1
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(Narrator) 'On July 20th, 1973,

2
00:00:55,894 --> 00:00:57,896
'in the middle of a hot
Hong Kong summer,

3
00:00:58,731 --> 00:01:03,360
'the actor, writer, martial artist
and filmmaker, Bruce Lee,

4
00:01:03,902 --> 00:01:07,031
'died unexpectedly at the age of only 32.

5
00:01:08,616 --> 00:01:12,244
'On the cusp of a global stardom
he had spent years striving towards,

6
00:01:12,953 --> 00:01:15,289
'his death sent shockwaves
around the world.

7
00:01:16,457 --> 00:01:19,627
'The legacy he left behind
in his short but eventful life

8
00:01:19,752 --> 00:01:24,173
'included a young family,
legions of dedicated fans and students,

9
00:01:24,298 --> 00:01:26,884
'and a revolutionary approach
to martial arts

10
00:01:27,009 --> 00:01:30,262
'that transformed the world's relationship
with Chinese culture.

11
00:01:32,264 --> 00:01:33,849
'Half a century after his death,

12
00:01:34,391 --> 00:01:38,145
'he remains as much an inspiration
to millions as ever before.

13
00:01:40,397 --> 00:01:44,526
'His status largely rests on the success
of just four feature films

14
00:01:44,652 --> 00:01:47,321
'he completed in the two years
leading up to his death:

15
00:01:47,905 --> 00:01:50,574
"'The Big Boss", "Fist of Fury",

16
00:01:51,158 --> 00:01:54,495
"'The Way of the Dragon",
which he also wrote and directed,

17
00:01:54,953 --> 00:01:56,288
'and "Enter the Dragon".

18
00:01:56,997 --> 00:02:01,752
'Only four films,
and yet there was nearly a fifth.

19
00:02:03,379 --> 00:02:05,339
'Less than a year before he died,

20
00:02:05,464 --> 00:02:09,218
'Lee started work on his second film
as writer and director,

21
00:02:09,343 --> 00:02:11,428
'one that would deliver
on the filmmaking promise

22
00:02:11,553 --> 00:02:13,555
'he had shown with
"The Way of the Dragon",

23
00:02:13,681 --> 00:02:17,643
'and be the ultimate expression
of his unique martial arts philosophy.

24
00:02:18,977 --> 00:02:21,855
'Two hours of raw, unedited footage
was filmed

25
00:02:21,980 --> 00:02:24,566
'before the project
was temporarily shelved,

26
00:02:24,692 --> 00:02:26,819
'only to be left in permanent limbo

27
00:02:26,944 --> 00:02:29,613
'once its creator was no longer alive
to finish it.

28
00:02:30,406 --> 00:02:34,159
'Its working title,
ominous and fateful in hindsight,

29
00:02:34,284 --> 00:02:36,412
'was "The Game of Death".

30
00:02:37,579 --> 00:02:39,373
'Though Lee never lived to complete

31
00:02:39,498 --> 00:02:42,710
'or even refine his own vision
for the project,

32
00:02:42,835 --> 00:02:47,005
'his plans for "The Game of Death"
are as scrutinised and interrogated today

33
00:02:47,131 --> 00:02:50,926
'as the circumstances surrounding
his untimely death.

34
00:02:51,051 --> 00:02:52,970
'The mysteries around its creation

35
00:02:53,095 --> 00:02:55,556
'have become a vessel
for endless heated debate,

36
00:02:55,681 --> 00:03:00,185
'a space in which truth and legend
have become practically indistinguishable.

37
00:03:00,769 --> 00:03:03,230
'Was it a lost masterpiece
by a young artist

38
00:03:03,355 --> 00:03:05,232
'working at the height of his talents?

39
00:03:05,357 --> 00:03:06,984
'Or was it a cursed film,

40
00:03:07,109 --> 00:03:11,405
'inextricably bound
to its creator's own doomed fate?

41
00:03:11,530 --> 00:03:17,077
'Now, with access to all 11 reels
of footage shot for the film in 1972,

42
00:03:17,202 --> 00:03:20,330
'we can finally search for answers
to the many mysteries

43
00:03:20,456 --> 00:03:23,834
'contained within "The Game of Death".'

44
00:03:48,317 --> 00:03:50,861
(Narrator) 'It is July of 1972,

45
00:03:50,986 --> 00:03:53,697
'only one year before Bruce Lee's death.

46
00:03:54,323 --> 00:03:56,241
'He is the biggest star in Hong Kong,

47
00:03:56,366 --> 00:03:59,828
'now unable to walk around in public
without being mobbed.

48
00:04:00,370 --> 00:04:04,208
'It was only a year prior,
in the summer of 1971,

49
00:04:04,333 --> 00:04:07,503
'that after years of hitting
a racial glass ceiling in Hollywood,

50
00:04:07,628 --> 00:04:10,005
'he tired of American executives'
nervousness

51
00:04:10,130 --> 00:04:12,549
'over casting a Chinese star
in a lead role,

52
00:04:12,674 --> 00:04:14,259
'and looked homeward to Hong Kong,

53
00:04:14,384 --> 00:04:16,428
'where domestically produced
martial arts films

54
00:04:16,553 --> 00:04:18,931
'are starting to rule the local box office.

55
00:04:19,515 --> 00:04:23,060
'Signing a two-picture deal
with upstart company Golden Harvest,

56
00:04:23,185 --> 00:04:26,980
'Bruce agreed to star in two films,
both directed by Lo Wei:

57
00:04:27,481 --> 00:04:30,567
"'The Big Boss" and "Fist of Fury".

58
00:04:31,443 --> 00:04:35,197
'By the end of the year, he is
the most famous face on the continent.

59
00:04:36,114 --> 00:04:39,827
'Audiences are instantly captivated
by his charismatic energy

60
00:04:39,952 --> 00:04:41,370
'and high-kicking dynamism,

61
00:04:41,495 --> 00:04:44,373
'deliberately captured
in long, unbroken takes,

62
00:04:44,498 --> 00:04:47,334
'unlike the choppy editing
seen in most films.

63
00:04:47,459 --> 00:04:52,214
'His own customised style of kung fu,
which he has dubbed Jeet Kune Do,

64
00:04:52,339 --> 00:04:54,383
'or the Way of the Intercepting Fist,

65
00:04:54,508 --> 00:04:57,177
'is unlike anything
audiences have seen before.

66
00:04:58,011 --> 00:05:00,848
'Both films shatter
local box office records,

67
00:05:00,973 --> 00:05:03,600
'each taking well over
three million dollars.

68
00:05:03,725 --> 00:05:06,103
'Overnight, Bruce is a superstar.

69
00:05:06,603 --> 00:05:08,063
'A big fish in a small pond

70
00:05:08,188 --> 00:05:10,983
'compared to his earlier
Hollywood ambitions perhaps,

71
00:05:11,108 --> 00:05:12,484
'but with just two films,

72
00:05:12,609 --> 00:05:16,780
'he has the respect,
clout and financial security

73
00:05:16,905 --> 00:05:19,199
'to continue the next phase of his career.

74
00:05:19,908 --> 00:05:22,327
'Keen to retain
their box office superstar,

75
00:05:22,452 --> 00:05:24,413
'Golden Harvest executive
Raymond Chow

76
00:05:24,538 --> 00:05:29,001
'offers Bruce the opportunity to write,
direct and star in his next film,

77
00:05:29,126 --> 00:05:33,255
'as well as coproducing under his own
newly formed production company,

78
00:05:33,380 --> 00:05:35,007
'Concord Productions.

79
00:05:35,799 --> 00:05:37,551
'Given complete creative freedom,

80
00:05:38,176 --> 00:05:41,889
'Bruce makes a film much more personal
and aligned with his own ethos.

81
00:05:42,681 --> 00:05:45,434
'Its name: "The Way of the Dragon".

82
00:05:46,810 --> 00:05:50,147
'Whereas the previous two films
were formulaic revenge sagas

83
00:05:50,272 --> 00:05:53,066
'primarily designed
to appeal to local audiences,

84
00:05:53,817 --> 00:05:57,279
'Bruce looks outward
for his first time behind the camera.

85
00:05:58,322 --> 00:06:03,076
'He sets the film in Rome, and even films
on location there for three weeks.

86
00:06:05,537 --> 00:06:07,456
'Unhappy with Lo Wei's insistence

87
00:06:07,581 --> 00:06:11,001
'on cartoonish Japanese
and Russian villains in "Fist of Fury",

88
00:06:11,126 --> 00:06:15,005
'the final confrontation in Bruce's
screenplay for "The Way of the Dragon"

89
00:06:15,130 --> 00:06:16,882
'is a more ambivalent one.

90
00:06:17,007 --> 00:06:19,760
'Bruce choreographs
a climactic ten-minute fight

91
00:06:19,885 --> 00:06:23,513
'between him and American
karate champion, Chuck Norris.

92
00:06:23,639 --> 00:06:26,099
'Set amongst the ruins
of the Roman Colosseum

93
00:06:26,224 --> 00:06:30,896
'and filmed in wide shots that
accentuate both men's athletic prowess,

94
00:06:31,021 --> 00:06:33,398
'when his character
ultimately defeats Norris,

95
00:06:33,523 --> 00:06:37,736
'he does so reluctantly, and covers
his body as a gesture of respect.

96
00:06:37,861 --> 00:06:42,199
'The gladiators here are not avatars
for nationalistic or racial pride,

97
00:06:42,324 --> 00:06:45,369
'but global representatives
of martial arts excellence,

98
00:06:45,494 --> 00:06:47,913
'forced against one another
by circumstance,

99
00:06:48,038 --> 00:06:49,998
'and no less honourable for it.

100
00:06:50,457 --> 00:06:54,503
"'The Way of the Dragon" is
a crudely made film in many aspects,

101
00:06:54,628 --> 00:06:58,298
'both technically and
in the freewheeling nature of its creation.

102
00:06:58,423 --> 00:07:02,094
'But Bruce's sheer ambition and energy
burst off the screen,

103
00:07:02,219 --> 00:07:05,639
'showing a determination
to try as many ideas as he can,

104
00:07:05,764 --> 00:07:09,893
'and a burning promise to be harnessed
and refined in future work.

105
00:07:11,061 --> 00:07:14,773
'It will be the only film
he ever completes as a director.

106
00:07:17,275 --> 00:07:19,444
'It is the summer of 1972.

107
00:07:20,237 --> 00:07:22,906
"'The Way of the Dragon"
has only just finished filming,

108
00:07:23,031 --> 00:07:27,202
'but ever restless and ambitious,
Bruce is keen to seize the momentum

109
00:07:27,327 --> 00:07:30,080
'and channel it
into a second film as director.

110
00:07:30,205 --> 00:07:31,873
'He doesn't have much yet.

111
00:07:31,999 --> 00:07:34,459
'A rough sketch of an idea, if that.

112
00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:38,005
'Emboldened by his experience
filming "The Way of the Dragon",

113
00:07:38,130 --> 00:07:41,466
'Bruce's ambitions for his next film
increase further.

114
00:07:41,591 --> 00:07:44,845
'A film that would use symbolism
to add a philosophical dimension

115
00:07:44,970 --> 00:07:46,471
'to the action genre.

116
00:07:46,596 --> 00:07:49,933
"'The film to end all films,"
he says at one point.

117
00:07:50,517 --> 00:07:53,895
'For nearly a decade, he has spoken
about making what he calls

118
00:07:54,021 --> 00:07:55,564
'a multi-level film.

119
00:07:55,689 --> 00:07:56,773
As he puts it,

120
00:07:56,898 --> 00:08:00,527
"'The kind of movies where you can
just watch the surface story if you like,

121
00:08:00,652 --> 00:08:02,779
"'or you can look deeper into it."

122
00:08:02,904 --> 00:08:06,241
'The next coproduction
between Concord and Golden Harvest

123
00:08:06,366 --> 00:08:09,244
'will be Bruce's purest
cinematic expression yet

124
00:08:09,369 --> 00:08:10,912
'of Jeet Kune Do in action,

125
00:08:11,038 --> 00:08:14,666
'demonstrating the necessity
of adapting to one's circumstances.

126
00:08:15,459 --> 00:08:17,586
'In a 1972 interview,

127
00:08:17,711 --> 00:08:21,339
'he describes an idea for a prologue,
ultimately never filmed.

128
00:09:06,802 --> 00:09:11,765
'A key inspiration for this new idea
happened during a trip to India in 1970,

129
00:09:11,890 --> 00:09:15,977
'scouting locations for an abandoned
project called "The Silent Flute".

130
00:09:16,103 --> 00:09:18,980
'Bruce was struck
by the ancient pagodas he saw there,

131
00:09:19,106 --> 00:09:20,732
'and began to devise a scenario

132
00:09:20,857 --> 00:09:24,402
'where his vision of a multi-level film
became literal:

133
00:09:24,528 --> 00:09:27,656
'one fighter ascending the temple,
higher and higher,

134
00:09:27,781 --> 00:09:30,742
'taking on ever greater challenges
on his way to the top.

135
00:09:32,619 --> 00:09:36,456
'What little is known about Bruce's plans
for the story of "The Game of Death"

136
00:09:36,581 --> 00:09:39,209
'largely stems from a collection
of handwritten notes

137
00:09:39,334 --> 00:09:42,379
'uncovered in a Seattle warehouse
belonging to the Lee estate

138
00:09:42,504 --> 00:09:44,339
'in the mid-1990s.

139
00:09:45,340 --> 00:09:47,384
'As with "The Way of the Dragon"
before it,

140
00:09:47,509 --> 00:09:49,928
'a full script is never written
for "The Game of Death",

141
00:09:50,387 --> 00:09:54,266
'and indeed, Bruce continues
to change his mind about the plot

142
00:09:54,391 --> 00:09:57,310
'devising new characters
and whole subplots

143
00:09:57,435 --> 00:09:59,604
'right up to the day he dies.

144
00:10:00,647 --> 00:10:04,109
'Though this stands in stark contrast
to western film production

145
00:10:04,234 --> 00:10:07,779
'where everything is usually written
and planned well in advance,

146
00:10:07,904 --> 00:10:10,240
'it is the norm in Hong Kong filmmaking

147
00:10:10,365 --> 00:10:12,284
'where cast and crew members
might come and go

148
00:10:12,409 --> 00:10:14,327
'depending on the vagaries of scheduling

149
00:10:14,452 --> 00:10:16,163
'and dialogue is sometimes agreed upon

150
00:10:16,288 --> 00:10:18,832
'only minutes before cameras
begin rolling.

151
00:10:19,916 --> 00:10:22,544
'What these semi-improvised,
low-budget films

152
00:10:22,669 --> 00:10:24,880
'lack in polish and narrative finesse,

153
00:10:25,005 --> 00:10:29,134
'they often compensated for
in spontaneous energy and invention.

154
00:10:30,510 --> 00:10:35,056
'Over the coming months, Bruce slowly
fleshes out the story for his next film.

155
00:10:35,182 --> 00:10:37,184
'On one level, it is an action film

156
00:10:37,309 --> 00:10:39,686
'showcasing an array
of fighting techniques.

157
00:10:39,811 --> 00:10:43,064
'On the other, it is Bruce's philosophy
for Jeet Kune Do

158
00:10:43,190 --> 00:10:45,442
'literalised in cinematic form.

159
00:10:45,567 --> 00:10:49,946
'No way as way.
No limitation as limitation.

160
00:10:51,364 --> 00:10:53,825
'Whereas "The Way of the Dragon"
and Lee's prior films

161
00:10:53,950 --> 00:10:55,744
'were rooted in the real world

162
00:10:55,869 --> 00:10:59,122
'and even inspired in some cases
by real-life figures,

163
00:10:59,247 --> 00:11:02,375
'his aim for "The Game of Death"
was something altogether different,

164
00:11:02,500 --> 00:11:05,712
'something stranger,
perhaps even metaphysical.

165
00:11:06,922 --> 00:11:09,758
'Bruce will play the central character
of Hai Tien,

166
00:11:09,883 --> 00:11:13,345
'a retired champion fighter who,
as the film begins,

167
00:11:13,470 --> 00:11:16,890
'is on a flight to Korea
with his sister and younger brother.

168
00:11:17,015 --> 00:11:18,558
'When they land at the airport,

169
00:11:18,683 --> 00:11:22,062
'the trio are kidnapped by the henchmen
of a local crime boss.

170
00:11:22,187 --> 00:11:24,689
'The gangster holds
Hai Tien's family hostage,

171
00:11:24,814 --> 00:11:27,734
'unless he volunteers to fly out
to a secluded compound

172
00:11:27,859 --> 00:11:29,236
'in the Korean wilderness,

173
00:11:29,361 --> 00:11:33,281
'in the middle of which
is an ancient pagoda, five floors high.

174
00:11:33,406 --> 00:11:35,492
'The boss wants something
from the top of the pagoda,

175
00:11:35,617 --> 00:11:39,037
'and Hai Tien will have to battle his way
through various opponents to get it,

176
00:11:39,162 --> 00:11:40,580
'one level at a time.

177
00:11:41,456 --> 00:11:44,542
'Each opponent is a representative
of a different fighting style,

178
00:11:44,668 --> 00:11:47,462
'with Hai Tien having to assess
each fighter's abilities

179
00:11:47,587 --> 00:11:49,172
'and adapt his own techniques

180
00:11:49,297 --> 00:11:52,425
'in order to climb the tower
and win his siblings' freedom.

181
00:11:53,134 --> 00:11:57,389
'Hai Tien is joined on his mission
by a handful of the crime boss' underlings,

182
00:11:57,514 --> 00:12:01,768
'each motivated by greed and ambition
in their quest to make it to the top.

183
00:12:02,269 --> 00:12:04,813
'When they reach the compound,
Hai Tien and the others

184
00:12:04,938 --> 00:12:08,024
'are confronted by dozens
of nameless karate fighters

185
00:12:08,149 --> 00:12:10,151
'guarding the outside of the pagoda.

186
00:12:10,277 --> 00:12:11,778
'Upon dispatching the fighters,

187
00:12:11,903 --> 00:12:14,447
'a locksmith breaks them
inside the temple.

188
00:12:14,572 --> 00:12:17,784
'The opponent they face on the ground floor
is a master of hapkido

189
00:12:17,909 --> 00:12:20,412
'especially skilled at kicking.

190
00:12:20,537 --> 00:12:23,707
'After defeating him,
they ascend to the second level,

191
00:12:23,832 --> 00:12:26,626
'guarded by an expert
in Praying Mantis kung fu.

192
00:12:27,919 --> 00:12:30,005
'Sadly, though Bruce wrote dialogue

193
00:12:30,130 --> 00:12:32,132
'for many of the aforementioned
sequences,

194
00:12:32,257 --> 00:12:34,801
'he would not live long enough
to actually film them,

195
00:12:34,926 --> 00:12:37,762
'nor would he ever write
the story's grand conclusion.

196
00:12:37,887 --> 00:12:41,266
'Instead, the only scenes
that saw the light of a camera,

197
00:12:41,391 --> 00:12:43,560
'barely coherent out of context,

198
00:12:43,685 --> 00:12:47,355
'show Hai Tien's ascent up
the remaining three floors of the pagoda.

199
00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,692
'The Hall of the Tiger,
'in which he and two other fighters

200
00:12:50,817 --> 00:12:53,862
'battle an expert
in Filipino eskrima techniques,

201
00:12:53,987 --> 00:12:56,406
'not least mastery
of the deadly nunchaku.

202
00:12:57,115 --> 00:13:01,161
'The Hall of the Dragon, where Hai Tien
fights another hapkido grandmaster,

203
00:13:01,286 --> 00:13:04,789
'this time one adept at grappling
and hand-to-hand combat.

204
00:13:04,914 --> 00:13:07,375
'And finally, the Hall of the Unknown,

205
00:13:07,500 --> 00:13:10,545
'where Hai Tien,
now the last survivor of the mission,

206
00:13:10,670 --> 00:13:14,215
'finds his adaptability tested
against a mysterious foe

207
00:13:14,341 --> 00:13:18,595
'whose fighting style is as formless
and unpredictable as his own.

208
00:13:19,220 --> 00:13:22,307
'As postproduction on "The Way
of the Dragon" approaches its end

209
00:13:22,432 --> 00:13:24,184
'in August of 1972,

210
00:13:24,309 --> 00:13:27,479
'Bruce begins to assemble his co-stars
for "The Game of Death".

211
00:13:27,604 --> 00:13:29,564
'For the henchmen
accompanying Hai Tien,

212
00:13:29,689 --> 00:13:32,150
'Lee jots down the names of four actors:

213
00:13:32,692 --> 00:13:36,654
'James Tien, his co-star
in "The Big Boss" and "Fist of Fury",

214
00:13:36,780 --> 00:13:40,700
'Chieh Yuan, a former stuntman
for Shaw Brothers,

215
00:13:40,825 --> 00:13:42,452
'Carter Wong, whom Bruce has met

216
00:13:42,577 --> 00:13:45,121
'on the set
of the Golden Harvest film "Hapkido",

217
00:13:45,246 --> 00:13:49,626
'and Tony Liu, who also co-starred
in Lee's three previous films.

218
00:13:49,751 --> 00:13:52,504
'As the latter two characters
were slated to be killed off

219
00:13:52,629 --> 00:13:54,547
'before reaching the Hall of the Tiger,

220
00:13:54,672 --> 00:13:57,717
'Wong and Liu never film any scenes
for "The Game of Death",

221
00:13:57,842 --> 00:14:01,221
'and in Liu's case, his name is
ultimately crossed out altogether,

222
00:14:01,346 --> 00:14:04,182
'rumoured to be replaced
with a white American fighter.

223
00:14:04,307 --> 00:14:05,475
'As with his previous film,

224
00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:08,353
'Bruce shows a preference
to cast not trained actors

225
00:14:08,478 --> 00:14:11,773
'with some martial arts skills,
but rather expert martial artists

226
00:14:11,898 --> 00:14:14,859
'with little to no previous experience
on camera.

227
00:14:14,984 --> 00:14:17,570
'Among them are two
of his favourite former students

228
00:14:17,695 --> 00:14:19,447
'and closest friends from America:

229
00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:24,828
'Dan Inosanto, with whom he founded
his Jeet Kune Do school in Los Angeles,

230
00:14:24,953 --> 00:14:28,498
'and rising NBA basketball star,
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

231
00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:32,210
'Neither of them has ever appeared
in a motion picture before.

232
00:14:34,003 --> 00:14:36,506
'As Bruce continues
to flesh out the story

233
00:14:36,631 --> 00:14:39,259
'and a single set is built
at Golden Harvest Studios

234
00:14:39,384 --> 00:14:41,761
'that will stand for each floor
of the pagoda,

235
00:14:41,886 --> 00:14:44,722
'he plans to start filming
at the end of September.

236
00:14:45,223 --> 00:14:48,351
'But fate threatens to intervene
when he calls Abdul-Jabbar

237
00:14:48,476 --> 00:14:50,770
'and offers him the role
of the final guardian.

238
00:14:50,895 --> 00:14:53,898
'Though the basketball star
is currently on three weeks' leave,

239
00:14:54,023 --> 00:14:57,360
'he is due to start at NBA training camp
in the middle of the month,

240
00:14:57,485 --> 00:15:00,155
'making his participation
in the film impossible.

241
00:15:00,947 --> 00:15:02,991
'Determined to get his vision onscreen,

242
00:15:03,116 --> 00:15:06,202
'Bruce tells him to board a plane
to Hong Kong as soon as he can.

243
00:15:06,327 --> 00:15:08,830
'They will simply film all of his scenes
ahead of schedule

244
00:15:08,955 --> 00:15:12,333
'in plenty of time for him
to return to the USA for training.

245
00:15:12,459 --> 00:15:15,253
'Thankfully, Abdul-Jabbar agrees,

246
00:15:15,378 --> 00:15:17,922
'and so filming
of "The Game of Death" begins,

247
00:15:18,047 --> 00:15:20,925
'perhaps fittingly, at the story's end.'

248
00:15:38,735 --> 00:15:42,906
(Narrator) 'With a handwritten shot list
and choreography notes in place,

249
00:15:43,031 --> 00:15:45,700
'Lee assembles much of the crew
from "The Way of the Dragon"

250
00:15:45,825 --> 00:15:48,661
'to join him for filming his battle
against Abdul-Jabbar.

251
00:15:49,496 --> 00:15:51,915
'Among them are assistant director
Ricky Chik,

252
00:15:52,832 --> 00:15:56,628
'and 50-year-old Japanese
cinematographer Tadashi Nishimoto.

253
00:15:58,713 --> 00:16:00,465
'In addition to Abdul-Jabbar,

254
00:16:00,590 --> 00:16:04,636
'James Tien, Bruce's co-star
from "The Big Boss" and "Fist of Fury",

255
00:16:04,761 --> 00:16:06,930
'joins the first round of filming.

256
00:16:07,055 --> 00:16:11,601
'Bruce, Tien and Abdul-Jabbar
participate in a promotional photo shoot

257
00:16:11,726 --> 00:16:13,561
'as filming commences.

258
00:16:13,686 --> 00:16:16,272
'In the years that follow,
it is these images,

259
00:16:16,397 --> 00:16:18,942
'taken by freelance photographer
Chang Yuk,

260
00:16:19,067 --> 00:16:22,320
'published far and wide by the media
in the wake of Lee's death,

261
00:16:22,862 --> 00:16:25,615
'that propel the incomplete
"Game of Death" project

262
00:16:25,740 --> 00:16:27,575
'to almost a mythic status.

263
00:16:30,745 --> 00:16:34,582
'Filming begins on September 7th
on the top-secret project

264
00:16:34,707 --> 00:16:36,834
'with Bruce remaining
behind the camera,

265
00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,629
'directing the fight
between James and Kareem.

266
00:16:39,754 --> 00:16:43,841
'The title written on the slate seen
between setups is simply "audition".

267
00:16:44,551 --> 00:16:48,263
'The title "The Game of Death"
will not be confirmed for some weeks,

268
00:16:48,388 --> 00:16:51,849
'with the project referred to in a trade
announcement under the working title

269
00:16:51,975 --> 00:16:53,643
"'Yellow-Faced Tiger".

