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IMDbPro

Knockabout

Original title: Za jia xiao zi
  • 19791979
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
Sammo Kam-Bo Hung and Biao Yuen in Knockabout (1979)
The brothers and small time crooks Yipao and Taipao convince a martial arts expert to take them on as students.
Play trailer3:54
2 Videos
96 Photos
ActionComedyDrama
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
    • Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
    • Tin-Chi Lau(screenplay)
    • Chik-Chin Huang(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ka-Yan Leung
    • Chia-Yung Liu
    • Biao Yuen
    • Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
    • Tin-Chi Lau(screenplay)
    • Chik-Chin Huang(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ka-Yan Leung
    • Chia-Yung Liu
    • Biao Yuen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 19User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:54
    Watch Trailer
    Knockabout
    Trailer 1:41
    Watch Knockabout

    Photos96

    Biao Yuen in Knockabout (1979)
    Chia-Yung Liu and Biao Yuen in Knockabout (1979)
    Biao Yuen in Knockabout (1979)
    Biao Yuen in Knockabout (1979)
    Fat Chung in Knockabout (1979)
    Knockabout (1979)
    Ying-Ying Hui in Knockabout (1979)
    Mars in Knockabout (1979)
    Ka-Yan Leung in Knockabout (1979)
    Chia-Yung Liu in Knockabout (1979)
    Mo Yuen in Knockabout (1979)
    Pak-Kwong Ho in Knockabout (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ka-Yan Leung
    Ka-Yan Leung
    • Dai Pao
    • (as Chia-Jen Liang)
    Chia-Yung Liu
    Chia-Yung Liu
    • Koo Wu-Tai
    • (as Kar-Wing Lau)
    • …
    Biao Yuen
    Biao Yuen
    • Yipao
    Kuang Yu Wang
    Kuang Yu Wang
    • Matchmaker
    • (as Kuan-Yu Wang)
    Hoi-Sang Lee
    Hoi-Sang Lee
    • Painter Danno
    Karl Maka
    Karl Maka
    • Police Captain
    • (as Kar Mak)
    Tin-Chi Lau
    • Banker Wei's Father
    • (as Tin-Chee Lau)
    Mars
    Mars
    • The Tiger
    • (as Fu Sing)
    Billy Chan
    Billy Chan
    • Casino henchman
    Lung Chan
    Lung Chan
    • Banker Wei
    Wui-Ngai Chan
    • Waiter
    Hsi Chang
    Hsi Chang
    • Innkeeper
    Wah Cheung
    Wah Cheung
    • Dealer at Casino
    Wellson Chin
    Wellson Chin
    • Casino Thug
    Fat Chung
    Fat Chung
    • Big Eyes
    Pak-Kwong Ho
    Pak-Kwong Ho
    • Casino boss
    Kuan-Hsiung Huang
    Ying-Ying Hui
    Ying-Ying Hui
    • Vegetable Hawker
      • Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
      • Tin-Chi Lau(screenplay)
      • Chik-Chin Huang(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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    • Soundtracks
      Il Bruno, Il Brutto, Il Cattivo (titoli)
      Written by Ennio Morricone

      Performed by Bruno Nicolai

    User reviews19

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Great training scenes, average acting, bizarre plot twist and effects
    "Knockabout" is the kung fu flick that gave legendary cinema acrobat Yuen Biao his first starring role. It was directed by and co-starred his Peking Opera School "brother", Sammo Hung, who despite his chunky frame was also astonishingly nimble.

    The movie, if you ask me, really isn't that great. It's worth seeing for Biao's athleticism, particularly in the training sequences, of which "Knockabout" has more than average. The plot is strange, taking a really unexpected turn at the eleventh hour with a character going from the typical wise old man to an evil villain. It also has a really awkward mix of humour that leaves one unprepared for scenes in which we are led to believe the characters involved were killed.

    Aside from the training bits, including an astonishing jump-rope sequence in which Yuen does backflips through the rope, it has one other unforgettable scene, due to it being unintentionally disturbing. Yuen and another actor fight a bald-headed henchman, and with each blow delivered to him, he gets a bright red bump on his head, as though this were a cartoon. Soon, his head is covered with red bumps. This leaves us with an absolutely appalling image. It looks like the man's head is infested with cysts or tumours. It is hard to look at it. Even thinking about it is making me nauseous.

    Thankfully this only happens in one fight scene. The fight scenes in "Knockabout" aren't that great. They look so choreographed that it seems like the people involved aren't fighting, but dancing. It's so stiff and clearly rehearsed, though it does look dangerous.

    I used to think this was one of Yuen's best. Rewatching it just now, I have changed my mind. The best is probably "The Prodigal Son".
    helpful•2
    1
    • jadavix
    • Aug 30, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 12, 1979 (Hong Kong)
      • Hong Kong
      • Cantonese
    • Also known as
    • Production company
      • Golden Harvest Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 32 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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