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IMDbPro

The Prodigal Son

Original title: Baai ga jai
  • 1981
  • R
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Frankie Chan, Lung Chan, Ching-Ying Lam, and Biao Yuen in The Prodigal Son (1981)
Trailer for The Prodigal Son
Play trailer1:44
1 Video
58 Photos
Kung FuMartial ArtsActionComedy

A young man discovers that his reputation as a fearsome martial artist is manufactured by his rich father, after meeting a real martial arts master, who's also a master thespian, and is dete... Read allA young man discovers that his reputation as a fearsome martial artist is manufactured by his rich father, after meeting a real martial arts master, who's also a master thespian, and is determined to apprentice under him to learn kung fu.A young man discovers that his reputation as a fearsome martial artist is manufactured by his rich father, after meeting a real martial arts master, who's also a master thespian, and is determined to apprentice under him to learn kung fu.

  • Director
    • Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
  • Writers
    • Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
    • Barry Wong
    • Jing Wong
  • Stars
    • Biao Yuen
    • Ching-Ying Lam
    • Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    3.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
    • Writers
      • Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
      • Barry Wong
      • Jing Wong
    • Stars
      • Biao Yuen
      • Ching-Ying Lam
      • Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
    • 31User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Prodigal Son
    Trailer 1:44
    The Prodigal Son

    Photos58

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    Top cast27

    Edit
    Biao Yuen
    Biao Yuen
    • Leung Chang
    Ching-Ying Lam
    Ching-Ying Lam
    • Leung Yee-tai
    Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
    Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
    • Wong Wah-bo
    Frankie Chan
    Frankie Chan
    • Ngai Fei
    Lung Chan
    Lung Chan
    • Yee Tong-choi
    Yau-Hau Chan
    Yau-Hau Chan
    • Chang's father
    Ching Po Chang
    Ching Po Chang
    • Opera troupe manager
    Hsi Chang
    Hsi Chang
    • Doctor
    Wellson Chin
    Wellson Chin
    • Master Mun
    Yuet-Sang Chin
    Yuet-Sang Chin
    • Chang's Kungfu teacher
    Lin Ching
    Lin Ching
    • Chang's mother
    • (as Ching Lin)
    Fat Chung
    Fat Chung
    • Mr Law
    Kwok Wing Ha
      Wai-Hon Ho
      • Twiggy
      Shou-Chieh Lai
        Hoi-Sang Lee
        Hoi-Sang Lee
        • Chang's Kungfu teacher
        Po Li
        • Restaurant customer
        Wen-Tai Li
        Wen-Tai Li
        • Angry Kungfu master
        • Director
          • Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
        • Writers
          • Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
          • Barry Wong
          • Jing Wong
        • All cast & crew
        • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

        User reviews31

        7.33.6K
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        Featured reviews

        10niz

        Masterful kung-fu, hilarious slapstick: a Jackie Chan beater

        Prodigal Son takes the traditional historical setting and standard kung-fu revenge story and creates an amazing comic masterpiece. If you enjoy Jackie Chan, don't miss this. Even the dubbed version I saw (I usually hate dubbing) worked very well. The final fight is one of the greatest in celluloid history.
        10govarian

        Best kung-fu film of all time.

        Yuen biao is the man. I think he's one of the best actors in Hong Kong whether it's martial arts or not, it's just ridiculous that he's never been nominated in the best actor category at the Hong Kong awards. I've seen this film about 30 times now. It's one of the few kung-fu films that i can watch from beginning to end, as usually i go straight to the fights. The kung-fu is brilliant, very fast, very realistic, and very precise. The end fight is pure genius, fast and furious. The fight between Frankie Chan and Lam Ching Ying is brilliant too, and the training sequences... this film is just perfect. Brilliant camera work, slick editing and great music. More people should see this film to see the pure genius of Sammo Hung,Yuen Biao, and the brilliant Lam Ching Ying. It doesn't have as many fights as the other old skool kung-fu movies, but believe me this movie rocks. 10/10
        trianglesamurai

        Beautiful. It made me cry.

        I cried from laughter at the pair of marbles they put in Yuen's sidekick's mouth to make him look stupid. Go watch every movie you can that has both Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung, I'm going through them as quickly as I can, and I have yet to be disappointed. I particularly recommend "My Lucky Stars" and "Knockaround." In this movie they clearly pay tribute to their Peking Opera heritage (where they and Jackie Chan received their earliest training). Really, these guys made far better movies after Jackie Chan came to America to make unbridled steaming piles of "oh look, I can hurt myself!" I do realize, however, that these movies aren't for everyone. However, if you're even reading this, your interest must be great enough that you've searched out this movie on purpose, in which case, you must go get it.
        9mtn_freak

        Everybody wing chun tonite...