270
00:16:55,311 --> 00:16:58,481
'Born in Guangdong, China in 1942,

271
00:16:58,606 --> 00:17:02,277
'James Tien moved with his family
to Hong Kong in 1958,

272
00:17:02,402 --> 00:17:05,572
'and after a stint at the Fu Sheng
Drama School in Taiwan

273
00:17:05,697 --> 00:17:09,534
'began acting as a contract player
for Shaw Brothers in 1969.

274
00:17:10,118 --> 00:17:12,912
'He decamped to Golden Harvest
along with director Lo Wei

275
00:17:13,037 --> 00:17:14,330
'in the following the year,

276
00:17:14,455 --> 00:17:16,624
'and climbed the ladder
to leading-man status

277
00:17:16,749 --> 00:17:18,960
'in films such as "The Invincible Eight",

278
00:17:19,085 --> 00:17:21,963
"'The Blade Spares None"
and "The Chase".

279
00:17:22,714 --> 00:17:27,302
'James Tien's character,
referred to in Lee's notes as Tien Da,

280
00:17:27,427 --> 00:17:30,096
'is one of the other fighters
sent by the crime boss.

281
00:17:30,638 --> 00:17:34,183
'Primarily cast as noble heroes
at this stage in his career,

282
00:17:34,309 --> 00:17:37,770
'Bruce cast Tien against type
as a duplicitous schemer

283
00:17:37,895 --> 00:17:40,815
'who tricks his way up
to the final floor of the pagoda,

284
00:17:40,940 --> 00:17:44,527
'only to get his just deserts
as he is hopelessly outmatched

285
00:17:44,652 --> 00:17:46,487
'by the foe awaiting him at the top.

286
00:17:47,655 --> 00:17:49,991
'Though this is the third time
James Tien and Bruce Lee

287
00:17:50,116 --> 00:17:51,367
'have worked with one another,

288
00:17:51,492 --> 00:17:54,203
'their collaboration got off
to a shaky start.

289
00:17:54,329 --> 00:17:56,372
'In the first half of "The Big Boss",

290
00:17:56,497 --> 00:18:00,501
'the apparent star of the film is
arguably not Bruce, but James Tien,

291
00:18:00,627 --> 00:18:03,713
'who confidently leads
the film's early fight scenes.

292
00:18:03,838 --> 00:18:05,465
'Even when filming started,

293
00:18:05,590 --> 00:18:08,968
'it wasn't clear whether Lee or Tien's
character would lead the film,

294
00:18:09,093 --> 00:18:13,139
'as Raymond Chow seemed to hedge
his bets against his latest signing.

295
00:18:13,264 --> 00:18:16,517
'But as Lee continued to impress
on location in Thailand,

296
00:18:16,643 --> 00:18:18,061
'the die was cast.

297
00:18:18,186 --> 00:18:21,064
'Tien's character would suddenly
be killed off halfway through,

298
00:18:21,189 --> 00:18:23,524
'with Bruce's character
avenging his death,

299
00:18:23,650 --> 00:18:27,153
'as well as that of his other friends
and family in the second half.

300
00:18:27,820 --> 00:18:31,282
'But following his alleged displacement
from the lead role in "The Big Boss",

301
00:18:31,407 --> 00:18:34,035
'Tien's stint as a headline name
was short-lived,

302
00:18:34,619 --> 00:18:36,996
'and "The Game of Death"
was the first of several roles

303
00:18:37,121 --> 00:18:38,706
'playing heels and villains,

304
00:18:38,831 --> 00:18:43,086
'as Tien gradually settled into life
as a busy, dependable character actor.

305
00:18:58,935 --> 00:19:04,607
'Born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr
in 1947, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,

306
00:19:04,732 --> 00:19:08,695
'his Muslim name,
meaning "noble one, servant of Allah",

307
00:19:09,237 --> 00:19:11,280
'met Bruce Lee in 1968

308
00:19:11,406 --> 00:19:15,868
'when he was looking for a martial arts
tutor after graduating from UCLA.

309
00:19:15,993 --> 00:19:19,956
'Lee and the well-read,
intellectually curious Abdul-Jabbar,

310
00:19:20,081 --> 00:19:23,167
'who had just converted to Islam,
became fast friends.

311
00:19:23,835 --> 00:19:27,213
'While tutoring the future NBA star
in Jeet Kune Do

312
00:19:27,338 --> 00:19:30,758
'and still dreaming of the prosperous
filmmaking career yet to come,

313
00:19:30,883 --> 00:19:33,177
'Lee often considered
the cinematic possibilities

314
00:19:33,302 --> 00:19:35,346
'of an onscreen duel between the two,

315
00:19:35,471 --> 00:19:40,143
'with Lee standing at 5'7",
and Abdul-Jabbar at 7'2".

316
00:19:41,144 --> 00:19:43,062
'The introduction
of Abdul-Jabbar's character

317
00:19:43,187 --> 00:19:46,774
'remains one of "The Game of Death" 's
most enduring images.

318
00:19:46,899 --> 00:19:49,694
'One could argue that the design
of the Guardian of the Unknown

319
00:19:49,819 --> 00:19:51,696
'was an influence
on Arnold Schwarzenegger's

320
00:19:51,821 --> 00:19:54,782
'portrayal of the Terminator
over a decade later:

321
00:19:54,907 --> 00:19:59,579
'a tall, mute, seemingly inhuman foe
with superhuman strength,

322
00:20:00,121 --> 00:20:02,373
'his impassive features largely hidden

323
00:20:02,498 --> 00:20:05,251
'behind a pair of impenetrable
black sunglasses.

324
00:20:28,191 --> 00:20:30,693
'In a moment,
there is a break in the action

325
00:20:30,818 --> 00:20:33,070
'to be filled with shots
of Bruce's character

326
00:20:33,196 --> 00:20:35,948
'still fighting another opponent
on the floor below

327
00:20:36,073 --> 00:20:38,534
'that won't be filmed
for another six weeks.

328
00:20:41,204 --> 00:20:42,580
'When the scene resumes,

329
00:20:42,705 --> 00:20:45,541
'Tien's character is
already fighting for his life.

330
00:21:16,405 --> 00:21:20,159
'He makes one futile, final dash
for the top of the pagoda,

331
00:21:20,284 --> 00:21:23,287
'but the Guardian of the Unknown
effortless plucks him down

332
00:21:23,412 --> 00:21:26,791
'in a move that will doubtless
look familiar to basketball fans.

333
00:21:26,916 --> 00:21:30,336
'It is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's
trademark skyhook,

334
00:21:30,461 --> 00:21:34,298
'where he leaps in the air while holding
the ball as high as he can in one hand,

335
00:21:34,423 --> 00:21:36,342
'well out of the reach of the other team.

336
00:21:37,426 --> 00:21:40,847
'His triumphant trademark
is creatively repurposed by Bruce

337
00:21:40,972 --> 00:21:42,557
'into something otherworldly,

338
00:21:42,682 --> 00:21:45,810
'unlike anything seen
on Hong Kong cinema screens before.

339
00:21:47,687 --> 00:21:51,107
'Not long after James Tien
subtly sticks his neck out enough

340
00:21:51,232 --> 00:21:53,442
'for Abdul-Jabbar to reach
and pull him down,

341
00:21:54,902 --> 00:21:57,488
'the Guardian's superhuman strength
is further demonstrated

342
00:21:57,613 --> 00:21:59,448
'in the next few shots,

343
00:22:00,324 --> 00:22:02,577
'as he begins to choke
and squeeze Tien's throat

344
00:22:02,702 --> 00:22:04,328
'while suspending him in mid-air,

345
00:22:04,453 --> 00:22:06,956
'before flinging him across the room
like a ragdoll.

346
00:22:16,257 --> 00:22:18,843
'As filming continues, on September 8th,

347
00:22:18,968 --> 00:22:21,929
'Tien stands on a box
during the over-the-shoulder shots,

348
00:22:22,054 --> 00:22:24,765
'while the wide shots are accomplished
using a wire harness

349
00:22:24,891 --> 00:22:26,726
'attached to his back.

350
00:22:51,417 --> 00:22:54,921
'Though wirework became ubiquitous
in later Hong Kong action films,

351
00:22:55,046 --> 00:22:58,049
'in particular those choreographed
by Yuen Woo-ping,

352
00:22:58,174 --> 00:23:00,176
'it was still in its infancy here,

353
00:23:00,301 --> 00:23:03,512
'and had only made one prior
appearance in a Bruce Lee film,

354
00:23:03,638 --> 00:23:07,892
'in a stunt performed by a young
Jackie Chan at the end of "Fist of Fury".

355
00:23:08,893 --> 00:23:10,728
'For the second half of the stunt,

356
00:23:10,853 --> 00:23:14,106
'in which his character is flung across
to the other side of the room,

357
00:23:14,774 --> 00:23:16,609
'Tien achieves the desired height

358
00:23:16,734 --> 00:23:19,445
'by jumping off a strategically
placed mattress,

359
00:23:19,570 --> 00:23:22,615
'similar to the trampolining effect
already well established

360
00:23:22,740 --> 00:23:26,410
'in the <i>wuxia pian</i> swordplay films
still popular in Hong Kong,

361
00:23:26,535 --> 00:23:30,081
'whose characters frequently clashed
in gravity-detying duels.

362
00:23:32,208 --> 00:23:35,711
'The beginning of the jump isn't intended
to be included in the final film,

363
00:23:35,836 --> 00:23:39,840
'but winds up featuring in some later
assemblies of the footage nonetheless.

364
00:23:58,025 --> 00:24:00,861
'Ironically filming his character's
final scenes in the film

365
00:24:00,987 --> 00:24:02,989
'on only the second day of filming,

366
00:24:03,114 --> 00:24:04,740
'the defeated and terrified Tien

367
00:24:04,865 --> 00:24:07,994
'attempts to scream for help
from Bruce's character, Hai Tien,

368
00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:10,621
'still fighting another foe
on the floor below.

369
00:24:11,580 --> 00:24:15,001
'As he reaches for his throat,
Tien can hardly make a sound,

370
00:24:15,126 --> 00:24:18,504
'his vocal chords crushed
by the Guardian of the Unknown.

371
00:24:36,605 --> 00:24:39,233
'In Bruce Lee's first scene
of the film to be shot,

372
00:24:39,358 --> 00:24:41,861
'Hai Tien ascends
to the Hall of the Unknown,

373
00:24:41,986 --> 00:24:45,281
'narrowly avoiding a collision
with Tien Da's lifeless body.

374
00:24:46,115 --> 00:24:47,992
'Though it is the start of shooting,

375
00:24:48,117 --> 00:24:51,704
'Bruce's face is already bruised
from the battles fought thus far,

376
00:24:51,829 --> 00:24:55,499
'some yet to be filmed,
others never to be filmed at all.

377
00:25:07,803 --> 00:25:11,474
'It is Bruce's first day in front
of the camera on "The Game of Death"

378
00:25:11,599 --> 00:25:13,601
'and his first in costume.

379
00:25:14,143 --> 00:25:16,604
'If the introduction
of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's character

380
00:25:16,729 --> 00:25:19,231
'is one of "The Game of Death" 's
most enduring images,

381
00:25:19,356 --> 00:25:22,443
'not least the subtle moment
when he mimics the slack-jawed wonder

382
00:25:22,568 --> 00:25:24,653
'with which Lee first looks upon him,

383
00:25:24,779 --> 00:25:29,492
'then undoubtedly the top spot on the list
must be reserved for Hai Tien's outfit,

384
00:25:29,617 --> 00:25:31,535
'a full-length yellow jumpsuit

385
00:25:31,660 --> 00:25:34,955
'with black stripes running down
its left- and right-hand side.

386
00:25:35,831 --> 00:25:38,125
'Designed and commissioned
by Lee himself,

387
00:25:38,250 --> 00:25:41,170
'the motivation behind
the jumpsuit's design is simple.

388
00:25:41,295 --> 00:25:44,882
'While other characters in the film
select a stark, traditional wardrobe

389
00:25:45,007 --> 00:25:47,551
'in keeping with their particular
fighting disciplines,

390
00:25:47,676 --> 00:25:52,139
'Hai Tien, who in Lee's script notes
was nicknamed "the Yellow-Faced Tiger"

391
00:25:52,264 --> 00:25:54,141
'in his professional fighting days,

392
00:25:54,266 --> 00:25:58,479
'embraces a style both colourful
and emphatically non-traditional,

393
00:25:58,604 --> 00:26:01,107
'comfortable, bold and fluid,

394
00:26:01,232 --> 00:26:04,902
'an embodiment of the pragmatism
and freeform iconoclasm

395
00:26:05,027 --> 00:26:06,946
'of the Jeet Kune Do approach.

396
00:26:07,071 --> 00:26:09,406
'The jumpsuit's bold colours
are complemented

397
00:26:09,532 --> 00:26:11,700
'with a matching set of sneakers
on his feet,

398
00:26:11,826 --> 00:26:15,454
'one of three different sets Bruce
will wear during the course of filming,

399
00:26:15,579 --> 00:26:18,874
'including the Onitsuka Tiger
Mexico 66 shoes

400
00:26:18,999 --> 00:26:23,420
'in the Tai-Chi yellow and black range
originally launched in Japan.

401
00:26:24,296 --> 00:26:26,507
'As for where Lee got the idea
for the suit,

402
00:26:26,632 --> 00:26:30,344
'several origin stories have been offered,
none of them verified.

403
00:26:30,469 --> 00:26:34,932
'One story says he got the idea from
an outfit lent to him by Roman Polanski

404
00:26:35,057 --> 00:26:37,977
'during a skiing trip
in Gstaad, Switzerland.

405
00:26:38,102 --> 00:26:40,271
'Another says that the suit
was originally designed

406
00:26:40,396 --> 00:26:42,565
'to be black with yellow stripes,

407
00:26:42,690 --> 00:26:46,819
'only to be inverted when it became clear
that yellow would read better on camera

408
00:26:46,944 --> 00:26:49,280
'during the dimly lit fight
with Abdul-Jabbar.

409
00:26:49,864 --> 00:26:52,366
'Regardless, the yellow and black
jumpsuit remains

410
00:26:52,491 --> 00:26:54,827
'arguably the piece of visual iconography

411
00:26:54,952 --> 00:26:57,496
'most associated
with Bruce Lee to this day.

412
00:26:59,582 --> 00:27:02,042
'Director of photography
Tadashi Nishimoto,

413
00:27:02,168 --> 00:27:06,922
'often credited under the Chinese alias
Ho Lan-shan, had previously shot films

414
00:27:07,047 --> 00:27:10,092
'such as King Hu's <i>wuxia</i> landmark
"Come Drink with Me"

415
00:27:10,217 --> 00:27:11,385
'for Shaw Brothers,

416
00:27:11,510 --> 00:27:14,972
'and was responsible for bringing over
the TohoScope widescreen lenses

417
00:27:15,097 --> 00:27:18,767
'that would form the basis of the studio's
iconic Shawscope system.

418
00:27:18,893 --> 00:27:22,897
'His skill at capturing action
in striking, moody compositions,

419
00:27:23,022 --> 00:27:25,733
'often shot at low angles
with very wide lenses,

420
00:27:25,858 --> 00:27:29,945
'was honed in his native Japan when
filming the <i>chanbara</i> swordplay films

421
00:27:30,070 --> 00:27:34,241
'that influenced numerous Hong Kong
filmmakers, not least Bruce Lee.

422
00:27:34,366 --> 00:27:36,952
'As if freed from the shackles
of formal convention

423
00:27:37,077 --> 00:27:39,872
'by the more heightened,
fantastical elements of the story,

424
00:27:39,997 --> 00:27:43,792
'Lee and Nishimoto's camerawork
becomes more playtul and expressive,

425
00:27:43,918 --> 00:27:47,338
'such as this angle shot from the point
of view of Abdul-Jabbar's character

426
00:27:47,463 --> 00:27:50,090
'while sitting in a rocking chair.

427
00:27:51,175 --> 00:27:53,677
'While invention was being
encouraged behind the camera,

428
00:27:53,802 --> 00:27:55,304
'in many other respects

429
00:27:55,429 --> 00:27:59,099
'filming on "The Game of Death"
adheres to standard operating practices

430
00:27:59,225 --> 00:28:00,809
'for Hong Kong filmmaking.

431
00:28:00,935 --> 00:28:04,396
'Most infamously,
no sound is recorded on set.

432
00:28:05,397 --> 00:28:07,691
'Among other things,
the lack of hindrance

433
00:28:07,816 --> 00:28:11,237
'caused by having to accommodate
live sync-sound recording

434
00:28:11,362 --> 00:28:14,240
'allows film crews to shoot
up to twice as much material

435
00:28:14,365 --> 00:28:16,075
'as they would do otherwise,

436
00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,411
'a blessing for anyone working
on a densely choreographed fight scene

437
00:28:19,536 --> 00:28:23,123
'on a low budget,
often with a multilingual cast and crew.

438
00:28:36,178 --> 00:28:39,765
'At a time when filmmakers in the West
were still typically breaking scenes

439
00:28:39,890 --> 00:28:43,560
'into a conventional list
of camera angles or setups,

440
00:28:44,103 --> 00:28:46,105
'a master, or a wide shot,

441
00:28:46,230 --> 00:28:49,817
'that captures most or all
of the action in a single take,

442
00:28:49,942 --> 00:28:52,528
'complemented by close-ups
and insert shots

443
00:28:52,653 --> 00:28:55,572
'to accentuate certain elements
within a scene,

444
00:28:55,698 --> 00:28:59,326
'Hong Kong filmmakers, working
at the height of the kung fu boom,

445
00:28:59,451 --> 00:29:02,705
'favoured a style that academic
David Bordwell has referred to

446
00:29:02,830 --> 00:29:04,373
'as "segment shooting",

447
00:29:04,498 --> 00:29:08,002
'wherein the scene is broken up
into several short pieces

448
00:29:08,127 --> 00:29:10,629
'which are dually filmed one at a time,

449
00:29:10,754 --> 00:29:14,508
'even if it involves moving the camera
back and forth multiple times.

450
00:29:15,509 --> 00:29:20,139
'While a Western crew might accuse its
Hong Kong counterparts of inefficiency,

451
00:29:20,264 --> 00:29:23,142
'in fact, the result was
just the opposite,

452
00:29:23,267 --> 00:29:26,020
'with directors choosing
to edit in-camera,

453
00:29:26,145 --> 00:29:28,314
'often resulting in a shooting ratio,

454
00:29:28,439 --> 00:29:30,607
'meaning the amount of raw film shot

455
00:29:30,733 --> 00:29:33,694
'compared to what is actually used
in the completed film,

456
00:29:33,819 --> 00:29:37,323
'usually somewhere
between 2:1 and 3:1,

457
00:29:37,448 --> 00:29:41,285
'compared to a Hollywood average
of 10:1, or often much higher.

458
00:29:42,161 --> 00:29:44,872
'And while a Hollywood director
like Stanley Kubrick

459
00:29:44,997 --> 00:29:48,292
'might enjoy the luxury of shooting
as many takes as he likes,

460
00:29:48,417 --> 00:29:51,503
'even a big star like Bruce Lee
accepts that in Hong Kong,

461
00:29:51,628 --> 00:29:53,797
'if you get it right on the first take,

462
00:29:53,922 --> 00:29:56,050
'you move on to the next angle.

463
00:29:56,675 --> 00:29:59,053
'The economic rationale
is self-explanatory.

464
00:29:59,178 --> 00:30:02,181
'35mm film and studio time
aren't cheap.

465
00:30:02,306 --> 00:30:06,685
'But an expected artistic advantage
is a restless, dynamic energy

466
00:30:06,810 --> 00:30:10,564
'that puts the action scenes in many
of its Western counterparts to shame.

467
00:30:11,148 --> 00:30:12,733
'In spite of the ruthless economy

468
00:30:12,858 --> 00:30:15,486
'that came with the segment shooting
production style,

469
00:30:15,611 --> 00:30:18,280
'Lee holds firm when it comes
to pursuing perfection

470
00:30:18,405 --> 00:30:20,366
'during the combat scenes.

471
00:30:20,491 --> 00:30:23,369
'The third day of filming begins
with a wide angle,

472
00:30:23,494 --> 00:30:26,288
'showing Lee toppling Abdul-Jabbar
with a leglock.

473
00:30:26,997 --> 00:30:29,625
'The following back-and-forth
between Lee and Abdul-Jabbar

474
00:30:29,750 --> 00:30:32,544
'ends up taking no less
than seven takes to shoot,

475
00:30:32,669 --> 00:30:35,672
'with the timing needing to be
absolutely on point.

476
00:30:36,673 --> 00:30:40,719
'You'll notice a pattern emerge in longer
setups that require multiple takes.

477
00:30:40,844 --> 00:30:43,931
'Lee and his scene partner may
initially come across as stiff

478
00:30:44,056 --> 00:30:45,808
'on the first couple of tries,

479
00:30:45,933 --> 00:30:48,977
'as if attempting to remember
the choreography while moving,

480
00:30:49,103 --> 00:30:53,774
'but by the final takes
looking far more fluid and spontaneous.

481
00:30:53,899 --> 00:30:57,194
'Lee has a keen eye
for how not only his moves

482
00:30:57,319 --> 00:31:00,364
'but those of his scene partner's
will read on camera,

483
00:31:00,489 --> 00:31:03,492
'and is aided in judging takes
on more dynamic scenes

484
00:31:03,617 --> 00:31:07,121
'by his trusted cinematographer,
Tadashi Nishimoto.

485
00:31:09,039 --> 00:31:12,835
'As Hai Tien attempts in vain
to best the Guardian of the Unknown,

486
00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:15,254
'who smiles eerily
as his long-limbed strength

487
00:31:15,379 --> 00:31:17,423
'helps him regain the upper hand...

488
00:31:17,548 --> 00:31:19,633
'Or should that be the upper leg?

489
00:31:19,758 --> 00:31:23,011
'...a dramatic dolly shot accompanies
Hai Tien's retreat

490
00:31:23,137 --> 00:31:25,848
'as he stands back to consider
his next move.

491
00:31:25,973 --> 00:31:28,100
'The Guardian sits calmly.

492
00:31:46,910 --> 00:31:50,914
'With almost clairvoyant precision,
the Guardian thrusts out his hands,

493
00:31:51,039 --> 00:31:53,584
'halting Hai Tien's attack
dead in its tracks.

494
00:32:17,691 --> 00:32:20,444
'In his handwritten note
for this part of the fight,

495
00:32:20,569 --> 00:32:23,655
'Bruce writes in Chinese
a voiceover for his character,

496
00:32:23,780 --> 00:32:26,783
'giving the audience an insight
to his inner monologue.

497
00:32:26,909 --> 00:32:29,912
'The voiceover says,
referring to the Guardian,

498
00:32:30,037 --> 00:32:33,499
"'His big advantage is that
he gives no thought to life or death,

499
00:32:33,624 --> 00:32:35,459
"'and with no distracting thoughts,

500
00:32:35,584 --> 00:32:38,921
"'he is therefore free to concentrate
on fighting against the attack

501
00:32:39,046 --> 00:32:40,839
"'from outside."

502
00:32:40,964 --> 00:32:42,424
'As the Guardian stands,

503
00:32:42,549 --> 00:32:45,302
'Kareem Abdul-Jabbar speaks
some of the first dialogue

504
00:32:45,427 --> 00:32:47,137
'Bruce has written for the film.

505
00:32:47,262 --> 00:32:49,014
'In English, he says,

506
00:32:49,139 --> 00:32:52,017
"'Little one, you must have
given up hope of living."

507
00:32:53,393 --> 00:32:56,688
'Lee has Abdul-Jabbar film
three takes of the dialogue,

508
00:32:56,813 --> 00:33:00,192
'his face more still and inscrutable
with each turn.

509
00:33:29,513 --> 00:33:31,848
'The camera reverses for Bruce's reply.

510
00:33:32,891 --> 00:33:37,104
"'On the contrary, I do not let
the word 'death' bother me."

511
00:33:41,608 --> 00:33:44,653
'The Guardian replies,
"Same here, baby."

512
00:33:48,782 --> 00:33:52,286
'To which Hai Tien says,
"Then, what are you waiting for?"

513
00:33:54,329 --> 00:33:58,750
'For some, Lee's dialogue may risk
sounding inelegant and stilted.

514
00:33:58,875 --> 00:34:01,128
'But the stylised nature of the words
are in keeping

515
00:34:01,253 --> 00:34:04,006
'with the heightened unreality
of the tale being told.

516
00:34:05,173 --> 00:34:06,592
'It is in this dialogue

517
00:34:06,717 --> 00:34:10,470
'where the motivation behind the title
"The Game of Death" becomes clear.

518
00:34:10,596 --> 00:34:14,266
'It refers not only to the mortal stakes
of the pagoda heist itself,

519
00:34:14,391 --> 00:34:17,728
'but Hai Tien's transcendence
of his own limitations.

520
00:34:17,853 --> 00:34:21,481
'In understanding and matching
the Guardian's advantage over him

521
00:34:21,607 --> 00:34:25,193
'and how his true strength lies
not in his physical abilities

522
00:34:25,319 --> 00:34:27,154
'but his transcendent mastery over

523
00:34:27,279 --> 00:34:30,574
'and acceptance of
the fear of death itself,

524
00:34:30,699 --> 00:34:35,454
'Hai Tien begins to tip the scales back
in his favour, if only for a short while.

525
00:34:36,913 --> 00:34:38,999
'The arc of Lee and Abdul-Jabbar's fight

526
00:34:39,124 --> 00:34:41,960
'demonstrates the core theme
of Lee's thesis for the film

527
00:34:42,085 --> 00:34:44,254
'and Jeet Kune Do in general.

528
00:34:44,379 --> 00:34:46,506
'This final fight would be the culmination

529
00:34:46,632 --> 00:34:49,468
'of everything demonstrated
throughout the preceding battles

530
00:34:49,593 --> 00:34:51,553
'on the lower floors of the pagoda.

