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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

        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).
        10EchoLeader

        Kung Fu at its best

        This movie is what every old school kung fu should be about. The action is unpassable. With Yuen Biao, Lam Ching Ying and Sammo Hung in excellent form.

        Also the acting is top class, Sammo and Lam Ching work perfectly as feuding brothers and Yuen Biao is convincing in his role as the prodigal son.

        The movie is well balanced between humour and drama. Sammo is at his funniest when impressing his daughter (and the audience) with his calligraphy skills, Sammo at his best!

        Unlike most Kung Fu movies the story in this one makes some sense and is seamless, there are parrallels between each person and is balanced perfectly between action and moving the story on.

        The musical score is also top class, Frankie Chan does a wonderful job, the final fight music is perfectly suited.

        A must for any Action fan.
        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.
        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.
        9Guardia

        "Speechless"... (get it?!)

        Excellent period Kung-fu film. It features outstanding Kung-fu scenes, beautiful cinematography, and amusing and clever dialogue.

        We follow the "Street Brawler" (Yuen Biao), as he strives to learn martial arts from a master he has selected. The master is reluctant to teach, and the "Street Brawler" must prove his worth somewhat to learn.

        Although *slightly* over-plotted, this film has a unique balance of all the important elements one looks for in a Sammo Hung film. The comedy, the innovative and savage Kung-fu, and the unusual dramatic structure.

        It is never boring, particularly the start of the film. It is so well made that I could watch at least another hour of this film if it were possible.

        Yuen Biao certainly rivals Jackie Chan in this film. It is his second starring role, but it is played with such ability you would never know.

        Sure, the ending's a little "syncopated", but the overall effect of this film is too much for any niggling details to harm it. A must-see in this genre.

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        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
          1 hour 44 minutes
        • Color
          • Color
        • Sound mix
          • Mono
        • Aspect ratio
          • 2.35 : 1

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