Action Cult Classic

Two mischievous orphans learn drunken boxing and face their shared past in a tale of fists and friendship.

WORLD OF THE DRUNKEN MASTER

1979 · 1h 38m · NR · Action / Comedy / Drama · IMDB TMDB

A winery owner and drunken boxing master trains two young boys in the art of drunken boxing after he catches them stealing from his winery.

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Quick Answer

What is World of the Drunken Master about?

World of the Drunken Master is a 1979 Hong Kong action comedy drama directed by Joseph Kuo about two former friends who reflect on their youth as mischievous orphans trained in drunken boxing by a winery owner.

Programmer's Pick

Come for the grape heist, stay for the swirling fists: World of the Drunken Master blends slapstick, martial arts, and nostalgia into a heady brew. Joseph Kuo serves up the kung fu genre's classic ingredients—misfit orphans, unconventional training, and enough wine to stagger a vineyard.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Wandering Beggar So receives an invitation to a mysterious meeting at an abandoned restaurant, where he crosses paths with his former friend Tai Pei. Both men are drawn there by a stranger's summons, and their tense reunion soon gives way to memories of their raucous beginnings as orphans eager for quick money. Their first encounter—teaming up to steal grapes from a vineyard—sets the stage for a partnership marked by mischief and camaraderie. Caught by the vineyard owner, the boys are put to work to repay their debt, but their fortunes shift when the owner, himself a master of drunken boxing, decides to train them in his unique martial art. Their shared journey is as much about friendship and rivalry as it is about learning to fight with style.

Details & Specs

Director: Joseph Kuo
Writer: Ting Shan-Hsi
Release: 1979
Runtime: 1h 38m
Country: Hong Kong
Language: Mandarin, Cantonese
Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama
Also Known As: El mundo del mono borracho, The World of Drunken Master, Drunken Dragon, Der Todeshauch des Drunken Master, Jiu xian shi ba die (original title)

Cast & Crew

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Director: Joseph Kuo Writer: Ting Shan-Hsi

Jack Long Shi-Chia Fan Ta Pei

Lung Fei Tiger Yeh

Mark Lung

Chen Hui-Lou

Li Yi-Min Young Beggar Su

Jeanie Chang

Chien Te-Men

Simon Yuen Siu-Tien Beggar So YW Yu Wang

Wang Yung-Sheng

Wong Deng-Wo

Ho Hing-Nam

Chen Hui-Lou Chan Chi

Yu Sung-Chao

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Why Cult

Drunken Boxing Training

Watch two streetwise orphans transform under the tutelage of a winery owner who specializes in the unpredictable art of drunken boxing.

Childhood Friendship Rivalry

The film’s heart beats in the evolving relationship between So and Tai Pei, whose partnership begins with a botched grape theft and leads to martial camaraderie—and later, rivalry.

Abandoned Restaurant Reunion

A mysterious invitation brings the estranged friends back together, setting the stage for both reflection and revelation.

Comedic Martial Misadventures

Blending action, comedy, and drama, the film delivers plenty of mischievous antics and fight sequences with a comic twist.