531
00:34:51,678 --> 00:34:53,764
'Unlike those earlier fights, however,

532
00:34:53,889 --> 00:34:56,808
'Hai Tien has two significant
disadvantages:

533
00:34:56,933 --> 00:34:59,645
'the Guardian of the Unknown's
physical size and strength,

534
00:34:59,770 --> 00:35:02,814
'in particular the long reach
of his arms and legs,

535
00:35:02,939 --> 00:35:07,027
'but also his own unpredictable lack
of a specific fighting discipline.

536
00:35:07,569 --> 00:35:10,697
'Like the small willow tree
that withstands the snowstorm

537
00:35:10,822 --> 00:35:13,075
'while larger oaks around it fall,

538
00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:17,079
'his character will ultimately triumph
against the colossus in front of him

539
00:35:17,204 --> 00:35:20,082
'not through the mastery
of one specific fighting regimen,

540
00:35:20,207 --> 00:35:23,085
'but learning his opponent's strengths
and weaknesses in combat

541
00:35:23,210 --> 00:35:25,879
'and adapting his strategy accordingly,

542
00:35:26,004 --> 00:35:28,340
'fighting smarter, not harder.

543
00:35:29,091 --> 00:35:32,052
'Having already been knocked down
once at the start of the fight,

544
00:35:32,177 --> 00:35:34,805
'he starts allowing the Guardian
to make the first move,

545
00:35:34,930 --> 00:35:38,350
'continually learning as he responds
to each move in turn.

546
00:36:39,703 --> 00:36:41,955
'In one of the violent highlights
of the scene,

547
00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:43,707
'Hai Tien nearly meets his end

548
00:36:43,832 --> 00:36:45,667
'when the Guardian attempts
to push his face

549
00:36:45,792 --> 00:36:50,589
'onto the sharp end of a broken vase
until he bends his body in such a way

550
00:36:50,714 --> 00:36:54,217
'to be able to kick the Guardian
in the head, escaping his grasp.

551
00:36:55,469 --> 00:36:58,722
'In spite of a debilitating
back injury in 1970

552
00:36:58,847 --> 00:37:00,766
'that had been one
of the contributing factors

553
00:37:00,891 --> 00:37:03,226
'behind his hiatus from Hollywood acting,

554
00:37:03,351 --> 00:37:05,729
'Bruce maintains intense core strength,

555
00:37:05,854 --> 00:37:09,149
'allowing him to perform
this difficult stunt singlehandedly

556
00:37:09,274 --> 00:37:12,027
'without the use of doubles
or wire assistance,

557
00:37:12,152 --> 00:37:16,031
'aided only by the counterbalance offered
as Kareem holds the back of his head.

558
00:37:17,574 --> 00:37:19,785
'However, the lack of a camera angle

559
00:37:19,910 --> 00:37:23,205
'explicitly detailing how Hai Tien
is able to flip himself over

560
00:37:23,330 --> 00:37:25,499
'in such a way
where he lands on his feet

561
00:37:25,624 --> 00:37:27,667
'means this scene
is cut together awkwardly

562
00:37:27,793 --> 00:37:29,836
'in any assembly of the footage.

563
00:37:32,255 --> 00:37:35,967
'In a project so deliberately
and ambitiously choreographed,

564
00:37:36,092 --> 00:37:40,388
'it stands out as the one move
one could reasonably call a cheat.

565
00:37:42,182 --> 00:37:44,059
'We can speculate
that Lee might have planned

566
00:37:44,184 --> 00:37:46,269
'for a pick-up shot at a later date,

567
00:37:46,394 --> 00:37:49,731
'perhaps being doubled by Yuen Wah,
the acrobatic stuntman

568
00:37:49,856 --> 00:37:52,818
'that would later perform backflips
for Bruce on "Enter the Dragon".

569
00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:57,364
'However, no notes or footage exist
to corroborate this,

570
00:37:57,489 --> 00:38:00,909
'and though Yuen Wah will appear
in "The Game of Death" footage later on,

571
00:38:01,034 --> 00:38:03,245
'it is not to double Bruce.

572
00:38:06,706 --> 00:38:09,376
'September 10th,
the fourth day of filming.

573
00:38:10,877 --> 00:38:14,339
'One interesting flourish that
Lee gives Abdul-Jabbar to perform

574
00:38:14,464 --> 00:38:19,052
'is the Guardian adjusting his sunglasses
as the fight increases intensity,

575
00:38:19,177 --> 00:38:21,263
'showing both his rattled realisation

576
00:38:21,388 --> 00:38:24,766
'that Hai Tien may not be the pushover
he originally assumed,

577
00:38:24,891 --> 00:38:28,353
'but also cluing the audience in
on his one major weakness

578
00:38:28,478 --> 00:38:31,189
'that will be exploited
later in the fight.

579
00:39:10,562 --> 00:39:13,648
'As Hai Tien begins to gain
the upper hand against the Guardian,

580
00:39:13,773 --> 00:39:17,777
'he makes things really personal
with an uppercut punch to the groin.

581
00:40:11,873 --> 00:40:15,251
'Once again, Bruce's choreography notes
for the scene

582
00:40:15,377 --> 00:40:19,631
'include a line of internal monologue,
potentially to be recorded in voiceover.

583
00:40:20,256 --> 00:40:24,344
'Here, Hai Tien assesses the advantage
he now has over the Guardian.

584
00:40:25,178 --> 00:40:26,721
"'With his great size,

585
00:40:26,846 --> 00:40:31,017
"'he's going to find it difficult to keep
getting up each time I knock him down."

586
00:41:35,874 --> 00:41:38,960
'As Hai Tien senses
the Guardian's growing exhaustion,

587
00:41:39,085 --> 00:41:41,463
'Bruce writes another piece
of internal monologue

588
00:41:41,588 --> 00:41:44,007
'referring to his next plan of attack:

589
00:41:44,132 --> 00:41:47,302
"'Look at him.
Give him the fatigue bombing."

590
00:43:01,334 --> 00:43:04,170
'One criticism levelled at Lee
on and off through the years

591
00:43:04,295 --> 00:43:06,589
'was that he allowed himself
to look too invincible

592
00:43:06,714 --> 00:43:09,384
'in many of the fights
he choreographed himself,

593
00:43:09,509 --> 00:43:12,637
'always having the upper hand
against whoever he was sparring with,

594
00:43:12,762 --> 00:43:14,806
'in contrast to the conventional wisdom

595
00:43:14,931 --> 00:43:17,600
'that a fight scene should set
its protagonist against a foe

596
00:43:17,725 --> 00:43:21,146
'of equal or greater ability
to heighten the tension,

597
00:43:21,271 --> 00:43:23,356
'to put the audience
on the edge of their seat

598
00:43:23,481 --> 00:43:26,192
'about whether the hero will survive.

599
00:43:26,317 --> 00:43:29,696
'Setting aside Lee's motivations
for not doing so for now,

600
00:43:29,821 --> 00:43:32,240
'the arc of this battle with Abdul-Jabbar,

601
00:43:32,365 --> 00:43:34,951
'like the fight with Chuck Norris
in "The Way of the Dragon",

602
00:43:35,076 --> 00:43:38,037
'follows the more common structure
of the vulnerable hero

603
00:43:38,163 --> 00:43:40,039
'looking increasingly exhausted,

604
00:43:40,165 --> 00:43:42,250
'almost succumbing
to his adversary's strength

605
00:43:42,375 --> 00:43:44,085
'two thirds of the way through.

606
00:43:44,210 --> 00:43:46,337
'Whereas Lee's character
in his previous film

607
00:43:46,462 --> 00:43:50,550
'won the fight against Norris
through the surgical use of Jeet Kune Do,

608
00:43:50,675 --> 00:43:54,053
'Hai Tien regains his advantage
against the Guardian of the Unknown

609
00:43:54,179 --> 00:43:56,514
'through a lucky discovery,

610
00:43:56,639 --> 00:43:58,933
'as Hai Tien accidentally
breaks the paper

611
00:43:59,058 --> 00:44:01,352
'covering the square windows
of the pagoda,

612
00:44:01,477 --> 00:44:04,522
'causing daylight to flood
the darkened Hall of the Unknown.

613
00:44:04,647 --> 00:44:07,901
'The fourth day of filming the scene
ends with a happy occasion,

614
00:44:08,026 --> 00:44:09,986
'assistant director Ricky Chik's wedding,

615
00:44:10,111 --> 00:44:13,489
'with Bruce, Raymond Chow
and others in attendance.

616
00:44:14,115 --> 00:44:16,492
'But before Ricky can head off
on his honeymoon,

617
00:44:16,618 --> 00:44:19,078
'there's one more day of filming
left to go.

618
00:44:19,204 --> 00:44:21,748
'September 11th, 1972.

619
00:44:21,873 --> 00:44:25,084
'Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's
last day of filming.

620
00:44:25,210 --> 00:44:28,713
'The Guardian recoils,
revealing his Achilles' heel.

621
00:44:29,297 --> 00:44:31,758
'The sunglasses aren't just to look cool.

622
00:44:31,883 --> 00:44:34,677
'He has a crippling sensitivity
to daylight.

623
00:44:37,805 --> 00:44:41,017
'Hai Tien seizes the advantage
and lays into the Guardian,

624
00:44:41,142 --> 00:44:43,019
'sending him to the floor.

625
00:46:22,660 --> 00:46:26,414
'Three takes are filmed from
Abdul-Jabbar's character's point of view.

626
00:46:26,539 --> 00:46:29,709
'The first maintains a constant focus
from start to finish,

627
00:46:29,834 --> 00:46:32,462
'with the next two toying
with a shifting focus,

628
00:46:32,587 --> 00:46:36,966
'implying that he's losing concentration
and may even be concussed.

629
00:46:44,515 --> 00:46:48,144
'The effect, achieved in-camera
by Tadashi Nishimoto,

630
00:46:48,269 --> 00:46:50,688
'is repeated from a similar moment
with Chuck Norris

631
00:46:50,813 --> 00:46:52,648
'in "The Way of the "Dragon".

632
00:46:58,446 --> 00:47:00,156
'The Guardian's allergy to sunlight

633
00:47:00,281 --> 00:47:03,117
'is never explained
in Lee's notes for the film,

634
00:47:03,242 --> 00:47:05,119
'nor is it known
whether he ever discussed it

635
00:47:05,244 --> 00:47:07,288
'with Abdul-Jabbar or anyone else.

636
00:47:08,456 --> 00:47:12,085
'Though Lee's characteristically
grounded, authentic choreography

637
00:47:12,210 --> 00:47:16,047
'tempers any notion the film will venture
into the realm of outright fantasy,

638
00:47:16,172 --> 00:47:17,715
'unlike many of the <i>wuxia</i> films

639
00:47:17,840 --> 00:47:20,593
'inspired by Chinese myth and legend
that preceded it,

640
00:47:20,718 --> 00:47:23,346
'or even the wire-fu films that followed,

641
00:47:23,471 --> 00:47:27,100
'a vein of magical realism runs
through "The Game of Death",

642
00:47:27,225 --> 00:47:29,602
'subtle and often unremarked upon.

643
00:47:30,269 --> 00:47:32,480
'What we see instead
in "The Game of Death",

644
00:47:32,605 --> 00:47:35,400
'albeit in controlled, nascent bursts,

645
00:47:35,525 --> 00:47:38,694
'is Bruce Lee's imagination
given free rein.

646
00:47:40,488 --> 00:47:41,989
'At the story's core,

647
00:47:42,115 --> 00:47:46,452
'the farfetched notion of the remote
ancient temple guarded by expert fighters,

648
00:47:46,577 --> 00:47:50,289
'whose lives solely revolve
around mastering their craft in solitude

649
00:47:50,415 --> 00:47:52,667
'while fending off
the occasional intruder,

650
00:47:52,792 --> 00:47:56,587
'is one steeped in a mythic,
almost dream-like illogic.

651
00:47:57,630 --> 00:47:59,590
'Would Lee have clarified
the practicalities

652
00:47:59,715 --> 00:48:03,219
'of such an unlikely arrangement
in a finished script had he lived?

653
00:48:03,803 --> 00:48:05,179
'Unlikely.

654
00:48:05,304 --> 00:48:07,140
'Some have even compared
"The Game of Death"

655
00:48:07,265 --> 00:48:10,059
'to Lee's script for "The Silent Flute"
from 1970,

656
00:48:10,184 --> 00:48:13,354
'a tale much more driven
by esoteric philosophical ideas

657
00:48:13,479 --> 00:48:15,398
'and 1960s psychedelia

658
00:48:15,523 --> 00:48:18,067
'than anything he would
subsequently film in Hong Kong.

659
00:48:18,776 --> 00:48:21,696
'Whether due to the low budgets
offered by Golden Harvest

660
00:48:21,821 --> 00:48:24,031
'or simply changing tastes on his part,

661
00:48:24,157 --> 00:48:27,994
'Bruce only teases at the otherworldly
potential of his storyline.

662
00:48:28,703 --> 00:48:32,123
'Any philosophical breakthroughs
in the script are purely subtextual

663
00:48:32,248 --> 00:48:34,876
'and left to the audience's imagination.

664
00:50:15,351 --> 00:50:19,397
'However, one brief series of setups
during the filming of this scene

665
00:50:19,522 --> 00:50:22,525
'offer two tantalising glimpses
of the fantastical nature

666
00:50:22,650 --> 00:50:24,360
'of the Guardian of the Unknown,

667
00:50:24,485 --> 00:50:28,823
'unremarked upon in the script
or anywhere in Lee's notes.

668
00:50:28,948 --> 00:50:32,451
'The first occurs after Hai Tien
has kicked the Guardian's sunglasses

669
00:50:32,577 --> 00:50:37,707
'from his face, leaving him blinded
and cowering in the safety of the dark.

670
00:50:51,762 --> 00:50:55,516
'Lee and Nishimoto shoot three takes
of a point-of-view shot

671
00:50:55,641 --> 00:50:57,893
'filmed from the Guardian's perspective.

672
00:50:58,019 --> 00:51:00,688
'The initial take is filmed
with a red filter,

673
00:51:00,813 --> 00:51:04,984
'almost as if the Guardian's eyes
are being flooded with ultraviolet light.

674
00:51:07,278 --> 00:51:10,823
'On the second and third takes,
the filter is removed.

675
00:51:10,948 --> 00:51:14,702
'Whether this means the red filter was
an experiment that was swiftly abandoned

676
00:51:14,827 --> 00:51:18,831
'or if Lee was simply covering his bases
by filming the scene both ways,

677
00:51:18,956 --> 00:51:20,708
'we will never know.

678
00:51:22,293 --> 00:51:25,713
'However, Bruce attempts
another experiment

679
00:51:25,838 --> 00:51:29,175
'as he films a close-up
of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's eyes.

680
00:51:29,800 --> 00:51:33,220
'Abdul-Jabbar poses static
for the camera in the single take.

681
00:51:34,764 --> 00:51:38,100
'Then, in probably the most mysterious
piece of footage

682
00:51:38,225 --> 00:51:39,769
'filmed for "The Game of Death",

683
00:51:39,894 --> 00:51:45,107
'a still image of Abdul-Jabbar's face
is filmed with serpentine, mutant eyes

684
00:51:45,232 --> 00:51:47,234
'painted on top of his own.

685
00:51:48,694 --> 00:51:52,573
'How Lee would have incorporated
this twist, what it means,

686
00:51:52,698 --> 00:51:54,742
'and whether it would have
even been used at all,

687
00:51:54,867 --> 00:51:56,744
'is, again, unknown.

688
00:51:57,536 --> 00:52:00,623
'The shot is reminiscent
of the reveal of the father's eyes

689
00:52:00,748 --> 00:52:02,792
'in the dream scene
from "Rosemary's Baby",

690
00:52:02,917 --> 00:52:05,336
'directed by Lee's friend,
Roman Polanski,

691
00:52:05,461 --> 00:52:09,590
'and a supernatural, perhaps even
vampiric element seems inevitable,

692
00:52:09,715 --> 00:52:13,135
'given the character's super strength
and aversion to light.

693
00:52:13,260 --> 00:52:15,471
'But with little else to contextualise it,

694
00:52:15,596 --> 00:52:17,348
'the shot of the eyes
has often been omitted

695
00:52:17,473 --> 00:52:19,809
'from assemblies
of the footage altogether.

696
00:52:20,935 --> 00:52:23,854
'As the confrontation hurtles
towards its final act,

697
00:52:23,979 --> 00:52:26,774
'Lee writes more dialogue
for him and Abdul-Jabbar,

698
00:52:26,899 --> 00:52:30,236
'including a call-back
to their earlier exchange,

699
00:52:30,361 --> 00:52:33,280
'as he pleads for common sense
from the Guardian:

700
00:52:33,406 --> 00:52:36,158
"'Why continue? Just let me pass."

701
00:52:37,535 --> 00:52:41,706
'Abdul-Jabbar's tired response,
delivered through halting breaths,

702
00:52:41,831 --> 00:52:45,084
'confirms his character's acceptance
of his impending fate:

703
00:52:47,586 --> 00:52:53,050
"'You have forgotten that I, too,
am not bothered by the word 'death'."

704
00:53:55,654 --> 00:53:57,698
'And so begins their final battle,

705
00:53:57,823 --> 00:54:01,952
'the last of three ground-game fights
peppered throughout the scene.

706
00:54:02,077 --> 00:54:05,080
'The first, early on, signalled
Hai Tien's awareness

707
00:54:05,206 --> 00:54:07,666
'that he would have
to drastically change his strategy

708
00:54:07,792 --> 00:54:11,670
'in order to continue the fight
following a failed attempt at a leglock.

709
00:54:12,505 --> 00:54:14,632
'The second, midway through,

710
00:54:14,757 --> 00:54:17,343
'comes as another attempt
to defeat the Guardian at floor level

711
00:54:17,468 --> 00:54:19,470
'almost leads to Hai Tien's defeat,

712
00:54:19,595 --> 00:54:22,973
'before he accidentally knocks out
one of the windows.

713
00:54:23,098 --> 00:54:25,559
'Finally, with the Guardian subdued,

714
00:54:25,684 --> 00:54:28,062
'Hai Tien is able to topple the giant
to his level,

715
00:54:28,187 --> 00:54:32,107
'and with extreme effort
finally chokes him out.

716
00:56:12,333 --> 00:56:16,629
'After five days of exhausting filming
on a hot, sweaty sound stage,

717
00:56:16,754 --> 00:56:20,090
'the fight in the Hall of the Unknown
wraps filming.

718
00:56:21,133 --> 00:56:23,802
'Kareem Abdul-Jabbar flies
back to the United States

719
00:56:23,928 --> 00:56:26,430
'in anticipation of another
record-breaking season

720
00:56:26,555 --> 00:56:28,724
'playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.

721
00:56:29,600 --> 00:56:34,104
'The following summer, he is en route
to Hong Kong to see his friend again,

722
00:56:34,229 --> 00:56:37,900
'when, flying through Singapore,
he receives the terrible news

723
00:56:38,025 --> 00:56:39,902
'that Bruce is gone.

724
00:56:43,489 --> 00:56:46,867
'Though he did not continue training
in martial arts after Bruce's death,

725
00:56:46,992 --> 00:56:50,371
'Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared
in a variety of cameo appearances

726
00:56:50,496 --> 00:56:52,873
'in films such as "Airplane!"
and "Fletch",

727
00:56:52,998 --> 00:56:56,293
'all while maintaining
a record-breaking NBA basketball career

728
00:56:56,418 --> 00:56:59,380
'until his retirement in 1989.

729
00:56:59,505 --> 00:57:03,592
'Now aged 75,
he remains today a prolific author

730
00:57:03,717 --> 00:57:07,388
'and a passionate, outspoken advocate
of social and racial justice,

731
00:57:07,513 --> 00:57:11,642
'and in 2016 was awarded
the Presidential Medal of Freedom

732
00:57:11,767 --> 00:57:13,602
'by President Barack Obama. '

733
00:57:30,035 --> 00:57:31,453
(Narrator) 'Two weeks later,

734
00:57:31,578 --> 00:57:34,373
'Bruce and his crew returned
to the same sound stage,

735
00:57:34,498 --> 00:57:39,670
'now redressed into the third floor
of the pagoda, the Hall of the Tiger.

736
00:57:39,795 --> 00:57:42,339
'The first two days of filming
are largely dedicated

737
00:57:42,464 --> 00:57:46,719
'to a fight scene never seen before
and long presumed lost

738
00:57:46,844 --> 00:57:48,679
'until now.

739
00:57:53,308 --> 00:57:55,561
'As cameras roll on September 25th,

740
00:57:55,686 --> 00:57:59,231
'we see James Tien,
his scheming character alive and well,

741
00:57:59,356 --> 00:58:02,484
'little knowing his doom
is still two floors ahead.

742
00:58:02,609 --> 00:58:05,696
'The actor joining him,
carrying the large pole,

743
00:58:05,821 --> 00:58:08,907
'is stuntman turned actor, Chieh Yuan.

744
00:58:18,292 --> 00:58:22,504
'The actor waiting for them,
sitting in a chair, is Dan Inosanto.

745
00:58:27,968 --> 00:58:30,304
'Though there are no script notes
to indicate this,

746
00:58:30,429 --> 00:58:34,558
'we can infer from his late arrival
that Bruce's character, Hai Tien,

747
00:58:34,683 --> 00:58:38,020
'is busy fighting the Guardian
of the second floor of the pagoda,

748
00:58:38,145 --> 00:58:41,148
'an expert in Praying Mantis Kung Fu.

749
00:58:49,448 --> 00:58:53,494
'Born in 1945 to a Chinese family
living in Malaysia,

750
00:58:53,619 --> 00:58:56,872
'Chieh Yuan had already firmly
established himself for five years

751
00:58:56,997 --> 00:58:59,541
'as an in-demand stuntman
at Shaw Brothers

752
00:58:59,666 --> 00:59:01,919
'since first appearing
in their record-breaking hit,

753
00:59:02,044 --> 00:59:03,712
"'The One-Armed Swordsman".

754
00:59:04,588 --> 00:59:07,758
'His role in "The Game of Death",
originally intended

755
00:59:07,883 --> 00:59:11,720
for then up-and-coming Golden Harvest
fight choreographer Sammo Hung,

756
00:59:11,845 --> 00:59:13,388
'is of another one of the fighters

757
00:59:13,514 --> 00:59:16,767
'sent by the Korean mobster
to raid the pagoda.

758
00:59:16,892 --> 00:59:21,313
'His character, unnamed except
for "Chieh" in Bruce's notes,

759
00:59:21,438 --> 00:59:24,108
'is immediately contrasted
with James Tien's.

760
00:59:24,900 --> 00:59:28,570
'Dressed in traditional
black karate gi clothing,

761
00:59:28,695 --> 00:59:31,240
'Chieh's headstrong
and less sophisticated character

762
00:59:31,365 --> 00:59:34,535
'is cannily manipulated
by the stylish James Tien,

763
00:59:34,660 --> 00:59:38,664
'who continually goads him
to run into the path of danger first.

764
00:59:48,799 --> 00:59:50,008
'The log fight,

765
00:59:50,134 --> 00:59:53,512
'as it has become known to legions
of Bruce Lee fans over the years,

766
00:59:53,637 --> 00:59:56,682
'has never been incorporated
into any edited assembly

767
00:59:56,807 --> 00:59:59,184
'of "The Game of Death" footage before.

768
00:59:59,309 --> 01:00:03,230
'As Chieh wields the large pole,
picked up, allegedly,

769
01:00:03,355 --> 01:00:06,942
'from a display of weapons held
on the second floor of the pagoda,

770
01:00:07,067 --> 01:00:11,196
'Dan's character is unfazed
as he picks up the two much smaller sticks

771
01:00:11,321 --> 01:00:14,199
'known in the Philippines
as kali, or arnis.

772
01:00:18,162 --> 01:00:21,957
'Dan begins to tap an insistent,
nagging melody using the kali,

773
01:00:22,082 --> 01:00:25,419
'taunting Tien and Yuan
by repeating it over and over.

774
01:00:28,338 --> 01:00:30,924
'Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap, tap-tap.

775
01:00:33,594 --> 01:00:36,263
'Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap, tap-tap.

776
01:00:37,055 --> 01:00:40,934
'The origin of this melody dates back
to Bruce and Dan's early friendship.

777
01:00:41,935 --> 01:00:43,687
'It was the secret knock they devised

778
01:00:43,812 --> 01:00:46,356
'for entrance
to the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute

779
01:00:46,481 --> 01:00:50,694
'the pair opened in the Chinatown area
of Los Angeles in 1967.

780
01:00:52,654 --> 01:00:55,199
'Having only appeared
on camera once before

781
01:00:55,324 --> 01:00:59,661
'as a fight double in an episode
of "The Green Hornet" opposite Bruce,

782
01:00:59,786 --> 01:01:04,082
'Dan's character in "The Game of Death" is
the Guardian of the pagoda's third floor.

783
01:01:04,208 --> 01:01:07,878
'Expert in the art of eskrima
stick fighting from the Philippines.

784
01:01:08,503 --> 01:01:12,132
'The third-floor Guardian's red headband
and open-chested black shirt

785
01:01:12,257 --> 01:01:13,926
'indicate he is a Moro,

786
01:01:14,051 --> 01:01:17,429
'one of the Muslim communities
native to the southern Philippines.

787
01:01:21,934 --> 01:01:26,772
'As Chieh turns to James Tien,
intimidated by Dan's display of force,

788
01:01:26,897 --> 01:01:30,734
'James Tien snorts derisively,
provoking Chieh to continue.

789
01:01:34,863 --> 01:01:39,159
'Born to Filipino parents
in Stockton, California in 1936,

790
01:01:39,284 --> 01:01:42,246
'Dan Inosanto began learning karate
at the age of 11,

791
01:01:42,371 --> 01:01:45,832
'and by the time he met Bruce Lee
at Long Beach in 1964

792
01:01:45,958 --> 01:01:49,253
'was already proficient in a range
of different fighting techniques,

793
01:01:49,378 --> 01:01:52,172
'learning from an eclectic mix
of masters and teachers.

