This film is now available for purchase from Arrow Video.
In the past few months, Arrow Video has been going out of their way to focus attention on films from Sammo Hung. For those unfamiliar with the martial arts legend, this figure went to the China Drama Academy and Peking Opera School, forming a friendly rivalry at the time with younger student Jackie Chan. While less well known in North America, Hung’s career exploded in his homeland at about the same time and he quickly began making films as well as starring in them. Knockabout was his fourth film as director and is considered one of the best martial arts movies of its era.
Viewing the new Blu-ray, it certainly is better than most titles of this period and is packed with memorable showdowns. Arrow Video has delivered another great looking Blu-ray with vastly improved picture quality (specifically, a 2K restoration). When many features from this part of the world were initially released on disc in North America, they looked poor, as if they were transferred from a dirty print laying around on a vault floor. While it doesn’t look as awe-inspiring as some big budget epics, there is a noticeable clean up and it looks as if the cinematographer did try to give the film a nice look. Of course, it also helps that the movie itself features some great fight scenes and that there are plenty of interesting extras that help viewers get a sense of film production during this period.
The story follows brothers Yipao (Yuen Biao) and Taipao (Bryan Leung) who work the streets as con artists. While they are criminals, the pair’s scams are comical and often take advantage of those who are already manipulating customers. After the two try to pull a fast one on the elderly Jia Wu Dao (Lau Kar Wing), they get tricked and beaten up by their intended target. It turns out that Jai Wu Dao is a powerful kung-fu master who uses the “Snake Style” technique. Impressed, the brothers beg the expert to train them so that they can protect themselves. He ultimately agrees, but partway through their training, Yipao discovers that their master is a ruthless killer. Yipao and his brother are attacked once again and tragedy ensues. Badly wounded and hiding out, Yipao encounters an overweight Beggar (Sammo Hung) with amazing “Monkey Style” fighting ability. He becomes an apprentice of this kinder figure and the two set out for revenge on Jai Wu Dao.
The story is very simple, but Biao and Leung make for a likable pair. Early in the film, their exploits are quite funny and it results in some amusing escapades as they get into confrontations with their marks, barely escaping retribution. There is some good back and forth between the two as well as they try to pull off some crazy schemes.
The tone changes considerably after they come under the tutelage of Jia Wu Dao and end up battling with him. To North American audiences, it is a jarring snap as their brutal master suddenly tries to wipe them out, causing great loss and suffering in the process. Later, the gags pick up again as the Beggar attempts to train Yipao, often being distracted by free drinks and food. As the film heads towards its climax, there’s another towards deadly seriousness as the heroes and villain fight to the death. Yet, while one can’t help but be struck by the story’s strange tonal shifts, the fights are incredibly well-choreographed fight scenes, often captured with long takes featuring elaborate moves and blows being traded back and forth.
It’s certainly an eccentric movie, but one can see why it made such an impression and became a big hit. The heroic cast members are charismatic and there are some laughs early on before the story takes a serious turn. And when that does happen, the movie’s fight scenes are as well-staged and exciting to watch.
It’s a very good film and Blu-ray offers some excellent added features. The first plus is that there are two different cuts of the film. The Hong Kong Theatrical Cut and a shorter Export Cut. Obviously, the original Hong Kong version is the stronger, with more character moments that, to some degree, help to smooth out some of the sudden twists from comedy to serious action. Still, it’s nice to have both cuts for the sake of comparison and interest. You can watch the Hong Kong edition either in its original language with English subtitles (as this reviewer did) or with two choices of dubbed audio.
The audio commentaries are very enjoyable as well. The first is from martial arts cinema experts, who are very knowledgeable and share plenty of history about the production and Sammo Hung himself. They also have plenty to say about the cast and their careers in the Hong Kong film industry. It seems that many, in both the commentary tracks and other interviews, one tidbit that continually comes up is that Hung would rarely hold back his punches for the cameras, leaving many cast members taking some bruises in order to attain the designated shot.
There’s also a second commentary on the shorter, exported edition from film fans from the western world. They discuss the film in detail, explaining that this version was how they were introduced to the movie. The pair are pretty honest about some of the bizarre tonal shifts and confusing elements present (that to some degree is rectified in the longer version). These authorities aren’t as scholarly, but are enthusiastic and fun to listen to.
Naturally, there are some great interviews with Hung, who explains that he was set to star in the film, but decided to take a chance on the young Biao (who would also become another famous action actor in his homeland). He rewrote the script and added the Beggar character for himself, stating that it was an enjoyable role. Bryan Leung is also interviewed and describes being in constant pain (and nearly in tears, most days) during the painful fight sequence shoots. Additionally, there is a talk with Grandmaster Sau Chang, a master of “Monkey Style” kung-fu, who goes over all that it entails.
There is also a great teaser promo for the film’s Japanese release. It features Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung and features a funny interchange between them as they promote the title. And, of course, there’s a trailer and an illustrated booklet with press materials and an essay on the movie.
While Knockabout isn’t without its peculiarities, it does feature some of the best martial arts in any movie of that period alone. One can see its influence on later titles. It also contains some laughs and a likable cast who would go on to even bigger and more elaborate projects. If you are an aficionado of these types of movies, the Blu-ray of this important title is a must-own.