Question about IFD Films & Arts and Filmark International

[DrNgor]

Okay, my question is two-pronged:

Can anyone tell me what was:

1) the first kung fu movie that each studio released, or in other words, the first kung fu movie to hit theaters (or video stores) bearing their insignia?

2) the first cut n' splice ninja movie that each studio released (same criteria as above)?

@ThunderScore - I'm looking in your direction.

Edited January 10, 2023 by DrNgor

[BornToDefense]

Don't know if it helps, but this essay is the most informative thing I've seen on Asso Asia, IFD and Filmark's historical background outside of interviews with people involved.

 

[DrNgor]

Well, I went to the IFD Film Arts and Services website and I'm surprised they still exist, especially considering how their movies are always showing up in 50-movie packs and stuff. In any case, if one were to judge from both the company's founding date (1973) and the HKMDB entry on them, I'm led to believe that their first production was the South Korean chopsockey film Tornado of Kuang Chou (1973), aka The Devil's Assignment.

As far as their Cut n' Splice movies go, the earliest ones were Mission Thunderbolt and Inferno Thunderbolt, both of which were copyrighted in 1983.

[One Armed Boxer]

@Mike Leeder and @shapes may also be able to assist with this one.

[DrNgor]

Does anyone know about the history of Filmark? Going back to the original question, what Filmark's first release was--an in-house or distributed product? And what was their first Cut n' Splice film?

@ThunderScore , @Mike Leeder , @shapes

[DrNgor]

1 hour ago, BornToDefense said:

Don't know if it helps, but this essay is the most informative thing I've seen on Asso Asia, IFD and Filmark's historical background outside of interviews with people involved.

Thanks for sharing. It certainly clarifies a lot about Asso-Asia's and IFD's histories. Filmark is sorta treated with the "Yeah, they did the same thing" attitude.