# Infra-Man > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Infra-Man > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Infra-Man.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infra-Man > Source revision: 1341630811 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1975 Hong Kong film by Hua Shan This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Infra-Man" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. (June 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Infra-Man Theatrical release poster Chinese name Traditional Chinese 中國超人 Simplified Chinese 中国超人 Literal meaning Chinese Superman Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Jūnggwok Chīuyàhn Yue: Cantonese Jyutping zung1 gwok3 ciu1 jan4 Directed by Hua Shan Written by Ni Kuang Produced by Runme Shaw Starring Danny Lee Wang Hsieh Terry Liu Yuan Man-tzu Bruce Le Kong Yeung Dana Shum Cinematography Nishimoto Tadashi Edited by Chiang Hsing-lung Music by Frankie Chan Production company Shaw Brothers Studio Distributed by Shaw Brothers Studio Release date 1 August 1975 (1975-08-01) (Hong Kong) Running time 88 minutes[1] Country Hong Kong Languages Cantonese Mandarin ***Infra-Man*** ([Chinese](/source/Traditional_Chinese_characters): [中](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%B8%AD)[國](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%9C%8B)[超](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%B6%85)[人](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%BA%BA), lit. *Chinese Superman*, also known as ***The Super Inframan***)[1][2] is a 1975 [Hong Kong](/source/Cinema_of_Hong_Kong) [superhero film](/source/Superhero_film) directed by Hua Shan and produced by [Runme Shaw](/source/Runme_Shaw). Produced and distributed by [Shaw Brothers Studio](/source/Shaw_Brothers_Studio), the film was inspired by the success of the Japanese *[tokusatsu](/source/Tokusatsu)* franchise *[Kamen Rider](/source/Kamen_Rider)* that grew in popularity in Asian regions such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. *Infra-Man* was released theatrically in Hong Kong on August 1, 1975. ## Plot The story recounts that in 2015, Demon Princess Elzebub (also translated as Princess Dragon Mom) awakens from 10 million years of dormancy and plots to conquer the Earth. She destroys a few major cities in China to prove her power, and humanity reacts in shock. Returning to her lair in Inner-Earth, she awakens her army of Skeleton Ghosts and various mutant humanoids to wreak havoc on the surface. In response, the head of the Science Headquarters, Professor Liu Ying-de, completes the BDX Project, a potential countermeasure against Elzebub. In the Science HQ's secret laboratory, he transforms Lei Ma, a high-ranking SH officer, into the bionic kung fu superhero Inframan. The solar-powered red-&-silver armored Inframan has both enhanced strength and powerful combat weapons. Once Inframan destroys the Princess’s various monsters, she decides to steal the professor's blueprints of Inframan in hope of discovering his weakness. Meanwhile, the professor introduces Thunderball Fists, enhanced gloves capable of destroying any substance known to man, as well as covering up Inframan's weakness. Capturing the professor's daughter, the princess blackmails the professor into creating an Inframan for her. The professor agrees to go to Mount Devil for a meeting. When the professor refuses to make another Inframan, he and his daughter are frozen. Inframan and the Science Patrol decide to rescue both, leading to the final battle between Inframan and Demon Princess Elzebub. ## Cast ### Protagonists - **Lei Ma/Inframan** (雷馬/中國超人), the hero. Played by [Danny Lee](/source/Danny_Lee_(actor)) - **Professor Liu Ying-de** (劉英徳), the proprietor of Science Headquarters. Played by Wang Hsieh - **Liu Mei-mei** (美美), the Professor's daughter. Played by Yuan Man-Tzu - **Xiao Hu** (小虎) Mei Mei's younger brother. Played by Lu Sheng - **Lin-lin** (琳琳) Mei Mei's little sister. Played by Fanny Leung - **Zhu Qi-quang** (朱啓光) The lieutenant of Science Headquarters. Played by Kong Yeung - **Lu Xiao-long** (呂小龍) The sergeant of Science Headquarters and a tough fighter. Played by [Bruce Le](/source/Bruce_Le) - **Zhu Ming** (祝明) The awkward member of Science Headquarters, who