Jackie Chan‘s film recounts the changing fortunes of the Wong family; father Kei-ying (a brilliant Ti Lung), eager son Fei-hung (an extroverted Jackie Chan) and stepmother (a boisterous Anita Mui). In turn of the century China, a steel works company are exploiting the rights of workers at the behest of a crooked government who are shipping priceless treasures out of the Far East. Kei-ying’s Po Chi Lam is soon under a similar threat from a nasty syndicate determined to sell off the land. So when his virtuous father is out of town, young tearaway Wong Fei-hung rallies the workers and storms the factory, kicking a lot of heads in the process.

A film of tremendous zest and satisfaction, the lavish choreography (part Chan, part Shaw Brothers legend Lau Kar-leung) radiates excitement and eccentricity, from a clever weapons duel underneath a train to a 100-man bamboo brawl in a tea shop. The action culminates in a dynamic, boozy clash with Ken Lo and his cohorts which sees Jackie swallowing industrial strength alcohol to defeat Ken’s remarkable Thunderfoot-inspired super kicks. Chan is absolutely enthralling in a wonderful cinematic reprise which neatly allies his broad comedic capabilities with his superior kung fu athleticism (especially his mastery of the Drunken Boxing style). This could well be the best performance of his distinguished career. A triumph.

AKA: The Legend of the Drunken Master