Eureka Video UK Blu-ray Synopsis: At the dawn of the 1990s, following a decade in which Hong Kong martial arts cinema was dominated by Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, a new superstar emerged: Stephen Chow. Chow rose to fame as the star of both the Fight Back to School and Royal Tramp series and King of Beggars – a comedic take on the story of famed martial artist and folk hero So Chan. So Chan (Chow) is a naturally gifted martial artist – but lazy, unmotivated and spoiled by his wealthy parents. He is forced to make something of himself when he falls in love with Yu Shang (Sharla Cheung), a prostitute who agrees to marry him on one condition: that he enters and wins the upcoming imperial martial arts tournament. So Chan only hopes to win Yu Shang’s hand in marriage, but entering the competition soon leads him to become embroiled in a bitter feud between the famed Beggar Clan and a corrupt government official, Chiu Mo-kei (Norman Chiu). A beloved character previously played by the likes of Yuen Siu-tien, Lau Kar-leung, Philip Kwok, Chow Yun-fat and Gordon Liu, So Chan – popularly known as Beggar So – was a legendary master of drunken boxing who lived during the late Qing dynasty, vividly brought to life in King of Beggars by a star on the rise in Stephen Chow. Eureka Classics is proud to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time outside of Asia. (100 Mins)

 

Hong Kong Legends UK DVD Synopsis: If you waited until Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle to discover Stephen Chow you're in for a treat with this ultimate classic. Chow is Chan So, the lazy spoilt son of a wealthy general who decides to celebrate his 25th birthday with a visit to the local brothel. Of course Stephen Chow sowing his oats is hardly going to go down without incident as he gets into a kung fu hustle with a guy over a stunning hooker who Chow decides to propose to! She's up for getting matrimonial with him but only if he proves himself in an action-packed kung-fu tournament that will push him to the edge of fight comedy. A brilliant mix of Chow's trademark cartoon-inspired comedy and martial arts mayhem King of Beggars is a must-see for fans of Stephen Chow's more recent hits, especially for the sequences in which he reveals the hilarious lost martial arts techniques of Dog-beating Stick kung fu and Sleeping kung fu! (96 Mins)

 

Zoke Chinese DVD Synopsis: Beggar So (Stephen Chow) was born a Manchu nobleman. He was caught cheating at the martial arts competition and was stripped of his title and wealth and became a beggar. He saved the life of a senior member of the Beggar's Gang and became their leader. Later he foiled an assassination attempt on the Emperor by defeating the leader of the Tian Li Cult (Tsui Siu Keung). The Emperor wanted to reinstate So's former title but he declined. Instead, he was awarded a golden bowl with the inscription, “Alms-begging on the Emperor's order”. (100 Mins)

 

Views: So Chan is the son of a wealthy and illiterate Peking General who is well known around town for being somewhat of a mischief maker. Much like his father and those before him, Chan is also illiterate as well as lazy, rude and cocky. On the night of his 25th birthday, he meets Yushang – a supposed proditute who is lying in wait to kill the man who murdered her father; the head of the famed Beggars Association – and falls in love with her. He soon proposes to her, but Yushang only agrees to marry him when Chan becomes the king of kung-fu. To do this, he must win a huge martial arts contest – which he achieves, but after he and his father are framed for cheating, the Emperor orders that their titles be stripped and riches seized. Left homeless and injured, they are later taken in by the Beggar Association where So Chan is taught the secret art of sleeping fist and gains a new title as the King of Beggars!