is captured and turned by Elzebub into an evil spy. Played by Lin Wen-wei ### Antagonists - **Demon Princess Elzebub** (冰河魔主) The main villainess, ruler of Inner-Earth. Her name is a play on "[Beelzebub](/source/Beelzebub)". She is armed with a whip, and can turn into a winged dragon-like creature. In the U.S. English dubbed version, she is called **Princess Dragon Mom**. Played by Terry Liu - **Witch-Eye** (電眼魔女) Elzebub's beautiful-but-deadly servant. Has a horned helmet and eyes on her palms that shoot green beams (hypnotic or destructive). In the U.S. English dubbed version, she is called **She-Demon**. Played by Dana Shum - **Skeleton Ghosts** (白骨幽靈) Rank-and-file henchmen of the Glacier Empire. They dress in black-on-white suits with a skeleton motif, and with horned helmets. They also carry explosive metal spears. ### Ice Monsters (冰河怪獸) - **Fire Dragon** (噴火龍) A scaly reptilian humanoid spouting a large horned crown and mustache. Can shoot fire from his mouth. Played by Wai Lo - **Spider Monster** (蜘蛛怪) A fat red spider creature that shoots web-bombs and acid from its mouth and grows to gigantic size. Played by Kazunari Mori - **Plant Monster** (植物怪) A teal vine-like monster that plants itself into the ground and grows into giant killer vines. Played by Tien-Chu Chin - **Mutant Drill** (穿山怪) A horned blue mole-like monster with a drill for a hand and a shovel-like claw for another. Played by Toru Kawai - **Long-Haired Monster** (長髮怪) A red-skinned witch-like demon with long white hair and huge horns that shoot yellow beams from both its horns and hands. Played by [Alan Chui Chung-San](/source/Alan_Chui_Chung-San) - **Iron Armor Monsters** (鐵甲怪) Two mechanical knight-like monsters, whose heads and right hands spring forth (with coils) to strike their enemy and retract again. Played by Tang Chia and [Yuen Cheung-yan](/source/Yuen_Cheung-yan) ## Production The film was directed by [Hua Shan](/source/Hua_Shan), written by science fiction writer [Ni Kuang](/source/Ni_Kuang), produced by [Runme Shaw](/source/Runme_Shaw) and photographed by Tadashi Nishimoto. There was also assistance from Japan; music from *[Ultraseven](/source/Ultraseven)* (1967) and *[Mirrorman](/source/Mirrorman_(TV_Series))* (1971) (both composed by Toru Fuyuki) is used in this film and the Inframan/Science [Headquarters](/source/Headquarters)/monster costumes were provided by Ekisu Productions, which had done costumes for many [Toei superhero](/source/Toei_Superheroes) TV shows of the same period. The film also starred [Danny Lee](/source/Danny_Lee_(actor)) as the superhero himself, and [Bruceploitation](/source/Bruceploitation) star [Bruce Le](/source/Bruce_Le) in a supporting role (he still got to display some of his martial arts skills in many scenes of the film). The following year, Joseph Brenner brought this film to the U.S., and re-titled it simply ***Infra-Man*** (or ***Inframan***), with the advertising campaign slogan "The Man Beyond Bionics!" attempting to capitalize upon *[The Six Million Dollar Man](/source/The_Six_Million_Dollar_Man)'*s success on American network television at the time. This film also has some historical importance as the first superhero film set in Hong Kong, the first film promotion in Hong Kong using a hot air balloon, and the first Shaw Brothers production using a [storyboard](/source/Storyboard). In 2004, the film was released on [DVD](/source/DVD) in Japan and Hong Kong. ## Reception [Roger Ebert](/source/Roger_Ebert), in his 7 March 1976 review for the [Chicago Sun-Times](/source/Chicago_Sun-Times), gave the film two and a half stars out of four, concluding "The movie even looks good: It's a classy, slick production by the Shaw Brothers, the Hong Kong kung fu kings. When they stop making movies like *Infra-Man*, a little light will go out of the world."[3] *Infra-Man* has an aggregated score of 100% based on six critic reviews on [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes).