The Prodigal Son

"The fighting men in Chinese opera house."

1981 1h 40m CN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 84

ActionComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A rich man's son believes himself to be the best kung fu fighter in Canton. Unfortunately, his father, anxious for his son's safety, bribes all his opponents to lose. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of an actor in a traveling theatre company, the son resolves to find a better teacher.

“The fighting men in Chinese opera house.”

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Cast

Yuen Biao
Leung Chang
Frankie Chan Fan-Kei
Ngai Fei
Lam Ching-Ying
Leung Yee-Tai
Sammo Hung
Wong Wa-Po
Peter Chan Lung
Yee Tung Choi
Paul Chung Fat
Mr Law
Dick Wei
Mr Suen
Wai Pak
Au Ru Kwai

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Sammo Hung
Writers: Sammo Hung, Barry Wong Ping-Yiu, Wong Jing
Languages: Cantonese
Countries: Hong Kong

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

45 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Sammo Hung, shot by Ricky Lau. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Frankie Chan Fan-Kei. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peter Cheung Yiu-Chung shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Yuen Biao and Frankie Chan Fan-Kei and Lam Ching-Ying carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The fighting men in Chinese opera house.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0085211 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 84 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Sammo Hung directs. Ricky Lau behind the camera. Frankie Chan Fan-Kei scores. Peter Cheung Yiu-Chung cuts. Produced in Hong Kong. Dialogue in Cantonese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

145 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Sammo Hung, shot by Ricky Lau. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Frankie Chan Fan-Kei. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Peter Cheung Yiu-Chung shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Yuen Biao and Frankie Chan Fan-Kei and Lam Ching-Ying carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "The fighting men in Chinese opera house.".
7IMDB entry: tt0085211 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 84 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.