Comparison between the cut German DVD from Schröder Media (Asia Line) (identical to the British DVD by Terracotta Distribution) and the uncut Hong Kong Blu-ray by CN Entertainment Ltd.

- 12 documented differences
- Runtime difference: 76.1 sec (= 1:16 min)

A few additional master errors with a duration of less than 0.5 sec each were not listed in the report.

 

The 1984-produced Shanghai 13 is quite a curious example of Hong Kong cinema at that time: Rather cheaply produced, Shaw Brothers directing legend Chang Cheh joined forces with, among others, Jimmy Wang-Yu, Danny Lee, Andy Lau, Ti Lung, Chen Sing, Wang Chung, Chiang Sheng, Leung Kar Yan and Lu Feng to form the front guard of the stars of that era for 90 minutes of non-stop brawling. Due to the lack of a large studio behind it, it doesn't look so good with international releases, and the DVD premiere in Germany, available since September 3, 2020, unfortunately had a nasty surprise up its sleeve.

The version is identical to the British DVD, which is probably more than one minute shorter than the original. Oftentimes, damaged parts of the shots were meticulously removed as a kind of "restoration with a hammer". These are mostly only insignificant moments. In the middle of the film, however, a longer scene is also missing, in which not really large damages are visible.

Runtimes are ordered as follows: German DVD in PAL / Hong Kong Blu-ray in PAL speed

01:12 / 01:15-01:16

The bell on the wall can be seen a little longer.

1.3 sec

Generally, during this introductory burglary scene with Jimmy Wang Yu and Chiang Ming, the picture on the German/British DVD is darkened. Since the scene takes place at night, this is probably intended. On Blu-ray, the color filter is missing here, so the scene plays in broad daylight despite the use of flashlights.

German / British DVD	Hongkong Blu-ray

06:55 / 07:00-07:01

The total begins a moment earlier.

1.2 sec

23:30 / 23:39-23:41

Sheau-tien raises his arm at the end of the shot and presents a metallic weapon on his wrist.

2.7 sec

29:47 / 29:58-30:02

The scene outside begins earlier with an additional shot of Wang Chung opening the door.

3.9 sec

30:52 / 31:07-31:12

Wang folds the cloths longer and says something while doing so. You can see an extreme soiling in the picture. The follow-up shot also starts a little earlier.

4.8 sec

41:04 / 41:25

The damaged end of a shot is missing.

0.5 sec

41:10 / 41:31-41:32

The same happens (yellowish discolorations in the picture) shortly after.

0.5 sec

48:51 / 49:13-50:13

Andy Lau can be seen a little longer, then he remembers happy times with his girlfriend. Back in the present, he looks up to her again and then dies. She whimpers and the follow-up shot of the stairs starts a bit earlier.

59,2 sec

59:46 / 61:09-61:10

A jumpcut of the Blu-ray was covered up here. Actually, it was probably once a continuous shot, but here there is a jump when panning to the side. The German/British DVD therefore already breaks off before the pan.

0.8 sec

78:29 / 79:54

Jumpcut on the DVD because a few damaged frames were removed, in which Ti Lung strikes out for a punch.

0.5 sec

78:32 / 79:57-79:58

Even during the fall through the wooden wall shortly after, a few frames are missing at the end of the shot.

0.5 sec

78:37 / 80:03-80:04

Ditto: Ti Lung swings the club a little longer.

0.5 sec

20 seconds later, several such damages were removed again, but here each of them took less than 0.5 seconds.


The German DVD has a self-made end insertion at the end. It appears a little bit longer on a black background before the "Winners' Workshop" notice follows in both versions. After this, only the Blu-ray has a final insertion.

German / British DVD	Hongkong-Blu-ray