Taiwanese kung fu comedy featuring the legendary Drunken Beggar himself, Yuen Siu-tien!
Drunken Master Strikes Back – (Funny Clip!)
Cast
Yuen Siu-tien, father of the legendary Yuen clan of martial arts stunt performers and choreographers, that include Yuen Woo-ping, stars as “Grandfather”. Trained in Peking Opera, he began his acting career in 1949 at the age of 37, in the first Wong Fei-hung film to star Kwan Tak-hing, “Story of Wong Fei-hong”.
He would gain international fame as the eccentric martial arts master Pai Chang-tien in Jackie Chan’s breakthrough movie, “Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow”. He followed this up with his defining role as the sozzled Beggar So/Su in 1978’s “Drunken Master”. Due to international variations in credits, subtitles and dubbing Yuen Siu-tien was also known by many as Simon Yuen, Sam Seed, or Ol’ Dirty. Rapper and founding member of the hip hop group Wu Tang Clan took his name Ol’ Dirty Bastard from one of Yuen’s final films, “Ol’ Dirty and the Bastard”.
Hong Kong actor Li Min Lang plays the old beggar “Lo Fen Shei/Lu Chin Fei”, whose ragged appearance belies his martial arts mastery. He appeared in movies such as “Shaolin Wooden Men”, “The Secret of the Shaolin Poles”, “”Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin” and “Shaolin vs Lama”.
Taiwanese actor Ting Wa-Chung plays one of the hapless heroes “Sha Lei”. Throughout the 1970’s he appeared in many old-school martial arts films, including “Seven Man Army”, “Swift Shaolin Boxer”, “Iron Swallow”, “Death Duel of the Mantis” and “Incredible Kung Fu Mission” (aka “Kung Fu Commandos”). His partner in crime is played by comic actor Hsu Pu-liao, making his big screen debut.
Kong Do, also known as Chiang Tao stars as “Shu Ba”, a deadly martial artist with a dark past. As an actor he appeared in over 200 films and went on to become an action director in his own right. His extensive filmography includes “Men from the Monastery”, “Challenge of the Masters”, “The Kung Fu Instructor”, “Executioners From Shaolin”, “Return to the 36th Chamber” and “Ninja Terminator”.
A regular player in many 1970’s and 80’s low-budget Taiwanese martial arts pictures, Cliff Ching Ching plays “Master Tang/Chen”, the local gang boss. Usually performing a villainous role, he has appeared in “Adventure of Shaolin”, “The King of Fists and Dollars” and “Shaolin Temple Strikes Back”.
Plot
Two hapless brothers get themselves into hot water over a cocktail fighting racket. They begin training with the highly skilled Lu Chin Fei, who is troubled by his past. When the brothers become embroiled in a fight over the champion “Big Red Cock”, they inadvertently lead Lu Chin Fei ‘s deadly rival, Shu Ba to find him.
Action
As with many kung fu films from the 1970’s, the opening titles feature three of the stars performing different style routines and a short choreographed fight in an empty studio.
It’s not long before Sha Lei gets into a fight with a pair of street thugs. Although he is flexible and acrobatic, he is no match for the two tough guys. Chased into a derelict building, they stumble across a bushy eye-browed beggar, who happens to be a skilled fighter.
In a flashback we discover he is actually the highly skilled Master Lu Chin Fei, and see him fighting his sworn enemy Shu Ba. The fighting is performed surprisingly fluidly. He takes Sha Lei on as his student putting him through all sorts of arduous torture, including sitting on him whilst he lies on a bed of sharp spikes! It is not long before Sha Lei’s dopey brother is also roped into the training.
There is the obligatory fight in a teahouse, that features an intricate bit of juggling with a china plate to bamboozle an opponent. When a fight breaks out after a, er…cock fight, we have a mix of Tom and Jerry style cartoon antics and the more familiar traditional choreography.
Yuen Siu-tien has little more than a guest-starring role, but he does get one of the best fights against the villains. There is no drunken fist but he still fights with the operatic fluidity that made him such a popular character.
The final training sequence evokes memories of Yuen Biao in the classic “Knockabout”. Our hero flips and performs jumping kicks over numerous flexible bamboo branches in a hugely impressive sequence with barely any edits.
The extended finale in the villain’s courtyard features Long Fist and Praying Mantis techniques thrown in with the usual flamboyant leaps, flips and rolls. The training with the bamboo branches pays off when Master Tang attacks Sha Lei with a long wooden pole. The fight leads to a final confrontation in the woods between the two brothers and the deadly Shu Ba.
Summary
The title and the casting of Yuen Siu-tien are a blatant attempt to cash in on the huge success of Jackie Chan’s “Drunken Master”. Yuen Siu-tien has a very small role, despite featuring on the DVD sleeve, and there is absolutely no drunken boxing whatsoever! This was obviously made on a shoestring budget, with the flimsiest outline of a story. I doubt there was even a script. The acting is appalling and the slapstick comedy fails most of the time.
However, in spite of this film’s numerous shortcomings, the martial arts performers are obviously highly skilled screen fighters. The many action sequences, although not as fluid as in the movies this one is obviously trying to emulate, frequently feature some slick moves or impressive Chinese opera-style acrobatics.
Fans of the badly dubbed, old-school “late night” kung fu films will love this movie. Despite its cartoonish elements, there is non-stop action from the first minute to the last. For the more juvenile, you will be laughing at the hilarious dubbed dialogue featuring classic lines such as “You killed my brother you bas*ard!” and “If you don’t want to die, give me the big red cock!”.
Trivia
- Although released in the UK as “Drunken Master Strikes Back”, the original title was “Peculiar Boxing Tricks and the Master”. It was also released under various other titles around the world including “Boxing Wizard”, “Drunken Master and Boxing Wizard”, “Ol’ Dirty Strikes Back”, “An Eccentric Person”, and “Bruce Vs. the Red-Eyed Monster”.
- Released in Taiwan in 1978, the same year as Jackie Chan’s smash hit “Drunken Master”, it was repackaged and released on VHS in 1981 in the West, focusing on the popularity of Yuen Siu-tien.
Favourite Quotes
- “By the way you’re dressed up, I don’t reckon you know too much kung fu. You’re all covered in rags, I don’t want to soil my hands!” – Sha Lei
- “Master, I can’t take any more!” – Sha Lei
- “You must be patient or you’ll never learn!” – Old Beggar
- Shu Ba: “That’s right! I invented the Chicken Fist technique!”
- Brother: “Our big red cock’s a sure winner! We could beat your cock any day!”
