea and disappear.

Lover's Rock

1964

The Sword poster
7.0

The spoiled and sword-obsessed Hsia Ho Wei desires to own the best sword in the world. But is he willing to betray his family and love to obtain it?

The Sword

1971

The Sword poster
7.0

The spoiled and sword-obsessed Hsia Ho Wei desires to own the best sword in the world. But is he willing to betray his family and love to obtain it?

The Sword

1971

Downhill They Ride poster
7.0

Northeastern China is infested with bandits. Hsiao Kai (Paul Chang Chung), a wandering knight, captures a white horse from thieves. His skilful handling of the horse earns his admiration of fellow traveler Chu Ching Hsu (Wong Chung Shun). They arrive at Lo Lung Kow, where the villagers hunt for a living and are constantly terrorized by bandits. Grocer Ting Tze Pao (Ngai Ping Ngo) returns from his negotiations with the bandits with bad news. They intend to collect furs from the villagers at a fixed price. Village leader Mu (Yuen Sam and his daughter Tsui Ying (Pat ting Hung) run a tavern. She wonders how the white horse belonging to a Sinkiang youth named Sha Yi Ti (Man Ling) is now in the possession of Hsiao Kai.

Downhill They Ride

1966

Love Without End poster
10.0

A remake that doesn't disappoint, the Shawscope color Love Without End is as touching as the classic black and white original. Excelling in the tragic role made famous by Linda Lin Dai in 1961, Jenny Hu was honored with the Special Award for Best Acting in 1970.

Love Without End

1970

Song of Orchid Island poster
9.0

Dr. Ho decides to move to a backward island off the coast of Taiwan to look for his missing father. He meets nurse Ya Lan (Cheng Pei-Pei) who falls in love with him. But dastardly doings are afoot as Dr. Ho's enemies plot against him.

Song of Orchid Island

1965

Song of Orchid Island poster
9.0

Dr. Ho decides to move to a backward island off the coast of Taiwan to look for his missing father. He meets nurse Ya Lan (Cheng Pei-Pei) who falls in love with him. But dastardly doings are afoot as Dr. Ho's enemies plot against him.

Song of Orchid Island

1965

Love Lock poster
NR

Li Ching, Szu Wei and Tsung Hua in an eternal romantic triangle in which a girl has to choose between two men: a poor but upright lad who will marry her for love or a handsome suitor who is after her father's money.

Love Lock

1975

Love Lock poster
NR

Li Ching, Szu Wei and Tsung Hua in an eternal romantic triangle in which a girl has to choose between two men: a poor but upright lad who will marry her for love or a handsome suitor who is after her father's money.

Love Lock

1975

Purple Darts poster
6.7

In an attempt to seize the famous Tai Hsuan Book of Swords the outlaws Wang, Ku, Lu and Pai Feng attack the Hsia Tien Tsai Mansion and slaughter all righteous opponents. Only Hsia’s baby daughter survives and the dying mother leaves a message in blood to urge her to take revenge once she is grown up.

Purple Darts

1969

Purple Darts poster
6.7

In an attempt to seize the famous Tai Hsuan Book of Swords the outlaws Wang, Ku, Lu and Pai Feng attack the Hsia Tien Tsai Mansion and slaughter all righteous opponents. Only Hsia’s baby daughter survives and the dying mother leaves a message in blood to urge her to take revenge once she is grown up.

Purple Darts

1969

Cuties Parade poster
7.0

A romantic Shaw Brothers musical.

Cuties Parade

1975

Cuties Parade poster
7.0

A romantic Shaw Brothers musical.

Cuties Parade

1975

On Mount Hehuan poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

On Mount Hehuan

1958

Evil Seducers poster
7.0

A vainglorious scholar rejects a matchmaking proposal to a daughter of a noble only to have his nights tempted by the lure of a mysterious beauty but their nocturnal encounters begin to prove strange as things aren't what they appear to be.

Evil Seducers

1975

Snake in the Crane's Shadow poster
NR

After the Mistress of the Crane (Doris Lung Chun Erh) finds a valuable piece of jewelry, she must fight off a band of thieves. Despite being blind, the Mistress uses her kung fu mastery to pummel the thieves (including Shek Tin), the notorious Lame Dragon (Barry Chan) and the Eight Step Killer (Lung Tuen-Hsiang). She ends up fighting for her life and the ultimate prize. Gordon Liu hosts the commentary included with this martial arts film.

Snake in the Crane's Shadow

1978

Snake in the Crane's Shadow poster
NR

After the Mistress of the Crane (Doris Lung Chun Erh) finds a valuable piece of jewelry, she must fight off a band of thieves. Despite being blind, the Mistress uses her kung fu mastery to pummel the thieves (including Shek Tin), the notorious Lame Dragon (Barry Chan) and the Eight Step Killer (Lung Tuen-Hsiang). She ends up fighting for her life and the ultimate prize. Gordon Liu hosts the commentary included with this martial arts film.

Snake in the Crane's Shadow

1978

Young Flying Hero poster
1.0

A 1970 film.

Young Flying Hero

1970

Young Flying Hero poster
1.0

A 1970 film.

Young Flying Hero

1970

Fallen Petals poster
7.0

Taiwan's most glamorous screen couple, Ko Chun-Hsiung and Chang Mei-Yao, co-star in "Fallen Petals", a romance with the unique setting of Taiwan during World War II, when the island was a colony of Japan. Ko is drafted into the Japanese army and forced to leave his pregnant girlfriend behind. When he is presumably killed in action, Chang becomes a cabaret girl to support their baby. Thanks to director Pan Lei's sensitive scenario, the dramatic outcome is far from predictable.

