Year: 1980
Runtime: 111 min
Language: Chinese
Director: Woo-ping Yuen
Su Can’s family is wrongly accused of treason, leading to their disgrace and ruin. Seeking to restore his family's honor, Su begins training in the unusual Drunken Fist martial art style under the guidance of the eccentric Liu Jiang. As Su hones his skills, he becomes entangled in a complex web of political intrigue and must use his developing abilities to clear his family's name and confront those responsible for the false accusations.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Drunken Master (1980), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Although young and talented martial artist Wong Fei-hung, affectionately known as Freddie Wong, often stirs up trouble, he adamantly refuses to adhere to his martial arts training. Struggling against the authoritarian grip of his assistant teacher, despite being the son of the highly esteemed martial artist Robert Wong, he finds himself in a series of comical yet unfortunate mishaps. One day, while trying to impress his friends, he makes a move on a woman, only to face the wrath of her mother. The embarrassment grows when he discovers that the woman and her daughter are, in fact, his visiting aunt and cousin.
Things take a turn when Freddie directly confronts the son of the arrogant businessman Mr. Li, who had previously humiliated a poor man trying to sell his jewels. This leads to a retaliatory plan from Mr. Li and his family, resulting in Freddie suffering a defeat at the hands of one of Li’s subordinates. In a bid to teach him responsibility, Robert Wong arranges for the notorious Beggar So to take on Freddie as a student. Known for his harsh training methods that often leave students crippled, Beggar So’s violent reputation sends Freddie into a panic, prompting him to run away from home.
Now broke, Freddie attempts to dodge his punishment by conning a fellow diner into giving him a free meal. However, the diner turns out to be the restaurant’s owner, which leads to Freeman’s involvement in a brawl with the owner’s henchmen. In this chaotic scene, a nearby old drunkard unexpectedly intervenes to assist Freddie. To Freddie’s surprise, this drunken man is actually Beggar So, also referred to as So Hi.
Forced into a grueling training regimen, Freddie desperately tries to escape but inadvertently encounters the formidable assassin known as Thunderleg, notorious for his unmatched attack style, the “Devil’s Kick.” Eager to prove himself, Freddie challenges Thunderleg but is swiftly crushed and humiliated. After this encounter, Freddie ultimately returns to Beggar So, ready to accept the rigorous training that lies ahead.
As the training progresses, a series of unfortunate events leads to Beggar So being attacked by a martial artist known as the Bamboo King. Feeling responsible for his teacher’s plight, Freddie expresses remorse and earns the respect of Beggar So, who then reveals the mystical secrets of the Drunken Boxing technique - specifically, “The Eight Drunken Immortals.” These rigorous exercises are designed to prepare Freddie for the demands of this unique martial art, and he diligently masters seven of the eight styles, excluding the last – Drunken Miss Ho’s style, which he dismisses as too feminine.
Meanwhile, Thunderleg, hired by Mr. Li for revenge against Robert Wong, confronts Freddie’s father, leading to a fierce battle where Robert is injured. Freddie and Beggar So arrive just in time, and Freddie steps up to face Thunderleg himself, fueled by his newfound training. With Beggar So vowing not to interfere, Freddie unleashes the skills he’s acquired.
As the fight ensues, even though Thunderleg resorts to his hidden technique, the Devil’s Shadowless Hand, Freddie feels the pressure. Confessing that he has yet to master the final style, he receives crucial advice from Beggar So to blend the seven styles into a unique move. Following this guidance, Freddie channels his creativity and invents his own interpretation of the Drunken Miss Ho technique, which ultimately allows him to defeat and kill Thunderleg, earning him not just victory, but the admiration and respect of his father once and for all.
Last Updated: October 27, 2024 at 18:29
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