Knockabout | Blu-ray (Arrow)

Knockabout | Blu-ray (Arrow)

RELEASE DATE: March 28, 2023

In March 28, 2023, Arrow is releasing the Blu-ray (Region A) for the 1979 Sammo Hung kung fu classic, Knockabout. The film stars Yuen Biao (Circus Kids), Lau Kar Wing (Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog), Sammo Hung (God of War) and Leung Kar Yan (The Victim).

Note: An alternative slipcase, featuring original artwork, will be available exclusively through Arrow’s official website.

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: Knockabout!

Brothers and partners-in-crime, Yipao (Biao) and Taipao (Warriors Two’s “Beardy” Leung Kar-Yan), have made an up-and-down career out of being hustlers, conning everyone from bank tellers to casino dealers. One day, they push their luck with the wrong man, martial arts master Chia Wu Dao (legendary Shaw Brothers fight choreographer Lau Kar-Wing), but convince him to reluctantly become their teacher in hand-to-hand combat. But upon learning Chia’s dangerous true nature, Yipao turns to another master: a portly blinking beggar (Hung) trained in the ways of the monkey fist. Will this new skill defeat Chia’s secret snake style?

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.

The Region B version of this title is available at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly! Tell them City on Fire sent you!

Features:

• 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
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collectors’ booklet featuring new writing by Simon Abrams and original press materials

Pre-order from Amazon.com today!