794
01:01:53,340 --> 01:01:57,052
'His deftness at combining different
methods greatly influenced Bruce

795
01:01:57,177 --> 01:01:59,012
'as he developed Jeet Kune Do,

796
01:01:59,137 --> 01:02:02,599
'and soon Dan became one
of only three Jeet Kune Do instructors

797
01:02:02,724 --> 01:02:05,227
'personally appointed by Bruce.

798
01:02:11,733 --> 01:02:14,152
'Chieh turns to Tien for guidance.

799
01:02:15,195 --> 01:02:17,864
'Tien goads him to proceed,
telling him:

800
01:02:17,990 --> 01:02:19,992
"'Don't let him psyche you out."

801
01:02:21,910 --> 01:02:24,162
'As with the fight
with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,

802
01:02:24,288 --> 01:02:26,581
'the message is that
it's not the size of the fighter

803
01:02:26,707 --> 01:02:28,709
'or their chosen weapon that counts,

804
01:02:28,834 --> 01:02:31,837
'but rather the skill and strategy
with which they attack.

805
01:02:32,838 --> 01:02:35,841
'This fight philosophy unfolds
through numerous stages,

806
01:02:35,966 --> 01:02:38,010
'and with the log fight footage
found again,

807
01:02:38,135 --> 01:02:41,263
'we get a much clearer view
of what Lee strived for.

808
01:02:43,015 --> 01:02:47,269
'In many ways, the Hall of the Tiger
sequence expands on the Colosseum fight

809
01:02:47,394 --> 01:02:49,438
'from "The Way of the Dragon".

810
01:02:49,563 --> 01:02:52,482
'That classic confrontation
between Lee and Chuck Norris

811
01:02:52,607 --> 01:02:54,651
'progressed in two phases.

812
01:02:54,776 --> 01:02:59,364
'The first had Lee attempting to match
Norris' hard style of traditional karate

813
01:02:59,489 --> 01:03:01,491
'but coming up short.

814
01:03:01,616 --> 01:03:05,287
'But on the second phase,
Lee overcomes his mammoth opponent

815
01:03:05,412 --> 01:03:08,832
'through Jeet Kune Do's ethos
of adaptability and flexibility,

816
01:03:08,957 --> 01:03:12,461
'visually signified by the Ali shuffle
in his footwork

817
01:03:12,586 --> 01:03:15,005
'and an overall unpredictability
of movement

818
01:03:15,130 --> 01:03:17,883
'that doesn't fit with any
traditional martial system.

819
01:03:19,009 --> 01:03:20,844
'In the Hall of the Tiger sequence,

820
01:03:20,969 --> 01:03:23,722
'this philosophy is expressed
through four phases.

821
01:03:23,847 --> 01:03:25,849
'Each one has its own sub-phases

822
01:03:25,974 --> 01:03:29,561
'that unveil a more nuanced expression
of Lee's martial ethos,

823
01:03:29,686 --> 01:03:32,898
'while never losing sight
of entertaining his audience.

824
01:03:34,024 --> 01:03:37,444
'In particular, Lee had
a keen sense of storytelling

825
01:03:37,569 --> 01:03:40,655
'and understood that for action
to not be monotonous,

826
01:03:40,781 --> 01:03:44,326
'danger and escalation were key
to gripping the viewers' attention.

827
01:03:45,410 --> 01:03:48,455
'Phase one is entirely dedicated
to Chieh Yuan,

828
01:03:48,580 --> 01:03:51,124
'as he attempts to bypass
the third-floor Guardian.

829
01:03:52,626 --> 01:03:54,836
'He strikes at Inosanto with a large log,

830
01:03:54,961 --> 01:03:59,466
'and does so with appropriate gusto,
desperate to prove his worth.

831
01:03:59,591 --> 01:04:02,386
'But Chieh's chosen weapon
proves too unwieldy

832
01:04:02,511 --> 01:04:06,723
'for the dexterity and speed
of the Guardian's duo eskrima sticks.

833
01:04:06,848 --> 01:04:10,685
'Chieh Yuan switches gears
and resorts to empty-hand combat.

834
01:04:10,811 --> 01:04:13,021
'Inosanto discards his own weapons

835
01:04:13,146 --> 01:04:17,275
'and employs kenpo karate
to take down his foolhardy opponent.

836
01:04:30,372 --> 01:04:33,208
'The first day's filming ends,

837
01:04:33,333 --> 01:04:37,254
'and after a one-day break
from shooting for reasons unknown,

838
01:04:37,379 --> 01:04:40,924
'the second day,
Wednesday 27th September,

839
01:04:41,049 --> 01:04:43,802
'begins with one more take
of the same shot.

840
01:04:48,849 --> 01:04:51,643
'This entire first phase
perfectly establishes

841
01:04:51,768 --> 01:04:54,146
'Dan Inosanto's
formidable martial prowess

842
01:04:54,271 --> 01:04:57,107
'in both armed
and then unarmed combat.

843
01:04:57,774 --> 01:05:01,319
'But these two skillsets are presented
in isolation from each other,

844
01:05:01,445 --> 01:05:05,532
'separated by the third-level
Guardian's pride in his own abilities.

845
01:05:07,826 --> 01:05:12,456
'With this information brought to light,
Lee as a choreographer and director

846
01:05:12,581 --> 01:05:16,084
'also smartly foreshadows
Inosanto's limitation.

847
01:06:26,905 --> 01:06:29,950
'Phase two,
and it is James Tien's turn.

848
01:06:31,326 --> 01:06:36,331
'He pulls out his own stick, wanting
to fight Inosanto at his own game.

849
01:08:03,501 --> 01:08:05,337
'Unlike the brash Chieh,

850
01:08:05,462 --> 01:08:08,757
'Tien is more cautious
and takes a more defensive approach.

851
01:08:09,924 --> 01:08:12,594
'But as soon as he uses
any offensive manoeuvre,

852
01:08:12,719 --> 01:08:14,554
'he falters.

853
01:09:12,028 --> 01:09:15,156
'Though it is only onscreen
for a fraction of a second,

854
01:09:15,281 --> 01:09:17,701
'the slate seen at the beginning
of the next take

855
01:09:17,826 --> 01:09:19,911
'shows an important milestone.

856
01:09:21,037 --> 01:09:24,374
'For the very first time,
the title written at the top,

857
01:09:24,499 --> 01:09:28,211
'as opposed to "audition"
or "Yellow-Faced Tiger",

858
01:09:28,336 --> 01:09:30,338
'is "The Game of Death".

859
01:11:55,984 --> 01:11:58,444
'Many martial arts
that specialise in weapons

860
01:11:58,570 --> 01:12:02,615
'lay the claim that any object held
should be an extension of one's body.

861
01:12:03,908 --> 01:12:07,453
'If this is the case,
the Tien versus Inosanto bout

862
01:12:07,579 --> 01:12:10,206
'has them wield only a single arm each.

863
01:12:10,331 --> 01:12:13,084
'It is only when Inosanto
gains a second stick

864
01:12:13,209 --> 01:12:15,253
'that the tides turn in his favour.

865
01:12:16,296 --> 01:12:19,841
'As in phase one,
a nuance is at play here.

866
01:12:19,966 --> 01:12:23,261
'Are these sticks extensions
of the third Guardian's body?

867
01:12:23,386 --> 01:12:26,514
'Or are they simply chains
that restrict it?

868
01:12:26,639 --> 01:12:31,644
'These questions will later be answered
once Inosanto faces our main hero.

869
01:13:18,066 --> 01:13:22,070
'Day three of filming, and Bruce Lee
finally makes his appearance,

870
01:13:22,195 --> 01:13:24,781
'marking the beginning of phase three.

871
01:13:30,828 --> 01:13:33,373
'Our hero presents
his own extended limb,

872
01:13:33,498 --> 01:13:36,167
'a wiry, emerald-hue bamboo stick.

873
01:13:53,434 --> 01:13:55,228
'After reacting to James Tien,

874
01:13:55,353 --> 01:13:58,982
'who is still nursing
his wounded pride on the floor,

875
01:13:59,107 --> 01:14:01,192
'Bruce turns to Dan Inosanto

876
01:14:01,317 --> 01:14:04,112
'and speaks his first line of dialogue
in the scene:

877
01:14:06,239 --> 01:14:08,241
"'Do you speak any English?"

878
01:14:09,283 --> 01:14:11,911
'Like the scenes opposite
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,

879
01:14:12,036 --> 01:14:15,665
'Bruce films all of his dialogue
with Dan Inosanto in English

880
01:14:15,790 --> 01:14:18,418
'even as other actors in the film,
like James Tien,

881
01:14:18,543 --> 01:14:20,420
'speak Cantonese on set,

882
01:14:20,545 --> 01:14:22,922
'and in one later instance, Korean.

883
01:14:23,756 --> 01:14:25,842
'Dan Inosanto responds:

884
01:14:25,967 --> 01:14:28,386
"'Of course I speak English."

885
01:14:29,804 --> 01:14:32,807
'Bruce looks down at the wounded Chieh
as he says to Dan:

886
01:14:33,891 --> 01:14:37,520
"'I hope you don't mind us
moving our man,

887
01:14:37,645 --> 01:14:41,065
"'so that the two of us
will have more room to groove."

888
01:14:58,041 --> 01:15:00,835
'Dan accepts, with one condition:

889
01:15:00,960 --> 01:15:07,008
"'But have your men stay as far away
from that stairway as possible."

890
01:15:09,135 --> 01:15:12,764
'The idea that the three of them could
ambush the third-floor Guardian,

891
01:15:12,889 --> 01:15:15,683
'or, indeed, any of the adversaries
in the pagoda

892
01:15:15,808 --> 01:15:18,019
'is seemingly out of the question.

893
01:15:18,978 --> 01:15:21,230
'Like the Colosseum
in "The Way of the Dragon",

894
01:15:21,355 --> 01:15:23,191
'the rules of combat apply,

895
01:15:23,316 --> 01:15:27,737
'and to break them,
even during a heist, is to lose face.

896
01:15:30,573 --> 01:15:33,284
'Though films made
in Hong Kong in 1972

897
01:15:33,409 --> 01:15:35,787
'were overwhelmingly
distributed in Mandarin,

898
01:15:35,912 --> 01:15:37,872
'in contrast to the Cantonese language

899
01:15:37,997 --> 01:15:39,999
'more commonly spoken
by Hong Kongers

900
01:15:40,124 --> 01:15:43,252
'that had yet to reassert itself
in the cultural mainstream,

901
01:15:44,003 --> 01:15:47,715
'it was not unknown for films made
in Hong Kong to feature English as well,

902
01:15:47,840 --> 01:15:51,177
'especially as the country was still
under British colonial rule.

903
01:15:52,470 --> 01:15:54,472
'Bruce himself had
even dubbed the voices

904
01:15:54,597 --> 01:15:57,558
'of English-speaking characters
in the original Mandarin dub tracks

905
01:15:57,683 --> 01:15:59,977
'for "Fist of Fury"
and "The Way of the Dragon".

906
01:16:00,103 --> 01:16:02,313
'But whether the English dialogue
in "The Game of Death"

907
01:16:02,438 --> 01:16:05,358
'would have been maintained
for its original release in Hong Kong

908
01:16:05,483 --> 01:16:08,361
'if it had ever been finished,
we will never know.

909
01:16:28,339 --> 01:16:30,591
'Inosanto attempts to intimidate our hero

910
01:16:30,716 --> 01:16:35,471
'by swinging both sticks in flashy and
perfectly coordinated figures of eight,

911
01:16:35,596 --> 01:16:37,974
'a physical declaration of war,
if you will.

912
01:16:39,308 --> 01:16:41,018
'But, unlike James Tien,

913
01:16:41,144 --> 01:16:44,939
'Lee has no intention of matching
Inosanto's fighting repertoire,

914
01:16:45,064 --> 01:16:48,734
'or, as he dubs it later,
a rehearsed routine.

915
01:17:21,934 --> 01:17:23,686
'Before battle commences,

916
01:17:23,811 --> 01:17:26,856
'Bruce allows himself
one more lengthy line of dialogue

917
01:17:26,981 --> 01:17:29,650
'that serves partly
as a warning to Inosanto,

918
01:17:29,775 --> 01:17:34,238
'but also as a summation of the film's
themes and Jeet Kune Do in general:

919
01:17:36,449 --> 01:17:38,201
"'You know, baby...

920
01:17:39,785 --> 01:17:41,829
"'this bamboo is longer,

921
01:17:43,664 --> 01:17:47,376
"'more flexible and very much alive.

922
01:17:49,295 --> 01:17:51,005
"'And when your flashy routine

923
01:17:51,130 --> 01:17:55,885
"'cannot keep up with the speed
and elusiveness of this thing here,

924
01:17:56,010 --> 01:18:00,056
"'all I can is that
you're gonna be in deep trouble."

925
01:18:04,435 --> 01:18:06,896
'The third-floor Guardian
does not heed his warning.

926
01:18:11,359 --> 01:18:14,779
'He taps his teasing beat
once more, and says:

927
01:18:14,904 --> 01:18:17,740
"'That we will have to find out."

928
01:18:26,666 --> 01:18:30,211
'Lee's dialogue stresses the importance
of the speed and elusiveness

929
01:18:30,336 --> 01:18:32,171
'of his chosen weapon.

930
01:18:33,297 --> 01:18:37,510
'He simply holds the bamboo stick
over his head in a striking pose,

931
01:18:37,635 --> 01:18:40,972
'not a fighting stance
from any traditional martial art,

932
01:18:41,097 --> 01:18:45,559
'but a personal stamp to the physical
dynamism burning to be released.

933
01:19:02,451 --> 01:19:07,415
'And as these two warriors collide,
we see this dynamism in a single strike.

934
01:19:08,207 --> 01:19:10,626
'Efficient and non-complex,

935
01:19:10,751 --> 01:19:15,214
'Lee strikes his bamboo stick
akin to the snap of his famous backfist.

936
01:19:16,173 --> 01:19:20,761
'Suddenly, Inosanto's flashy routine
unveils its restrictive nature.

937
01:19:21,721 --> 01:19:25,433
'Two heffy sticks simply can't keep up
with the fast whipping motion

938
01:19:25,558 --> 01:19:28,185
'of one thin and more elusive stick.

939
01:19:29,395 --> 01:19:32,773
'In addition, the defensive stance
of crossing two sticks

940
01:19:32,898 --> 01:19:35,484
'proves to also be futile.

941
01:19:35,609 --> 01:19:38,738
'Hai Tien, using the bamboo stick
like a whip,

942
01:19:38,863 --> 01:19:41,282
'strikes the third-floor Guardian
on the forehead,

943
01:19:41,407 --> 01:19:44,160
'branding him with the first of two scars.

944
01:19:44,285 --> 01:19:45,953
'He taunts him further

945
01:19:46,078 --> 01:19:51,500
'with another line of dialogue expressing
his and Bruce's martial philosophy:

946
01:19:51,625 --> 01:19:57,131
"'I'm telling you, it's difficult to have
a rehearsed routine to fit in with.

947
01:19:58,632 --> 01:20:00,301
"'Broken rhythm."

948
01:20:02,261 --> 01:20:06,015
'Already, one of our questions
from phase two is answered.

949
01:20:06,140 --> 01:20:10,811
'The swinging duo sticks are indeed
extensions of Inosanto's body,

950
01:20:10,936 --> 01:20:13,397
'and we can see the years
of drilling these patterns

951
01:20:13,522 --> 01:20:17,860
'have concocted a powerful formula,
but only to a point.

952
01:20:19,070 --> 01:20:22,073
'Once Inosanto becomes reliant
on that formula,

953
01:20:22,198 --> 01:20:24,784
'he corners himself
from expressing these objects

954
01:20:24,909 --> 01:20:26,619
'in any other way.

955
01:20:26,744 --> 01:20:30,581
'The sticks are no longer extensions
of his body, but chains.

956
01:20:30,706 --> 01:20:33,209
'Or, as Bruce taunts him further:

957
01:20:33,334 --> 01:20:39,173
"'You see? A rehearsed routine
lacks the flexibility to adapt."

958
01:20:46,472 --> 01:20:50,101
'As Bruce effortlessly steals
one of the Guardian's kali sticks

959
01:20:50,226 --> 01:20:51,727
'and bobs and weaves,

960
01:20:51,852 --> 01:20:56,148
'Bruce adds another line of dialogue
not found in his original script notes.

961
01:20:57,483 --> 01:21:00,403
'Reading his lips, he appears to say:

962
01:21:00,528 --> 01:21:02,863
"'It's a challenge, isn't it?

963
01:21:02,988 --> 01:21:06,033
"'When bamboo strikes, it's a sword."

964
01:21:09,495 --> 01:21:11,705
'Others have interpreted the line
differently,

965
01:21:11,831 --> 01:21:15,459
'and on the second take,
it could be argued that he says:

966
01:21:15,584 --> 01:21:18,921
"'When bamboo strikes, it's hard."

967
01:21:38,107 --> 01:21:43,195
'It is at this point the fight switches
gear, and a fourth phase commences.

968
01:21:51,537 --> 01:21:54,707
'To counter such an elusive
and unpredictable opponent,

969
01:21:54,832 --> 01:21:57,877
'Inosanto employs the nunchaku,

970
01:21:58,002 --> 01:22:00,045
'a weapon derived from Okinawa

971
01:22:00,171 --> 01:22:03,132
'where two sticks are joined
by a chain or cord.

972
01:22:03,716 --> 01:22:07,219
'He swings and waves it
with a dextrous, flashy blur,

973
01:22:07,344 --> 01:22:09,763
'even more so than his eskrima sticks,

974
01:22:09,889 --> 01:22:13,767
'perhaps to demonstrate that he can be
just as flexible and unpredictable.

975
01:22:16,395 --> 01:22:19,356
'Hai Tien gives his two companions
a signal to approach

976
01:22:19,482 --> 01:22:22,610
'and give him something
he'd passed to James Tien earlier on:

977
01:22:22,735 --> 01:22:26,614
'a black leather sleeve,
perhaps picked up from the floor below,

978
01:22:26,739 --> 01:22:29,200
'containing his own set of nunchaku.

979
01:22:47,510 --> 01:22:50,054
'Of course, Lee is undeterred,

980
01:22:51,597 --> 01:22:53,724
'and as if to meet his opponent halfway,

981
01:22:53,849 --> 01:22:57,061
'he demonstrates his own mastery
of the nunchaku.

982
01:23:03,567 --> 01:23:05,319
'Day four of filming the scene

983
01:23:05,444 --> 01:23:08,656
'begins with the Guardian's
stunned response to Hai Tien's skills,

984
01:23:10,032 --> 01:23:13,619
'to which Bruce cheekily responds:
"Surprised?"

985
01:23:40,229 --> 01:23:42,898
'Both warriors give
further demonstrations,

986
01:23:43,023 --> 01:23:46,193
'circling each other
in a sort of pre-battle ritual.

987
01:23:47,653 --> 01:23:50,239
'But this nunchaku
versus nunchaku section

988
01:23:50,364 --> 01:23:53,325
'was not just a novel way
to escalate the conflict.

989
01:23:53,450 --> 01:23:56,745
'It was another chance for Lee
to hammer home his martial ethos.

990
01:23:57,705 --> 01:24:00,708
'Seemingly similar in the way
they wield their weapons,

991
01:24:00,833 --> 01:24:05,212
'on closer inspection, both warriors
carry over their physical ticks and traits

992
01:24:05,337 --> 01:24:07,214
'from the previous phase.

993
01:24:17,516 --> 01:24:20,644
'Inosanto swings his nunchakus
around his body

994
01:24:20,769 --> 01:24:23,188
'much in the same way
as his eskrima sticks,

995
01:24:24,023 --> 01:24:27,234
'showing he's unable to break away
from the codified system

996
01:24:27,359 --> 01:24:29,445
'he trained his body so well in.

997
01:24:31,614 --> 01:24:34,533
'Lee, on the other hand,
employs the freestyle movements

998
01:24:34,658 --> 01:24:37,161
from his bamboo stick
swings and strikes,

999
01:24:37,286 --> 01:24:39,788
'even carrying over his cheeky taunts.

1000
01:24:41,248 --> 01:24:43,834
'The nunchaku used during
the making of "The Game of Death"

1001
01:24:43,959 --> 01:24:48,005
'are custom-made by Bruce's friends,
Taky Kimura and George Lee.

1002
01:24:49,089 --> 01:24:52,718
'For scenes in which Dan and Bruce
merely pose with the weapons,

1003
01:24:52,843 --> 01:24:55,095
'allowing the audience a close look,

1004
01:24:55,220 --> 01:24:59,224
'authentic lacquered wood versions
are used for maximum realism.

1005
01:25:00,517 --> 01:25:03,395
'For shots such as this,
where there is a risk of injury,

1006
01:25:03,520 --> 01:25:07,024
'a backup set likely made
of foam rubber is used,

1007
01:25:07,149 --> 01:25:09,318
'allowing for multiple takes to be filmed

1008
01:25:09,443 --> 01:25:12,321
'even if the sticks make contact
with someone's face.

1009
01:25:13,280 --> 01:25:16,158
'Bruce had already popularised
the use of nunchaku onscreen

1010
01:25:16,283 --> 01:25:18,577
'in "Fist of Fury"
and "The Way of the Dragon",

1011
01:25:19,328 --> 01:25:23,415
'and had been introduced to them
in 1964 by Dan Inosanto.

1012
01:25:25,626 --> 01:25:28,003
'According to Dan,
Bruce thought the chain sticks

1013
01:25:28,128 --> 01:25:31,340
'were a worthless piece of junk
when they were first handed to him,

1014
01:25:31,465 --> 01:25:34,927
'but within three months,
he was, in Dan's words,

1015
01:25:35,052 --> 01:25:37,680
"'swinging them like he'd been doing it
for a lifetime."

1016
01:25:38,639 --> 01:25:42,101
'His pose after licking the tip
of one of the nunchaku sticks

1017
01:25:42,226 --> 01:25:44,520
'is even reminiscent
of the beginning of the fight

1018
01:25:44,645 --> 01:25:46,522
'where he held the bamboo
over his head.

1019
01:25:47,189 --> 01:25:51,068
'Again, not an indicator of being
trapped in a rigid system,

1020
01:25:51,193 --> 01:25:55,197
'but showing one's personal stamp
within another system of combat.

1021
01:25:56,573 --> 01:26:01,120
'The other noticeable difference is
that Lee is working with his entire body.

1022
01:26:01,745 --> 01:26:04,998
'He isn't just swinging
the nunchakus in isolation.

1023
01:26:05,124 --> 01:26:08,711
'He bounces and pops as he moves
from one spot to the other.

1024
01:26:09,336 --> 01:26:12,047
'It is as if something within him
is about to burst,

1025
01:26:12,172 --> 01:26:14,633
'showing his unpredictability
as a fighter,

1026
01:26:14,758 --> 01:26:19,138
'but also that individualistic
screen charisma that Bruce Lee oozed.

1027
01:26:19,972 --> 01:26:24,601
'But it is also here that the other nuance
from an earlier phase comes into play.

1028
01:26:25,144 --> 01:26:26,895
'As mentioned in phase one,

1029
01:26:27,020 --> 01:26:29,314
'Inosanto's character is shown
to be proficient

1030
01:26:29,440 --> 01:26:32,109
'in both armed and unarmed combat.

1031
01:26:32,234 --> 01:26:34,903
'Both categories are
demonstrated in isolation.

1032
01:26:35,487 --> 01:26:37,614
'However, up till this point,

1033
01:26:37,740 --> 01:26:41,326
'we truly see that he is unable
to merge these two together.

1034
01:26:42,786 --> 01:26:44,288
'A skilful man indeed,

1035
01:26:44,413 --> 01:26:47,708
'but unable to mix things up
and truly be present in the moment

1036
01:26:47,833 --> 01:26:50,711
'and react according to spontaneity.

1037
01:26:50,836 --> 01:26:55,883
'In comparison, Lee employed
numerous bursts of hook and spin kicks

1038
01:26:56,008 --> 01:26:58,218
'in conjunction with his nunchaku strikes,

1039
01:26:58,343 --> 01:27:03,140
'thus showing his character's
adaptability and versatility in combat.

1040
01:27:03,724 --> 01:27:09,188
'Lee is broken rhythm personified,
unique and truly present.

1041
01:27:09,313 --> 01:27:13,275
'Because to possess broken rhythm
is to be present in the moment,

1042
01:27:13,400 --> 01:27:15,652
'reacting fast and well enough

1043
01:27:15,778 --> 01:27:18,030
'to whatever life throws at him.

1044
01:27:27,873 --> 01:27:32,377
'While a weapons versus weapons fight
was nothing new for a Bruce Lee film,

1045
01:27:32,503 --> 01:27:36,089
'whether it was the nunchaku
versus sword battle in "Fist of Fury",

1046
01:27:36,215 --> 01:27:39,259
'the nunchaku versus switchblade fight
in "The Way of the Dragon"

1047
01:27:39,384 --> 01:27:42,304
'or even just the knife fights
in "The Big Boss",

1048
01:27:42,429 --> 01:27:45,516
'it perhaps seems inevitable
that he would choreograph a fight

1049
01:27:45,641 --> 01:27:50,062
'where both opponents wield the weapon
that was swiftly becoming his trademark.

1050
01:27:51,188 --> 01:27:53,690
'Granted, a majority of the fight
becomes a matter

1051
01:27:53,816 --> 01:27:57,069
of defence over offence
because of this,

1052
01:27:57,194 --> 01:28:00,948
'but it gives a more unique spin
on a Bruce Lee fight in the long run.

1053
01:28:01,907 --> 01:28:05,160
'It's well documented that Inosanto
was Lee's teacher of the weapon,

1054
01:28:05,285 --> 01:28:09,331
'so, of course, by Lee casting Inosanto
in the nunchaku fight,

1055
01:28:09,456 --> 01:28:13,293
'it becomes a direct case
of the student becoming the master.

1056
01:28:13,961 --> 01:28:16,964
'But, as emphasised by Lee's
strong eye for the camera,

1057
01:28:17,089 --> 01:28:19,466
'his approach to certain
nunchaku manoeuvres,

1058
01:28:19,591 --> 01:28:21,134
'such as stance-shifting,

1059
01:28:21,260 --> 01:28:25,097
'is shown to have more
of a flourish to them than Inosanto's.

