The Magnificent Butcher
The Magnificent Butcher
林世榮
Overview
"Lam Sai-wing, a bumbling but well-meaning butcher and student of Wong Fei-hung, is framed for the murder and rape of a rival master's goddaughter. Forced to hide, he learns calligraphy-based kung fu from a drunken beggar to clear his name and exact revenge on the true culprit."
Iconic Tracked Scenes
- ▶
Lam Sai-wing humorously uses his bulk and butchery tools to defend his market stall from local thugs.
"butcher fighting in the market""using weight to fight" - ▶
A drunken beggar teaches Wing a unique style of kung fu based on the smooth, flowing strokes of Chinese calligraphy, using a massive brush.
"calligraphy kung fu training""fighting with a giant brush" - ▶
The furious final battle where Wing must utilize all he's learned to survive the relentless, lethal animal-style attacks of the rival master who framed him.
"magnificent butcher final fight""fighting master ko"
Why It's Remembered
- ★Butcher Wing utilizing his massive weight to crush opponents.
- ★The astonishing calligraphy kung fu training sequence using massive brushes.
- ★The final showdown against the rival master featuring brutal five-animal techniques.
Cultural Context
- ◈Directed by Yuen Woo-ping and starring Sammo Hung as the famous historical martial artist 'Butcher Wing'.
- ◈Tragically, co-star Yuen Qiu (playing the female protagonist) had to replace original actress Cheng Pei-pei mid-production due to scheduling, but the film remains a masterpiece of choreography.
- ◈Perfectly blends Sammo's heavy-hitting physicality with Yuen Woo-ping's intricate, wire-assisted acrobatics.
About the Action Elements
The Magnificent Butcher is widely celebrated among martial arts cinema fans for sequences involving butcher, market, thugs, bulk, comedy. One of the most memorable sequences features Sammo Hung naturally executing butcher fighting in the market, where the choreography and unique set pieces become the unexpected highlight of the film.