Bruce Lee
(Li Jun-Fan)
Biography
This man needs no introduction, as he helped changed the face of the kung-fu films, forever. With all the filming that they were doing before him, they now had to move up to the next level. I would have loved to seen him in a movie directed/choreographed by Liu Chia-Liang, as their eye for detail were similar in a lot of ways. The consummate fighter, he combined great technical insight with superb physical ability, to bring us some of the most dynamic films of the early 70's. His films actually helped shape the direction kung-fu films would go.
A very intense, aggressive and emotional boxer with outstanding range, his films introduced us to real action and a chance his excellent timing and explosive reactions in action. With the release of Fists Of Fury, his legend began to grow. This was followed by Chinese Connection and his legend was sealed, basically by one scene in the movie - where he jumps up and kicks the "No Dogs and Chinese Allowed" sign. Chinese all over the world would later say that that was the most moving scene, because it helped to show the world that Chinese people were proud, brave, and equal to all men.
For his next film (Way Of The Dragon), he took and made the film on his own merit, even establishing a film company in the process (Concorde Films). In later years, other actors such as Samo Hung and Jackie Chan would establish film companies of their own, following his lead. If you really want to know how good he was, Enter The Dragon came out in 1973 and to this day, it's the standard by which all martial-art films are measured against. Today, while actors like Donnie Yen, who like to “Under-crank” the camera on their films to make themselves look faster, Lee [actually] had to slow down -- so the camera, could register his movement. He was obsessed with speed and even had a machine (reflex timer), that clocked punches in the thousandths of a second.
The series Kung Fu was a pilot-idea that he, himself came up with and pitched to studios in America. They loved the idea, but not the fact the Lee would play the lead. As with the older Charlie Chan movies, a White actor (David Carradine) secured the role and became a star overnight. With the release of his first American movie - Enter The Dragon all of his dreams were about to fall in place. He had actually stopped making the film Game Of Death to shoot Enter the Dragon and the torturous workout he put his body through to stay in shape, to some was instrumental in his demise.
He died (July 20, 1973) of a "Cerebral Edema" (swelling of the brain) brought on by a painkiller. Musician Quincy Jones, suffered from a similar condition, back in 1974 or ’ 75 (but he was rushed to the hospital and recovered). In Lee's case the have been many conspiracies about his death, yet, no one with the guts to come forward. He died in actress Betty Ting-Pei's apartment and has even his former boss Raymond Chow, had been linked to his death, as he was planning to leave Golden Harvest studios and move back to the states. In 1993, his only son (Brandon) was killed on the set on the movie The Crow, in a scene that almost mimicked his father's death-scene in the film, The Chinese Connection.
With Brandon's death, this wiped out Lee's bloodline completely as only a son can pass on the family name. Throughout all of the speculation and theories, in his short lifetime (age 32), he has meant so much, to so many people. Stars who have made it in cinema today, recall watching his films in the 70's and emulating his movements. Every martial-arts star after him, seems to owe him a great deal and will forever live in his shadow. There have been clones and imitators, but there will only be one - King of Kung Fu.
Often imitated, never duplicated.
Rest in Peace.
Often imitated, never duplicated.
Rest in Peace.