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Cast:
Cheng
Pei Pei
Yueh
Hu
Chan
Hung Lieh
Yeung
Chi Hing
Yuen
Siu Tien
Action:
Han Yin-Chieh
Poon Kin-Kwan
Writer:
Yi Cheung
King Hu
Producer:
Run
Run Shaw
Director:
King
Hu
Score:
 
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COME
DRINK WITH ME
AKA:
Big Drunk Hero
Year:
1966 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
After
a long and, at times, painful wait, Celestial Pictures have
finally released the first batch of the Shaw Brother's back
catalogue. Among this mouth-watering selection is the landmark
swordplay epic 'Come Drink With Me' which not only garnered worldwide
plaudits for director King Hu on its initial release,
but also remains well loved by genre buffs to this day. Having
heard so much about the film, I sat down to watch it with
eager anticipation and some curiosity as to how it would hold
up today.
During
a routine trek through the country, a small garrison of troops
are ambushed by a notorious bandit clan who, after decimating
the foot soldiers, capture the general and transport him back
to their stronghold. The gang now demand the release of their
imprisoned leader in return for the general's life, a deal
that has the authorities facing a number of quandaries. Into
the bargaining steps famed swordswoman Golden Swallow (Pei Pei)
who, disguised as a male warrior, meets the clan
representatives to force them to release their prisoner. A
furious battle occurs leaving the enemy in no doubt as to the
abilities of Golden Swallow. Nonetheless, the clan refuse to
free the captive and instead send their very best fighters to
deal with the increasing threat from Golden Swallow.
Thankfully, the young swordswoman is aided by a nonchalant
wanderer named 'Drunken Cat' who warns her of the attack, but
takes little interest in her genuine gratitude. However, she
once again needs the help of Drunken Cat and, after he saves
her from near death and nurses back to health, joins forces
with this new ally. Drunken Cat's past, though, begins to
catch up with him when an old rival is revealed to be the
figurehead of the bandit clan. With both sides now ready to
conclude the matter and the forces amassed, the chance is
given to Golden Swallow and Drunken Cat to gain revenge
against their own personal opponents and free their target.
As
I sat down to watch this I must admit to wondering whether it
would deserve its reputation and if King Hu was indeed as
capable director as is widely believed. Any misgivings were
quickly erased after a mere few minutes of this exceptional
swordplay masterpiece and then replaced by a hypnotised gaze
at the screen. King Hu's real maturity and perhaps genius is
his combination of elements which many lesser directors
struggle to marry; the storyline, characterisation and
atmosphere are all woven together in a sublime concoction that
will stand as a perfect legacy for Hu. Many of the film's
strengths have been seen endless times since its release in
the 1960s and there's always a danger that these can seem
tired in retrospect. However, 'Come Drink With Me' is
thankfully imbued with the energy and excitement that marks
the great directors of the genre i.e. Chang Cheh, Liu Chia
Liang, Sun Chong, Chu Yuan and Sammo Hung. The central
partnership is a superb foundation for the film's success and
gives the martial arts pantheon two beloved characters: the
enchanting Golden Swallow (played supremely by the wonderful
Cheng Pei Pei) and the charismatic Drunken Cat. The
swordplay/kung fu genre has seen many drunken wanderers in its
time, but Drunken Cat stands out as one of the most endearing
heroes in its history.
If
there is a weakness here it is probably the development of the
stories main villain. After a formidable build-up is given to
the diabolical monk, his actual skills prove to be little
match for Drunken Cat. This takes some of the resonance from
the otherwise excellent finale and underpins the fact that,
while this is a great film, it isn't perfect. The action is
another thing that might disappoint keen fight fans, but it
still holds up remarkably well considering its age. There's
also so much quality in this production that the, at times,
archaic action isn't a significant flaw. 'Come Drink With Me'
has convinced me of King Hu's mastery of film-making and I
would certainly consider his work here to be almost equal to
the best of Chang Cheh and Liu Chia Liang. Celestial haven't
disappointed with its first batch and have presented fans with
a first-rate classic here. 4 stars, but so nearly 5.
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