Return to the 36th Chamber

"Back for the rest!"

1980 1h 41m ZH

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 252

ActionComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The workers of a dye factory have their pay cut by 20% when the factory owner brings in some Manchu thugs to try and increase production. Desperate to reclaim their full wages, the workers hire an actor to impersonate a priest and kung-fu expert from the temple of Shaolin. The factory owner proves the actor a fraud, and punishes all those involved. The young actor feels he has let the workers down, and promises to atone. He sets out for Shaolin, determined to be accepted as a kung-fu pupil at the elite temple.

“Back for the rest!”

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Cast

Gordon Liu
Chou Chun Chi
Kara Wai Ying-Hung
Hsiao Hung
Hsiao Ho
Ah Chao
Wong Ching-Ho
Uncle Li
Wa Lun
Chou Shih Sheng
King Lee King-Chu
Monk San Te
Yau Chui-Ling
Worker
Chen Szu-Chia
Ah Fen

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Lau Kar-leung
Writers: Ni Kuang
Languages: Cantonese, Mandarin
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

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Cantonese, Mandarin.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Lau Kar-leung, shot by Peter Ngor Chi-Kwan. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Eddie H. Wang Chi-Ren. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Lee Yim-Hoi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Gordon Liu and Kara Wai Ying-Hung and Hsiao Ho carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Back for the rest!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Lau Kar-leung directs. Peter Ngor Chi-Kwan behind the camera. Eddie H. Wang Chi-Ren scores. Lee Yim-Hoi cuts. Produced in Hong Kong. Dialogue in Cantonese, Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

146 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Cantonese, Mandarin.
3Part of the "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Lau Kar-leung, shot by Peter Ngor Chi-Kwan. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Eddie H. Wang Chi-Ren. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Lee Yim-Hoi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Gordon Liu and Kara Wai Ying-Hung and Hsiao Ho carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Back for the rest!".
9IMDB entry: tt0081494 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.