Fallen Petals

1968

Fallen Petals poster
7.0

Taiwan's most glamorous screen couple, Ko Chun-Hsiung and Chang Mei-Yao, co-star in "Fallen Petals", a romance with the unique setting of Taiwan during World War II, when the island was a colony of Japan. Ko is drafted into the Japanese army and forced to leave his pregnant girlfriend behind. When he is presumably killed in action, Chang becomes a cabaret girl to support their baby. Thanks to director Pan Lei's sensitive scenario, the dramatic outcome is far from predictable.

Fallen Petals

1968

Alien Corpse poster
NR

Taiwanese horror movie from 1984.

Alien Corpse

1984

Poisonous Rose poster
8.0

A drug smuggling ring is suspected of operating out of a posh Hong Kong nightclub called The Black Widow, where the sultry songbird Chiang Feng is the star attraction.

Poisonous Rose

1966

Poisonous Rose poster
8.0

A drug smuggling ring is suspected of operating out of a posh Hong Kong nightclub called The Black Widow, where the sultry songbird Chiang Feng is the star attraction.

Poisonous Rose

1966

The Purple Shell poster
3.3

Hui Pui-ching, a gentle and fragile woman, endures relentless abuse from her violent husband Fan Pak-nan. By chance, she meets Ha Mon-hin, a cultured and compassionate businessman trapped in his own loveless marriage. Drawn together by loneliness and understanding, their relationship unfolds quietly along seaside walks, where a simple purple shell becomes a symbol of tenderness and fragile hope. As suspicion, jealousy, and blackmail close in, their impossible love spirals toward devastating consequences.

The Purple Shell

1967

The Purple Shell poster
3.3

Hui Pui-ching, a gentle and fragile woman, endures relentless abuse from her violent husband Fan Pak-nan. By chance, she meets Ha Mon-hin, a cultured and compassionate businessman trapped in his own loveless marriage. Drawn together by loneliness and understanding, their relationship unfolds quietly along seaside walks, where a simple purple shell becomes a symbol of tenderness and fragile hope. As suspicion, jealousy, and blackmail close in, their impossible love spirals toward devastating consequences.

The Purple Shell

1967

Typhoon poster
6.0

A clever and lively girl who gets lost in the world of radio drama believes the woman playing mahjong is not her mother, and runs away from home to search for her imaginary mother. A scoundrel claims to be the girl’s father to escape from police. They encounter two women in the mountains: one is tortured by his workaholic husband who engages madly in his scientific research, the other is the pure and naïve girl living in the mountains. Typhoon is coming. They are trapped in a weather station by the heavy rain with their heart and mind overwhelmed by emotions like the rainstorm outside. The film daringly deals with the near infidelity of a middle-aged housewife, a subject at that time both unusual and controversial.

Typhoon

1962

Typhoon poster
6.0

A clever and lively girl who gets lost in the world of radio drama believes the woman playing mahjong is not her mother, and runs away from home to search for her imaginary mother. A scoundrel claims to be the girl’s father to escape from police. They encounter two women in the mountains: one is tortured by his workaholic husband who engages madly in his scientific research, the other is the pure and naïve girl living in the mountains. Typhoon is coming. They are trapped in a weather station by the heavy rain with their heart and mind overwhelmed by emotions like the rainstorm outside. The film daringly deals with the near infidelity of a middle-aged housewife, a subject at that time both unusual and controversial.

Typhoon

1962

The Crooks poster
10.0

Ah Shou (Ye Feng), who appears dimwitted, cleverly outwits a street hawker, Ah Mou (Liu Lu Hua), who befriends him and forms an alliance. Together, they orchestrate various schemes: dining without paying, blackmailing the clients of a brothel, and renting a room to unsuspecting girls but tricking them into thinking the place is haunted, causing them to eventually forfeit their rent. Their mischief continues until they encounter Ah Chiao (Sakura Teng), a vibrant and sharp-witted individual who not only thwarts their schemes but becomes an integral part of their operation. The trio continues with their scams until an unfortunate encounter with robbers and police involvement adds a twist to their adventurous endeavours.

The Crooks

1977

The Crooks poster
10.0

Ah Shou (Ye Feng), who appears dimwitted, cleverly outwits a street hawker, Ah Mou (Liu Lu Hua), who befriends him and forms an alliance. Together, they orchestrate various schemes: dining without paying, blackmailing the clients of a brothel, and renting a room to unsuspecting girls but tricking them into thinking the place is haunted, causing them to eventually forfeit their rent. Their mischief continues until they encounter Ah Chiao (Sakura Teng), a vibrant and sharp-witted individual who not only thwarts their schemes but becomes an integral part of their operation. The trio continues with their scams until an unfortunate encounter with robbers and police involvement adds a twist to their adventurous endeavours.

The Crooks

1977

No artwork available
NR

A 1968 film.

The Wolf and the Angel

1968

Strange Story of Crematory poster
NR

Taiwanese horror movie from 1980.

Strange Story of Crematory

1980

Strange Story of Crematory poster
NR

Taiwanese horror movie from 1980.

Strange Story of Crematory

1980

The Tattoo poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

The Tattoo

1984

Tomorrow Is Another Day poster
NR

Wang Chieh is a young man who's in love with a girl, Yang Wan-ru. However, Yang tells her friend, Tang Hwa, that she's fond of another boy, Kang Ping. Tang Hwa host a party at her place and announces to everyone there that she's engaged to Kang Ping. Yang is heartbroken and later agrees to marry Wang if he's able to pay for her mother's medical bills. He fulfilled his promise and they end up marrying each other. Years later, Wang gets himself into trouble with drugs and goes to jail. Yang returns to her hometown and finds out that Tang Hwa is married but not to Kang Ping. Yang starts an affair with Kang but realizes that he's just a womanizer. Yang returns home and wait for her husband to be released from prison.

Tomorrow Is Another Day

1969