1060
01:28:25,222 --> 01:28:28,308
'Inosanto, or rather
the third-floor Guardian,

1061
01:28:28,433 --> 01:28:31,687
'tends to stay hand-locked when shifting
from shoulder to shoulder,

1062
01:28:31,812 --> 01:28:33,397
'guarded and stiff,

1063
01:28:33,522 --> 01:28:37,317
'while Lee as Hai Tien goes
for the over-the-shoulder swings,

1064
01:28:37,442 --> 01:28:39,653
'more casual and exhibitionist.

1065
01:28:48,579 --> 01:28:52,541
'At last, the Guardian's nunchaku
connects with Hai Tien's face.

1066
01:28:55,294 --> 01:28:59,882
'And he allows himself a brief moment
of self-congratulation, as he says:

1067
01:29:00,007 --> 01:29:01,967
"'How do you like that...?"

1068
01:29:02,092 --> 01:29:03,969
'But he hasn't even finished
his sentence

1069
01:29:04,094 --> 01:29:06,430
'before Bruce strikes him
square in the nose

1070
01:29:06,555 --> 01:29:10,183
'and mimics his words back to him,
retaining the upper hand.

1071
01:29:12,060 --> 01:29:16,273
'If there was ever any doubt about who
was truly in control of this situation,

1072
01:29:16,398 --> 01:29:18,150
'we now know for sure.

1073
01:29:18,901 --> 01:29:20,861
'And as the formerly
unflappable Guardian

1074
01:29:20,986 --> 01:29:25,449
'looks increasingly angry and frustrated,
we sense his doom approaches.

1075
01:29:27,367 --> 01:29:29,578
'The last day of filming
the Hall of the Tiger

1076
01:29:29,703 --> 01:29:32,456
'begins as Bruce Lee reprises
his Ali shuffle,

1077
01:29:32,581 --> 01:29:35,042
'Hai Tien toying with his foe.

1078
01:32:47,234 --> 01:32:50,403
'As filming on the Hall of the Tiger
approaches its end,

1079
01:32:50,529 --> 01:32:53,907
'one of the final displays
of nunchaku mastery from Lee

1080
01:32:54,032 --> 01:32:56,868
'takes no less than ten takes
to get right.

1081
01:32:58,453 --> 01:33:01,331
'While he already showed
earlier signs of perfectionism

1082
01:33:01,456 --> 01:33:04,251
'in the filming of this scene
and the Hall of the Unknown,

1083
01:33:04,376 --> 01:33:06,711
'some may read this fastidiousness
as a sign

1084
01:33:06,837 --> 01:33:11,591
'as to how much harder Bruce was going
to be on himself in the months to come

1085
01:33:11,716 --> 01:33:15,887
'to make sure he got everything down
to no less than perfect.

1086
01:34:28,752 --> 01:34:32,672
'Having played the Guardian at his own
game of death for long enough,

1087
01:34:32,797 --> 01:34:36,718
'Hai Tien knocks him to the floor with
another one of Bruce Lee's trademarks,

1088
01:34:36,843 --> 01:34:40,680
'the triple spin kick, as demonstrated
in his three previous films,

1089
01:34:40,805 --> 01:34:42,891
'not least the scene in "Fist of Fury"

1090
01:34:43,016 --> 01:34:46,144
'where he takes on a dojo
of Japanese karate fighters,

1091
01:34:46,269 --> 01:34:48,230
'also armed with a nunchaku,

1092
01:34:48,355 --> 01:34:51,149
'using one of their own weapons
against them.

1093
01:35:55,422 --> 01:35:58,800
'In the end,
Lee takes his opponent's life,

1094
01:35:58,925 --> 01:36:02,679
'albeit more willingly than he did
Chuck Norris in "The Way of the Dragon",

1095
01:36:03,763 --> 01:36:08,018
'though we do see the briefest pause
as his character soaks in his deed.

1096
01:36:08,810 --> 01:36:10,478
'Is it regret?

1097
01:36:10,603 --> 01:36:12,856
'Perhaps a growing weariness?

1098
01:36:12,981 --> 01:36:15,775
'It's vague, yet no less compelling,

1099
01:36:15,900 --> 01:36:19,946
'and just another example of Lee's
unique screen presence at play.

1100
01:36:21,489 --> 01:36:23,116
'As behind the scenes

1101
01:36:23,241 --> 01:36:26,786
'Lee tries to assemble a cast
for the next round of filming,

1102
01:36:26,911 --> 01:36:31,207
'sending Taky Kimura a plane ticket
so he can fly from Seattle to Hong Kong

1103
01:36:31,333 --> 01:36:34,336
'in a couple of weeks to play
the second-floor Guardian,

1104
01:36:34,461 --> 01:36:38,965
'the Hall of the Tiger shoot ends
as Lee, Chieh Yuan and James Tien

1105
01:36:39,090 --> 01:36:41,968
'all ascend the fake stairway to nowhere.

1106
01:36:42,093 --> 01:36:44,304
'In a letter,
in which he also tells Kimura

1107
01:36:44,429 --> 01:36:49,642
'to bring his "old and blue
classical gung fu uniform", Lee says:

1108
01:36:49,768 --> 01:36:52,896
"'If something comes up,
I will call you personally.

1109
01:36:53,021 --> 01:36:58,777
"'If not, I will see you upon
your arrival on or around October 8th."

1110
01:36:58,902 --> 01:37:01,863
'But Kimura is forced to cancel
his trip to Hong Kong,

1111
01:37:01,988 --> 01:37:04,574
'and filming on "The Game of Death"
will not resume

1112
01:37:04,699 --> 01:37:07,077
'for almost another month.

1113
01:37:07,869 --> 01:37:10,330
'During shooting,
the set for "The Game of Death"

1114
01:37:10,455 --> 01:37:13,375
'regularly receives a number
of friendly visitors,

1115
01:37:13,500 --> 01:37:18,505
'among them King Hu,
former collaborator of Tadashi Nishimoto,

1116
01:37:18,630 --> 01:37:21,674
'and, of course, Bruce's wife Linda,

1117
01:37:21,800 --> 01:37:25,804
'often with their children
Brandon and Shannon in tow.

1118
01:37:26,429 --> 01:37:29,391
'But it is during the filming
of the Hall of the Tiger sequence

1119
01:37:29,516 --> 01:37:32,102
'that Bruce receives a visit
from Fred Weintraub,

1120
01:37:32,227 --> 01:37:35,438
'an old friend from the States
and an up-and-coming executive

1121
01:37:35,563 --> 01:37:37,399
'at Warner Bros.

1122
01:37:37,524 --> 01:37:39,401
'Fred comes with stunning news.

1123
01:37:40,402 --> 01:37:44,072
'Warner are offering Bruce
the lead role in a new feature film.

1124
01:37:44,697 --> 01:37:46,449
'It will be filmed in Hong Kong,

1125
01:37:46,574 --> 01:37:48,910
'but is unmistakably
a Hollywood production

1126
01:37:49,035 --> 01:37:52,080
'with the budget, resources
and wide distribution

1127
01:37:52,205 --> 01:37:54,207
'only a major studio can afford.

1128
01:37:54,874 --> 01:37:57,544
'The script goes through
several names in preproduction,

1129
01:37:57,669 --> 01:38:00,171
'before settling on Bruce's
own preferred title:

1130
01:38:01,214 --> 01:38:02,841
"Enter the Dragon".

1131
01:38:03,633 --> 01:38:06,261
'It is the biggest opportunity
of Bruce's career,

1132
01:38:06,386 --> 01:38:08,304
'the one he's been chasing for years.

1133
01:38:09,180 --> 01:38:13,059
'And it is the catalyst that seals
the fate of not just "The Game of Death",

1134
01:38:13,184 --> 01:38:16,104
'but perhaps Bruce himself. '

1135
01:38:36,040 --> 01:38:37,208
(Narrator) 'In October, 1972,

1136
01:38:38,126 --> 01:38:42,422
'early negotiations take place between
Warner Bros. and Concord Productions

1137
01:38:42,547 --> 01:38:46,176
'for the film that will eventually
become "Enter the Dragon".

1138
01:38:47,051 --> 01:38:49,679
'Its production not yet
an assured outcome,

1139
01:38:49,804 --> 01:38:52,682
'Bruce continues work
on "The Game of Death",

1140
01:38:52,807 --> 01:38:55,226
'drawing upon the Golden Harvest
talent pool

1141
01:38:55,351 --> 01:38:57,437
'to cast Hai Tien's next opponent,

1142
01:38:58,021 --> 01:39:02,317
'the Guardian of the Hall of the Dragon,
the fourth floor of the pagoda.

1143
01:39:04,194 --> 01:39:08,531
'Ji Han-jae was born in 1936
in Andong, South Korea.

1144
01:39:09,157 --> 01:39:12,368
'Already an eighth-dan black belt
by his early twenties,

1145
01:39:12,494 --> 01:39:16,539
'in 1957 he combined
all of his knowledge into a hybrid form

1146
01:39:16,664 --> 01:39:18,791
'he called hapkido.

1147
01:39:19,459 --> 01:39:22,545
'Though some dispute whether
Ji actually invented hapkido,

1148
01:39:22,670 --> 01:39:26,216
'it cannot be argued that he was foremost
in promoting and teaching it

1149
01:39:26,341 --> 01:39:27,634
'far and wide,

1150
01:39:27,759 --> 01:39:32,639
'eventually founding
the Korea Hapkido Association in 1965.

1151
01:39:33,431 --> 01:39:36,893
'Bruce Lee first met Ji Han-jae in 1969,

1152
01:39:37,018 --> 01:39:38,853
'when the latter was in the United States

1153
01:39:38,978 --> 01:39:41,856
'to teach hapkido to members
of the Secret Service

1154
01:39:41,981 --> 01:39:43,942
'and other branches
of the US government,

1155
01:39:44,067 --> 01:39:47,278
'including President Richard Nixon's
security detail.

1156
01:39:48,238 --> 01:39:50,532
'While staying
at Andrews Air Force Base,

1157
01:39:50,657 --> 01:39:54,661
'a mutual friend,
taekwondo grandmaster Jhoon Rhee,

1158
01:39:54,786 --> 01:39:58,581
'introduced the pair, and Lee asked Ji
to teach him some moves.

1159
01:39:59,290 --> 01:40:03,127
'In 1972, Golden Harvest director
Huang Feng

1160
01:40:03,253 --> 01:40:06,881
'recruits Ji, along with
his right-hand man Hwang In-shik,

1161
01:40:07,006 --> 01:40:10,468
'to train the cast
of his upcoming film, "Hapkido".

1162
01:40:10,593 --> 01:40:13,221
'Ji and Hwang also play roles in the film,

1163
01:40:13,346 --> 01:40:16,140
'and it is on the set
at Golden Harvest Studios

1164
01:40:16,266 --> 01:40:19,227
'where Ji once again makes
the acquaintance of Bruce Lee,

1165
01:40:19,352 --> 01:40:22,188
'who is filming "The Way of the Dragon"
at the same time.

1166
01:40:23,273 --> 01:40:26,985
'Bruce enlists Hwang In-shik's services
as an actor on "The Way of the Dragon",

1167
01:40:27,110 --> 01:40:30,196
'playing a Japanese fighter
near the end of the film,

1168
01:40:30,321 --> 01:40:34,117
'and soon enough, he has offered
both Hwang and Ji acting roles

1169
01:40:34,242 --> 01:40:35,535
'in "The Game of Death".

1170
01:40:35,660 --> 01:40:38,871
'Hwang's role is the Guardian
of the first floor of the pagoda,

1171
01:40:38,997 --> 01:40:41,916
'but other than some exterior footage
we'll discuss later,

1172
01:40:42,458 --> 01:40:44,669
'his scenes never make it
before a camera.

1173
01:40:46,754 --> 01:40:50,675
'Ji Han-jae, on the other hand,
plays the Guardian of the fourth floor,

1174
01:40:50,800 --> 01:40:52,176
'and as it happens,

1175
01:40:52,302 --> 01:40:55,722
'his is the last of the major fight scenes
for "The Game of Death"

1176
01:40:55,847 --> 01:40:58,016
'that Bruce Lee ever lives to film.

1177
01:41:00,226 --> 01:41:02,729
'Filming resumes on October 22nd,

1178
01:41:02,854 --> 01:41:05,898
'exactly where we left off
nearly a month prior,

1179
01:41:06,024 --> 01:41:08,985
'with Bruce Lee,
James Tien and Chieh Yuan

1180
01:41:09,110 --> 01:41:12,530
'ascending the stairs and arriving
at the Hall of the Dragon,

1181
01:41:12,655 --> 01:41:14,866
'a level in which the action demonstrates

1182
01:41:14,991 --> 01:41:18,536
'some Lee's most inventive
and imaginative choreography.

1183
01:41:21,164 --> 01:41:24,167
'To begin our breakdown
with Lee's choreographic approach,

1184
01:41:24,292 --> 01:41:26,919
'we must look at one aspect
often overlooked:

1185
01:41:27,545 --> 01:41:29,714
'the space.

1186
01:41:29,839 --> 01:41:33,843
'For the second time, the sound stage
is redressed to differentiate it

1187
01:41:33,968 --> 01:41:36,929
'from the previous two levels
already shot,

1188
01:41:37,055 --> 01:41:41,517
'and it is for this level Lee opted
for a more visually off-kilter look.

1189
01:41:42,977 --> 01:41:44,437
'As mentioned previously,

1190
01:41:44,562 --> 01:41:48,024
'the somewhat illogical and dreamlike
setting of "The Game of Death"

1191
01:41:48,149 --> 01:41:51,736
'has often been compared
to a previously scrapped project of Lee's,

1192
01:41:51,861 --> 01:41:53,738
"'The Silent Flute".

1193
01:41:53,863 --> 01:41:57,367
'In that film, Lee would mix
his esoteric philosophical ideas

1194
01:41:57,492 --> 01:41:59,702
'with 1960s psychedelia.

1195
01:41:59,827 --> 01:42:03,498
'This creative impulse is most
pronounced in this fourth level,

1196
01:42:03,623 --> 01:42:08,002
'where the overall art direction leans
towards more otherworldly sensibilities.

1197
01:42:08,544 --> 01:42:13,049
'We immediately see this as Ji Han-jae
emerges behind a ghostly, white veil

1198
01:42:13,174 --> 01:42:15,301
'his gi seamed with gold lapels

1199
01:42:15,426 --> 01:42:19,597
'and, wrapped around his waist,
an equally blinding gold belt.

1200
01:42:19,722 --> 01:42:23,935
'They constantly glimmer in the light,
almost as if to distort the senses

1201
01:42:24,060 --> 01:42:26,521
'of anyone who lays eyes
on this Guardian.

1202
01:42:27,730 --> 01:42:31,275
'Even Ji's choice to drench the room
with a harsh red light

1203
01:42:31,401 --> 01:42:33,945
'evokes a mildly psychedelic sensation.

1204
01:42:41,411 --> 01:42:44,080
'The red light is explained
in the fourth-floor Guardian's

1205
01:42:44,205 --> 01:42:48,167
'only major line of dialogue,
written by Bruce as follows:

1206
01:42:49,544 --> 01:42:53,005
"'As you gentlemen know,
red spells danger.

1207
01:42:53,131 --> 01:42:57,218
"'Therefore I advise you people
not to step into this warning arena.

1208
01:42:57,760 --> 01:43:02,223
"'If you want to go on living,
stop here and go back downstairs.

1209
01:43:02,348 --> 01:43:03,766
"'Life is precious."

1210
01:43:05,643 --> 01:43:08,062
'In a moment,
you'll see a break in the action

1211
01:43:08,187 --> 01:43:10,106
'when Chieh Yuan charges at Ji.

1212
01:43:10,857 --> 01:43:16,112
'The ensuing fight in which Ji easily
beats both Chieh and James Tien

1213
01:43:16,237 --> 01:43:20,116
'is not filmed until three days later,
on October 25th.

1214
01:43:23,536 --> 01:43:26,664
'Was the fight filmed on the 22nd
and deemed insufficient,

1215
01:43:26,789 --> 01:43:28,583
'having to be reshot later?

1216
01:43:29,167 --> 01:43:31,627
'No footage survives
to corroborate this theory.

1217
01:43:32,962 --> 01:43:35,840
'Instead, we return to a similar angle,

1218
01:43:35,965 --> 01:43:38,384
'where Chieh and Tien rub their wounds

1219
01:43:38,509 --> 01:43:41,804
'as Lee approaches Ji
for his turn at combat.

1220
01:43:43,389 --> 01:43:47,059
'The Hall of the Dragon marks
a significant departure for Lee,

1221
01:43:47,185 --> 01:43:49,395
'as the choreography
would involve heavy amounts

1222
01:43:49,520 --> 01:43:52,023
'of locks, throws and grapples.

1223
01:43:52,648 --> 01:43:56,402
'As a screen fighter,
Lee was primarily a striker,

1224
01:43:56,527 --> 01:43:58,237
'given his roots in Wing Chun

1225
01:43:58,362 --> 01:44:01,282
'and his later employment
of more boxing fundamentals

1226
01:44:01,407 --> 01:44:03,117
'in his Jeet Kune Do.

1227
01:44:03,242 --> 01:44:06,204
'Employing Ji Han-jae's
specific hapkido skills

1228
01:44:06,329 --> 01:44:11,083
'show's Lee's ongoing impetus to widen
his cinematic martial vocabulary.

1229
01:44:11,876 --> 01:44:16,297
'It was clearly a challenge,
as, unlike Inosanto and Abdul-Jabbar,

1230
01:44:16,422 --> 01:44:19,842
'Ji Han-jae was not someone
Lee had trained extensively with.

1231
01:44:20,593 --> 01:44:23,179
'As such, there was a lack of familiarity

1232
01:44:23,304 --> 01:44:25,181
'with how they would move
with one another.

1233
01:44:25,807 --> 01:44:30,728
'Of course, Lee was no less tenacious
in wanting to create a spectacular duel

1234
01:44:30,853 --> 01:44:33,147
'while also keeping true
to his philosophy,

1235
01:44:33,856 --> 01:44:36,275
'and it shows with take after take,

1236
01:44:36,400 --> 01:44:39,111
'experimentation after experimentation,

1237
01:44:39,237 --> 01:44:42,365
'all to best capture this clash
of martial bodies.

1238
01:44:43,407 --> 01:44:47,495
'Lee is most renowned for his martial arts
ability on and off the screen,

1239
01:44:47,620 --> 01:44:49,038
'and rightfully so.

1240
01:44:49,664 --> 01:44:51,123
'But this iconic status,

1241
01:44:51,249 --> 01:44:54,836
'coupled with the often critical dismissal
of kung fu cinema

1242
01:44:54,961 --> 01:44:58,464
'often belied his skills
as a cinematic storyteller.

1243
01:44:59,507 --> 01:45:02,009
'Many forget that Lee was an actor first,

1244
01:45:02,134 --> 01:45:07,306
'and appreciated the craftsmanship
of American and Japanese filmmakers.

1245
01:45:07,431 --> 01:45:10,101
'In fact, he believed
the Hong Kong film industry

1246
01:45:10,226 --> 01:45:12,603
'should employ
the same standard of artistry

1247
01:45:12,728 --> 01:45:15,398
'if it were to compete
with the worldwide circuit.

1248
01:45:15,940 --> 01:45:20,194
'We can see this incentive at work
as Lee gained more creative control,

1249
01:45:20,319 --> 01:45:23,239
'and it's particularly true
in this penultimate duel.

1250
01:45:24,991 --> 01:45:29,120
'The first day's filming concludes
with Bruce's first blow against Ji,

1251
01:45:29,245 --> 01:45:32,123
'shot at a number of speeds
over multiple takes.

1252
01:45:32,790 --> 01:45:37,128
'When Lee first approaches Ji,
he raises one hand to his opponent.

1253
01:45:37,253 --> 01:45:40,673
'The pose is a peculiar amalgamation
of a fighting stance

1254
01:45:40,798 --> 01:45:43,175
'and a gesture to beckon
his opponent to attack.

1255
01:45:43,801 --> 01:45:46,637
'It becomes obvious that
Lee must make the first move.

1256
01:45:47,805 --> 01:45:49,682
'With the most deliberate pace,

1257
01:45:49,807 --> 01:45:53,394
'Lee retracts his hand and eventually
reaches a crescendo,

1258
01:45:53,978 --> 01:45:56,355
'that being a dynamic roundhouse kick.

1259
01:45:57,315 --> 01:45:59,150
'To quote his choreography notes,

1260
01:45:59,275 --> 01:46:03,154
'he "relaxes, smiles,
and puts his hand back,

1261
01:46:03,279 --> 01:46:04,614
"'and while keeping his smile,

1262
01:46:04,739 --> 01:46:07,742
"'initiates a lightning
right finger-jab feint,

1263
01:46:07,867 --> 01:46:11,287
"'follows instantaneously
with a low-high hook kick

1264
01:46:11,412 --> 01:46:16,167
"'with fluid speed, intense grace
and powerful one, two, three."

1265
01:46:17,084 --> 01:46:20,087
'Each gesture and movement
are simple by design,

1266
01:46:20,212 --> 01:46:24,216
'but when utilised with the correct
intent and rhythm, as Lee does,

1267
01:46:24,342 --> 01:46:27,136
'it effectively establishes
the narrative conflict

1268
01:46:27,261 --> 01:46:30,514
'and adds a level of anticipation
and suspense.

1269
01:46:31,807 --> 01:46:33,476
'Through these rushes,

1270
01:46:33,601 --> 01:46:37,146
'we not only see the breakdown
of Lee's choreographic decisions,

1271
01:46:37,271 --> 01:46:41,484
'but also his directorial decisions
and his approach to storytelling.

1272
01:46:42,234 --> 01:46:44,946
'It must be stressed that
these are rushes, after all,

1273
01:46:45,071 --> 01:46:48,157
'far away from being
a completed and refined product.

1274
01:46:48,282 --> 01:46:53,120
'But as with the previous two levels
involving Inosanto and Abdul-Jabbar,

1275
01:46:53,245 --> 01:46:56,540
'there is enough evidence here
to show Lee wanting to elevate

1276
01:46:56,666 --> 01:46:59,460
'what would be another
one-on-one martial arts duel.

1277
01:47:00,211 --> 01:47:02,380
'Structurally, the Hall of the Dragon

1278
01:47:02,505 --> 01:47:05,967
'is no different to the Hall of the Tiger
and the Hall of the Unknown,

1279
01:47:06,550 --> 01:47:09,428
'but they all possess
their own key characteristic

1280
01:47:09,553 --> 01:47:12,598
'that influences the action
unfolding at their centres.

1281
01:47:13,349 --> 01:47:15,434
'That characteristic could be obtrusive,

1282
01:47:15,559 --> 01:47:17,937
'like the darkness
in the Abdul-Jabbar fight,

1283
01:47:18,062 --> 01:47:21,357
'or insidious like the harsh red light
in this one.

1284
01:47:21,482 --> 01:47:24,151
'But given the planned order
of these three levels,

1285
01:47:24,276 --> 01:47:27,196
'we do get a sense that
the higher we climb the pagoda,

1286
01:47:27,321 --> 01:47:29,949
'the more otherworldly
the surroundings become.

1287
01:47:30,783 --> 01:47:32,994
'All this is further evidence
that, for Lee,

1288
01:47:33,119 --> 01:47:37,331
'the choreography isn't just about
the interaction between two individuals,

1289
01:47:37,456 --> 01:47:39,834
'it is also the interaction
with the space,

1290
01:47:39,959 --> 01:47:43,546
'and how the action escalates
when said space changes.

1291
01:47:45,214 --> 01:47:48,259
'The second day's filming
begins with the second angle,

1292
01:47:48,384 --> 01:47:51,137
'only this time shot at regular speed.

1293
01:47:51,846 --> 01:47:53,723
'Two takes of an additional angle

1294
01:47:53,848 --> 01:47:57,727
'will also be filmed as part
of the pickup filming three days later.

1295
01:47:59,103 --> 01:48:01,063
'If this feint is intended to demonstrate

1296
01:48:01,188 --> 01:48:03,733
'Hai Tien's canniness
and unpredictability,

1297
01:48:03,858 --> 01:48:07,194
'then the next shot shows that
he will have his work cut out for him,

1298
01:48:07,319 --> 01:48:11,032
'as Ji lands gracefully
and regains his fighting stance,

1299
01:48:11,157 --> 01:48:13,159
'seemingly unphased.

1300
01:48:41,270 --> 01:48:44,982
'Another aspect of Lee's choreography
is the camerawork.

1301
01:48:46,067 --> 01:48:49,695
'Many fans and critics championed
his naturalistic approach

1302
01:48:49,820 --> 01:48:51,781
'to capturing fight scenes,

1303
01:48:51,906 --> 01:48:54,950
'specifically the use
of a wide-angle lens,

1304
01:48:55,076 --> 01:48:58,537
'which represents the audience's
objective standpoint,

1305
01:48:58,662 --> 01:49:03,000
'a clear window that authenticates
the physical abilities being exhibited.

1306
01:49:03,834 --> 01:49:05,461
'This is certainly true,

1307
01:49:05,586 --> 01:49:09,298
'but also an oversimplification
of Lee's creative stamp.

1308
01:49:10,257 --> 01:49:14,345
'Much credit goes to the film's
cinematographer, Tadashi Nishimoto,

1309
01:49:14,470 --> 01:49:18,307
'for injecting such visual dynamism
in each of these wide shots.

1310
01:49:18,849 --> 01:49:21,811
'But it's when the camera moves,
even slightly,

1311
01:49:21,936 --> 01:49:25,481
'that it becomes a third participant
in Lee's choreography.

1312
01:49:25,606 --> 01:49:29,110
'A good example would be the shaky
point-of-view shot of Ji Han-jae

1313
01:49:29,235 --> 01:49:31,028
'as he kicks Bruce back to the floor,

1314
01:49:31,779 --> 01:49:33,697
'an impressionistic design choice

1315
01:49:33,823 --> 01:49:37,243
'showing what it would be like to be
on the receiving end of such a blow.