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I've always really enjoyed Gordon Chan's King of Beggars. I first picked it up on a Chinese bootleg DVD in Toronto's Chinatown way back in 2004 – although with the wrong title of Legend of the Dragon; mistaken for another classic Chow Sing Chi flick that is equally as entertaining! A number of years after that, I got the official UK DVD release from Hong Kong Legends and enjoyed it even more that time around. But now, fans can rejoice as Eureka Video unleash this crazy film on both sides of the pond via a stunning new 2K restoration on Blu-ray, complete with a few exciting special features. As much as I have always loved watching this film, I've just never been able to call it a five-star film for some reason, which is weird because, it's actually a very well made piece and possibly one of director Gordon Chan's finest films from this period alongside The Final Option (1994), Fist of Legend (1994) and Jackie Chan's Thunderbolt (1995). Of course, this wasn't the first time he had directed comedy-legend Chow Sing Chi having previously made the highly entertaining Fight Back To School in 1991, as well as it's sequel a year later. So, naturally, it would seem fitting that they should deliver this – their best film together – right after that. Of course, the hilarious and much loved Stephen Chow is a man who needs no introduction today after his global success of films such as Shaolin Soccer (2001) and Kung Fu Hustle (2004), but we can't forget just how busy he was around this time at the height of his career. Coming right off action-comedy period pieces like Justice My Foot and both Royal Tramp movies in 1992, Chow returned to this era for more hi-jinks and wild antics right after King of Beggars in films such as Flirting Scholar (1993), The Mad Monk (1993), Hail the Judge (1994), and his epic double-bill of A Chinese Odyssey 1 & 2 (1995) among others. Obviously he had made a host of other modern action-comedies in between all that, playing an undercover cop in high school, a love-torn delivery boy, secret agent, and then some in a host of hilarious titles that are all recommended. Here, as Beggar So, Chow delivers once again and is just a joy to watch, both in terms of comedy and action.

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Starring alongside him is regular co-star of the time and prolific actor in his own right, the late-great Ng Man Tat who stars as his hilarious father, and had quite the year starring in a mere 18 titles throughout 1992, beating his following years count only by one – which is just crazy to think. Of course, 3 of these titles were with Chow, with other films such as Best of the Best, Shogun and Little Kitchen, Once Upon a Time a Hero in China and Handsome Siblings calling upon his services. The lovely Sharla Cheung Man, another regular co-star of Stephen's, returns after starring in his previously mentioned films that year, to make an appearance as the feisty Yushang. Shaw Brothers legend and late action star Norman Tsui Siu Keung stars as the big baddie of the piece, a fast moving ruthless official who gives Chow a run for his money and bodyguard to Lord Seng, played by the prolific David Lam Wai of Royal Warriors (1986), Project A 2 (1987) and A Chinese Ghost Story (1987) fame. The brilliant Nat Chan makes a brief appearance, as does popular writer/actor/director Lawrence Cheng. Wang Chung, Jackson Ng, Peter Lai and Lam Foo Wai help flesh things out, while Kingdom Yuen brings more laughs as another brothel madam, and finally, the legendary and unfortunately late Yuen Cheung Yan, doubles up duties as both beggar-actor Cunning Ching and fight director for the production. Of course, given his track record having worked in the industry from 1965 on around 300 productions – 10 of which he has directed from Taoism Drunkard (1984) to Funny Ghost (1989), Wizard's Curse (1992) to Kung Fu Man (2013) – one can expect to be highly entertained when it comes to the martial arts action seen in King of Beggars. And entertain it does! Proving to be just as exciting than anything his big brother, Yuen Woo Ping, was delivering around this time, Cheung Yan toys with homages to Bruce Lee, the 80s wuxia fantasies of Shaw Brothers, and then some. His handling of the final battle, that sees Chow master the Sleeping Fist technique to go up against Tsui Siu Keung, is just fantastic and sure to have you reaching for the rewind button after your first watch...

