Hercules Against Karate (1973) Antonio Margheriti

I was in this movie. You see the Chinese kid in the screenshot at 1:26:26 and 1:33:41? That is me. I am also in earlier part of the movie, the screen capture didn’t catch it.

I was 7 at the time of filming in 1972. The movie was produced by iconic Italian producer Carlo Ponti who was married to Sophia Loren. They would come to the set and I met Ms. Loren.

My part of the filming lasted a month and Mom was with me every day we were on the set. I was paid in Italian Lira (no Euros currency yet) the equivalent of $2000 which was a lot of money back then. Mom and Dad held on to that money because I was a minor and when we came to the USA in 1977, they put it in an interested earning CD and I received it when I was 18. I think I used most of it for college and to pay for my first apartment and used car.

We were living in Rome at the time, Dad was with the Taiwanese Consulate in Rome attached to the Vatican. This movie was being made and they needed a Chinese child for a role. Dad (RIP, he died last year at 91) knew someone or someone knew him and suggested my brother who was 11 and I starred in this movie. At that time there weren’t many Asians living in Rome or Italy. We went to school grade 1-6 in Rome and there were no other Chinese or Taiwanese or Asian at our schools. My brother was rejected at the interview with the director for being too old so I was cast instead. Except for a few Hong Kong scenes, the rest of the film was filmed in Rome and at the Cinecitta studio. The airport at the end was the Rome international airport but it was supposed to be in Hong Kong.

Our whole family, my mom and dad and my brother and my sister who was 2 went to the official premiere of this movie in Rome in 1974. It was a full theater and folks clapped when it was over. Unfortunately it didn’t get much of a release, just 5-6 European countried: the critics didn’t like it and it didn’t make any money.

I am not listed in the IMDB listing. Years ago when the forum boards were still running, I tried to get IMDB to update their cast listing and even show them evidence I am who I said I am and they still wouldn’t do it.