Drunken Master 1978
Directed by
Max Lee Chiu-Chun
Made by
Seasonal Film Corporation
Drunken Master Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Drunken Master (1978). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Wong Fei-hung, played by [Jackie Chan], sometimes dubbed as Freddie Wong, is a young and mischievous son whose impulsive streak lands him in a string of misadventures.
First, he tries to outsmart an overbearing assistant martial arts teacher and then makes advances on a woman to impress his friends. His shame deepens when it turns out that these two are actually his visiting aunt and cousin, whom he had not met before. His father, Wong Kei-ying, portrayed by [Lam Kau], decides to punish him by pushing him to train harder in martial arts.
To enforce the lesson, he brings in Beggar So, [Simon Yuen Siu-Tien], a legendary and feared instructor, to mold the boy. Wong flees from home to escape the brutal regimen and ends up penniless at a restaurant, where he tries to finagle a free meal from a patron. Just as he is about to leave, he discovers the man is the restaurant’s owner, and he fights the owner’s goons to escape. An old drunkard nearby intervenes and helps him flee, only to reveal himself as Beggar So.
Beggar So compels Wong into a harsh training program, but the boy, ever restless, runs off again and accidentally encounters the notorious killer Yim Tit-sam [Hwang Jang-Lee]. Yim, known for his blistering Devil’s Kick, is a formidable foe who has never been defeated. Wong is humiliated in their first clash and returns to Beggar So, deciding to commit to the Drunken Master’s path.
The training resumes, and Wong learns Beggar So’s secret art: a form of Drunken Boxing called The Eight Drunken Immortals, named after the eight xian figures that inspired the style. He gradually masters seven of the eight, holding back on Drunken Miss Ho’s technique because he feels that particular style is too feminine for his taste.
Meanwhile, Yim Tit-sam is hired by a rival to kill Wong’s father. The elder Wong fights Yim and is defeated and injured. Wong and Beggar So arrive just in time, and Wong continues the duel with Yim. Beggar So promises not to interfere, trusting Wong to hold his own. Relying on the skills he has learned, Wong outmaneuvers Yim’s kicking artistry, but Yim counters with the swift, secret move of Devil’s Shadowless Hand, a strike Wong cannot answer yet.
Wong admits he has not mastered the final style. Heeding Beggar So’s guidance, he blends the seven learned techniques to forge his own version of the last style. The result is a personal synthesis—the unique Drunken Miss Ho—that finally defeats Yim. In this moment, Wong wins not just skill, but a deeper sense of responsibility for his family and his town.
Drunken Master Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Drunken Master (1978) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Wong Fei-hung's trouble-prone start
Wong Fei-hung is a mischievous young man who tips the balance of his town with a string of pranks and brash moves. He tries to teach an overbearing martial arts assistant a lesson and even makes advances on a woman to impress his friends. The plan backfires when he is thrashed by the woman's older guardian, and the ensuing shame is amplified when he discovers that guardian and the woman are his visiting aunt and cousin.
Father's punishment and Beggar So's entrance
Wong's father decides to punish his son's behavior and arranges Beggar So to train him in martial arts. Beggar So is infamous for brutal methods that can cripple students, signaling the harsh road ahead. The setup foreshadows a grueling journey that will test Wong's resolve.
Wong flees to escape training
Fearing the punishment, Wong flees from home rather than face Beggar So. He wanders penniless through the town, trying to avoid punishment while searching for a way to survive. The escape sets him on a collision course with further danger.
Restaurant trick fails and Beggar So revealed
Wong stops at a restaurant and attempts to trick a patron into paying for his meal. When the ruse is discovered, he fights the owner's lackeys to escape. An old drunkard intervenes to help him flee, and this rescuer turns out to be Beggar So himself.
Brutal training begins and the chase returns
Beggar So forces Wong into his brutal training regime. When Wong again flees, he runs into the infamous killer Yim Tit-sam, known for the deadly 'Devil's Kick.' The encounter ends in humiliation as Wong is defeated.
Wong commits to training; discovery of Drunken Boxing
Wong surrenders to the Drunken Master's program and studies Beggar So's secret style, the Eight Drunken Immortals. He trains intensely and begins to master seven of the eight forms, though he leaves the Drunken Miss Ho's style aside for now because he finds it too feminine.
Yim Tit-sam's assignment to kill Wong's father
Meanwhile, Yim Tit-sam is contracted by a business rival to kill Wong's father, heightening the danger for Wong and his family. The threat adds urgency to Wong's training and the need to master new skills quickly.
