Enter the Dragon
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| Enter the Dragon | |
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| Directed by | Robert Clouse |
| Produced by | Fred Weintraub Paul Heller |
| Written by | Michael Allin |
| Starring | Bruce Lee John Saxon Ahna Capri Shih Kien Robert Wall Angela Mao Betty Chung Geoffrey Weeks Yang Sze Peter Archer Jim Kelly Bolo Yeung |
| Music by | Lalo Schifrin |
| Distributed by | Warner Brothers |
| Release date(s) |  July 26, 1973 August 17, 1973 |
| Running time | 98 min. |
| Language | English |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
- This article is about the Kung Fu film starring Bruce Lee. For the episode of "Xiaolin Showdown", see Enter the Dragon (Xiaolin Showdown).
Enter the Dragon (《龍爭虎鬥》 aka. The Deadly Three, originally titled Blood and Steel is a 1973 Warner Brothers martial arts film starring martial artist Bruce Lee, John Saxon and Jim Kelly. It is the last completed film Bruce Lee appeared in before his death. He died the month before it was released.
It is considered by many to be the definitive Kung Fu film, and was the first Kung Fu film to have been made by a Hollywood studio. It has one of the most influential martial arts scenes ever made - the Nunchaku scene. The film is largely set in Hong Kong (see Hong Kong in films).
Although they had acted in films and Peking opera decades before, the Seven Little Fortunes, including Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, were stuntmen for the film. This was arguably instrumental in Jackie Chan's and Sammo Hung's further association with Golden Harvest studios, which later launched their career.
The finished version of the film was significantly different from the original drafts. Bruce Lee was ultimately successful in using the film as a vehicle for expressing what he saw as the beauty of his culture, rather than just another action movie.
The Warner Brothers Special Edition video includes footage from the only live interview of Bruce Lee, as well as a few minutes of movie footage, philosophical in tone, cut from the original theatrical release.
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[edit] Plot
"Enter the Dragon" follows three international martial artists during their participation in a fighting tournament on an island run by a crimelord called Han. The island is beyond international jurisdiction. Lee (played by Bruce Lee), Roper (John Saxon) and Williams (Jim Kelly) each have their own reasons for entering the tournament initially, though they all find themselves at odds with their host, the mysterious Han (played by Kien Shih).
For Lee, an intelligence agency recruits him to investigate Han's operations using his participation in the tournament as cover and since Han forbids firearms on the island, Lee's martial arts skill would be vital in case of trouble. Lee has even more personal reasons for dealing with Han, who left Lee's Shaolin temple in disgrace. Also in a flash back is relieved that Han’s chief body guard and a group of his men are responsible for the death of Lee’s sister.
Roper and Williams are former army buddies who have had to leave the U.S. in a hurry. Gambler Roper is wanted by the mob, black activist Williams is wanted by the cops.
In the course of the tournament, the protagonists discover that Han uses his untouchable island and the tournament as a front to recruit new talent for his drug running operation.
[edit] On Set Incidents
- Bruce was bitten by a cobra during filming of the scene in which he infiltrates Han's base.
- According to Bob Wall and John Saxon, Bruce Lee beat up an actor who was taunting him, but on the Enter The Dragon DVD, this incident was played down. Bruce Lee was said to have been challenged by many actors and stunt men wanting to prove themselves by defeating him in a fight.
- Some of the extras were thugs who used their fighting skills to enforce local protection rackets. During a fight, Lee is said to have literally smashed the teeth out of a man's mouth. This led to speculation that his death, soon after the film was completed, was a Triad revenge.
- During the fight scene with Bob Wall, Bruce Lee cut himself on glass bottles that weren't sugar glass props.
- During the making of Enter The Dragon, it is said that Bob Wall never quite got along with Bruce Lee and at the fight on the parade ground (where Oharra smashes the bottles) the attack at Lee was more than just a managed fight. Wall and others deny these allegations however, stating the whole event was blown out of proportion.
[edit] Additional information
- In a list of channel four's top 100 movies compiled by critics in the UK, Enter The Dragon charted at No 85.
