Cinema borrowing from folktales is a natural fit given that folktales often elevate figures or events and cinema does this innately through projection. Who wouldn’t want to see the figures or events of lore cast upon a 40-foot screen or larger with sound bouncing off the walls, inviting audiences straight into the action? This occurs in all cultures whether it’s the current superhero era in the U.S., the intersection of historical figures in India’s RRR (2022), or Hong Kong’s interpretations of the Drunken Master himself, Beggar So. The most widely known adaption is likely the 1978 Drunken Master starring Jackie Chan, but there is another cinematic take from 1992 and it’s receiving a new restoration from Eureka Entertainment: the Gordon Chan-directed (Beast Cops) Stephen Chow-lead (Kung Fu Hustle; The God of Cookery) King of Beggars. With this new 2K restoration from Eureka, audiences have an opportunity to better explore this period action dramedy via a new audio commentary, two supplemental featurettes, and a booklet with new essay.
L-R: Stephen Chow as So Chan and Ng Man-Tat as General So in KING OF BEGGARS. Photo courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.
Accomplished martial artist So Chan (Chow) is the only son of General So (Ng Man-Tat), charming, athletic, and extraordinarily lazy. This last aspect comes back to bite him when So enters a competition that challenges him on martial arts and academics and he is found to be illiterate, which means he’s cheated. As such, he and his father share the same fate of being cast from their lofty positions down to being beggars. Despondent at first, So finds a chance when the two are welcomed to join the Beggar Clan right as a coup is underway that threatens the Emperor (Matthew Wong) and the future of the Qing Dynasty.
The following home release restoration review is based on a retail copy provided by Eureka Entertainment via MVD Entertainment Group.
Boutique distributor Eureka Entertainment offers King of Beggars in a limited edition 2K restoration for which 2,000 copies include both a slipcover with design by illustrator and frequent collaborator Sam Gilbey and a booklet with release information and an essay from Andy Willis. The first is important to note because the slipcover is the only way to get the new artwork as the liner is not reversible; the outside features original release artwork on the front and title and edition information on the back, while the inside of the liner features So mid-combat with the jade staff in-hand. It’s also worth noting that the slipcover is standard issue, meaning that it’s fairly flimsy, offering no additional protection, only an alternate visual element for the release. The booklet offers film stills throughout the usual title information on cast and crew as well as release information, like viewing notes and release credits, with the essay from Willis. Willis’s essay, “Gordon Chan: A Hong Kong Metteur en scene,” offers a deeper dive into the career of Director Chan whose career includes a series of high-profile and well-regarded projects with talent such as Jet Li (Fist of Legend) and Jackie Chan (Thunderbolt; The Medallion) before working with Chow on the first two Fight Back to School films ahead of their King of Beggars collaboration and before Sammo Hung for 2017’s God of War.
L-R: Stephen Chow as So Chan and Ng Man-Tat as General So in KING OF BEGGARS. Photo courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.
Speaking of the supplemental materials, let’s dive into what’s included on-disc with the 2K restoration. First, there are three modes to watch the film: original Cantonese stereo audio, English dub audio, and a single commentary track from frequently collaborator Frank Djeng. There’s an 18-minute sit-down interview with Director Chan titled “Kung Fu Scholar: Interview with Director Gordon Chan” that is fairly in-depth on Chan’s experience making the film and working with Chow. Among the many things Chan shares, he discusses how he, Chan, didn’t like the original approach to the story as he felt a lot of others had already told this story in this same way, and, after thinking it over and making adjustments, he pitched it back with her own take, which, as history shows, was accepted. Chan specifically chose to make this adaptation different from all the others in order to provide himself with more opportunities for changes that could result in a version that felt good to his sensibilities. Interestingly, he shares how he initially felt insecure on the project as he’d never done a period project before, but, through the team he assembled behind the camera (cinematography, costume design, action direction, etc.), his confidence rose, allowing him to make the film we see. Director Chan has a lot of opinions on the filmmaking process and shares each of them, especially as it relates to King of Beggars, with a great energy that makes the interview an engaging watch. Running at 30 minutes is a visual essay from Gary Bettinson titled “So Chan and Stephen Chow: ‘King of Beggars’ and Its Star” which focuses specifically on Chow. Here, Bettinson offers analysis on the ways that Chow presents himself on-screen compared to other Hong Kong leads like Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan (physically in terms of physique and facial expressions), as well as the ways in which Chow focuses on characters with a variety of specific traits to make them unique. Though there’s a significant portion spent on King of Beggars itself, Bettinson makes a point to take a broader approach by exploring the actor/filmmaker’s entire career, including how Chow’s approach changed when he shifted from Hong Kong-specific titles to aiming for a more international market with titles like Shalin Soccer (2001) and Kung Fu Hustle (2004). Both on-disc features are fabulous opportunities to dig a little deeper into the film and the part it plays in the trajectory of Chow’s career. Lastly, there’s an original theatrical trailer, a sort of easy tack-on as added value on a disc that some might feel has a too little to offer.