Fathers battle with Yim
Wong's father fights Yim Tit-sam but is defeated and injured. The danger to the family escalates, prompting Wong and Beggar So to intervene in the ensuing confrontation. The stakes are raised as the duel approaches its peak.
Confrontation and vow of non-interference
Wong and Beggar So arrive just as the fight resumes, and Beggar So promises not to interfere any longer. Wong uses his evolving skills to take the fight to Yim, showing significant progress and determination.
The Devil's Shadowless Hand vs. seven styles
Yim resorts to the Devil's Shadowless Hand, a speed so fast that Wong struggles to respond. Wong realizes he hasn't completed the final missing style and is encouraged by Beggar So to blend the seven styles into his own version of the last one.
Wong forges his own Drunken Miss Ho style
Following Beggar So's guidance, Wong synthesizes the seven learned forms into a new, personal approach—the Drunken Miss Ho style. He uses this self-made technique to counter Yim's Shadowless Hand and ultimately defeats him.
Drunken Master Characters
Explore all characters from Drunken Master (1978). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Wong Fei-hung (Freddie Wong)
A young, mischievous son who clashes with authority and looks to impress his friends. After his reckless behavior leads to trouble, his father forces him into Beggar So's brutal training. Through the Drunken Boxing style, he learns to temper bravado with discipline and focus. His journey is a test of pride, resilience, and self-control.
Beggar So
A legendary Drunken Master who pushes Wong through brutal, relentless training. He is stern yet guiding, teaching through demanding methods and his Eight Drunken Immortals technique. His mentorship catalyzes Wong's growth and fuels the arc from indiscipline to mastery.
Yim Tit-sam (Thunderleg)
A feared killer known for the Devil's Kick and the Devil's Shadowless Hand, he defeats Wong to provoke his training. His speed and ruthlessness serve as the ultimate test that drives Wong to fuse styles and create his own variant of Drunken Miss Ho. The rivalry pushes Wong toward achievement and resilience.
Drunken Master Themes
Discover the main themes in Drunken Master (1978). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Discipline
Wong Fei-hung's arc is driven by a harsh, transformational training regime under Beggar So. The Eight Drunken Immortals illustrate how discipline can sculpt raw talent into controlled power. The story emphasizes practice, patience, and the willingness to endure rigorous methods for mastery. This theme shows how self-control turns reckless energy into focused skill.
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Mentorship
Beggar So's brutal guidance becomes the catalyst for Wong's evolution from impulsive youth to a skilled fighter. The mentor-student dynamic demonstrates how tough feedback can push a character beyond self-imposed limits. It highlights that growth often comes from trusted guidance, not lone effort. The relationship contrasts pride with learned humility.
Drunken Master Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Drunken Master (1978). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In bustling 19th‑century Canton, a spirited youngster roams the narrow alleys and crowded markets with a reputation for mischief that borders on legend. His restless energy and penchant for cheeky schemes keep him perpetually at odds with the expectations of a proud family whose name carries the weight of a martial legacy. The city itself feels alive, a kaleidoscope of street vendors, noisy tea houses, and hidden dojos, each echoing with the clang of wooden swords and the whispered rumors of hidden techniques.
When his playful defiance finally draws the ire of his stern father, Wong Kei-ying, the young man is thrust into a discipline he has long avoided. To temper his wayward ways, his father summons a notorious, unkempt hermit—Beggar So—whose very presence elicits both fear and fascination. This rag‑clad mentor, more myth than man, offers an unconventional path: the seemingly chaotic art of Drunken Fist, a style that disguises lethal precision behind a staggered, drunken façade. The clash of the boy’s impulsive nature with the beggar’s rough wisdom sets the stage for an unlikely apprenticeship.
The film’s tone balances slapstick comedy with kinetic martial choreography, letting humor flow as freely as the wine that inspires the fighting style. Every tumble, every slurred movement hints at deeper mastery waiting to be uncovered, while the bustling streets provide a vivid backdrop that feels simultaneously lively and unforgiving. The chemistry between the reckless youth—Wong Fei-hung—and his grizzled tutor crackles with tension, promising a journey where discipline and delight intertwine.
As the pair navigate the thin line between disorder and control, the audience is invited to wonder how far a mischievous heart can be tempered by the very chaos it once embraced, and whether the unorthodox teachings of a drunken master might forge a true kung fu legend.
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