The Magnificent Butcher (1979)
Director: Yuen Woo Ping
Cast:
Plot: “Butcher” Lam Sai-Wing (Sammo Hung) is a rather mischievous student of Wong Fei-Hung (Kwan Tak Hing) who is always getting into trouble, even when he is only trying to help. While Master Wong is away on some business, Lam and two other students, Leung Foon (Yuen Biao) and Chick (Wei Pai) are left in charge. When Lam’s long lost brother Sai-Kwong (Chiang Kam) and his beautiful wife Yuet Mei (Tong Jing) arrive in town looking for Lam, things take a nasty turn and Lam finds himself in serious trouble when he is framed for murder by the lustful Tai-Hoi (Fung Hak-on), the son Master Ko (Lee Hoi Sang), who runs a rival kung fu school. Only a Drunken Beggar (Fan Mei-Sheng) seems to want to help Lam by teaching him some new kung fu techniques. Master Ko sends his students to look for Lam and bad feelings escalate. Deadly rivalry soon follows where lives are put on the line. Can everything be sorted out before Wong Fei-Hung returns?
Review: A lot was expected from this film where Sammo Hung and Yuen Woo Ping collaborate for the first time. High expectations were not in vain. This kung fu action comedy proves to be one of the most entertaining films of this genre with exceptional action scenes mixed into a plot that carries plenty of twists as it develops. Sammo’s portrayal of “Butcher” Wing, one of Wong Fei-Hung’s most famous students, provides Sammo with one of his best loved roles. Not only is this one of his most physically demanding, but it also required Sammo to display many diverse emotions, something that he does reminding us that not only is he a great exponent of martial arts on film, but he is also a fine and credible actor.
Early on in this film we get a fine calligraphy duel between the two rival kung fu school Masters. The duel is filled with intricate hand moves, typical of the close quarter choreography that Yuen Woo Ping often provides. Kwan Tak Hing portrayed Wong Fei-Hung for several decades in over seventy five Hong Kong movies, and even though he was over eighty years old when this was made he still manages to look agile. Lee Hoi-San on the other hand is a relatively young man made up to look much older for his role here. In fact, this film provides Lee Hoi-San with one of his best and most memorable performances, where he gets to play a more complex villain than you might expect. In the final fight with Sammo he gets the chance to show some exceptional fighting skills in a lengthy exchange that you just wish would go on for ever..
It’s not only Sammo and Lee Hoi San who got a chance to shine here. The fight between Yuen Biao and Lam Ching Ying is a definite highlight too. Yuen Biao’s athletic display ranks as one of his best, while Lam Ching Ying’s fan display is simply brilliant. Both actors come from a Peking Opera background, so you know you are in for something special. During this exchange we also get another fine martial arts display between Shaw Brothers veteran Wei Pai and Yuen Mao, another former member of the Seven Little Fortunes. For simply unusual fighting though, I have to mention Chung Faat’s incredible wildcat fighting technique. His fight with Sammo is filled with humour as well as even more memorable action. All shot in what looks like a funeral home set that has uncanny similarities to one that was later used in “Encounters Of A Spooky Kind”.
Fung Hak-On plays his villainous role with a lean towards the kinky. Once again he commands his scenes, especially when his lecherous nature is showing. The brutal murder of Lan Hsing (Played by JoJo Chan.) is the first moment when you realise that this action comedy is going to have a more dramatic and serious second half.
One sad point about this film was that the Drunken Beggar character, who is played here by Fan Mei Sheng, was originally to be played by Yuen Woo Ping’s father, Simon Yuen. But he sadly passed away shortly into filming so the part was re-cast and early scenes re-shot. Fan Mei Sing’s versatility as an actor enabled him to make the role his own, and he totally convinces in the training sequences, even though he is not known for action roles.
This was the first film featuring Sammo Hung in the lead role that I ever saw, and the mix of comedy and superb action choreographed by Yuen Woo Ping with assistance from Sammo and Lam Ching Ying makes this one that I happily return to over and over again. A genuine masterpiece that doesn’t just deserve repeat viewings, it actually improved with them. Watch again, and enjoy.
