The Prodigal Son (Chinese title: Bai ga jai) is a 1982 Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Sammo Hung in 1982. The film details the tale of Leung Jan, the son of a rich man who is a kung fu enthusiast, and his training in Wing Chun by the master Leung Yee-tai. Sammo Hung (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Cantonese: Hung4 Gam1 Bou2) (born January 7, 1952) is a Chinese actor, producer and director known for his work in many Kung fu films and Hong Kong action cinema. ... Yuen Biao (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) (born 26 July 1957) is a Chinese actor from Hong Kong. ... Lam Ching-ying (林 正英 real name: Lam Gun-bo 林根寶) (born: December 27, 1952 in Shanghai; died November 8, 1997 in Hong Kong) was a Chinese actor, action director and director. ... Sammo Hung (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Cantonese: Hung4 Gam1 Bou2) (born January 7, 1952) is a Chinese actor, producer and director known for his work in many Kung fu films and Hong Kong action cinema. ... For the 1994 Hong Kong film, see Wing Chun (film) Wing Chun occasionally romanized as Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun (literally spring chant and alternatively as forever spring, or substituted with the character for eternal springtime [1]) is a Chinese martial art that emphasizes short-range combat. ...

Cast Includes

• Yuen Biao - Leung Jan
• Lam Ching Ying - Leung Yee-tai
• Sammo Hung - Wong Wah-bo
• Frankie Chan - Ngai Fai

Yuen Biao (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) (born 26 July 1957) is a Chinese actor from Hong Kong. ... Leung Jan (梁贊) is perhaps the greatest Wing Chun kung fu practitioner that ever lived. ... Lam Ching-ying (æž— 正英 real name: Lam Gun-bo 林根寶) (born: December 27, 1952 in Shanghai; died November 8, 1997 in Hong Kong) was a Chinese actor, action director and director. ... Leung Yee-tai (梁二娣) was a Wing Chun master. ... Sammo Hung (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Cantonese: Hung4 Gam1 Bou2) (born January 7, 1952) is a Chinese actor, producer and director known for his work in many Kung fu films and Hong Kong action cinema. ... Wong Wah Bo (黃華寳, pinyin: Huáng Huábǎo, jyutping: wong4 waa4 bou2) is one of the ancestors of Wing Chun Kuen (a southern Chinese martial art). ...

Plot Summary

Leung Jan (Yuen Biao) comes from a wealthy family, and is a keen martial arts enthusiast, practising under several masters and fighting opponents whenever he could. He had never been defeated, having won many fights, and thus gained the nickname of "The Street Brawler of Fatshan" (English dub: "Kung Fu King").

However, it is all a lie: Jan's family, not wanting to see him get seriously hurt, has his servant Yee Tong Choi pay off opponents to lose to him. His martial arts teachers live off his family in exchange for "teaching" Jan kung fu, who is so incompetent and useless that any real fighter can easily defeat him. Because of this, he is known behind his back as the "Prodigal Son" of the film's title.

One night, three of his friends invite him to see the Lok Fung Lin Chinese Opera troupe who were performing that night. Jan refuses, while the three attend. One of the three took and interest in the leading actress, Leung Yee-tai (Lam Ching Ying), and tried to persuade her to see him one time. She refuses, and as the three press on, she proceeds to defend herself. It ends with the three beaten (one had his face painted like a clown) by a woman, who they find out to be not a woman but a man. Emperor Xuan-Zong of Tang (left) and his Consort Yang Yuhuan (right) portrayed in a Chinese Opera 19th century Chinese opera Chinese opera costumes Some athletic jump Chinese opera is a popular form of drama in China. ...

After his friend is humiliated by a member of the troupe, Jan confronts the singer. However, the singer, Leung Yee-tai refuses to be bribed to lose, and confronts Chang with the truth about the sham of his martial arts teaching. Yee-tai goes on to easily defeat Chang with his mastery of Wing Chun.

Chang, angry at being deceived, decides to ask Yee-tai to teach him Wing Chun. However, Yee-tai refuses to teach him. Chang, unperturbed, asks his father to buy the Lok Fung Lin troupe, and gives him a job as an extra in the troupe and Yee-tai's personal valet.

