Come Drink with Me

Perhaps the most lyrical and artistic film in the Shaw Brothers catalog, Come Drink with Me (1966) doesn’t deviate much from the formula the studio would follow for the next decade (feuding outlaws, heroic renegades and all-powerful masters) but here the fighting seems more elegant, more restrained and more romantic.

Golden Swallow (Chen Pei-pei) is the sister of an official held hostage by a gang of kung-fu bandits.  When negotiations fail, she must take on the gang with the aid of an inebriated local named Drunken Cat, who seems to have more skills than he lets on.  The duo find themselves outnumbered and faced with a seemingly undefeatable enemy in the form of Liao Kung, the evil abbot of the impenetrable monastery. 

 

Directed by King Hu, Come Drink with Me is awash with beautiful colors, majestic backdrops and inventive fight choreography.  Despite the moments of arterial spray (a necessary ingredient in almost every Shaw Brothers film), it’s a film that revels in the almost balletic nature of its two leads; the poses, strikes, leaps and punches all seems designed for the stage, cut tougher with a lighter touch.  Much of this comes from Cheng Pei-pei, whose performance here made her a star and even led to her appearance in the similarly themed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.  But this more delicate touch never comes at the expense of the film’s sense of fun and kung-fu playfulness.  There’s a reason it’s considered one of Shaw Brothers best: because it manages to straddle the line between action and artistry so very well.

 

Arrow’s Blu-ray arrives separate from their previous Shaw Brothers set.  Whatever the reason, it’s a film that deserves its own showcase and the hi-def presentation is worth the solo price.  Extras include several interviews, Q & A, audio commentary and documentary on the history of the wuxia genre produced in 2003.

 

 

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