The Super Inframan
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
Literal meaning
Chinese Superman
Transliterations
Mandarin
- Hanyu Pinyin
Zhnggu Chorn
Cantonese
- Jyutping
zung1 gwok3 ciu1 jan4
- Yale Romanization
Jnggwok Chuyhn
The Super Inframan (Chinese: , translated literally as Chinese Superman) is a Hong Kong tokusatsu-style superhero movie produced by Shaw Brothers Studio in 1975. Based upon the huge success of the Japanese tokusatsu shows, Ultraman and Kamen Rider, in Hong Kong, this film features the same type of "henshin" and monster/robot action and costumed derring-do, coupled with Chinese kung fu action.
This film also has some historical importance:
The first superhero movie in China
The first movie promotion in Hong Kong using a hot air balloon
The first Shaw Brothers production using a storyboard
The film was directed by Hua Shan, written by science fiction writer Ni Kuang, produced by Runme Shaw and the cinematography was by Tadashi Nishimoto (as Lan Shan Ho). There was a little help from Japan, also; Music from Ultra Seven (1967) and Mirrorman (1971) (both composed by Toru Fuyuki) is used here. And the Inframan/Science Headquarters/monster costumes were provided by Ekisu Productions, which had done costumes for many Toei Superhero shows of the same period. The film also starred Danny Lee as the superhero himself, and Bruceploitation star Bruce Le in a supporting role (He still got to display some of his martial art skills in many scenes of the film).
The following year, Joseph Brenner brought this film to the US, and retitled it simply Infra-Man (or Inframan), upon Ultraman's success on American syndicated television at the time.