        Simply the best (and most accurate) display of Wing Chun kung fu. Good plot, good action, and also a historical fictional account of Wing Chun kung fu as well. Wong Bah Bo (played by Sammo Hung), Leung Yee Tai (played by Ching-Ying Lam) and Leung Jan (played by Yuen Biao) are all Wing Chun figures. Wong Bah Bo and Leung Yee Tai were members of the Red Junk Opera Troupe who taught Leung Jan. Leung Jan was Yip Man's sitaigung (sifu's sifu) as Yip Man studied under Chan Wah Sun (Leung Jan's student). The most intriguing connection in all of this is that Bruce Lee was also a student of Yip Man (considered by many as the modern grandmaster of Wing Chun). If you like this movie, you might want to check out 'Wing Chun' starring Michelle Yeoh. It's also a historical fictional account of Yim Wing Chun (after which the style was named).
        8bcheng93

        ...yuen baio in perhaps his finest hour

        kung-fu movies just don't get better then this. i wish they would make more kung-fu movies like this old school classic then the CGI'ed stuff that we get today.

        many people consider this as the all-time best kung-fu movie and i can and can't disagree with that. i would definitely put this in my top ten though. every in this movie was top-notch. the people involved in this movie outdid themselves.

        from the kung-fu to the storyline, to the acting, everything was awesome. i must've seen this movie at least 20 times and have never got bored. it is one of my all time favorites, not just in the kung-fu category.

        every major player in kung-fu movies at the time was there except for jackie chan and bruce lee had been dead for a few years already. my favorite fighting guy in the movies is here and his name is " Dick Wei " one of the two bodyguards( not the one who does mantis style ) although the other one is very good also. if you've watched enough kung-fu movies you'll know who i'm talking about.

        yuan baio shows that hes got solid acting chops besides also in my opinion as being the most athletic and having the cleanest moves. if you've watched other movies where the 3 stars are together, movies like...( twinkle twinkle lucky stars, millionaires express, dreadnaught, dragons forever0 and it goes on and on, he always gets the hardest fighting moves and they are not always the fanciest though.

        its hard to find a perfect kung fu movie and this is probably as good as it gets, and they were also able to blend the comedic elements in seamlessly which is always hit or miss. i love movies like this and there were cameos by well known character actors of hk cinema including one from Lee Hoi San and another from James Tien.

        if you are a kung fu movie fan you cannot not watch this alltime classic. it is a must see for kung fu movie fans, just make sure you find a high-def copy which is not hard to do nowadays and enjoy! i guarantee multiple viewings from anybody that watches this movie.

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        Related interests

        Donnie Yen in Ip Man 3 (2015)
        Kung Fu
        Bruce Lee in Opération Dragon (1973)
        Martial Arts
        Bruce Willis in Piège de cristal (1988)
        Action
        Will Ferrell in Présentateur vedette: La légende de Ron Burgundy (2004)
        Comedy

        Storyline

        Edit

        Did you know

        Edit
        • Trivia
          During the final fight, Frankie Chan eats a kick, but couldn't do the reactive flip Sammo Hung was after. To get the right result, Yuen Biao doubled for Frankie and someone doubled for Yuen Biao throwing the kick.
        • Quotes

          Leung Yee Tai: Leung Chang, of all the kung fu fighters I've seen, you're the dumbest and most foolish.

          Leung Chang: I'm not foolish. It's because you don't know how to teach!

        • Connections
          Featured in WatchMojo: Another Top 10 Martial Arts Movies (2015)

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        FAQ17

        • How long is The Prodigal Son?Powered by Alexa

        Details

        Edit
        • Release date
          • December 22, 1981 (Hong Kong)
        • Country of origin
          • Hong Kong
        • Language
          • Cantonese
        • Also known as
          • Prodigal Son
        • Filming locations
          • Hong Kong, China
        • Production companies
          • Golden Harvest Company
          • Paragon Films Ltd.
        • See more company credits at IMDbPro

        Tech specs

        Edit
        • Runtime
          • 1h 44m(104 min)
        • Color
          • Color
        • Sound mix
          • Mono
        • Aspect ratio
          • 2.35 : 1

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