Meng long guo jiang (1972)

Director:

Bruce Lee

Writer:

Bruce Lee (writer)

Release Date:

30 December 1972 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Colosseum . . the battleground of Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris [Video Australia]

Plot:

A man visits his relatives at their restaurant in Italy and has to help them defend against brutal gangsters harassing them.

Plot Keywords:

Italy | Gangster | Colosseum | Colosseum Battle | Roman Colosseum

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Bruce Lee	...	Tang Lung (a.k.a. Dragon)
Nora Miao	...	Chen Ching Hua
Chuck Norris	...	Colt
Ping-Ao Wei	...	Ho (as Paul Wei Ping-Ao)
Chung-Hsin Huang	...	'Uncle' Wang (as Wang Chung Hsin)
Robert Wall	...	Fred (Bob Fred)
Ing-Sik Whang	...	Japanese Fighter
Tony Liu	...	Tony
Unicorn Chan	...	Jimmy
Malisa Longo	...	Italian Beauty
Fu Ching Chen	...	Waiter (as Tommy Chen)
Di Chin	...	Ah Quen
Wu Ngan	...	Waiter
Robert Chen	...	Robert
Jon T. Benn	...	Boss
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Baker	...	Thug / Extra (uncredited)
Riccardo Billi	...	Italian (uncredited)
Russell Cawthorne	...	Bank President (uncredited)
John Derbyshire	...	Thug (uncredited)
Alexander Grand	...	Extra (uncredited)
Jim James	...	Extra (uncredited)
Ching-Ying Lam	...	Thug (uncredited)
Andre Morgan	...	(uncredited)
Anders Nelson	...	Thug (uncredited)
Ho Pich	...	(uncredited)
Biao Yuen	...	Thug / Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Bruce Lee

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Bruce Lee		writer

Produced by
Raymond Chow	....	producer
Bruce Lee	....	producer

Original Music by
Joseph Koo

Cinematography by
Tadashi Nishimoto		(as Ho Lang Shang)

Film Editing by
Yao Chung Chang

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Yao-chang Chih	....	assistant director

Art Department
Shun-chang Huang	....	props
Chan Chap Hung	....	titles design

Sound Department
Shao Lung Chou	....	sound recordist

Stunts
Robert Baker	....	stunts
Ching-Ying Lam	....	stunts
Robert Wall	....	stunts
Biao Yuen	....	stunts
Wah Yuen	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Cheng Hui Jan	....	gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sheng Shi Chu	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Simon Broderick	....	colorist

Other crew
Unicorn Chan	....	assistant martial arts director (as Unicon)
Bruce Lee	....	martial arts director

Production Companies

• Concord Productions Inc.
• Golden Harvest Company

Distributors

• Astral Films (1974) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Bryanston Distributing (1974) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Cathay Films Ltd. (1974) (UK) (theatrical)
• Compagnie Française de Distribution Cinématographique (CFDC) (1974) (France) (theatrical)
• Succéfilm AB (1984) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• Atlas-Video (19??) (Finland) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Cinema Classics (video)
• Cinematográfica F.J. (Brazil) (VHS)
• Continental Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Finnkino Video (1993) (Finland) (VHS)
• Future Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Hong Kong Legends (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Nelonen (2003) (Finland) (TV)
• Spike Co. Ltd. (2002) (Japan) (DVD)
• United Film & Entertainment Marketing (1989) (Finland) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Fury of the Dragon (Europe: English title)
Mang lung goh kong (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
Return of the Dragon (USA)
Revenge of the Dragon (USA) (cable TV title)
The Way of the Dragon (Hong Kong: English title)

Runtime:

100 min | USA:90 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin | English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-16 (cut: 1989) | Finland:K-18 (DVD rating: 2001) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:(Banned) (1975) | France:U | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:12 | Spain:18 | Sweden:(Banned) (1975) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | New Zealand:M | UK:X (original rating) | Norway:18 (video premiere) (1982) | Norway:(Banned) (1975-2003) (cinema release) | Norway:(Banned) (video) (1988-1995)

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Concord Productions Inc.

Trivia:

The whole thing was shot without sound, with the actors looping their lines in post-production.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the opening credits it lists "Directed and Scriped" by Bruce Lee. It should read "Scripted", with a T.

Quotes:

Tang Lung: Movement number 4: Dragon seeks path. Hi-yah!" (Tang kicks, knocking a hoodlum unconscious) "Dragon whips his tail!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Real Bruce Lee (1973)

Soundtrack:

As A Judgement

Bruce Lee at his best

Bruce Lee demonstrates why without ever being a tournament champion that he was one of the best martial artists of all times. His speed and technique easily out class the other real martial artisits this film presents. His fight with Chuck Norris in this film is legendary. Watching Chuck in his prime is intense, high speed and accuracy. What scares me is that Bruce is faster. And even though he is lacking size, its obvious that the little dragons power is intense. Yes the scenes in these movies may be choreographed, but it's hard to make duplicate the skills shown by these fighters with trick photography and ballet lessons.

This is the first film Bruce took a major role in both on and off the set. He searched for quality martial artists for the fight scenes and was the one who reccomended Italy for this shoot.

The film revolves around a restaurant in Italy run by Lee's uncle and his (assumably ) cousins. Local gangsters try to close the restaurant down and get a piece of the action. To avoid complications with the law, they try and man handle the resteraunt owner and workers and Lee comes to the rescue.