Action Cult Classic

Espionage, blackmail, and metaphysical mayhem swirl in Hong Kong’s underworld.

THE YIN AND THE YANG OF MR. GO

Q: What is The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go about?

The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go is about an American deserter and writer who gets involved with a criminal mastermind and a CIA agent in a tale of blackmail, espionage, and metaphysical transformation in Hong Kong.

She Was an Instrument of Pain & Pleasure - She Even Took on the CIA!

1970 · 1h 29m · PG · Action / Fantasy / Mystery / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

Buddha has the power to change the nature of a person into their opposite. He uses this power only when the world is in danger. When a villain obtains plans that could be used for peace or war, Buddha turns him into a good guy. Now what?

▶ Watch Now My List

Quick Answer

What is The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go about?

The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go is a 1970 United Kingdom action, fantasy, mystery, and thriller film directed by Burgess Meredith about an aspiring American writer in Hong Kong who becomes involved with a crime mastermind and a CIA agent as blackmail and espionage collide.

Programmer's Pick

James Mason suavely schemes as Mr. Go, while Burgess Meredith delivers a self-penned blend of spy spoof, metaphysical fantasy, and queer-coded blackmail. It's Hong Kong noir through a kaleidoscopic, tongue-in-cheek lens—come for the genre sendup, stay for the Buddha-powered personality swap.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Hong Kong, this stylish genre hybrid follows Nero Finnigan, an American army deserter and would-be writer, whose encounter with the enigmatic Mr. Go plunges him into a world of underworld intrigue. Mr. Go, a half Chinese, half Mexican crime boss, orchestrates an elaborate blackmail scheme targeting Professor Bannister, an American weapons scientist. The plot thickens as CIA agent Leo Zimmerman, equally versed in espionage and James Joyce, lands in the city with a mission to recover the compromised scientist and his secrets at any cost. Meanwhile, the narrative teases metaphysical touches, with hints of transformation and parody, promising espionage with an absurdist, surreal twist.

Details & Specs

Director: Burgess Meredith
Writer: Burgess Meredith
Release: 1970
Runtime: 1h 29m
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Genres: Action, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller

Why This Matters

Directed by Burgess Meredith, this 1970 British thriller stands out for its international production, being shot on location in both Hong Kong and Toronto.

— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

View all →

Director: Burgess Meredith Writer: Burgess Meredith

James Mason Y.Y. Go

Jack MacGowran Leo Zimmerman

Irene Tsu Tah-Ling

Jeff Bridges Nero Finnegan

Peter Lind Hayes Prof. Robert Bannister

Clarissa Kaye-Mason Zelda

Burgess Meredith The Dolphin GT Gigo Tevzadze Dr. Ading

King Hu Ito Suzuki

Broderick Crawford Parker

Jay Adler Dr. Yul JS June Sampson Miss Hagen RC Robert Cabot Clay (uncredited)

Valentine Dyall Narrator (uncredited) CH Chin Hsiao

Jen Kwan Funerary Procession Monk(uncredited) YL Yun-Wu Li

Liv Lindeland CL Chun-Ku Lu

Robert Shayne U.S. Senator (uncredited)

Explore More

Independent Film Boyfriend Girlfriend Relationship Parody Comedy Spoof Transformation Secret Spy Parody Espionage Agent Legend Canuxploitation Woman Wears A Tie Hong Kong Cia Central Intelligence Agency Acupuncture

Why Cult

Cross-Cultural Crime Caper

Watch a half Chinese, half Mexican mastermind manipulate Hong Kong’s criminal underbelly with international players.

Genre Parody and Spoof

This film gleefully lampoons spy tropes and genre expectations with a heavy dose of parody and absurdity.

Buddhist Magic Twist

A metaphysical wildcard—Buddha can transform people into their opposites when the world is threatened.

Queer Blackmail Scheme

Central to the plot: secret filmed encounters and bisexual intrigue power a bold blackmail plot.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Blackmail of a weapons scientist

Threat

Secrets sold to criminal organizations

Effect

Compromised international security and personal reputations

Countermeasure

CIA intervention and metaphysical transformation

Setting

Hong Kong

Questions from the Vault

Who directed The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go? +

The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go was directed by Burgess Meredith.

How long is The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go? +

The film has a runtime of 89 minutes.

What genre is The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go? +

It is an action, fantasy, mystery, and thriller film.

How does Buddha influence the events in The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go? +

Buddha possesses the power to change a person's nature into its opposite and uses this ability only when the world is in danger, affecting the fate of a villain in possession of significant plans.