- On the Your Movie Database website it is ranked at 60.
- It is often regarded as one of the most influential films of all time, kickstarting the kung fu movie genre during the '70s in the West and establishing Bruce Lee as a popular culture icon.
- In October 1973, Enter The Dragon was the box office No. 1 in the United States.
- The film grossed $100 million in the United States alone and became Warner Brother's highest grossing film in 1973.
- By 1977, Enter the Dragon was listed as one of the twenty most profitable movies in the history of cinema.
- In 2004, it was deemed "culturally significant" and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
[edit] Enter The Dragon in popular culture
- This movie is parodied in The Kentucky Fried Movie as A Fistfull of Yen, complete with Lee quote, "This time, with feeling."
- Many of the moves performed by Bruce Lee in this film are used as moves for the characters Marshall and Forest Law in the best selling videogame series Tekken.
- The driving and haunting score by Lalo Schifrin is also used on Takeshi's Castle screened by UK cable channel Challenge TV during the Honey Comb maze.
- Some parts of the music during the walls of mirrors climax is used in the Bollywood hit Sholay.
- In Aaliyah's video of Try Again which features martial arts actor Jet Li, there is a similar mirror scene set used, like the climax at the end of Enter The Dragon.
- UK Bhangra group RDB have also sampled Lalo Schifrin's thumping score for one of their tracks.
- The classic Beat 'Em Up series Double Dragon has many of its thugs named after characters from this film including Williams, Roper, Oharra, and Bolo.
- The plot of the original Mortal Kombat (arcade game) video game is nearly identical to Enter the Dragon, but with a distinctly supernatural twist. The official comic book that could be purchased via mail ordered that came out with the game even contained the famous quote "Let the Tournament begin!"
- Liu Kang, from the Mortal Kombat series, seems to be based mostly on Bruce Lee's character, Lee. This is evident due to the fact that both are former shaolin monks who are trying to restore honor in a corrupted tournament. Also, in the Mortal Kombat (film), Liu Kang seeks to avenge the death of a family member, his brother, just as Lee seeks to avenge the death of his sister. And in Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks Liu Kang has a finishing move that's a gorier version of the move Bruce Lee uses to kill Bob Wall's character Oharra, complete with the same use of slow motion.
- Rush Hour 2 seems to reference Enter The Dragon during the scene where Chris Tucker's character is in the massage parlour and he begins selecting the women he'd like to be massaged by. Jim Kelly's character also does this.
- Dance Dance Revolution 4th Mix Plus includes a remix of the movie's theme song arranged by NAOKI under the alias "B3-Project."
- Many of the moves performed by Bruce Lee in this film are used as moves for a Street Fighter character Fei Long.
- The character Williams is said to have been the inspiration behind the Mortal Kombat character Darrius.
- An episode of Xiaolin Showdown has the same name of the title.
- The Jackie Chan Adventures's Season 3 episode "Re-Enter the J Team" is a reference to Enter The Dragon
- Pump It Up Zero (an arcade dance simulation video game) has a mix of the theme song of Enter The Dragon, specially arranged by South Korean hip hop group JTL. This group's first album is also named after this movie, and the song that's featured in PIU Zero is also contained on it.
- There are several references to Enter the Dragon in The Boondocks animated television show, most notably in the episode Granddad's Fight. In that episode, Huey Quotes Bruce Lee when he asks Granddad, "What was that? An exhibition? We need emotional content!". Huey also wears clothes that match Lee's exactly during a sequence where he is training his granddad to fight.
- Jann Lee from the Dead Or Alive series uses several moves used by Bruce Lee and sometimes says "Dont't think. Feel".
- The main theme of the movie was often an introduction cover song to most Jamiroquai gigs of the Dynamite era.
- The Wu Tang Clan has sampled Enter the Dragon in several of their works.
[edit] Trivia
- Sammo Hung appears as Bruce Lee's sparring opponent at the beginning of the movie.