Rating: 5/5
Cast:
Plot: “Butcher” Lam Sai-Wing (Sammo Hung) is a rather mischievous student of Wong Fei-Hung (Kwan Tak Hing) who is always getting into trouble, even when he is only trying to help. While Master Wong is away on some business, Lam and two other students, Leung Foon (Yuen Biao) and Chick (Wei Pai) are left in charge. When Lam’s long lost brother Sai-Kwong (Chiang Kam) and his beautiful wife Yuet Mei (Tong Jing) arrive in town looking for Lam, things take a nasty turn and Lam finds himself in serious trouble when he is framed for murder by the lustful Tai-Hoi (Fung Hak-on), the son Master Ko (Lee Hoi Sang), who runs a rival kung fu school. Only a Drunken Beggar (Fan Mei-Sheng) seems to want to help Lam by teaching him some new kung fu techniques. Master Ko sends his students to look for Lam and bad feelings escalate. Deadly rivalry soon follows where lives are put on the line. Can everything be sorted out before Wong Fei-Hung returns?
Review: A lot was expected from this film where Sammo Hung and Yuen Woo Ping collaborate for the first time. High expectations were not in vain. This kung fu action comedy proves to be one of the most entertaining films of this genre with exceptional action scenes mixed into a plot that carries plenty of twists as it develops. Sammo’s portrayal of “Butcher” Wing, one of Wong Fei-Hung’s most famous students, provides Sammo with one of his best loved roles. Not only is this one of his most physically demanding, but it also required Sammo to display many diverse emotions, something that he does reminding us that not only is he a great exponent of martial arts on film, but he is also a fine and credible actor.
Early on in this film we get a fine calligraphy duel between the two rival kung fu school Masters. The duel is filled with intricate hand moves, typical of the close quarter choreography that Yuen Woo Ping often provides. Kwan Tak Hing portrayed Wong Fei-Hung for several decades in over seventy five Hong Kong movies, and even though he was over eighty years old when this was made he still manages to look agile. Lee Hoi-San on the other hand is a relatively young man made up to look much older for his role here. In fact, this film provides Lee Hoi-San with one of his best and most memorable performances, where he gets to play a more complex villain than you might expect. In the final fight with Sammo he gets the chance to show some exceptional fighting skills in a lengthy exchange that you just wish would go on for ever..
It’s not only Sammo and Lee Hoi San who got a chance to shine here. The fight between Yuen Biao and Lam Ching Ying is a definite highlight too. Yuen Biao’s athletic display ranks as one of his best, while Lam Ching Ying’s fan display is simply brilliant. Both actors come from a Peking Opera background, so you know you are in for something special. During this exchange we also get another fine martial arts display between Shaw Brothers veteran Wei Pai and Yuen Mao, another former member of the Seven Little Fortunes. For simply unusual fighting though, I have to mention Chung Faat’s incredible wildcat fighting technique. His fight with Sammo is filled with humour as well as even more memorable action. All shot in what looks like a funeral home set that has uncanny similarities to one that was later used in “Encounters Of A Spooky Kind”.
Fung Hak-On plays his villainous role with a lean towards the kinky. Once again he commands his scenes, especially when his lecherous nature is showing. The brutal murder of Lan Hsing (Played by JoJo Chan.) is the first moment when you realise that this action comedy is going to have a more dramatic and serious second half.
One sad point about this film was that the Drunken Beggar character, who is played here by Fan Mei Sheng, was originally to be played by Yuen Woo Ping’s father, Simon Yuen. But he sadly passed away shortly into filming so the part was re-cast and early scenes re-shot. Fan Mei Sing’s versatility as an actor enabled him to make the role his own, and he totally convinces in the training sequences, even though he is not known for action roles.
This was the first film featuring Sammo Hung in the lead role that I ever saw, and the mix of comedy and superb action choreographed by Yuen Woo Ping with assistance from Sammo and Lam Ching Ying makes this one that I happily return to over and over again. A genuine masterpiece that doesn’t just deserve repeat viewings, it actually improved with them. Watch again, and enjoy.
Rating: 5/5
Review by D. M.
Photos by Klara
Photos by Klara
For bigger photos please click on thumbnails
For more pictures visit The Magnificent Butcher Photo Album