ENTER THE DRAGON

US, 1973, 98 minutes, Colour.
Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Shih Kien, Jim Kelly, Bob Wall.
Directed by Robert Clouse.

Enter the Dragon made Hollywood discover Kung Fu and probably with no box-office loss to either party. Hong Kong - Bruce Lee martial arts epics have been somewhat stereotyped comic book adventures: applaud hero, hiss villain, dubbed in incongruous American. Efficient and effective Hollywood techniques in directing, editing, photography, music, etc. make this adventure a far superior film to other Kung Fu films (and improves the story line no end). Acting on the U.S. side is mediocre but Bruce Lee is not bad as the hero and he stages the fights spectacularly, especially the final room of mirrors. It is meant to be martial art entertainment and judging by packed, cheering houses, it is a modern matinee success.

1. Was this an enjoyable film? What aspects were most enjoyable? Was the structure a good one for such a film - the memory devices for introducing the characters? The straightforward narrative of adventure? The comic-book nature of the people and the events?

2. What do you think of Kung Fu? The martial arts? Are they arts? Did the photography of the fight indicate that they are arts? What value has Kung Fu? For self-defence etc.? For presentation on the screen? Is it too violent? Is it too brutal? or has it a dignity?

3. How successful was the Hollywood treatment of an Asian martial art theme? The American direction, editing, musical direction? How much was this a Hollywood film compared with an Asian film?

4. How villainous was Hahn? Was he an adequate villain for an adventure like this? - the tournament, his drug set-up, his means of recruiting aids, his tortures etc.? What impression did Hahn make on you?

5. The hero: was he an agreeable and likeable hero, his skill at Kung Fu, his revenging his sister, his being of help to the police? How noble was he on the island? How dignified was he in the tournament? How admirable a person was he meant to be?

6. Roper: An American, a gambler, a playboy. Was he convincing in this Kung Fu role? Was he admirable? Likeable? How did he compare with the Chinese hero? What did he contribute to the film and to the narrative?

7. Williams: An American, black - was he likeable, admirable? How did he compare with the hero? With Roper? Why was he introduced into the film - merely because he was a negro? The impact of the sequences of his torture and death?

8. Comment on the staging of the fights: the photography, the slow motion techniques, the musical and sound accompaniments? The staging of the tournament? The final fight in the room of mirrors? Why was this a successful device?

9. This kind of film really seems matinee material. Is this true? Why does it appeal to a wide range of audiences? Why is it so enjoyable?