1316
01:49:37,952 --> 01:49:41,664
'And it's no accident that we are
seeing this through the hero's eyes.

1317
01:49:42,373 --> 01:49:45,334
'For this reason, we, as an audience,

1318
01:49:45,459 --> 01:49:48,587
'are both Bruce Lee's observer
and his advocate.

1319
01:49:49,839 --> 01:49:54,260
'Further evidence of this would be
when Lee circles around his opponent.

1320
01:49:54,385 --> 01:49:57,471
'He extends out one arm
to keep his distance,

1321
01:49:57,596 --> 01:50:00,808
'all the while searching for a way in
for his next strike.

1322
01:50:01,600 --> 01:50:04,520
'Here, the camera moves
in tandem with Lee,

1323
01:50:04,645 --> 01:50:08,399
'capturing not only his movement,
but also his screen energy,

1324
01:50:09,233 --> 01:50:13,070
'and we, as an audience,
are pulled in by this energy,

1325
01:50:13,195 --> 01:50:16,699
'which ultimately helps us identity
with Lee's character.

1326
01:50:18,117 --> 01:50:20,202
'With these creative choices highlighted,

1327
01:50:20,327 --> 01:50:23,247
'it becomes apparent that
the camerawork has two functions.

1328
01:50:23,998 --> 01:50:26,584
'It is objective in capturing
the authenticity

1329
01:50:26,709 --> 01:50:28,752
'of highly skilled bodies in motion,

1330
01:50:29,420 --> 01:50:33,174
'but it's also subjective
in capturing the unfolding story

1331
01:50:33,299 --> 01:50:36,177
'and the emotional content of our hero.

1332
01:50:37,344 --> 01:50:39,180
'At this point in the narrative,

1333
01:50:39,305 --> 01:50:42,725
'we've become well acquainted
with James Tien's scheming ways.

1334
01:50:43,350 --> 01:50:45,519
'But this isn't an exercise in repetition.

1335
01:50:46,729 --> 01:50:49,440
'Tien's underhand method
to reach the top level

1336
01:50:49,565 --> 01:50:53,944
'becomes a recurring character trait
that we, as an audience, take notice of.

1337
01:50:55,112 --> 01:50:57,364
'This links directly
with two narrative plants

1338
01:50:57,489 --> 01:51:00,242
'that also occur
in this fourth-level bout.

1339
01:51:00,367 --> 01:51:02,203
'We see a break in between the action

1340
01:51:02,328 --> 01:51:04,371
'where James Tien
convinces Chieh Yuan

1341
01:51:04,496 --> 01:51:06,498
'to clear his way to the top level.

1342
01:51:07,082 --> 01:51:10,461
'In the dialogue in Lee's script notes,
Tien says:

1343
01:51:10,586 --> 01:51:12,046
"'You are my brother.

1344
01:51:12,171 --> 01:51:14,965
"'I will let you do
this first deed of merit.

1345
01:51:15,090 --> 01:51:17,968
"'You go ahead. I wish you success."

1346
01:51:47,373 --> 01:51:50,501
'Lee fails to stop Chieh
from ascending the stairway,

1347
01:51:50,626 --> 01:51:52,795
'and as Ji Han-jae runs forward,

1348
01:51:52,920 --> 01:51:55,464
'presumably in his own attempt
to stop Chieh,

1349
01:51:55,589 --> 01:51:59,385
'Hai Tien unleashes a multitude
of snapping side kicks towards him.

1350
01:52:34,461 --> 01:52:36,880
'The violence is interrupted once again,

1351
01:52:37,006 --> 01:52:39,550
'when Chieh is thrown back down
to the fourth level

1352
01:52:39,675 --> 01:52:41,218
'by an unknown assailant.

1353
01:52:41,927 --> 01:52:44,513
'It is here the audience
will gasp and question

1354
01:52:44,638 --> 01:52:48,017
'what powerful individual could be
guarding the fifth and final level.

1355
01:52:48,976 --> 01:52:52,104
'We obviously know that the assailant
is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,

1356
01:52:52,688 --> 01:52:54,773
'but in this unfolding story,

1357
01:52:54,898 --> 01:52:58,819
'this moment of dark humour interrupts
the danger happening onscreen

1358
01:52:58,944 --> 01:53:01,322
'by foreshadowing
a larger danger ahead.

1359
01:53:02,406 --> 01:53:03,907
'Some fans have speculated

1360
01:53:04,033 --> 01:53:07,077
'that Chieh Yuan did not in fact
perform the jump,

1361
01:53:07,202 --> 01:53:10,748
'in spite of his considerable
experience as a stuntman,

1362
01:53:10,873 --> 01:53:13,167
'largely due to on-set photographs

1363
01:53:13,292 --> 01:53:16,712
'showing Hwang In-shik dressed
in Chieh's character's clothing.

1364
01:53:17,546 --> 01:53:22,301
'In fact, we can clearly see Chieh's face
in the flashes between takes,

1365
01:53:22,426 --> 01:53:25,346
'proving he did indeed
make the fall himself.

1366
01:53:26,722 --> 01:53:31,435
'However, he is doubled by Hwang In-shik
elsewhere in this scene,

1367
01:53:31,560 --> 01:53:34,063
'and his lifeless corpse, seen later on,

1368
01:53:34,188 --> 01:53:39,026
'is in fact doubled by Bruce's long-time
friend and housekeeper, Wu Ngan.

1369
01:53:43,864 --> 01:53:47,159
'Regardless of Chieh's fate
and the ease with which his dead body

1370
01:53:47,284 --> 01:53:49,661
'has been thrown back down
to the floor below,

1371
01:53:50,412 --> 01:53:54,958
'James Tien's ruthless ambition to reach
the top floor has not dimmed one iota.

1372
01:53:56,835 --> 01:53:58,754
'And as we already know,

1373
01:53:58,879 --> 01:54:01,632
'that ambition will soon prove
to be his downfall.

1374
01:54:03,008 --> 01:54:07,513
'In the following sequence, we see Tien
trying to sneak over to the stairway.

1375
01:54:07,638 --> 01:54:11,392
'However, he is quickly stopped
and knocked down by Ji.

1376
01:54:36,708 --> 01:54:40,796
'What follows this is another
silent, humorous exchange,

1377
01:54:40,921 --> 01:54:45,259
'as Lee gestures Tien to stand aside,
almost like a parent figure

1378
01:54:45,384 --> 01:54:48,178
'ordering a mischievous child
to stand in the corner.

1379
01:54:54,810 --> 01:54:58,605
'Bruce Lee had many misgivings
about Hong Kong's filmmaking practices,

1380
01:54:59,356 --> 01:55:02,901
'in particular the overabundance
of classical shapes

1381
01:55:03,026 --> 01:55:04,736
'and the dance-like choreography

1382
01:55:04,862 --> 01:55:07,948
'in the contemporary crop
of martial arts pictures.

1383
01:55:08,073 --> 01:55:11,660
'The visual rhythm was
overly rehearsed and tiresome,

1384
01:55:11,785 --> 01:55:14,329
'the same old tune
played over and over.

1385
01:55:14,997 --> 01:55:18,375
'His own brand of choreography
was a direct reaction to this.

1386
01:55:18,500 --> 01:55:21,128
'Based on the ethos
of his Jeet Kune Do,

1387
01:55:21,253 --> 01:55:25,632
'Lee wanted to present
the spontaneity of real-life combat,

1388
01:55:25,757 --> 01:55:28,510
'the practicality
and improvisation involved

1389
01:55:28,635 --> 01:55:30,345
'when using the body as a weapon,

1390
01:55:30,471 --> 01:55:34,224
'and the emotional volcano that erupts
whenever that weapon is swung.

1391
01:55:35,100 --> 01:55:39,146
'He strived for a visual rhythm
that didn't follow a set pattern,

1392
01:55:39,271 --> 01:55:43,650
'rather something that constantly
breaks and resets that pattern.

1393
01:55:44,443 --> 01:55:45,694
'We have seen this already

1394
01:55:45,819 --> 01:55:49,239
'when after reacting
to Chieh Yuan's fall from the top floor,

1395
01:55:49,364 --> 01:55:51,617
'Lee attempts to strike Ji Han-jae,

1396
01:55:51,742 --> 01:55:55,120
'but the current of Ji's hapkido throws
proves too overwhelming.

1397
01:55:55,913 --> 01:55:57,498
'After a brief respite,

1398
01:55:57,623 --> 01:56:00,876
'Lee manages to adapt
and overcome Ji's throws,

1399
01:56:01,001 --> 01:56:04,713
'riding his opponent's current
before landing two clean strikes,

1400
01:56:04,838 --> 01:56:07,424
'one in the rib
and the other in the groin,

1401
01:56:07,549 --> 01:56:09,635
'just like the willow tree
riding with the wind

1402
01:56:09,760 --> 01:56:12,054
'in the film's planned opening.

1403
01:56:13,514 --> 01:56:17,935
'As mentioned, Lee disliked the dance-like
martial spectacles of the time.

1404
01:56:18,060 --> 01:56:22,147
'But that doesn't mean his own kung fu
spectacles weren't musically inclined.

1405
01:56:22,272 --> 01:56:26,193
'Any type of choreography is still
a composition of moments,

1406
01:56:26,318 --> 01:56:30,447
'a through line where one's emotional
content is being expressed.

1407
01:56:31,281 --> 01:56:34,785
'It's a whimsical,
even overly romantic cliche

1408
01:56:34,910 --> 01:56:37,496
'that martial arts are
often compared to music.

1409
01:56:38,163 --> 01:56:40,040
'But just like music,

1410
01:56:40,165 --> 01:56:44,419
'martial arts screen fighting employs
a rhythm and song-like structure

1411
01:56:44,545 --> 01:56:46,296
'to captivate its audience.

1412
01:56:47,047 --> 01:56:50,926
'In these rushes, we get a real sense
of Lee's distinctive rhythm

1413
01:56:51,051 --> 01:56:54,012
'and its role in advancing
the characters and story.

1414
01:56:54,972 --> 01:56:56,932
'The actual movements themselves

1415
01:56:57,057 --> 01:57:01,061
'are indeed an impressive collage
of Lee's cinematic violence.

1416
01:57:02,229 --> 01:57:06,525
'However, these are just the high
and powerful notes of a chorus,

1417
01:57:06,650 --> 01:57:08,902
'and a chorus is never continuous.

1418
01:57:09,611 --> 01:57:13,740
'There needs to be build-up,
quiet melodies in between the violence

1419
01:57:13,865 --> 01:57:16,994
'that allow the emotional content
to unfold,

1420
01:57:17,703 --> 01:57:19,454
'or, in musical terms,

1421
01:57:19,580 --> 01:57:22,916
'the verse that unfolds
a song's story and theme.

1422
01:57:23,584 --> 01:57:27,421
'It is in these quiet moments
we latch to Lee's point of view,

1423
01:57:27,546 --> 01:57:30,048
'his emotional disposition
in the stillness,

1424
01:57:30,173 --> 01:57:32,968
'as he re-evaluates
the circumstances around him.

1425
01:57:33,719 --> 01:57:35,304
'These will be the vital springboards

1426
01:57:35,429 --> 01:57:37,681
'to the next barrage
of punches and kicks.

1427
01:57:47,608 --> 01:57:48,734
'In many ways,

1428
01:57:48,859 --> 01:57:52,446
'these have more to do with Lee's
acting ability than his martial ability,

1429
01:57:53,238 --> 01:57:56,366
'and it's largely the reason
why his would-be imitators

1430
01:57:56,491 --> 01:57:59,161
'fail to recapture his uniqueness.

1431
01:59:16,071 --> 01:59:18,824
'As we return to the advancing stage
of the bout,

1432
01:59:18,949 --> 01:59:22,160
'we see James Tien's second attempt
to reach the top level.

1433
01:59:23,203 --> 01:59:25,247
'This time, he succeeds.

1434
01:59:26,081 --> 01:59:28,917
'However, as we are already privy to,

1435
01:59:29,501 --> 01:59:32,546
'the Guardian of the Unknown
proves far too formidable.

1436
01:59:34,339 --> 01:59:37,634
'Tien's actions in the fourth level
provide story context

1437
01:59:37,759 --> 01:59:40,178
'to the fifth-level material already shot.

1438
01:59:40,887 --> 01:59:43,932
'So when he finally faces
the Guardian of the Unknown,

1439
01:59:44,057 --> 01:59:46,059
'it is actually a character payoff,

1440
01:59:46,685 --> 01:59:49,688
'that being the comeuppance
for his scheming ways.

1441
01:59:51,523 --> 01:59:55,152
'The events as noted will directly impact
the actions in the fourth level,

1442
01:59:55,277 --> 01:59:58,655
'as we get another break in between
the Lee versus Ji bout.

1443
01:59:59,531 --> 02:00:01,783
'Dust falls on Hai Tien's head,

1444
02:00:01,908 --> 02:00:05,287
'and in a point-of-view shot,
we see the ceiling shake.

1445
02:00:06,163 --> 02:00:09,958
'Again, a narrative plant
is signposted for the audience.

1446
02:00:10,083 --> 02:00:13,545
'This time, the falling dust
is a visual foreshadowing

1447
02:00:13,670 --> 02:00:17,674
'of the enormous ability and power
the fifth-level Guardian has.

1448
02:00:19,134 --> 02:00:22,387
'The amount of narrative
and philosophical cogs at work here

1449
02:00:22,512 --> 02:00:25,640
'makes Bruce Lee's choreography
all the more impressive,

1450
02:00:26,224 --> 02:00:29,644
'and a strong indication
that he was thinking far beyond

1451
02:00:29,770 --> 02:00:32,147
'wanting to flex fancy shapes.

1452
02:00:32,272 --> 02:00:35,025
'Punches and kicks weren't
just random movements to Lee.

1453
02:00:35,650 --> 02:00:40,030
'They were choices of how to display
his fighting philosophy effectively.

1454
02:00:40,739 --> 02:00:44,785
'Likewise, there was no dead space
in between the violence,

1455
02:00:44,910 --> 02:00:47,662
'as they would provide
the characters' emotional content

1456
02:00:47,788 --> 02:00:50,165
'in forward momentum to the story.

1457
02:00:51,374 --> 02:00:54,419
'This is arguably the key component
in Lee's philosophy,

1458
02:00:54,961 --> 02:00:58,006
'as it allows the audience
to emotionally connect

1459
02:00:58,131 --> 02:01:00,550
'with these spectacular fighting bodies.

1460
02:01:01,384 --> 02:01:04,888
'In an interview with Pierre Burton,
Lee commented:

1461
02:01:05,013 --> 02:01:08,350
"'It is easy for me to put on a show
and be cocky.

1462
02:01:08,475 --> 02:01:10,852
"'I can show you
some really fancy movements.

1463
02:01:11,812 --> 02:01:15,524
"'But to express oneself honestly
is very hard to do."

1464
02:01:17,108 --> 02:01:20,195
'Applying this quote too literally
would be missing the point,

1465
02:01:20,320 --> 02:01:24,533
'especially on such an exaggerated
premise as "The Game of Death" 's.

1466
02:01:24,658 --> 02:01:27,661
'But the honest expression
doesn't come from the premise,

1467
02:01:27,786 --> 02:01:29,996
'nor the character Lee's playing.

1468
02:01:30,664 --> 02:01:32,833
'After all, it's all make-believe.

1469
02:01:33,667 --> 02:01:35,836
'But make-believe is not his voice,

1470
02:01:35,961 --> 02:01:38,630
'but a vessel for his voice
to reach his audience.

1471
02:01:39,214 --> 02:01:42,384
'As such, to honestly express oneself

1472
02:01:42,509 --> 02:01:46,638
'is to resonate with some form
of truthful human connection.

1473
02:01:46,763 --> 02:01:49,099
'Even within the exaggerated backdrop,

1474
02:01:49,224 --> 02:01:51,893
'we see Lee as always trying
to find these moments

1475
02:01:52,018 --> 02:01:55,021
'to truly connect with us, the audience.

1476
02:01:56,064 --> 02:01:58,400
'And if an emotion stirs within us,

1477
02:01:58,525 --> 02:02:04,030
'then, in that sense, his expression
is most certainly truthful and honest.

1478
02:02:19,504 --> 02:02:22,507
'As we see Hai Tien reacting
to the sound of James Tien

1479
02:02:22,632 --> 02:02:25,051
'screaming for help
from the floor above,

1480
02:02:25,176 --> 02:02:28,388
'the final stage of his bout
with Ji Han-jae commences.

1481
02:02:29,598 --> 02:02:31,683
'Both men trade a series of kicks,

1482
02:02:31,808 --> 02:02:35,645
'before Lee's attempt to subdue Ji
results in getting kicked in the face.

1483
02:02:37,063 --> 02:02:39,983
'As both men lie on the floor, exhausted,

1484
02:02:40,108 --> 02:02:43,069
'Hai Tien backs off
and considers his next move.

1485
02:02:59,127 --> 02:03:02,631
'Over the years, rumours have swirled
that Bruce Lee was unhappy

1486
02:03:02,756 --> 02:03:04,716
'with the Hall of the Dragon footage,

1487
02:03:04,841 --> 02:03:07,886
'whether it was dissatisfaction
with his own choreography

1488
02:03:08,011 --> 02:03:10,263
'or Ji Han-jae's performance.

1489
02:03:10,388 --> 02:03:13,892
'Nothing, however, that can be
corroborated through interviews,

1490
02:03:14,017 --> 02:03:17,520
'Lee's notes or anything we see
in the footage itself.

1491
02:03:18,271 --> 02:03:22,651
'Indeed, we frequently see Lee smiling
and in a positive mood

1492
02:03:22,776 --> 02:03:24,486
'in the flashes between takes

1493
02:03:24,611 --> 02:03:28,031
'as well as the photographs
taken on set by Chan Yuk.

1494
02:03:30,575 --> 02:03:33,370
'It's not out of the question
that the Hall of the Dragon shoot

1495
02:03:33,495 --> 02:03:36,831
'may have been more challenging
than the filming of the other two levels,

1496
02:03:36,957 --> 02:03:41,628
'if only because in comparison
to Dan Inosanto and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,

1497
02:03:41,753 --> 02:03:44,673
'close friends with whom
Bruce had trained for years,

1498
02:03:44,798 --> 02:03:48,677
'Ji was a relative stranger
who spoke little to no English,

1499
02:03:48,802 --> 02:03:51,179
'making the process
of getting a performance from him

1500
02:03:51,304 --> 02:03:53,306
'more difficult by comparison.

1501
02:03:54,516 --> 02:03:58,478
'Furthermore, while Ji's hapkido skills
are beyond reproach,

1502
02:03:58,603 --> 02:04:02,315
'and he is obviously capable
of matching Bruce blow for blow,

1503
02:04:02,440 --> 02:04:05,193
'there's inarguably something
lacking in the Hall of the Dragon

1504
02:04:05,318 --> 02:04:07,278
'compared to the other two levels,

1505
02:04:07,404 --> 02:04:10,407
'a real sense of menace
or palpable threat.

1506
02:04:11,950 --> 02:04:14,452
'Regardless,
despite persistent rumours

1507
02:04:14,577 --> 02:04:17,580
'that Bruce wanted to reshoot
the scene entirely,

1508
02:04:17,706 --> 02:04:21,584
'some say with another actor playing
the role of the fourth-floor Guardian,

1509
02:04:21,710 --> 02:04:25,463
'the fact remains that there is
no evidence to corroborate this.

1510
02:04:25,588 --> 02:04:29,259
'And in any event,
what we see now is all there is,

1511
02:04:29,384 --> 02:04:31,469
'and all there will ever be.

1512
02:04:38,351 --> 02:04:40,186
'As the scene nears its end,

1513
02:04:40,311 --> 02:04:43,648
'both men are covered with sweat
and running on fumes.

1514
02:04:44,357 --> 02:04:47,777
'But, of course,
Bruce emerges triumphant,

1515
02:04:47,902 --> 02:04:51,781
'as he hoists Ji up and brings him
crashing down on his knee,

1516
02:04:51,906 --> 02:04:53,742
'breaking his back.

1517
02:04:54,659 --> 02:04:58,288
'Unlike the third-floor Guardian,
Hai Tien leaves Ji alive

1518
02:04:58,413 --> 02:05:00,457
'but crippled beyond repair.

1519
02:05:02,834 --> 02:05:07,130
'He stumbles to the stairway
and barely has time to catch his breath,

1520
02:05:07,255 --> 02:05:10,175
'before he reacts
to a sound from upstairs,

1521
02:05:10,300 --> 02:05:12,135
'most likely James Tien's character

1522
02:05:12,260 --> 02:05:15,555
'being pummelled by whoever
is waiting for Hai Tien above.

1523
02:05:16,306 --> 02:05:19,559
'The third day of filming ends
as Bruce Lee ascends,

1524
02:05:19,684 --> 02:05:23,021
'his epic battle with
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar awaiting him.

1525
02:05:59,808 --> 02:06:02,393
'But the Hall of the Dragon shoot
isn't over yet,

1526
02:06:02,519 --> 02:06:05,438
'with one more day
of pickup filming left to go,

1527
02:06:05,563 --> 02:06:08,024
'filling the gaps left three days earlier.

1528
02:06:09,609 --> 02:06:13,947
'The headstrong Chieh Yuan launches
himself into battle against Ji Han-jae,

1529
02:06:14,072 --> 02:06:16,699
'and is quickly and thoroughly beaten.

1530
02:07:09,043 --> 02:07:11,004
'And it is in the wide shots of Ji

1531
02:07:11,129 --> 02:07:13,506
'repeatedly flipping Chieh
over on his back,

1532
02:07:13,631 --> 02:07:16,384
'where Chieh's face is pointedly
kept out of view,

1533
02:07:16,509 --> 02:07:19,429
'where Yuan is being doubled
by Hwang In-shik,

1534
02:07:19,554 --> 02:07:22,056
'who is well practised
at demonstrating flips

1535
02:07:22,182 --> 02:07:24,767
'alongside his hapkido grandmaster.

1536
02:07:24,893 --> 02:07:26,227
'One could even theorise

1537
02:07:26,352 --> 02:07:29,439
'that perhaps the reason
this part of the scene was left until last

1538
02:07:29,564 --> 02:07:33,067
'was simply Hwang's availability,
or lack thereof.

1539
02:09:29,267 --> 02:09:31,686
'Bruce and James Tien
watch at the sidelines,

1540
02:09:31,811 --> 02:09:34,605
'as Tien once again
encourages Chieh to continue.

1541
02:09:36,149 --> 02:09:38,192
'These quiet moments crop up frequently,

1542
02:09:38,318 --> 02:09:41,404
'showing the ebb and flow
of this physical interaction.

1543
02:09:59,088 --> 02:10:03,217
'One other quality these moments reveal
is Lee's keen sense of humour.

1544
02:10:04,344 --> 02:10:06,304
'Lee had worked with comedy before,

1545
02:10:06,429 --> 02:10:08,306
'most notably in
"The Way of the Dragon".

1546
02:10:08,848 --> 02:10:12,977
'In "The Game of Death", we see
his use of humour grow in sophistication,

1547
02:10:13,102 --> 02:10:15,855
'as the humour injects
the action with personality,

1548
02:10:15,980 --> 02:10:18,941
'while never losing sight
of advancing the narrative.

1549
02:10:19,067 --> 02:10:23,029
'The interplay between Lee and James Tien
perfectly demonstrates this.

1550
02:10:23,154 --> 02:10:25,531
'In one shot, we see the two debate

1551
02:10:25,656 --> 02:10:28,409
'about who should next battle
the fourth-floor Guardian.

1552
02:10:29,118 --> 02:10:30,995
'It's a wordless exchange,

1553
02:10:31,120 --> 02:10:34,290
'communicated only
through movements and gestures,

1554
02:10:34,415 --> 02:10:37,710
'each one carefully timed
to hit its intended mark.

1555
02:10:38,711 --> 02:10:41,464
'If "The Game of Death"
was completed as intended,

1556
02:10:41,589 --> 02:10:43,925
'this moment would most likely act
as a payoff

1557
02:10:44,050 --> 02:10:47,095
'to the character interplay
between Lee and Tien,

1558
02:10:47,220 --> 02:10:51,641
'that being our hero finally
one-upping Tien's duplicitous schemer.

1559
02:11:59,333 --> 02:12:02,170
'As well as being the last day
of filming "The Game of Death"

1560
02:12:02,295 --> 02:12:04,005
'at Golden Harvest Studios,

1561
02:12:04,130 --> 02:12:06,966
'October 25th is also
the last day of filming

1562
02:12:07,091 --> 02:12:09,510
'for James Tien and Chieh Yuan.

1563
02:12:10,261 --> 02:12:13,973
'Though Chieh appears in several
more films over the next five years,

1564
02:12:14,098 --> 02:12:18,936
'including 1976's box office
record breaker "The Private Eyes",

1565
02:12:19,061 --> 02:12:22,482
'he arguably never quite gets
an opportunity to shine

1566
02:12:22,607 --> 02:12:24,609
'like he did in "The Game of Death".

1567
02:12:26,486 --> 02:12:31,073
'Similarly, James Tien's career as a star
never quite regained the momentum

1568
02:12:31,199 --> 02:12:33,493
'of his earliest days at Golden Harvest,

1569
02:12:33,618 --> 02:12:35,203
'and as a character actor,

1570
02:12:35,328 --> 02:12:37,747
'he became a mainstay
of Hong Kong action cinema

1571
02:12:37,872 --> 02:12:42,126
'for many more years, playing villains
for directors like John Woo,

1572
02:12:42,251 --> 02:12:44,587
'Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan.

1573
02:12:45,171 --> 02:12:50,134
'He retired from acting in 1997 and
vanished from the public eye entirely,

1574
02:12:50,259 --> 02:12:52,595
'his current whereabouts unknown.

1575
02:13:09,111 --> 02:13:13,157
'And so the filming of the pagoda scenes
on "The Game of Death" concludes.

1576
02:13:14,075 --> 02:13:16,452
'There's still a bit more shooting
left to go outside,

1577
02:13:16,577 --> 02:13:20,831
'but these two additional angles
of Bruce's feint and jump kick against Ji

1578
02:13:20,957 --> 02:13:24,585
'are the last studio sequences
ever shot for the film.

