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Come Drink With Me Alternative titles: Da zui xia/Big Drunk Hero
The 23rd Cambridge Film Festival screenings of Come Drink With Me provided a rare opportunity to see a new print (made from an original negative) of a classic Kung Fu film, from the famed Shaw Brothers studios, on the big screen. As a big fan of Kung Fu films (particularly those from The Yuen Clan and Shaw Brothers Studios) I was hoping this would be a real treat - and I wasn’t disappointed!
Come Drink With Me has been credited as being hugely influential for future generations of filmmakers and stars in the Kung Fu film genre. The recent Western crossover hit, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon not only pays cinematic homage to Come Drink With Me but Ang Lee also cast the leading actress Cheng Pei Pei in the role of Jade Fox.
The plot of Come Drink With Me has all the classic yin-yang themes of the modern Kung Fu film genre: good versus evil; political corruption and greed versus Kung Fu and Buddhist philosophies and youthful arrogance versus wisdom. The film is jam-packed with superb fight choreography but also boasts inventive cinematography, stunning locations, impressive period props and costumes and a good dose of humour.
Cheng Pei Pei is stunning in the central role as Golden Swallow, a young woman on a mission to free her brother who has been taken hostage by a group of ruthless bandits. Cheng retains an incredible poise, elegance and coolness whilst delivering some accomplished and deadly kung fu action.
A little way into the film we meet Drunken Cat, an inebriated beggar who enjoys singing with the local children, loves a tipple or two and has no need for material possessions. As with many Kung Fu films it transpires that there is far more to the drunken idiot than first impressions might suggest.
To say anymore would spoil the plot, but basically it’s a good romp with lots of chinking sword fighting, hammy acting, slapstick humour and the inevitable blood and gore.
One of my favourite things about the early Kung Fu films is the ridiculous attire of the bad guys. Come Drink With Me has a pretty good prototype baddie who is incredibly arrogant, wears the obligatory white robes (the baddies in Kung Fu often wear white), he is caked in white makeup, his eyebrows threaten to take on a life of their own and of course he has a deliciously evil laugh.
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