- Jackie Chan appears briefly in a couple of scenes, as one of the guards or henchmen with Oharra. The first is when he is kicked in the groin while coming onto Lee's sister. He is wearing the light blue clothing. He is also the only person to get any serious type of damage on Lee's sister. (Punches, a kick, and pushing her head into the wall) Later on, he gets his neck snapped by Bruce Lee during a battle with several guards, where Bruce Lee demonstrates his abilities with a number of weapons including the nunchakus.
- Bruce Lee was initially against the idea of the now famous hall of mirrors scene. He did not think it would work.
[edit] DVD releases
Warner Brothers
- Released: July 1, 1998
- Aspect Ratio: Widescreen (2.35:1) anamorphic
- Sound: English (5.1), French (5.1), Spanish (5.1)
- Supplements: Introduction and interview with Linda Lee Caldwell; Commentary by Paul Heller and Michael Allin; Location: Hong Kong with Enter the Dragon documentary; Bruce Lee: In His Own Words documentary; Backyard Workout documentary; Trailers and TV spots; Production notes
- Region 1
Warner Brothers
- Released: May 18, 2004
- Aspect Ratio: Widescreen (2.35:1) anamorphic
- Sound: English (5.1), English (1.0)
- Supplements: Commentary by Paul Heller and Michael Allin; Location: Hong Kong with Enter the Dragon documentary; Bruce Lee: In His Own Words documentary; Backyard Workout documentary; Blood and Steel documentary; Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey documentary; Bruce Lee: Curse of the Dragon documentary; Trailers and TV spots
- Region 1
Universe (Hong Kong)
- Aspect Ratio: Widescreen (2.35:1) letterboxed
- Sound: Cantonese (5.1), Madarin (5.1)
- All regions
[edit] Famous Dialogue
You have offended my family...and you have offended the shaolin temple - Lee
Don't think...FEEL. It is like a finger pointing to the moon. Do not concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory...you understand? - Lee
(Oharra throws a board in the air and smashes it with his fist) Boards...don't hit back - Lee
It is not the art, but the combat that you enjoy - Han
Man...You come right out of a comic book - Williams
Bullshit, Mr. Hanman! - Williams
It is defeat that you must learn to prepare for.. - Han
When it (defeat) comes, I won't even notice. I'll be too busy looking good! - Williams
My Style? You could call it the art of fighting without fighting... - Lee
(Lee at his Mother's grave) I am not proud of what I'm going to do. It is contrary to all that you have taught me and all that Sui Lin believed. I must leave. Please try to find a way to forgive me.. - Lee
Ghettos are the same all over the world; they stink! - Williams
The battle with the guards was magnificent. Your skill is extraordinary. And I was going to ask you to join us.. - Han (After Lee's battle in the cave)
Mr Lee? Are you ready?! - Tournament adviser
You must attend the morning ritual in uniform - O'hara
Outside... - Lee
A good fight should be like a small play but, played seriously. When the opponent expands, I contract. When he contracts, I expand. And when the opportunity presents itself, I do not hit. It hits all by itself. - Lee
There is a point where I won't go beyond - Roper
Gentlemen, let the tournament begin...! - Han
Bolo! - Han (to which Bolo responds to with) DA!
Corruption is highly profitable - Han
Remember, the enemy only has images and illusions behind which he hides his true motives...destroy the image and you will break the enemy - Monk
A human Fly - Williams
We are investing in corruption - Han
What was that? An exhibition? We need emotional content. Try again, this time with feeling. - Lee
Gentlemen, welcome. You honor our island. I look forward to a tournament of truly epic proportions. We are unique, gentlemen, in that we create ourselves. Through long years of rigorous training, sacrifice, denial, pain, we forge our bodies in the fire of our will. But tonight, let us celebrate. Gentlemen, you have our gratitude. - Han
[edit] Further Reading/Sources
- http://www.channel4.com/film/newsfeatures/microsites/G/greatest/results/control.jsp?resultspage=81
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/10/09/enter_the_dragon_1973_review.shtml#rating#rating
[edit] Cast includes
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