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While it's stars, hilarious comedy and strong fight action are most definitely the highlight of this historical action-comedy, I have to immediately give kudos to the incredibly beautiful cinematography on offer – clearly enhanced and brought to my attention due to the 2K restoration work done on this Eureka Blu-ray release. Until now, I have honestly never noticed just how wonderfully captured this film really is. Of course, this is down to the amazing team behind the camera such as David Chow Wing Kwong and Chow Wai Kuen on lighting – the former who, incidentally, worked on Donnie Yen's Hero Among Heroes (1993) right after this; another tale of Beggar So from director Yuen Woo Ping. But he had also worked on films such as Miracle Fighters (1982), Shaolin Drunkard (1983), Magnificent Warriors (1987), In The Line of Dity 4 (1989) and Pom Pom & Hot Hot (1992) as well as many more. Equally, Chow Wai Kuen had been as busy on films like Kung Fu vs Acrobatic (1990), Zodiac Killers (1991) and Once Upon a Time in China (1991), and worked on other Chow Sing Chi titles such as God of Gamblers 2 (1990), Royal Tramp (1992), Flirting Scholar (1993), Love on Delivery (1994) and Hail the Judge (1994). The great Horace Ma lends his talents as the Art Director having worked on classics from Dragons Forever (1988) to Fight Back to School (1991), The Untold Story (1993) to Fist of Legend (1994), and Thunderbolt (1995) to Mr. Nice Guy (1997), as well as modern hits like Blind Detective (2013), SPL 2: A Time for Consequences (2015), and Shadow (2018). And then there's cinematographers David Chung Chi Man and Ma Koon Wah – two highly respected photographers who have delivered the visuals on many greats during their careers. Starting in the mid 1970s on many Bruceploitation flicks, Ma Koon Wah went on to shoot most of Yuen Woo Ping's works from The Magnificent Butcher (1979), as well as many of the aforementioned titles with Horace, David and Wai Kuen. But David Chung is a different kettle of fish altogether...

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Having started in the late 1970s, Chung worked as the cinematographer/DOP on films like Dangerous Encounter of the 1st Kind (1980), Mr. Boo Meets Pom Pom (1985), Painted Faces (1988), Once Upon a Time in China (1991), Zodiac Killers (1991) and many of the aforementioned Stephen Chow titles. But he also made his own directorial debut in 1977 with The Chase – a little seen comedy starring Michael Chan Wai Man. This was followed by the highly enjoyable Sammo Hung produced rom-com, It's a Drink! It's a Bomb! (1985) starring George Lam, John Shum and Maggie Cheung. But soon after that, David Chung would deliver two of the most beloved femme-fatale Hong Kong action flicks with Michelle Yeoh's Royal Warriors (1986) and Magnificent Warriors (1987). Interestingly, he would see out his short-lived career in directing with two Tsui Hark produced films, such as the fantastic I Love Maria (aka) Roboforce (1988) and the thriller-horror Web of Deception (1989), which was his last to date. Of course, David Chung would continue his work in cinematography through to the mid 1990s with King of Beggars serving as one of his best. The film gains more solid support thanks to prolific producer Stephen Shiu, the man who brought us classics such as Long Arm of the Law 2 (1987), The Iceman Cometh (1989), Sex & Zen (1991), and Chow's own Royal Tramp (1992) and Flirting Scholar (1993). And finally, the great Joseph Koo Ka Fai delivers a wonderful score to accompany the great visuals and entertainment on offer.

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All in all, this new restored Eureka Blu-ray release presents King of Beggars the way it should have been seen. It's beautifully made, hilarious on many levels, and offers some pretty exciting martial arts action. I've personally never seen the film look better, nor have I enjoyed it as much as I did watching it this time around. While the days of having the genius of Stephen Chow Sing Chi grace our screens in hit after hit seem to be long gone, it's safe to say that we can return to his finest moments thanks to releases like this which are definitely worthy of a place in any true Hong Kong film fans collection! Joining the film on the Eureka Blu-ray release is an informative new audio commentary from Frank Djeng, as well as an in-depth interview with director Gordon Chan called Kung Fu Scholar, which runs for a good 18 minutes. Posh bloke and Stephen Chow specialist Gary Bettinson, delivers a 30 minute video essay on the film, it's star and the character he plays – coming across like a university thesis but still making for an interesting watch. And finally, the talented Sam Gilby gives us a highly original and colourful piece of artwork on the cover of this wonderful Eureka release, while the original Hong Kong theatrical trailer tops things off!

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Overall: Wonderfully made, hilarious and a joy to watch, King of Beggars deserves to be watched and doesn't disappoint!

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Eureka Video Blu-ray Extras: 2K Restoration, Frank Djeng Audio Commentary, Interview with Gordon Chan, Video Essay by Gary Bettinson, Trailer

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Hong Kong Legends DVD Extras: Interview with Gordon Chan, Interactive Stephen Chow Biography, Trailers

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Zoke DVD Extras: Interview with Gordon Chan, Trailers, Image Galleries