It’s monkey style kung-fu versus snake style in Sammo Hung’s highly entertaining Knockabout, a comical slick of chop socky which will have you laughing in no time.
The comedy is what happens when two unfortunate con artists - even trying to con each other at times - run afoul of the wrong man. Yipao (Yuen Biao) and Taipao (Bryan Leung), two brothers driven by the constant con job, cross paths with the murderous Silver Fox (Lau Kar Wing) and learn more than they ever expected about just how to perform martial arts . . . and who to learn it from.
Having established himself as Hong Kong's premier action choreographer throughout the 1970s, Sammo Hung ended the decade by directing a non-stop assault of kung fu classics for Golden Harvest, starting with the brutal Iron-Fisted Monk. But it would be his 1979 directorial effort that would finally give his Peking Opera brother-in-arms, acrobatic ace Yuen Biao, his first chance at leading man status.
The comedy is an easy watch and it showcases a raw talent in both Hung and in his pal, Biao, who - along with Jackie Chan - would form a trifecta of comedy classics soon enough - bust a whole lot of heads and their own asses throughout the movie’s many moving stages. The choreography - which is always entertaining - is full of combative force and high-flying kicks as several scenes highlight the amazing acrobatics and strength of Biao and Leung, who - at one point - form a human bridge from the shore to a canoe.
Knockabout might be a bit messy in its edits but the early slice of chop socky comedy, from director and co-star Sammo Hung, works well-enough to be a calling card of sorts as Hung works to perfect the kind of chop socky comedy he would soon be known for. There are definite moments of his kinetic zaniness captured in the choreography the two brothers cause at the local gambling house. Cheating doesn’t seem to get them anywhere but in trouble but they don’t learn from their mistakes.
But, as the two brothers wander the local town pulling one con after another in the pursuit of more and more money, a sly old man is watching them and another, a local beggar (Hung) is also making himself known to the audience. The brothers are soon bound to cross paths with both of these strangers: one for good and the other for pure evil.
Silver Fox, a wanted murderer who is posing as Jia Wu Dao, a common man of the people, gets their attention first and the boys try to get as many free meals as they can from his pocketbook. It doesn’t work so well. After he hands their asses back to the brothers, he agrees to train them and help them improve their fighting and conniving ways.
Except that’s when his true identity is revealed and tragedy follows, causing Yipao to seek out more training from the local beggar (Hung), in order to avenge his fallen brother.
Knockabout is now available in an all-new Blu-ray edition from Arrow Video. It is presented on a dual-layer disc in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 with a 1080p/24hz high-definition presentation sourced from a 2K restoration performed by Fortune Star.
Blu-ray
Home Video Distributor: Arrow Films
Available on Blu-ray - March 28, 2023
Screen Formats: 2.35:1
Subtitles: English
Video: MPEG-4 AVC; 1080p
Audio: Cantonese: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono; Mandarin: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono; English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A
Combining Hung's hard-hitting choreography with the Mo Lei Tau style of humor that was increasing in popularity at the time, Knockabout is a thrill-a-minute action spectacular that would pave the way for later masterpieces such as Hung and Biao's subsequent collaboration, the Wing Chun tour-de-force The Prodigal Son.
Video
Arrow Video brings Knockabout to Blu-ray with a restored AVC encoded 1080p with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Interiors are strong. Colors pop throughout, but it is the blood effects - burning bright in the transfer - which seal the deal. It’s full of great atmosphere thanks to the quick-footed script and looks visually eye-popping due to the 1080-upgrade. Black levels are strong throughout, bringing out nice details in both the loud and quiet moments.
Audio
The film is supplied with the origins Cantonese and Mandarin Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with new subtitle translation and an English Dubbed DTS-HD Master Audio with SDH subtitles.
Supplements:
Commentary:
- There are two audio commentaries included and they are masterfully done. See below for the breakdowns.
Special Features:
Fans get the new commentaries, archival interviews from Sammo Hung, Bryan Leung Kar-Yan, and more!
- 2K restorations from the original elements by Fortune Star of both the original HK Theatrical Cut and the shorter Export Cut
- High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
- Original lossless Cantonese and Mandarin mono audio for the HK Theatrical Cut, plus lossless
- English mono for both cuts
- Two choices of English dubbed audio for the HK Theatrical Cut: the original export dub mono and the newer 5.1 dub created for international DVD presentations
- Optional English subtitles for the HK Theatrical Cut and English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing on the Export Cut
- Commentary on the HK Theatrical Cut by martial arts cinema experts Frank Djeng & Michael Worth
- Commentary on the Export Cut by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
- Archival interview with Sammo Hung
- Archival interview with Bryan “Beardy” Leung Kar-Yan
- Archival interview with Grandmaster Chan Sau Chang (aka The Monkey King), a master of Monkey Style kung fu
- Deleted “Red Room” scene, featuring stars Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung in a teaser promo for the film’s Japanese release
- Original theatrical trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady
| Movie |  |
|
| Video | |
|
| Audio |  |
|
| Extras |  |
|
|
Composite Blu-ray Grade
|
||
MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 92 mins
Director: Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
Writer: Tin-Chi LauChik-Chin Huang
Cast: Ka-Yan Leung; Chia-Yung Liu; Biao Yuen
Genre: Action | Drama
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote:
Distributor: Golden Harvest Company
Official Site: https://www.arrowvideo.com/knockabout-blu-ray/14218428.html?autocomplete=productsuggestion
Release Date: April 12, 1979 (Hong Kong)
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: March 28, 2023
Synopsis: Two brothers and small time crooks Yipao and Taipao convince a martial arts expert to take them on as students, completely oblivious to his sordid past.