[4] On 30 April 1999, after [Quentin Tarantino](/source/Quentin_Tarantino) re-released *[Mighty Peking Man](/source/Mighty_Peking_Man)* in North America, Ebert upgraded his rating for the film to three stars, explaining that "I find to my astonishment that I gave *Infra-Man* only two and a half stars when I reviewed it. That was 22 years ago, but a fellow will remember a lot of things you wouldn't think he'd remember. I'll bet a month hasn't gone by since that I haven't thought of that film. I am awarding *Mighty Peking Man* three stars, for general goofiness and a certain level of insane genius, but I cannot in good conscience rate it higher than *Infra-Man*. So, in answer to those correspondents who ask if I have ever changed a rating on a movie: Yes, *Infra-Man* moves up to three stars."[5] The original review of the film as re-posted on Ebert's website accordingly gives the film three stars. ## Versions The film was released on VHS under both Prism Entertainment and [Goodtimes Entertainment](/source/Goodtimes_Entertainment). In the Goodtimes Home Video version of the American opening credits, an additional section was added in between the title and the cast and crew from the Prism version, giving the film the subtitle "Battles The Sci-Fi Monsters" in an attempt to appeal more to fans of that titular genre. In this additional but misleading sequence, short snippets from the film are used to introduce and inaccurately name the villains of the film, with some villain characters cut out entirely. ## Influence Elements from the film influenced the 2017 revival of *[Mystery Science Theater 3000](/source/Mystery_Science_Theater_3000)*. Producer [Joel Hodgson](/source/Joel_Hodgson) explained in an interview that Princess Dragon Mom was one of the influences for the mad scientist Kinga Forrester and that the skeleton-like Henchmen influenced the boneheads, including The Skeleton Crew Band.[6] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Blueprint_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Blueprint_1-1) Brook, David (11 April 2018). ["The Super Inframan - 88 Films Blu-ray Review"](https://blueprintreview.co.uk/2018/04/the-super-inframan/#:~:text=The%20Super%20Inframan%20is%20unbelievably,blockbusters%20were%20this%20much%20fun!). *Blueprint Review*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250211020536/https://blueprintreview.co.uk/2018/04/the-super-inframan/) from the original on 11 February 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-DVDTalk_2-0)** Erickson, Glenn (7 November 2006). ["DVD Savant Review: The Super Inframan"](https://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2154infr.html). *DVDTalk*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250211020021/https://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2154infr.html) from the original on 11 February 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Infra-Man"](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/infra-man-1976). *Chicago Sun-Times*. 7 March 1976. Retrieved 1 July 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Infra-Man"](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/infra_man). *Rotten Tomatoes*. Retrieved 17 September 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Ebert, Roger. ["Mighty Peking Man movie review (1999) | Roger Ebert"](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mighty-peking-man-1999). *www.rogerebert.com/*. Retrieved 20 July 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Nine Things You Need To Know About The New MST3K"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170507193335/http://www.craveonline.com/entertainment/1248685-nine-things-need-know-new-mst3k#/slide/1). *Crave Online*. Crave. Archived from [the original](http://www.craveonline.com/entertainment/1248685-nine-things-need-know-new-mst3k#/slide/1) on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017. ## External links - [*Infra-Man*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073168/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [*Infra-Man*](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/infra_man) at [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes) - [*Super Inframan* (1975) original Mandarin trailer (3:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEGWGNw1Tzs) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier)) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Infra-Man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infra-Man) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infra-Man?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.