The Prodigal Boxer II (1976)

Director: Ulysses Au-Yeung Jun

Notable Cast: Mang Fei, Dorian Tan Tao-Liang, Doris Lung Chun-Erh, Liu Ping, Wei Ping-Ao, Hsieh Han, Yi Yuan, Ma Chiang, Huang Fei-Long, Li Min-Lang, Chang Fang-Hsia, Eagle Lee Siu-Fei, Wang Pao-Yu

Also known as: Enter the Whirlwind Boxer, Young Hero of Shaolin, Drunken Master Dollar Fist

For the most part, considering how many martial arts films were created in a relatively short span of time, there are not nearly as many franchises as one would expect. Particularly from the non-major studios of the time and area. Yet, The Prodigal Boxer did spawn at least one. It is often not released under the title The Prodigal Boxer II, but most frequently seen under its title Enter the Whirlwind Boxer or as the poster attached to this review states, Young Hero of Shaolin. If you watch it on Amazon Prime, you get both titles as it’s called Prodigal Boxer 2: Enter the Whirlwind Boxer. Surprisingly, The Prodigal Boxer II is a true sequel. Not just in title. Although the film disappointingly shovels off all of the characters from the first except for our hero Fong Sai-yuk, once again played by Mang Fei, it does reference the events of the first one and even features a flash back to the finale once our hero finds out what his current quest is going to be. It’s relatively fun that it, at least, attempted those connections even if the film does somewhat forget the romantic subplot and the fantastic mother/son relationship which made the original so strong. On it's own though, The Prodigal Boxer II does entertain enough with its gimmicks and strong action.

The Prodigal Boxer (1972)

Director: Ulysses Au-Yeung Jun

Notable Cast: Mang Fei, Maggie Li Lin-Lin, Pai Hung, Wong Ching, Kurata Yasuaki, Sun Lan, Tung Choi-Bo, Sze-Ma Wah-Lung

Also known as: Kung Fu Punch of Death, Kick of Death, Fong Sai-Yuk

Previously we covered two other films by director Ulysses Au-Yeung Jun, the very entertaining double feature of Secret of the Shaolin Poles and Shaolin Drunken Monk. Both were surprising successes in terms of entertainment and quality, so the director quickly made it on my short list to find more of his work. Thus, we start here with The Prodigal Boxer. Starring Mang Fei, who was also the star of Secret of the Shaolin Poles which is often released in the US as The Prodigal Boxer 3 for marketing, the film follows him as the folk hero Fong Sai-yuk whose youthful nature gets him caught in the crosshairs of two brothers of a rival school, played by Wong Ching and the legendary Kurata Yasuaki.