The highlight, however, is the restoration itself. Keep in mind that the film is from 1992, making it roughly 34 years old. Additionally, this is a high-definition 2K restoration, which means Blu-ray, but that doesn’t detract from the quality of the experience. The fact that it was shot on film and that this was before Chow started leaning toward the inclusion of computer-generated special effects means that King of Beggars has a great deal of in-camera work. When you combine the first with the second, you get a film that looks absolutely beautiful with little-to-no signs of its time of production. The colors of the film — and Costume Designer Tony Au (Rosa; The Grandmaster), Art Director Horace Ma (Dragons Forever; Shadow), and cinematography David Chung (Once Upon a Time in China) put in the work here — are vibrant without being grandiose, perfectly conveying everything from class and position to tone and setting. Each frame is clear from grime and wear while also possessing a surprisingly little amount of grain. The audio, as well, is clear and crisp with great balance in dialogue, effects, and scoring, enabling one to find a volume setting that pleases and then not touching it from there.
King of Beggars feels like a quintessential HK project. It features a big cast of established HK actors in roles big and small, incorporates multiple tones regardless of the overall tone of the project, features impressive stunt sequences, and incorporates the politics of the time. The fact that it’s told through the lens of an established folk hero empowers Chan and Chow to tell the story they want on their terms, even if within a narrow framework so as not to alienate their initial target audience. (As Bettinson points out, King of Beggars is before Chow shifted to international cinema, aiming for more flat and less specific material so as to attract international audiences.) The film itself is an as-expected riches-to-rags story which offers very little that surprises narratively, yet Chan and Chow still manage to find ways to delight and engage audiences. Some of this is due to Chow’s charismatic performance, which makes even the selfish-side of So charming, and some is due to Chow’s physical prowess, which makes the stunts entertaining as hell to watch. Even if the outcome of the film is inevitable due to the source material, we still find ourselves curious because of these two factors. It, of course, helps that the script by Chan, John Chan Kin-Chung (Sparrow; The Legend), and Albert Mak Kai-Kwong (God of Gamblers; Tricky Brains) modifies the lore to fit the narrative, transforming the drunken boxing into a sleeping style, leaning into the laziness that defines So by transforming it into a weapon. Largely, however, the film’s surprises are few and the enjoyment level steady, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth exploring based solely on understanding Chow’s trajectory from actor to filmmaker. So, even when the film doesn’t engage as much as one might like, we can see the pieces that influenced the filmmaker-to-be.
Stephen Chow as So Chan in KING OF BEGGARS. Photo courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.
Now, whether this translates to a title that physical media buyers, HK action fans, and cinephiles may want to snag — that is a mixed bag. The film is well made and the restoration impresses, yet the narrative does so little that hasn’t been done before that it’s difficult to recommend the film proper. But for folks who enjoy additional context with their viewing experience to understand details of the filmmaking process, especially information on how a specific film is pivotal to the career of both filmmaker and star, the supplemental materials (slim as they are) will make the exploration worth the time spent — perhaps not straight out of the gate at full price, but at a discount down the line.
King of Beggars Special Features:
- Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Sam Gilbey [2000 copies]
- Limited edition booklet featuring new writing on King of Beggars and director Gordon Chan by Andy Willis [2000 copies]
- 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a new 2K restoration
- Cantonese audio (original stereo presentation)
- Optional English dub
- Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
- *NEW* audio commentary with East Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
- *NEW* Kung Fu Scholar – new interview with director Gordon Chan (17:59)
- *NEW* So Chan and Stephen Chow: “King of Beggars” and Its Star – new video essay by East Asian cinema scholar Gary Bettinson, co-editor of The Cinema of Stephen Chow (30:39)
- Original theatrical trailer
Available on Blu-ray January 27th, 2025.
For more information, head to the official Eureka Entertainment King of Beggars webpage.
To purchase, head to the official MVD Entertainment Group King of Beggars webpage.
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Categories: Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews
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