1579
02:13:24,710 --> 02:13:29,298
'The sets are dismantled and
the project is officially put on pause.

1580
02:13:32,885 --> 02:13:36,764
'Ten months later,
Bruce Lee's dream has come true.

1581
02:13:36,889 --> 02:13:40,518
'He is the star of the number one film
in the United States.

1582
02:13:40,643 --> 02:13:44,397
'But he has not lived long enough
to see that dream manifested. '

1583
02:13:59,745 --> 02:14:02,915
(Narrator) 'According to Golden Harvest
producer Andre Morgan,

1584
02:14:03,040 --> 02:14:06,335
'every delay and gap in filming
on "The Game of Death"

1585
02:14:06,460 --> 02:14:07,920
'was welcomed by Bruce

1586
02:14:08,045 --> 02:14:11,340
'as an opportunity to solve the puzzle
that most eluded him:

1587
02:14:11,924 --> 02:14:15,052
'what exactly would be the treasure
on the top floor of the pagoda,

1588
02:14:15,636 --> 02:14:18,347
'the MacGuffin that sets
the whole plot in motion?

1589
02:14:18,973 --> 02:14:21,559
'In his scene-by-scene breakdown
of the story,

1590
02:14:21,684 --> 02:14:25,187
'Bruce only offers three sentences
for the latter part of the film.

1591
02:14:25,938 --> 02:14:29,191
"'The big fight", referring to the scenes
in the pagoda.

1592
02:14:29,317 --> 02:14:33,738
"'The arrest", possible referring
to the defeat of the Korean crime boss.

1593
02:14:33,863 --> 02:14:36,699
'And "the airport", where one assumes
Hai Tien and his family

1594
02:14:36,824 --> 02:14:39,035
'would return home as the film ends.

1595
02:14:39,702 --> 02:14:42,246
'When it comes to deciding
the treasure on the top floor,

1596
02:14:42,371 --> 02:14:45,916
'Bruce changes his mind
on an almost daily basis.

1597
02:14:46,042 --> 02:14:48,085
'Rumours of how
the ending might play out

1598
02:14:48,210 --> 02:14:50,671
'and what would have awaited
Hai Tien on the top floor

1599
02:14:50,796 --> 02:14:53,007
'have been shared
among fans for years.

1600
02:14:53,132 --> 02:14:56,385
'A floor of bountiful treasures?
Another fighter?

1601
02:14:56,510 --> 02:15:00,097
'The most common theory is that
Bruce may have recycled an idea

1602
02:15:00,222 --> 02:15:02,266
'from his treatment
for "The Silent Flute",

1603
02:15:02,391 --> 02:15:04,602
'with Hai Tien finding a sacred book

1604
02:15:04,727 --> 02:15:07,480
'filled with nothing
but mirrors on each page,

1605
02:15:07,605 --> 02:15:10,316
'perhaps indicating
that knowledge of the self

1606
02:15:10,441 --> 02:15:12,610
'was the treasure
he was seeking all along.

1607
02:15:12,735 --> 02:15:16,614
'How much relevance this may have had
in the overall context of the pagoda heist

1608
02:15:16,739 --> 02:15:18,157
'is a moot point.

1609
02:15:18,282 --> 02:15:19,992
'Beyond some second-hand accounts,

1610
02:15:20,117 --> 02:15:24,163
'there is nothing concrete to verity
Bruce considering this as an option.

1611
02:15:25,706 --> 02:15:30,586
'Instead, all we have to go on
is what was filmed in 1972.

1612
02:15:32,254 --> 02:15:34,423
'Having repeatedly asked
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1613
02:15:34,548 --> 02:15:36,759
'to let him pass up to the top floor,

1614
02:15:36,884 --> 02:15:38,594
'upon defeating him,

1615
02:15:38,719 --> 02:15:41,639
'Bruce does not give the stairway
to the treasure a second look.

1616
02:15:44,058 --> 02:15:49,188
'Instead, he walks to the window
and shouts down below to the locksmith

1617
02:15:49,313 --> 02:15:52,983
'and whoever else is waiting outside,
giving them the all-clear.

1618
02:16:01,617 --> 02:16:04,662
'Rather than take the treasure
down with him, however,

1619
02:16:04,787 --> 02:16:08,916
'Bruce leaves it behind
and starts the long walk downstairs.

1620
02:16:14,588 --> 02:16:16,006
'Two months later,

1621
02:16:16,132 --> 02:16:19,593
'once the rest of the Hall of the Dragon
scene has concluded filming,

1622
02:16:19,719 --> 02:16:23,180
'Bruce films three takes of him
passing through this floor.

1623
02:16:23,305 --> 02:16:26,475
'He briefly stops as he descends,
and reacts to something.

1624
02:16:27,476 --> 02:16:29,895
'Exhaustion at what he has undergone

1625
02:16:30,020 --> 02:16:33,023
'and at knowing how many steps down
are left to go?

1626
02:16:33,149 --> 02:16:35,067
'Or sounds from outside,

1627
02:16:35,192 --> 02:16:38,988
'indicating that another fight awaits him
as he exits the pagoda,

1628
02:16:39,113 --> 02:16:41,490
'perhaps from the criminals
double-crossing him

1629
02:16:41,615 --> 02:16:44,201
'now he has served his purpose?

1630
02:16:44,326 --> 02:16:46,704
'We will never know for sure.

1631
02:16:46,829 --> 02:16:49,874
'Without these missing pieces
to clarity his intent,

1632
02:16:49,999 --> 02:16:52,668
'the conclusion
to "The Game of Death" as filmed

1633
02:16:52,793 --> 02:16:54,837
'becomes something more ambiguous,

1634
02:16:54,962 --> 02:16:59,592
'with Hai Tien on a haunting death march
towards an uncertain fate.

1635
02:16:59,717 --> 02:17:01,761
'Does he sense the game is rigged,

1636
02:17:01,886 --> 02:17:04,346
but doesn't intend to go out
without a fight?

1637
02:17:13,731 --> 02:17:15,941
'Regardless of what
Bruce might have planned,

1638
02:17:16,066 --> 02:17:19,236
'the last scene he films,
in terms of plot chronology,

1639
02:17:19,361 --> 02:17:21,906
'is on the Hall of the Tiger set
in September,

1640
02:17:22,031 --> 02:17:24,950
'likely on the heels of receiving
the "Enter the Dragon" offer

1641
02:17:25,075 --> 02:17:27,328
'from Fred Weintraub.

1642
02:17:27,453 --> 02:17:29,205
'Does he already know
that "The Game of Death"

1643
02:17:29,330 --> 02:17:33,250
'is going to go on the backburner,
perhaps never to be revived?

1644
02:17:33,375 --> 02:17:35,544
'We don't know.

1645
02:17:39,131 --> 02:17:42,676
'Instead, what we have is this.

1646
02:17:54,104 --> 02:17:57,900
'Hai Tien walks to the window,
punches out the panels,

1647
02:17:58,025 --> 02:18:01,278
'and shouts something unknown
to the people outside.

1648
02:18:02,196 --> 02:18:04,156
'Perhaps a cry for help.

1649
02:18:04,281 --> 02:18:06,283
'Perhaps someone's name.

1650
02:18:07,243 --> 02:18:09,245
'His expression changes.

1651
02:18:13,207 --> 02:18:14,917
'He descends.

1652
02:18:17,837 --> 02:18:19,588
'He is gone.

1653
02:18:20,422 --> 02:18:22,049
'The end.'

1654
02:18:36,438 --> 02:18:39,525
(Narrator) 'Over two separate days
three weeks apart,

1655
02:18:40,276 --> 02:18:44,113
'Bruce leads a small crew
to the hills of the New Territories,

1656
02:18:44,238 --> 02:18:48,033
'the countryside on the border
of Hong Kong's bustling metropolis.

1657
02:18:48,576 --> 02:18:52,413
'There they will film some of the most
hotly debated footage in the film

1658
02:18:52,538 --> 02:18:56,125
'in which three of the pagoda's
Guardians, Dan Inosanto,

1659
02:18:56,834 --> 02:18:57,960
'Ji Han-jae,

1660
02:18:58,961 --> 02:19:03,090
'and Hwang In-shik, Bruce's top choice
to play the first-floor Guardian

1661
02:19:03,215 --> 02:19:05,634
'are shown fighting
a handful of subordinates

1662
02:19:05,759 --> 02:19:07,761
'dressed in white karate outfits.

1663
02:19:08,220 --> 02:19:10,180
'Is it training footage meant to establish

1664
02:19:10,306 --> 02:19:12,641
'some of the key villains
at the start of the film?

1665
02:19:13,225 --> 02:19:16,896
'Or just a camera test never intended
to make it to the final film?

1666
02:19:17,730 --> 02:19:20,858
'Bruce left no indication
in his notes or script pages,

1667
02:19:20,983 --> 02:19:23,527
'which means we will never
really know for sure.

1668
02:19:34,622 --> 02:19:35,998
'On the 4th of October,

1669
02:19:37,499 --> 02:19:40,085
'days after filming his scenes
in the Hall of the Tiger,

1670
02:19:40,544 --> 02:19:42,254
'Dan Inosanto returns,

1671
02:19:43,339 --> 02:19:47,635
'once again demonstrating his
eskrima prowess opposite Wu Ngan,

1672
02:19:47,760 --> 02:19:50,429
'Bruce's childhood friend
and present-day butler,

1673
02:19:50,554 --> 02:19:52,181
'playing one of the <i>karateka.</i>

1674
02:19:55,184 --> 02:19:58,270
'The pair have already
extensively rehearsed the sequence

1675
02:19:58,395 --> 02:20:01,273
'in the backyard of Bruce's home
on Cumberland Road,

1676
02:20:01,398 --> 02:20:04,777
'but shoot numerous takes
filmed at various speeds.

1677
02:24:11,732 --> 02:24:14,109
'Though Inosanto is one of a few actors

1678
02:24:14,234 --> 02:24:16,528
'to film all of his scenes
for "The Game of Death"

1679
02:24:17,029 --> 02:24:21,366
'and the only one to reprise his role
when called to do so five years later,

1680
02:24:21,491 --> 02:24:24,369
'he did not pursue a career
in film acting full-time.

1681
02:24:25,162 --> 02:24:27,289
'Today, aged 87,

1682
02:24:27,748 --> 02:24:30,709
'he continues to teach
Jeet Kune Do, eskrima

1683
02:24:30,834 --> 02:24:32,878
'and many other fighting techniques

1684
02:24:33,003 --> 02:24:37,716
'at the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts
in Marina del Rey, California.

1685
02:24:50,229 --> 02:24:52,189
'On the 26th of October,

1686
02:24:52,314 --> 02:24:55,234
'the day after filming
on the Hall of the Dragon concludes,

1687
02:24:56,777 --> 02:24:59,905
'Ji Han-jae also films his last scenes
for "The Game of Death"

1688
02:25:00,030 --> 02:25:01,114
'at the New Territories,

1689
02:25:01,990 --> 02:25:04,952
'fighting off fellow hapkido master
Hwang In-shik

1690
02:25:05,077 --> 02:25:07,537
'and a handful of Bruce's
regular stunt team

1691
02:25:07,663 --> 02:25:11,541
'playing more members of the <i>karateka</i>
that guard the outside of the pagoda.

1692
02:25:12,626 --> 02:25:16,922
'The stuntmen are Billy Chan,
Lam Ching-ying and Yuen Wah.

1693
02:26:25,991 --> 02:26:27,909
'After the release of the film "Hapkido",

1694
02:26:28,452 --> 02:26:31,538
'Ji Han-jae only acted
in two more films in Hong Kong

1695
02:26:32,039 --> 02:26:34,833
'before moving to
the United States in 1984

1696
02:26:35,250 --> 02:26:39,296
'where, aged 86,
he lives and teaches to this day.

1697
02:26:53,310 --> 02:26:57,356
'Hwang In-shik, born
in Sunchon, Korea in 1949

1698
02:26:57,856 --> 02:27:00,692
'was a key figure in
the Korea Hapkido Association

1699
02:27:00,817 --> 02:27:04,321
'alongside Ji Han-jae,
and followed him to Hong Kong

1700
02:27:04,446 --> 02:27:06,990
'when the pair were recruited
by Golden Harvest

1701
02:27:07,115 --> 02:27:11,536
'to instruct and star alongside the cast
of Huang Feng's film "Hapkido".

1702
02:27:12,829 --> 02:27:16,291
'It was on the set of that film
earlier in 1972,

1703
02:27:16,416 --> 02:27:19,544
'where Bruce Lee cast him in
a memorable role as a Japanese fighter

1704
02:27:19,669 --> 02:27:20,754
'in "The Way of the Dragon".

1705
02:27:22,005 --> 02:27:24,508
'He was especially noted
for his kicking abilities,

1706
02:27:24,925 --> 02:27:28,345
'which would have been foregrounded
in his role as the first-floor Guardian.

1707
02:27:31,181 --> 02:27:33,308
'Sadly, these few takes

1708
02:27:33,725 --> 02:27:37,646
'opposite stuntmen Wu Ngan,
Billy Chan and Lam Ching-ying

1709
02:27:38,063 --> 02:27:41,691
'are the only footage he ever filmed
for "The Game of Death".

1710
02:27:42,818 --> 02:27:46,613
'His film roles, though limited
in number following Lee's death,

1711
02:27:46,738 --> 02:27:49,199
'helped popularise
Korean fighting methods

1712
02:27:49,324 --> 02:27:50,534
'in martial arts cinema,

1713
02:27:51,159 --> 02:27:55,705
'and at the age of 82, he continues
to train students at his school

1714
02:27:56,164 --> 02:27:57,499
'in Toronto, Canada.

1715
02:28:14,099 --> 02:28:18,270
'Rumours have persisted that Bruce
shot footage of himself fighting here

1716
02:28:18,395 --> 02:28:20,397
'thanks largely to
behind-the-scenes photos

1717
02:28:20,522 --> 02:28:22,441
of him fighting with the <i>karateka,</i>

1718
02:28:22,566 --> 02:28:25,318
'but outside of split-second flashes
between takes,

1719
02:28:25,444 --> 02:28:28,363
'no footage apparently exists
to corroborate this.

1720
02:28:29,364 --> 02:28:34,202
'In any event, the material
filmed on October 26th

1721
02:28:34,619 --> 02:28:37,789
'will end up being the last footage
Bruce will ever film

1722
02:28:38,248 --> 02:28:39,458
'for "The Game of Death".

1723
02:29:04,065 --> 02:29:05,984
(Narrator) 'The rest of 1972

1724
02:29:06,109 --> 02:29:10,363
'is taken up with contract negotiations
and rehearsals for "Enter the Dragon",

1725
02:29:10,489 --> 02:29:15,494
'until, finally, shooting begins
on January 25th, 1973,

1726
02:29:15,619 --> 02:29:17,787
'a week before the Chinese New Year.

1727
02:29:19,748 --> 02:29:23,043
'The production of "Enter the Dragon"
takes a heavy toll on Bruce.

1728
02:29:24,044 --> 02:29:26,671
'He fights with American director
Robert Clouse

1729
02:29:26,796 --> 02:29:30,133
'and executives from Warner Bros.
almost every day,

1730
02:29:30,258 --> 02:29:32,886
'attempting to improve
the action choreography,

1731
02:29:33,011 --> 02:29:36,556
'writing and filming new scenes,
even changing the title.

1732
02:29:37,516 --> 02:29:40,644
'He has gone from being a man
in charge of his own destiny

1733
02:29:40,769 --> 02:29:43,897
'to his fate being back in the hands
of white Hollywood.

1734
02:29:44,022 --> 02:29:48,026
'And while he wins many battles
behind the camera as well as in front,

1735
02:29:48,151 --> 02:29:50,278
'it is not without a cost.

1736
02:29:50,403 --> 02:29:54,699
'Even after the film wraps,
he pushes his body to its utmost limits,

1737
02:29:54,824 --> 02:29:58,912
'and rumours of a heavy,
all-hours lifestyle persist.

1738
02:29:59,037 --> 02:30:01,831
'He takes harder drugs
in greater quantities.

1739
02:30:02,499 --> 02:30:07,170
'His behaviour becomes more volatile,
unpredictable and paranoid.

1740
02:30:08,421 --> 02:30:13,176
'During a dubbing session in May, 1973,
Bruce collapses,

1741
02:30:13,301 --> 02:30:17,722
'losing consciousness until doctors
revive him at Queen Elizabeth Hospital,

1742
02:30:17,847 --> 02:30:21,935
'diagnosing it as a cerebral edema,
a swelling of the brain.

1743
02:30:22,727 --> 02:30:26,356
'In the maelstrom of momentum
ahead of "Enter the Dragon" 's completion,

1744
02:30:26,481 --> 02:30:30,694
'Bruce himself is the first to dismiss it
as an isolated incident.

1745
02:30:30,819 --> 02:30:34,155
'He flies to Los Angeles
and receives a clean bill of health,

1746
02:30:34,281 --> 02:30:37,617
'claiming to have been told
he has the body of an 18-year-old.

1747
02:30:37,742 --> 02:30:40,036
'Instead, he ploughs onwards,

1748
02:30:40,161 --> 02:30:42,622
'completing postproduction
on "Enter the Dragon",

1749
02:30:42,747 --> 02:30:46,543
'and looking back to the project
he abandoned the previous autumn.

1750
02:30:46,668 --> 02:30:48,628
'What Bruce may have done
with "The Game of Death"

1751
02:30:48,753 --> 02:30:51,381
'after "Enter the Dragon"
is debated to this day.

1752
02:30:51,923 --> 02:30:54,718
'Would he have discarded much
of which he had already filmed

1753
02:30:54,843 --> 02:30:57,345
'and retooled the concept
with a new plotline?

1754
02:30:57,929 --> 02:30:59,639
'Would he have dropped it altogether,

1755
02:30:59,764 --> 02:31:02,058
'once "Enter the Dragon" hit big
at the box office?

1756
02:31:02,976 --> 02:31:06,062
'We know that in the months
prior to his death

1757
02:31:06,187 --> 02:31:09,107
'he goes back to work
on developing "The Game of Death",

1758
02:31:09,232 --> 02:31:12,027
'and plans to resume filming
at the end of the summer.

1759
02:31:12,694 --> 02:31:14,738
'He calls Tadashi Nishimoto

1760
02:31:14,863 --> 02:31:17,824
'and tells him that they will soon
be filming the exterior scenes

1761
02:31:17,949 --> 02:31:20,702
'at Songnisan National Park
in South Korea,

1762
02:31:20,827 --> 02:31:23,371
'where the five-storey
Palsangjeon Temple

1763
02:31:23,496 --> 02:31:25,457
'will double for the outside
of the pagoda.

1764
02:31:26,207 --> 02:31:29,002
'While filming "Enter the Dragon",
Bruce films a camera test

1765
02:31:29,127 --> 02:31:32,464
'with his former Wing Chun mentor,
Wong Shun-leung,

1766
02:31:32,589 --> 02:31:35,759
'sparring with Wu Ngan,
body double Joey Chen

1767
02:31:35,884 --> 02:31:37,802
'and stuntman Peter Chan.

1768
02:31:38,345 --> 02:31:41,473
'He's auditioning Wong for the role
of the second-floor Guardian.

1769
02:32:56,423 --> 02:32:59,050
'Bruce has already offered the role
of the second-floor Guardian

1770
02:32:59,175 --> 02:33:03,388
'to a close friend and former student
of his from Seattle, Taky Kimura,

1771
02:33:03,513 --> 02:33:06,349
'who had been forced to cancel
the previous October.

1772
02:33:06,474 --> 02:33:08,810
'Eventually, Kimura relents,

1773
02:33:08,935 --> 02:33:11,312
'and Bruce even buys him
another plane ticket

1774
02:33:11,438 --> 02:33:13,690
'and tells him to get
to Hong Kong for filming,

1775
02:33:13,815 --> 02:33:15,525
'but fate will soon intervene.

1776
02:33:16,276 --> 02:33:18,319
'On the morning of July 20th,

1777
02:33:18,445 --> 02:33:21,364
'he meets former James Bond star
George Lazenby

1778
02:33:21,489 --> 02:33:23,533
'and promises him a part in the film,

1779
02:33:23,658 --> 02:33:26,953
'allegedly as one of the initial partners
to raid the pagoda.

1780
02:33:27,787 --> 02:33:31,332
'Less than 12 hours later,
Bruce is gone.

1781
02:33:33,084 --> 02:33:35,670
'The events of that day
are still a matter of debate,

1782
02:33:36,296 --> 02:33:38,673
'but the commonly held version is this.

1783
02:33:38,798 --> 02:33:41,468
'That evening,
Bruce and Raymond Chow

1784
02:33:41,593 --> 02:33:43,762
'visit the apartment of Betty Ting Pei,

1785
02:33:43,887 --> 02:33:47,140
'an actress with whom Bruce has been
romantically linked in the press,

1786
02:33:47,265 --> 02:33:50,602
'ostensibly to discuss offering her
a role in "The Game of Death".

1787
02:33:51,269 --> 02:33:53,688
'Bruce has complained all day
of a migraine,

1788
02:33:53,813 --> 02:33:57,192
'and Betty offers him a painkiller
so he can take a nap.

1789
02:33:57,317 --> 02:34:00,236
'Raymond Chow goes ahead
to the restaurant to meet Lazenby,

1790
02:34:00,361 --> 02:34:04,115
'but when he gets there, he receives
a panicked phone call from Betty.

1791
02:34:04,699 --> 02:34:06,284
'Bruce will not wake up.

1792
02:34:06,409 --> 02:34:09,746
'And by the time
the paramedics arrive, he is dead.

1793
02:34:11,498 --> 02:34:14,250
'The coroner diagnoses
the official cause of death

1794
02:34:14,375 --> 02:34:17,712
'as a cerebral edema,
like the one he had in May,

1795
02:34:17,837 --> 02:34:21,508
'the likely cause of which is determined
to be an allergic reaction

1796
02:34:21,633 --> 02:34:23,635
'to the Equagesic painkiller.

1797
02:34:23,760 --> 02:34:27,555
'But such a prosaic explanation
will not suffice for many people.

1798
02:34:28,348 --> 02:34:30,141
'Fuelled by a tabloid press

1799
02:34:30,266 --> 02:34:33,561
'hungry to spill ink
regardless of the collateral damage,

1800
02:34:33,686 --> 02:34:36,356
'increasingly outlandish
conspiracy theories

1801
02:34:36,481 --> 02:34:38,399
'begin to spread like wildfire,

1802
02:34:38,525 --> 02:34:40,819
'implicating everyone from the Triads

1803
02:34:40,944 --> 02:34:44,113
'to ancient curses
and even Raymond Chow

1804
02:34:44,239 --> 02:34:46,241
'as culpable in Bruce's death.

1805
02:34:46,366 --> 02:34:48,785
'Some even refuse to believe
Bruce has died at all,

1806
02:34:48,910 --> 02:34:50,703
'and suggest he has faked his death,

1807
02:34:50,829 --> 02:34:53,873
'perhaps as a publicity stunt
for "Enter the Dragon".

1808
02:34:53,998 --> 02:34:57,544
'Perhaps the main drive behind
these theories was simply denial,

1809
02:34:57,669 --> 02:35:00,463
'a widespread inability
to accept the loss of a man

1810
02:35:00,588 --> 02:35:03,132
'who had recently been
immortalised in freezeframe

1811
02:35:03,258 --> 02:35:06,678
'as he leapt towards a firing squad
at the end of "Fist of Fury".

1812
02:35:07,345 --> 02:35:09,597
'How could someone
so iconic and beloved

1813
02:35:09,722 --> 02:35:11,307
'who would come
to be revered by many

1814
02:35:11,432 --> 02:35:14,227
'as the greatest warrior
the silver screen had ever seen

1815
02:35:14,352 --> 02:35:16,437
'be felled by something so intangible,

1816
02:35:16,563 --> 02:35:20,483
'so unexpected
and perhaps even self-inflicted?

1817
02:35:21,359 --> 02:35:24,612
'Regardless,
two certain truths remained:

1818
02:35:24,737 --> 02:35:26,573
'Bruce Lee was gone forever,

1819
02:35:26,698 --> 02:35:29,409
'and if production on "The Game of Death"
were ever to continue,

1820
02:35:29,951 --> 02:35:31,995
'it would be without him.

1821
02:35:34,581 --> 02:35:39,335
'His open-casket funeral, held in
Hong Kong only five days after his death,

1822
02:35:39,460 --> 02:35:41,504
'is a media circus.

1823
02:35:41,629 --> 02:35:44,507
'Cameras film every mourner
from every possible angle,

1824
02:35:44,632 --> 02:35:47,260
'and footage of his dead body
lying in state

1825
02:35:47,385 --> 02:35:51,014
'is rushed onto cinema and television
screens across the country.

1826
02:35:54,601 --> 02:35:56,603
'In the wake of every public tragedy

1827
02:35:56,728 --> 02:36:00,398
'is a long line of opportunists
out to make a quick buck out of it,

1828
02:36:00,523 --> 02:36:04,819
'and before Bruce Lee's body is even
in the ground, the vultures sweep in.

1829
02:36:06,696 --> 02:36:10,408
'Right away, eager to satiate
an audience hungry for more films

1830
02:36:10,533 --> 02:36:12,702
'by a man no longer alive to make them,

1831
02:36:12,827 --> 02:36:15,663
'the film industry spawns
a whole new subgenre,

1832
02:36:15,788 --> 02:36:20,543
'one that has come to be known
in later years as "Brucesploitation",

1833
02:36:20,668 --> 02:36:24,672
'a unique phenomenon only possible
in a country like Hong Kong

1834
02:36:24,797 --> 02:36:29,052
'where trademark laws and likeness rights
have never even been heard of.

1835
02:36:29,177 --> 02:36:31,638
'Hundreds of counterfeit
Bruce Lee films are made,

1836
02:36:31,763 --> 02:36:36,100
'designed to entice audiences either too
naive to realise they're being sold a fake

1837
02:36:36,225 --> 02:36:38,728
'or too desperate for more to care. '

1838
02:36:54,285 --> 02:36:58,289
(Trailer narrator) 'Bruce is back
in his first action film at the age of 18.

