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:

Jeet Kune Do | Mafia | Martial Arts

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
Chin Ti	...	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)
Siu Kee Lun	...	Waiter (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
Chang Yao Chang

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
Chu Sheng Hsi	....	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

• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• Astral Films (1974) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Bryanston Distributing (1974) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Cathay Films Ltd. (1974) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cinema Classics (video)
• Cinematográfica F.J. (Brazil) (VHS)
• Continental Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Hong Kong Legends (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Spike Co. Ltd. (2002) (Japan) (DVD)
• Succéfilm AB (1984) (Sweden) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

Fury of the Dragon (Europe: English title)
Maang 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:

Portugal:M/16 | Iceland:12 | 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:

Bruce Lee wrote the death threat note which the mafia gave to Uncle Wang.

Goofs:

Continuity: In an early fight scene at the restaurant, one of the protection racket heavies shapes up to Lee's character. He's seen apathetically in a boxing stance of sorts. When Lee performs a roundhouse kick, the scene (from behind the 'thug') clearly shows him with his arms behind his back and hands near/on his hips so that the kick is delivered unchallenged. He then clearly waves his arms forward from that position to up in the air, which creates a more dramatic effect as to the power of the kick, i.e. knocking him that far off balance.

Quotes:

Thug: Mama Mia!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Street Fighter Zero (1995) (VG)

Soundtrack:

As A Judgement

Redefined the genre, and still does

Although this is technically not Lees greatest film, it is a personal favourite since Lee was in full control and everything is pure Lee. Many have wrongly stated this film is bad, having not seen the originals where you can really appreciate the composition of the showdowns (visual director with potential - see the rare 'rocking chair' shot in Game of Death). The script is bad in a few places, particularly the humour, but this film was never inteneded for the west, but designed to appeal to his country men.

Now, the film features the best array of fighting sequences ever commited to celluloid. Obviously influenced by Sergio Leones trilogy, tension is excellently built up before fight. The sequences are not overly choreographed or played in slow motion or 'lightly' then speeded up, but contain a raw, feral edge combined with breathless technique. The perfect marriage between art and realism.

The fights with Wong Ing Sik and Bob Wall while short, are underrated even by Lee fans. Those who have been lucky enough to see the double nunchaku sequence in full, will have witnessed one of the best display of weaponary ever shown on the silver screen (along with the 'original' and 'complete' nunchaku footage from Game of Death and the wonderfully comprehensive display of martial arts in the underground Enter the Dragon sequence).

And then theres THAT coliseum fight. Perhaps the start is abit overdone (But Lee wanted to put forward a point i.e. don't play to your oponents strength), but it is undoubtedly the best expression of the human body ever, whether fighting, dancing, running whatever. Those brought up on Latter day Chan stuff and in particular Jet Li fights, will not appreciate this piece, but those knowing anything about the fighting arts or good choreography will be shaken not just stirred.