NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (September 2023): Arrow have transferred Sammo Kam-Bo Hung's The Prodigal Son to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from "2K restorations from the original elements by Fortune Star of both the original HK “Theatrical Release Presentation” and the “Home Release Presentation”. The two versions are seamlessly branched and only have a slight difference in credits etc. having the same running time. The image is in the 2.39:1 widescreen aspect ratio housed on a dual-layered disc with a very high bitrate. There is impressive detail showing obviousness of make-up in close-ups (moustaches, eyebrows and Chinese Opera 'paint',) colors are realistic if a shade dull and there is frequent depth. It looked consistent, clean and highly pleasing. From Wikipedia; "In The Prodigal Son the depth and framing of the shots were a radical change from the two-dimensional approach to filming that had been used in Hong Kong at this point."

NOTE: A long time ago, we compared two DVDs - Hong Kong Legends (UK) and Universe (Hong Kong) -  of The Prodigal Son HERE. There are no need to compare them to this vastly superior 1080P transfer.

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Arrow offer DTS-HD Master mono track (24-bit) options in Cantonese, Mandarin, or English languages. I listened to the original Cantonese and sampled the English DUB. The Prodigal Son has many, excellent, choreographed fight sequences with the typical exaggerated audio effects sounding more tinny, and predictably flat, in the mono transfers. The score was by Fei-Lit Chan (as Phil Chen) and Frankie Chan (Fallen Angels, The Fearless Hyena, Chungking Express, Odd Couple) supporting both the action conflicts, Chinese opera and the lighter slapstick moments via the crisp uncompressed transfer. Arrow offer optional English translation for Cantonese subtitles and English (SDH) subtitles for the English DUB on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Arrow Blu-ray offers two commentaries. The first is by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and martial artist / actor Robert “Bobby” Samuels. They cover a lot from the Wing Chun kung fu fighting style, Peking Opera, collaborations and many specifics and film references of the performers. They've done other commentaries together including Eureka's Blu-ray of Odd Couple. I've enjoyed every Frank Djeng commentary I've heard including Mr. Vampire II and Vampire vs. Vampire in Eureka's Hopping Mad boxset, Blu-rays of Taxi Hunter, The Skyhawk, Magic Cop, Angela Mao: Hapkido & Lady Whirlwind, Knockabout, The Shaolin Plot and Dreadnaught. He always provides a thorough, insightful, information. The second commentary has action cinema experts Mike Leeder (editor of 100% Jackie Chan: The Essential Companion) and Arne Venema. They discuss specifics on the kung fu style, Golden Harvest, composer Frankie Chan, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung and plenty on martial arts. It is likewise informative. Wing Chun 101 is a half-hour interview with Wing Chun sifu Alex Richter ('sifu' is a Cantonese term for "teacher" and also has the connotation of "father".) Life Imitating Art is a 1/2 hour archival featurette featuring interviews with Wing Chun instructor and producer Guy Lai talking about the art, illustrated via demonstrations by Austin Goh and Jude Poyer. The Heroic Trio is a 27-minute archival featurette featuring interviews with director Sammo Hung and stars Yuen Biao and Frankie Chan looking back on the making of the film. There are also alternate English Credits and original theatrical trailers (Cantonese, English and the US Home Video.) The package has a double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Joe Kim, reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Joe Kim and an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Peter Glagowski.

Sammo Kam-Bo Hung's The Prodigal Son is one of the best 'kung fu' films of its era. Eureka and Arrow have shared transfers/extras for release on opposite sides of the pond with different packaging (see Angela Mao: Hapkido & Lady Whirlwind and Knockabout Blu-rays.) In 2022 Eureka came out with a Region 'B' Blu-ray set of Warriors Two & The Prodigal Son : Two Films By Sammo Hung. The extras for The Prodigal Son (the prequel to Warriors Two) are duplicated and I suspect the transfer is as well as Arrow also released Two Warriors in June of this year (2023.) The Prodigal Son has a slight similarity to the Humphrey Bogart film The Harder They Fall where an unaware champion's abilities are deceived by weaker opponents throwing fights for money. While nominated for Best Film and Best Director (Hung) Hong Kong Film Awards, The Prodigal Son lost both to Ann Hui's Boat People.  Sammo Kam-Bo Hung's film is very enjoyable - the humor doesn't detract from the impressive fight sequences - and I had a great time watching it on this Arrow Blu-ray. Absolutely recommended!

Gary Tooze