Chang travels with Lok Fung Lin to Canton, insisting on staying with Yee-tai until he teaches him kung fu. Whilst there, their paths cross with that of Ngai Fai (Frankie Chan), the son of a Manchu duke, who is also a skilled practitioner of martial arts and seeks a good opponent. One of the troupe has found himself in a dangerous situation as he has seduced a married woman, and is now being hunted by the husband. With the actor - who usually plays the silent General Kwan Gong - gone, Jan fills in for him. That night, the enraged husband heads to the opera with a mob to find the one who seduced his wife and who plays Kwan Gong. Jan, who is unable to explain himself due to an opera taboo concerning the General, is attacked by the mob. The fight moves from backstage forward. Yee-tai, who was performing, drove back the mob as Jan leapt behind him.

Ngai, seeing the martial ability of Yee-tai, invites the troupe to a banquet, in order to challenge Yee-tai to a fight. While Yee-tai tries to refuse and act humble, he eventually finds himself in a duel with Ngai. However, the fight causes him to have an asthma attack. As a result, Ngai forfeits the fight and promises to fight Yee-tai again in the future.

However, it turns out that, like Jan, Ngai is also a prodigal son, being sheltered unknowingly by his father: his bodyguards have been given the royal order by his father to protect him from danger. Instead of bribes however, Ngai's bodyguards are ordered to kill anyone who might be able to defeat him.

During the night, Ngai's bodyguards and a group of hired killers descend on the Lok Fung Lin troupe's theatre and proceed to assassinate the entire troupe inside. Yee-tai, still resting for his asthma, was woken by the glare of light from the blade that was about to kill him and manages to fight his way out, with the help of Jan, who was outside the theatre at the time. With Yee-tai and his asthma, and Leung Jan with a now broken arm, the two lone survivors retreat to Yee-tai's home.

Whilst there, the two meet Wong Wah-bo (Sammo Hung), Yee-tai's martial brother, who is trying to forgo kung fu and live as a scholar. Yee-tai and Jan's return unveil the brothers' animosities, as the two constantly try and one up the other through Jan. Wah-bo initially distrusts Leung Jan, as their first meeting was through a misunderstanding.

After being taught fake kung fu techniques by Wah-bo, Jan asks Yee-tai to teach him again. Yee-tai responds by saying the Wing Chun is hard to learn, and people like Jan will probably misuse it and make enemies, and even get killed. Eventually, Jan convinces Yee-tai to teach him Wing Chun, by telling him that kung fu would be lost if all masters thought like he did. Yee-tai eventually agrees and teaches Jan the form, techniques and movements. Yee-tai then admits that Wah-bo is better than him, and persuades his martial brother to teach his student. Wah-bo teaches Jan to to fight ruthlessly and the physics of Wing Chun. Jan quickly becomes proficient in Wing Chun thanks to the two kung fu brothers, but when Yee-tai's asthma leaves him bed-ridden, Chang and Yee-tai return to Fatshan to see a doctor.

But Ngai is also in Fatshan, and finds out of the local hero, Leung Jan. In the Leung household, he then finds out that this Leung Jan was the pupil of Leung Yee-tai and was actually invited to the dinner he held in Canton. Ngai finds Yee-tai and attempts to challenge him again. But Ngai's bodyguards kill Yee-tai in front of Ngai, and reveal that they had killed the Lok Fung Lin troupe to his horror. Ngai in response, has his bodyguards executed.

During Yee-tai's funeral, Jan challenges Ngai to a duel as a martial artist, despite his master's warnings not to, as injuring or killing a Manchu lord could lead to his whole family being killed in retaliation. Regardless, Ngai accepts his challenge. In the duel, Chang and Ngai both battle ruthlessly. Eventually, Chang manages to defeat Ngai and comes out victorious. As Chang leaves, Ngai calls out to Chang, "Leung Chang! Well done!" Leung Chang thinks in response "I don't need your praise" and leaves without saying a word as the film ends.

External links

• The Prodigal Son at the Internet Movie Database