Knockabout International poster

Reel East continues our Sammo Hung series with one of his greatest kung fu comedies.

The 1970s and 80s saw actor/director/choreographer Sammo Hung in a period of apparently boundless creativity. With ‘Knockabout’, he crafted a starring vehicle for his Chinese Opera school classmate Yuen Biao. Despite his prodigious physical skills, Yuen Biao had previously been relegated to supporting roles in movies including ‘Magnificent Butcher’ and ‘The Young Master’. ‘Knockabout’ saw him take centre stage as a young street hustler who learns a unique kung fu style from a burly beggar.

The film features an all star supporting cast, including Shaw Brothers veteran Lau Kar-wing as a villainous kung fu master, and Sammo himself as the wonderfully conceived ‘Beggar Detective’. Also on hand, as Yuen Biao’s character’s brother in arms, is Leung Kar-yan, himself a rising kung fu star of the 1980s.

A fine example of the comedy kung fu genre, the film is packed with pugilistic mayhem, and features a finale that allows both Hung and Yuen Biao to show off their skills.

Reel East presents the rare international sales poster, under the alternate title ‘The Fearless Master’.