DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY

US, 1993, 120 minutes, Colour.
Jason Scott Lee, Lauren Holly, Robert Wagner, Michael Learned, Nancy Kwan.
Directed by Rob Cohen.

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story was co-written and directed by Rob Cohen and based on Linda Lee Cadwell's biography of her husband, Bruce Lee: The Man Only I Knew.

The film focuses on the legend of Lee, introduces us to him as a boy in Hong Kong, the dangers of living in Hong Kong and his having to move to the United States, his father's anguish at his older son's death and his fear of demons destroying his younger son. The film shows Lee settling in America, experiencing racism, dating and marrying Linda, the birth of his son Brandon. It also shows him establishing martial arts classes for non-Chinese - and the antagonism of the Californian Chinese community. Ridiculed for his methods at a Long beach tournament, he overcomes prejudice and establishes himself, also being invited to Hollywood to star in the television series, The Green Hornet (though still the victim of racism). While he loses the role in Kung Fu to David Carradine, he starts on a movie career, especially with success in Asia with The Big Boss. However, the demons continue to torment him, he is workaholic, there are tensions with Linda and Brandon, he makes such films as Enter the Dragon - and suddenly dies.

Critics considered the film a glossy portrait of Lee, avoiding the complexities - and considered it as a `print the legend' biography. Jason Scott Lee (Map of the Human Heart) gives an energetic and sympathetic performance as Lee. Lauren Holly is his wife, Robert Wagner is the television producer. The supporting cast includes Nancy Kwan as the owner of a cafe and Cohen himself portrays Robert Klaus, the director of Enter the Dragon (the hall of mirrors sequence of this film is reproduced).

1. The Bruce Lee story, reality, the legends, the focus on his martial arts career, the media? His son (and the pathos of his son being killed on a film set prior to the film's release)?

2. The Hong Kong settings, California in the '60s and '70s, Thailand? The shadow side of Hong Kong? The martial arts sequences? TV and film studio and location work? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus, Bruce Lee's popularity in the '60s and '70s - and for decades afterwards?

4. Jason Scott Lee's impersonation and interpretation of Lee, sympathetic portrayal? Insights?

5. The opening, Hong Kong in 1949, Bruce's father, concern about his older son's death, wanting to protect Bruce from the demons, training him in martial arts?

6. The motif of the demon warrior appearing in vision throughout the film, the stages of the occurrence, portraying Bruce's inner fear, his need to conquer this fear or pass it on to his son? The visual style and action?

7. Bruce as a teenager in the 60s, getting into trouble, using his martial arts skills, the sailors accosting the women at the dance hall, his fight? His having to move out of Hong Kong - and the implications of sinister powers and influence in Hong Kong? His injury, his father giving him his American birth certificate and money to go to the United States?

8. Life in the United States, San Francisco and California? Dishwashing at Gussy Yang's, attraction to the waitress, in trouble, the fights, his having to leave, Gussy giving him the loan for his education?

9. His college experience, the racist taunts, his ability in fighting, leading to admiration, the white students learning the martial arts, Linda attracted and working with him, studying, the dates? His establishing a number of institutions and their development? The irony of going to Breakfast at Tiffany's - and the caricature of Mickey Rooney's Asian portrait?

10. The development of the martial arts, the stunt work, his own particular style, his schools?

11. Oakland and the clash with the Chinese, the issue of training the non-Chinese? The bout, the clash with Johnny Sun and his being crippled, convalescing, dictating his book to Linda? The convention at Long beach, the personnel present, his being booed, offering the challenge, the clash with Johnny Sun and the injury to him, Lee winning?

12. Hollywood and its invitations? Bill Krieger and his style, the preparation for The Green Hornet, the picture of filming part of the series? The action adventure - Hollywood's version of Orientals and Lee not allowed to take off his mask? His not getting the role in Kung Fu - and watching it on television?

13. His disappointment, going to Hong Kong, relationship with Linda and his son? Going to the movies, being busy, tension? The hostility in Hong Kong?

14. In Thailand, Luke, Johnny Sun's brother fighting him, the fight on the movie set, the camera rolling? The injury and death? The film of The Big Boss - and its premiere, great success and Lee becoming a cinema hero?

15. The developing conflicts, alienation from Linda, the filming of Enter the Dragon (and the mirrors sequence)? The appearance of the warrior? The suddenness and untimeliness of his death?

16. The character of Linda, her perspective on Bruce Lee, justifying herself and her marriage? Her son?

17. The portrait of the American media, exploiting Lee? Television and film? The character of Bill Krieger?

18. Truth and fiction? `Print the legend'?