Lee Man-hee

Directing

Lee Man-hee

Born October 6, 1931 · Hawangsimni-dong, Seoul, South Korea

Died April 13, 1975 · aged 43

One of the most important Korean filmmakers in the 1960s and 70s, LEE Man-hee established his reputation as a master of genre cinema, at a time the industry had yet to embrace horrors and thrillers, which have since become staples of the local film scene.

Known For

Black HairBlack Hair · 1964
Black Hair
★ 5.71964
MovieDramaCrime
Yeon-shil is the lover of crime boss Dong-il. She pays off one of the boss's henchmen, Man-ho, with whom she once had an affair; Man-ho is an opium addict, and he has been blackmailing Yeon-shil by threatening to disclose their past relations.
The Starting PointThe Starting Point · 1967
The Starting Point
★ 7.01967
MovieActionDrama
Crime ring leader Lee hires prostitute Seon to kill his subordinate Seok-gu who has threatened to take his place. Seon tempts Seok-gu to go to Mountain Seorak to assassinate him. But she falls in love with him in the journey and confesses everything to him. In fact, they have been shadowed by the spies Lee sent and bloody fight breaks out. Seok-gu in the end defeats all the villains.
The Devil's StairwayThe Devil's Stairway · 1964
The Devil's Stairway
★ 6.61964
MovieThrillerMystery
A chief surgeon kills the nurse with whom he is having an affair after he becomes engaged to be married to the hospital director's daughter. He becomes tormented by her spirit.
AssassinAssassin · 1969
Assassin
★ 6.61969
MovieThrillerDrama
Infighting breaks out between factions of the Communist Party over whether to back the U.N. Trusteeship under which the Korean Peninsula is to be divided between U.S. and Soviet control. One faction hires a hit man to kill the leader of the opposing faction. The hit man is known as the best in his field, yet is also known for having a heart.
HomeboundHomebound · 1967
Homebound
★ 5.61967
MovieDramaRomance
A writer who was disabled during the Korean War is now contributing a serial to a newspaper. His wife, who once adored him, is tempted by a young man she happens to know. But he overlooks her affair thanking her for her utmost care up until that time. Then the young man asks her to leave with him for a faraway place.
Marine BattlegroundMarine Battleground · 1963
Marine Battleground
★ 7.11963
MovieWarDrama
A division of marines survive a battle with the Chinese army but find themselves stranded without contact on the wrong side of the front.
LifeLife · 1969
Life
★ 8.01969
MovieDramaAdventure
The film based on the true story of Kim Gwang-seon, a mineworker who survived a collapse of Gubong Mine in August 22, 1967. The story focuses on the importance of saving a life, and the survivors' will to live.
A Day OffA Day Off · 1968
A Day Off
★ 6.31968
MovieDrama
One Sunday, a penniless unmarried young South Korean couple meet, as they do every Sunday; while the pregnant young woman believes they are not ready to bring a child into the world, the young man decides to go visit his friends to borrow money for delivery.

Filmography

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The Midnight SunThe Midnight Sun · 1971
The Midnight Sun
★ 7.01971
MovieDramaCrime
Jang Jung-Han is a commander of 330 unit who is with his wife and son Kyu-Shik. By chance Kyu-Shik meets a country boy In-Dol who asks him to find out his sister. The 330 unit comes upon Kyu-Shik's kidnap while it is searching for a couple burglar on motor cycle. Kim Min-Su stole money to pay for his son's medical charge 7 years ago. At that time he solicited Jang Jung-Han not to arrest him but he is arrested and jailed. After finishing his imprisonment, he finds that his wife remarried and his son is dying of maltreatment. He kidnaps Kyu-Shik to retaliate, but he gives up because Kyu-Shik is so simple and innocent. The commander solves the motor cycle case and finds that the woman is In-Dol's sister who feels regret her faults.

Director