Enter the Dragon (1973)

A martial artist agrees to spy on a reclusive crime lord using his invitation to a tournament there as cover.

Director:

Robert Clouse

Writer:

Michael Allin

Stars:

Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Jim Kelly

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruce Lee	...	Lee
John Saxon	...	Roper
Jim Kelly	...	Williams
Ahna Capri	...	Tania
Kien Shih	...	Han (as Shih Kien)
Robert Wall	...	Oharra (as Bob Wall)
Angela Mao	...	Su Lin (Guest star) (as Angela Mao Ying)
Betty Chung	...	Mei Ling
Geoffrey Weeks	...	Braithwaite
Bolo Yeung	...	Bolo (as Yang Sze)
Peter Archer	...	Parsons
Li Jen Ho	...	Old Man (as Ho Lee Yan)
Marlene Clark	...	Secretary
Allan Kent	...	Golfer
Bill Keller	...	L.A. Cop

Storyline

Enter the Dragon revolves around 3 main characters; Lee, a man recruited by an agency to investigate a tournament hosted by Han, since they believe he has an Opium trade there. Roper and Williams are former army buddies since Vietnam and they enter the tournament due to different problems that they have. It's a deadly tournament they will enter on an island. Lee's job is to get the other 2 out of there alive.

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Plot Keywords:

prostitution | panties | sex slave | vietnam war veteran | national film registry | 

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Taglines:

Their deadly mission: to crack the forbidden island of Han!

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for martial arts violence and brief nudity

Details

Country:

Hong Kong USA

Language:

English Cantonese

Release Date:

19 August 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Deadly Three

Filming Locations:

Aberdeen Harbour, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, China

Box Office

Budget:

$850,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$40,802

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Concord Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min 99 min (theatrical) 86 min (VHS release) (USA)

Sound Mix:

DTS (re-release) Dolby Digital (re-release) Mono (original release) SDDS (re-release)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kien Shih, who played the main villain Han, in real life was a close friend of Bruce Lee's father since they both worked in Cantonese Opera business. Kien worked as a makeup artist and Bruce's father as an actor. Their relationship was so close that Bruce addressed Kien as "uncle" and Kien called Bruce "nephew". During a break when filming Enter the Dragon, Bruce got a premonition and said to Kien, "Uncle, I feel that you will live longer than me." Surprised to hear that, Kien then replied, "Nephew, don't force yourself too hard. You are overworking yourself." Bruce died one week before Enter the Dragon was released in Hong Kong.

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Goofs

During the fight with the guards, Lee knocks one guard against the cell wall containing the prisoners, who immediately grab the guard and hold him against the bars. In the next shot, the guard disappears.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lee: Teacher?
Shaolin Abbott: I see your talents have gone beyond the mere physical level. Your skills are now at the point of spiritual insight. I have several questions. What is the highest technique you hope to achieve ?
Lee: To have no technique.
Shaolin Abbott: Very good. What are your thoughts when facing an opponent ?
Lee: There is no opponent.
Shaolin Abbott: And why is that ?
Lee: Because the word "I" does not exist.
Shaolin Abbott: So, continue...
Lee: A good fight should be like a small play, but played seriously. A good martial artist does not become tense,...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

To celebrate the movie's the 25th Anniversary, 10 minutes originally not shown in the US version (but shown in the Chinese version) were restored, although it said only 3 minutes on the box. According to Linda Lee Cadwell, Bruce Lee's widow, this is the uncut version. Also included is "Bruce Lee: In his own words," the original theatrical trailer, a special "Behind the Scenes: The Filming of 'Enter the Dragon'" documentary, and never before seen photos.

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Connections

Referenced in Re-enter the Dragon (1979)

User Reviews

.....simply the best

Even though it is more than 25 years since Enter the Dragon was first released, to this day it is still hailed as the landmark of martial arts films.

Used primarily as a vehicle for the late, great Bruce Lee this movie has a thin plot, little actual character development and the acting isn't fantastic.....it was never meant to be another Citizen Kane. Its merit lies purely in the action content. If you were to ask any learned martial artist I'm sure that 9 out of 10 would tell you that the fight sequences are unparalleled, even today. The fluidity of Lee is astounding. Unlike most martial arts films of that time the fighting is very realistic, and has a somewhat visceral quality. There is also the use of traditional Oriental weapons (nunchaku, escrima sticks, etc..), although the British censors in their wisdom have seen fit the cut the nunchaku sequence, and I'm afraid, like any censored movie, it just isn't the same watching when you know you aren't getting the full monty, so to speak.

Still, on the whole one of my personal favourites and a must see for any action or seventies film fan. If you get the opportunity see the remastered American version with added footage....I've got one,envy me!!!