Overview: In 1978, actor/director Sammo Hung gave Hong Kong audiences the Wing Chun crash course of Warriors Two, while his next directorial effort, 1979’s Knockabout, gave Yuen Biao the chance to shine as its lead star.

But it would be in 1981 that he would combine Biao’s newfound screen presence and the legacy of Warriors Two’s Leung Tsan into what is still considered one of his best directorial efforts: The Prodigal Son.

Leung Tsan (Biao) is a wealthy young man living the dream, thinking he’s the Kung-Fu King of the town of Foshan. However, his dream is about to become a nightmare when he is easily beaten in a fight by the star of a traveling opera troupe, Leung Yee-Tai (Lam Ching-Ying).

It is at this low point that the truth is revealed to Tsan - all of his “victories” have been nothing but paid-for set-ups by his family out of a misguided act of protection. With this revelation, Tsan pleads with Yee-Tai to train him in the form of combat that led to his defeat: Wing Chun.

Yee-Tai, with the help of fellow Wing Chun master Wong Wah-Bo (Hung), will train Tsan to not only be as skilled as he once thought he was, but even better. Though a mysterious challenger (Frankie Chan) and his ruthless Manchu bodyguards may end the journey before it can even begin.

Blu-ray Verdict: This Sammo Hung-directed flick is a must-see for any fan of fast-paced, realistic kung-fu. Yuen Biao turns in another great performance as the rich kid who finds out (almost) too late that all of his fights have been fixed.

Lam Ching Ying is also first-rate as Biao’s cross-dressing sensei. Indeed, this may be the only portrayal of a gay kung-fu hero in existence! However, Sammo himself all but steals the show once he shows up as Lam’s thick-set older brother.

Also, Sammo’s calligraphy lesson to his daughter contains one of his greatest acrobatic displays! Which means, for me, The Prodigal Son is a highly enjoyable kung-fu comedy, utilizing the directorial talents of Sammo Hung and the acting skills of Yuen Biao; who pair up to deliver a period-set outing in kung-fu tomfoolery with the emphasis on slapstick, and generalized open comedy - with a few dramatic moments thrown in for good measure!

In fact, there is one hair-raising set-piece involving a huge fire lit by a gang of black-clad assassins which is hugely effective, and followed by more serious blood and violence which was enough to earn this film an 18 certificate in the UK upon release!

Despite not being the masterpiece, the movie is wholly engaging, skillfully made and features some great character performances. So if you are a fan of Jackie Chan’s tongue-in-cheek, real-action romps, The Prodigal Son is sure to be right up your alley.

Special Features:
2K restorations from the original elements by Fortune Star of both the original HK “Theatrical Release Presentation” and the “Home Release Presentation”
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
Original lossless Cantonese, Mandarin, and English mono options
Optional English subtitles
Commentary by martial arts cinema expert Frank Djeng & actor Bobby Samuels
Commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
Wing Chun 101, an interview with Wing Chun sifu Alex Richter
Life Imitating Art, archival featurette featuring interviews with Wing Chun instructor and producer Guy Lai talking about the art, illustrated via demonstrations by Sifu Austin Goh and Jude Poyer
The Heroic Trio, archival featurette featuring interviews with director Sammo Hung and stars Yuen Biao and Frankie Chan looking back on the making of the film
Original theatrical trailers
Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Joe Kim
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Joe Kim
Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Peter Glagowski

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