1839
02:36:58,414 --> 02:37:02,502
'We repeat this dramatic development,
a film no one believed existed,

1840
02:37:02,627 --> 02:37:07,090
'a film held in China and
never before seen is finally here. '

1841
02:37:07,215 --> 02:37:10,218
(Narrator) 'Unauthorised biopics
professed to tell the true story

1842
02:37:10,343 --> 02:37:11,761
'of Bruce's life and death,

1843
02:37:11,886 --> 02:37:15,807
'but often dramatised the wild scenarios
invented by the tabloid press. '

1844
02:37:15,932 --> 02:37:17,600
(Film narrator) 'The martial arts
community was shocked

1845
02:37:17,725 --> 02:37:19,686
'by his sudden death.

1846
02:37:19,811 --> 02:37:23,606
'Kung fu people especially mourned
the loss of their most popular hero.

1847
02:37:24,148 --> 02:37:27,235
'The early reports of his death
were unclear and confusing. '

1848
02:37:31,030 --> 02:37:34,117
Man, look at his face. Doesn't
even seem like the same person.

1849
02:37:34,242 --> 02:37:36,119
(Trailer narrator) 'It's the life story,

1850
02:37:36,244 --> 02:37:39,288
'the true story,
it's "The Bruce Lee Story"!

1851
02:37:39,414 --> 02:37:42,542
'It reveals secrets of his personal life
you've never seen before,

1852
02:37:42,667 --> 02:37:45,545
'a life more violent
than his movie roles. '

1853
02:37:46,713 --> 02:37:50,008
(Narrator) 'Betty Ting Pei even stars
in one such film for Shaw Brothers. '

1854
02:37:50,133 --> 02:37:52,593
(Trailer narrator) 'The film
that separates truth from fiction.

1855
02:37:52,719 --> 02:37:54,846
'See "Bruce Lee: His Last Days",

1856
02:37:54,971 --> 02:37:58,433
'as told by the one person who was
with him during his final hours. '

1857
02:37:58,558 --> 02:38:01,561
(Narrator) 'Another film even depicts
the widely held fantasy

1858
02:38:01,686 --> 02:38:05,440
'that Bruce has faked his own death,
planning to re-emerge in 1983

1859
02:38:05,565 --> 02:38:08,526
'on the tenth anniversary
of his exodus from public life. '

1860
02:38:08,651 --> 02:38:10,653
You must announce
that you are dead.

1861
02:38:10,778 --> 02:38:15,116
(Man) 'Your wife, your children,
your friend and, above all, your work...

1862
02:38:15,241 --> 02:38:16,284
'That's gone.

1863
02:38:16,409 --> 02:38:19,162
'You will live as a recluse
for ten years. '

1864
02:38:19,287 --> 02:38:22,749
(Narrator) 'Inevitably, with the public
eager to see "The Game of Death",

1865
02:38:23,458 --> 02:38:26,669
'Brucesploitation producers
step in to fill the void,

1866
02:38:26,794 --> 02:38:29,047
'cannily spinning their own storylines

1867
02:38:29,172 --> 02:38:33,217
'from the few scraps of information
publicly known about Lee's script. '

1868
02:38:34,469 --> 02:38:37,138
(Trailer narrator) 'Now, through
the miracle of motion pictures,

1869
02:38:37,263 --> 02:38:40,808
'we bring you the story and the film
that superstar Bruce Lee

1870
02:38:40,933 --> 02:38:42,602
'wanted you to see. '

1871
02:38:42,727 --> 02:38:45,730
(♪ "Also Sprach Zarathustra"
by Richard Strauss)

1872
02:38:47,899 --> 02:38:52,779
(Trailer narrator) "'Goodbye, Bruce Lee:
His Last Game of Death". '

1873
02:38:55,239 --> 02:38:57,867
(Narrator) 'Few would ever mistake
these for the real thing,

1874
02:38:57,992 --> 02:39:00,578
'but the success of these films
only demonstrated

1875
02:39:00,703 --> 02:39:03,039
'that in the absence
of the genuine article,

1876
02:39:03,164 --> 02:39:06,084
'fans would happily take
whatever they could get.

1877
02:39:06,918 --> 02:39:12,507
'Then, in 1976, the Lee family sells
all of its shares in Concord

1878
02:39:12,632 --> 02:39:15,093
'to Raymond Chow and Golden Harvest.

1879
02:39:15,218 --> 02:39:17,637
'Knowing that money
is being left on the table

1880
02:39:17,762 --> 02:39:20,181
'and that a unique opportunity
presents itself

1881
02:39:20,306 --> 02:39:22,475
'to make one last Bruce Lee film,

1882
02:39:22,600 --> 02:39:26,479
'the studio immediately gets to work
on reviving "The Game of Death".

1883
02:39:26,604 --> 02:39:29,899
'A documentary that merely presents
the footage as Bruce has shot it

1884
02:39:30,024 --> 02:39:31,943
'is deemed commercially unviable,

1885
02:39:32,068 --> 02:39:35,530
'and the notion of presenting outtakes
through the medium of home video

1886
02:39:35,655 --> 02:39:37,698
'is still several years away.

1887
02:39:37,824 --> 02:39:40,785
'Only a new, feature-length narrative film

1888
02:39:40,910 --> 02:39:43,371
'will satiate demand
and recoup the investment

1889
02:39:43,496 --> 02:39:46,541
'Golden Harvest have already
sunk into the project.

1890
02:39:46,666 --> 02:39:49,085
'A promotional film is quickly distributed

1891
02:39:49,210 --> 02:39:52,004
'that shows Golden Harvest
auditioning lookalike actors

1892
02:39:52,130 --> 02:39:53,923
'to replace Bruce in the lead,

1893
02:39:54,048 --> 02:39:56,843
'working with Hollywood companies
to develop a new storyline,

1894
02:39:56,968 --> 02:39:59,137
'and even states that James Coburn,

1895
02:39:59,262 --> 02:40:02,223
'Steve McQueen,
Muhammad Ali and Pelé

1896
02:40:02,348 --> 02:40:04,517
'are lined up to star in the new footage.

1897
02:40:05,685 --> 02:40:09,230
'Enter, once again, Robert Clouse.

1898
02:40:10,314 --> 02:40:12,900
'Following the runaway success
of "Enter the Dragon",

1899
02:40:13,025 --> 02:40:17,071
'none of his subsequent films
has enjoyed the acclaim or box office

1900
02:40:17,196 --> 02:40:19,574
'of his fleeting collaboration
with Bruce Lee,

1901
02:40:19,699 --> 02:40:21,993
'and when Raymond Chow
offers him the opportunity

1902
02:40:22,118 --> 02:40:24,829
'to finish "The Game of Death",
Clouse accepts.

1903
02:40:24,954 --> 02:40:27,415
'He views the two hours of raw footage,

1904
02:40:27,540 --> 02:40:32,044
'entirely without sound and not even
a completed script or plot outline

1905
02:40:32,170 --> 02:40:35,214
'to help contextualise the events
taking place onscreen.

1906
02:40:35,756 --> 02:40:39,468
'Nonetheless, he eventually completes
a script of his own

1907
02:40:39,594 --> 02:40:43,514
'and begins filming in Hong Kong
towards the end of 1977.

1908
02:40:44,390 --> 02:40:48,186
'When Clouse's film, "Game of Death",
is finally unveiled to the public

1909
02:40:48,311 --> 02:40:50,479
'in the summer of 1978,

1910
02:40:50,605 --> 02:40:53,441
'the answer as to how the filmmaker
has been able to incorporate

1911
02:40:53,566 --> 02:40:57,111
'Bruce Lee's incomplete vision
into a finished feature film

1912
02:40:57,236 --> 02:40:59,238
'quickly becomes apparent.

1913
02:40:59,363 --> 02:41:01,324
'He has ignored it altogether.

1914
02:41:01,866 --> 02:41:05,870
'Instead of Lee's tale of Hai Tien
using his nimble adeptness in combat

1915
02:41:05,995 --> 02:41:08,998
'to take down every foe
on each level of the pagoda

1916
02:41:09,123 --> 02:41:11,334
'in order to win his family's freedom,

1917
02:41:11,459 --> 02:41:14,879
'and in doing so depicting
the importance of adaptability

1918
02:41:15,004 --> 02:41:17,215
'to Lee's Jeet Kune Do philosophy,

1919
02:41:17,340 --> 02:41:20,468
'Clouse's script tells
a completely different story,

1920
02:41:20,593 --> 02:41:23,888
'one almost certainly inspired
by some of the more inane rumours

1921
02:41:24,013 --> 02:41:27,350
'that circulated around Lee in
the tabloid press following his death. '

1922
02:41:27,475 --> 02:41:29,936
(Trailer narrator)
'He is an international superstar.

1923
02:41:31,187 --> 02:41:33,689
'They call him a living legend.

1924
02:41:33,814 --> 02:41:36,984
'But the woman he loves
belongs to the mob.

1925
02:41:37,109 --> 02:41:40,029
'And now they're out to own him. '

1926
02:41:40,154 --> 02:41:41,989
Don't be a slow learner, Billy.

1927
02:41:42,114 --> 02:41:43,157
Billy!

1928
02:41:44,075 --> 02:41:47,245
(Trailer narrator) 'If they can't buy him,
they'll have to kill him. '

1929
02:41:47,370 --> 02:41:48,412
Billy!

1930
02:41:49,497 --> 02:41:50,957
You don't have too many choices.

1931
02:41:51,082 --> 02:41:52,833
A final warning.

1932
02:41:55,294 --> 02:41:59,298
(Trailer narrator) And so begins
the "Game of Death".

1933
02:41:59,423 --> 02:42:03,094
(Narrator) 'In Clouse's film,
Lee's character is Billy Lo,

1934
02:42:03,219 --> 02:42:05,096
'a famous action film star

1935
02:42:05,221 --> 02:42:07,765
'who is pressured
by a vicious American syndicate

1936
02:42:07,890 --> 02:42:10,059
'that subsequently attempt
to assassinate him

1937
02:42:10,184 --> 02:42:12,144
'when he doesn't give in
to their demands.

1938
02:42:12,937 --> 02:42:15,856
'Billy Lo survives, but fakes his death,

1939
02:42:15,982 --> 02:42:18,109
'at which point Clouse
tastelessly reprises

1940
02:42:18,234 --> 02:42:21,153
'the actual footage
of Lee's open-casket funeral

1941
02:42:21,279 --> 02:42:22,822
'filmed by Golden Harvest,

1942
02:42:22,947 --> 02:42:26,617
'complete with a jaw-dropping scene
in which his character's plot is exposed

1943
02:42:26,742 --> 02:42:28,703
'when one of the mobsters
mutilates the face

1944
02:42:28,828 --> 02:42:31,622
'of a wax facsimile of Lee's corpse.

1945
02:42:31,747 --> 02:42:33,249
'And if that kind of bad taste

1946
02:42:33,374 --> 02:42:35,793
'sounds like something you'd see
in a Brucesploitation film,

1947
02:42:35,918 --> 02:42:37,795
'that's because it is. '

1948
02:42:37,920 --> 02:42:39,714
(Clamouring)

1949
02:42:43,759 --> 02:42:45,052
Someone important died?

1950
02:42:45,177 --> 02:42:49,348
Oh, it's Bruce Lee,
kung fu star, at age 34.

1951
02:42:49,473 --> 02:42:51,267
His death is still the headlines here.

1952
02:42:53,686 --> 02:42:56,897
(Radio) 'Today, the funeral ceremony
for Bruce Lee, kung fu superstar.

1953
02:42:57,023 --> 02:43:00,568
'Tens of thousands of people turn out
to pay homage to this brilliant young man

1954
02:43:00,693 --> 02:43:03,446
'whose untimely death will be mourned
by a great many people.

1955
02:43:03,571 --> 02:43:06,240
'In the funeral procession were
leading names in the movie business

1956
02:43:06,365 --> 02:43:09,744
'and, of course, thousands
of Bruce Lee's loyal fans. '

1957
02:43:12,580 --> 02:43:17,460
(Film narrator) 'The mourners, many
who kept the long vigil through the night,

1958
02:43:18,002 --> 02:43:20,963
'now file in to pay their final tribute.

1959
02:43:22,423 --> 02:43:25,634
'Family, friends and admirers,

1960
02:43:26,344 --> 02:43:31,182
'some from distant lands,
Rome, Tokyo, London,

1961
02:43:32,016 --> 02:43:34,894
'all shocked by this sudden tragedy.

1962
02:43:36,354 --> 02:43:38,898
'Bruce Lee's love for the martial arts

1963
02:43:39,482 --> 02:43:43,611
'was perhaps only surpassed
by his love of friends.

1964
02:43:43,736 --> 02:43:47,490
'As the Dragon, it was said
he was feared by many

1965
02:43:47,615 --> 02:43:49,825
'but loved by all. '

1966
02:43:50,785 --> 02:43:52,661
(Narrator)
'Out of the two hours of footage,

1967
02:43:52,787 --> 02:43:56,290
'Clouse has been able to edit together
barely 11 minutes of material

1968
02:43:56,415 --> 02:43:59,960
'featuring Bruce Lee,
which, even then, is liberally intercut

1969
02:44:00,086 --> 02:44:02,713
'with newly filmed inserts
featuring lookalikes

1970
02:44:02,838 --> 02:44:05,508
'as well as recycled footage
from his other films.

1971
02:44:05,633 --> 02:44:09,762
'The fights with Dan Inosanto,
Ji Han-jae and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1972
02:44:09,887 --> 02:44:12,264
'all feature in the film,
but only fleetingly,

1973
02:44:12,390 --> 02:44:14,975
'the setting changed
from a Korean pagoda

1974
02:44:15,101 --> 02:44:17,269
'to a Chinese restaurant.

1975
02:44:17,395 --> 02:44:22,566
'Of Lee's original cast, only Dan Inosanto
returns to film new scenes,

1976
02:44:22,691 --> 02:44:26,278
'the other actors either unable
or unwilling to participate,

1977
02:44:27,488 --> 02:44:31,784
'replaced by body doubles
or their characters cut out altogether.

1978
02:44:34,870 --> 02:44:39,041
'To be generous to Clouse for a moment,
he had an impossible task in front of him,

1979
02:44:39,875 --> 02:44:42,878
'and it is difficult to imagine anyone
who could have acquitted themselves

1980
02:44:43,003 --> 02:44:45,923
'with the task of fashioning
a coherent feature film

1981
02:44:46,048 --> 02:44:48,717
'out of the disparate odds and ends
that were available.

1982
02:44:49,427 --> 02:44:53,180
'Indeed, Bruce Lee himself
had yet to decide the specifics

1983
02:44:53,305 --> 02:44:56,851
'of much of the connecting tissue that
would have held these strands together

1984
02:44:56,976 --> 02:44:59,270
'even up to the day he died.

1985
02:44:59,395 --> 02:45:02,148
'But it is difficult to imagine
a more thorough vandalism

1986
02:45:02,273 --> 02:45:06,068
'of Bruce's original intent,
or a more committed misunderstanding

1987
02:45:06,193 --> 02:45:09,488
'of the philosophical underpinnings
he imbued his work with

1988
02:45:09,613 --> 02:45:13,117
'than that which Clouse
achieved in 1978.

1989
02:45:15,411 --> 02:45:16,871
'In the years that followed,

1990
02:45:16,996 --> 02:45:20,541
'rumours of a curse surrounding
the production grew in prominence,

1991
02:45:20,666 --> 02:45:24,336
'with superstitious Chinese tabloids
blaming, among other things,

1992
02:45:24,462 --> 02:45:26,422
'the title of the project itself,

1993
02:45:26,547 --> 02:45:28,841
'blaming Lee's careless use
of the word "death"

1994
02:45:28,966 --> 02:45:32,011
'for all the ills that befell him and it.

1995
02:45:32,136 --> 02:45:34,054
'Like all films purported to be cursed,

1996
02:45:34,180 --> 02:45:38,893
"'The Game of Death" is, of course,
only the victim of tragic coincidences,

1997
02:45:39,018 --> 02:45:41,729
'but those coincidences
did not stop with Lee's death,

1998
02:45:41,854 --> 02:45:45,149
'and indeed became more troubling
as time passed.

1999
02:45:48,486 --> 02:45:53,199
'On November 16th, 1977,
Chieh Yuan suddenly died.

2000
02:45:53,908 --> 02:45:55,409
'Just like Bruce,

2001
02:45:55,534 --> 02:45:58,996
'the coroner diagnosed his cause
of death as a cerebral edema.

2002
02:45:59,788 --> 02:46:05,669
'He died just 32 years and eight months,
the same age as Bruce when he died.

2003
02:46:07,755 --> 02:46:10,674
'While filming Robert Clouse's
"Game of Death" the same year,

2004
02:46:10,799 --> 02:46:13,010
'Academy Award--winning actor
Gig Young

2005
02:46:13,135 --> 02:46:16,639
'fell in love with the film's
young script supervisor, Kim Schmidt.

2006
02:46:17,723 --> 02:46:22,186
'A year later, in September, 1978,
they married in Manhattan,

2007
02:46:22,937 --> 02:46:24,688
'and only three weeks later,

2008
02:46:24,813 --> 02:46:27,399
'Young shot and killed Schmidt
in their apartment

2009
02:46:27,525 --> 02:46:29,610
'before turning the gun on himself.

2010
02:46:30,236 --> 02:46:32,530
"'Game of Death" was his last film.

2011
02:46:34,573 --> 02:46:36,033
'Fifteen years later,

2012
02:46:36,158 --> 02:46:39,828
'Bruce's son Brandon was tragically
killed on the set of "The Crow"

2013
02:46:39,954 --> 02:46:43,249
'in an accident involving
improperly loaded blank rounds.

2014
02:46:44,208 --> 02:46:46,252
'Some were quick to note
the eerie similarity

2015
02:46:46,377 --> 02:46:48,337
to a scene in Clouse's "Game of Death",

2016
02:46:48,462 --> 02:46:51,423
'where Bruce Lee's character is shot
on the set of his latest film.

2017
02:46:53,842 --> 02:46:55,844
'Regardless of what anyone believed,

2018
02:46:55,970 --> 02:47:00,599
'there was no denying "The Game of Death"
was already a film shrouded in notoriety,

2019
02:47:00,724 --> 02:47:05,354
'unfinished, unlucky, unseen. '

2020
02:47:19,868 --> 02:47:21,537
(Narrator) 'For whatever sins
we can accuse

2021
02:47:21,662 --> 02:47:23,539
Robert Clouse's "Game of Death" of,

2022
02:47:23,664 --> 02:47:28,419
'its success was pivotal in keeping the
spectre of Lee's original project alive,

2023
02:47:28,544 --> 02:47:30,879
'and one could argue that
the most enduring image of Bruce

2024
02:47:31,005 --> 02:47:34,758
'to audiences today is him
in the yellow and black jumpsuit.

2025
02:47:36,051 --> 02:47:38,804
'Filmmakers who have paid tribute
to "Game of Death" over the years

2026
02:47:38,929 --> 02:47:42,099
'range from Stephen Chow
to Quentin Tarantino,

2027
02:47:42,224 --> 02:47:43,726
'and its influence was keenly felt

2028
02:47:43,851 --> 02:47:46,645
'on the next generation
of kung fu superstars as well,

2029
02:47:46,770 --> 02:47:50,107
'some of whom directly
paid homage to it in their films.

2030
02:48:04,580 --> 02:48:06,415
'It's often been argued
that "The Game of Death"

2031
02:48:06,540 --> 02:48:10,336
'had the greatest impact not on cinema,
but on video games.

2032
02:48:10,461 --> 02:48:14,923
'Lee's original multi-level concept
and escalating series of antagonists

2033
02:48:15,049 --> 02:48:18,344
'evoked in many early
eight-bit electronic favourites.

2034
02:48:19,553 --> 02:48:21,430
'One can't help but wonder, though,

2035
02:48:21,555 --> 02:48:24,058
'what impact Lee's "Game of Death"
might have had

2036
02:48:24,183 --> 02:48:26,310
'if it had ever been finished.

2037
02:48:26,435 --> 02:48:29,980
'As a new millennium approached,
there were finally signs of hope.

2038
02:48:30,689 --> 02:48:32,274
'After gathering dust in the vaults

2039
02:48:32,399 --> 02:48:34,485
'following the sale
of Golden Harvest's assets

2040
02:48:34,610 --> 02:48:36,945
'to Media Asia in 1993,

2041
02:48:37,071 --> 02:48:41,325
'nine of the eleven reels of footage
are uncovered in 1998.

2042
02:48:41,450 --> 02:48:45,120
'Almost simultaneously,
Lee's original notes for the project,

2043
02:48:45,245 --> 02:48:50,125
'including dialogue and a shot list for
almost all of the footage shot in 1972,

2044
02:48:50,250 --> 02:48:52,670
'are discovered by biographer John Little

2045
02:48:52,795 --> 02:48:56,215
'in a storage unit in Seattle
belonging to Bruce's family.

2046
02:48:56,340 --> 02:49:00,010
'At last, not only is most
of the footage rediscovered,

2047
02:49:00,135 --> 02:49:03,555
'but a written guide exists
on how to make some sense of it.

2048
02:49:04,223 --> 02:49:07,685
'In the year 2000,
two documentaries are released,

2049
02:49:07,810 --> 02:49:09,436
'each containing different attempts

2050
02:49:09,561 --> 02:49:13,273
'at reassembling and reclaiming
Lee's original vision

2051
02:49:13,399 --> 02:49:15,484
'for "The Game of Death".

2052
02:49:15,609 --> 02:49:20,155
'Now, two decades later,
the other two reels have been found,

2053
02:49:20,280 --> 02:49:23,158
'including the fight between
Chieh Yuan and Dan Inosanto

2054
02:49:23,283 --> 02:49:25,327
'thought lost for 50 years,

2055
02:49:25,452 --> 02:49:28,956
'and with it a new opportunity
to assemble the footage

2056
02:49:29,081 --> 02:49:31,750
'into something resembling
its creators intentions.

2057
02:49:32,459 --> 02:49:35,462
'It would be dishonest to call
any presentation of this footage

2058
02:49:35,587 --> 02:49:39,049
'an accurate representation
of Lee's wishes for "The Game of Death".

2059
02:49:39,174 --> 02:49:42,594
'We can never know what shape the project
would have taken had he not died,

2060
02:49:42,720 --> 02:49:46,265
'or even how much of the film's material
he would have used at all.

2061
02:49:46,390 --> 02:49:49,268
'Too many pieces of the puzzle
are forever missing.

2062
02:49:49,893 --> 02:49:53,564
'However, we now have the raw materials
to present something else,

2063
02:49:53,689 --> 02:49:57,067
'a short film, finished in the style
of Lee's other films,

2064
02:49:57,192 --> 02:50:00,279
'presented as if he had completed it
sometime in the hiatus

2065
02:50:00,404 --> 02:50:03,407
'between "The Way of the Dragon"
and "Enter the Dragon".

2066
02:50:03,532 --> 02:50:07,244
'Using music and sound effects
from the Golden Harvest archives

2067
02:50:07,369 --> 02:50:09,163
'and a newly recorded voice track,

2068
02:50:09,288 --> 02:50:11,957
'sound exists where
there was none before.

2069
02:50:12,082 --> 02:50:15,627
'The illusion of a freshly
uncovered film from 1972

2070
02:50:15,753 --> 02:50:18,839
'is completed with the help
of newly animated opening credits

2071
02:50:18,964 --> 02:50:21,341
'in the style of other films
from the period,

2072
02:50:21,467 --> 02:50:23,552
'as well as some newly filmed material

2073
02:50:23,677 --> 02:50:27,806
'incorporated into a prologue
intended to clarity the plot.

2074
02:50:27,931 --> 02:50:31,101
'What you are about to see is not
Bruce Lee's "The Game of Death".

2075
02:50:31,810 --> 02:50:34,313
'That film is lost forever.

2076
02:50:34,438 --> 02:50:37,566
'Instead, it is an attempt
at harnessing the creativity

2077
02:50:37,691 --> 02:50:42,321
'that fuelled him in the fall of 1972
into a completed form,

2078
02:50:42,446 --> 02:50:46,533
'something that might stand alongside
the four films that made him a legend.

2079
02:50:47,201 --> 02:50:50,537
'Other pieces of the puzzle may reveal
themselves in the years to come.

2080
02:50:51,246 --> 02:50:56,418
'But for now,
this is the final "'Game of Death". '

2081
02:51:54,977 --> 02:51:57,563
(Man) Welcome to Korea, Hai Tien.

2082
02:51:58,689 --> 02:52:00,357
Now, listen up.

2083
02:52:00,482 --> 02:52:02,985
You may not be
a champion fighter anymore,

2084
02:52:03,110 --> 02:52:05,404
but I don't care
if you put that behind you.

2085
02:52:05,946 --> 02:52:08,240
As long as we have your family,

2086
02:52:08,365 --> 02:52:12,160
you're playing my game
and following my rules.

2087
02:52:12,828 --> 02:52:18,125
You win the game,
you, your sister and your brother go free.

2088
02:52:18,667 --> 02:52:21,128
You lose, you die.

2089
02:52:21,253 --> 02:52:23,005
So, listen carefully.

2090
02:52:23,130 --> 02:52:26,216
Tomorrow morning,
you drive out to a hidden compound

2091
02:52:26,341 --> 02:52:28,969
surrounded by 50 miles of forest
in every direction.

2092
02:52:29,803 --> 02:52:33,390
And in the middle of this compound
is an ancient pagoda,

2093
02:52:33,515 --> 02:52:35,517
five floors high.

2094
02:52:35,642 --> 02:52:40,063
On the top floor of this temple
is something I want very badly.

2095
02:52:40,188 --> 02:52:42,608
And you're going to get it for me.

2096
02:52:42,733 --> 02:52:44,943
You don't need to know what it is.

2097
02:52:45,068 --> 02:52:49,114
Just know that if you don't get it,
you lose the game.

2098
02:52:49,239 --> 02:52:52,409
Sound easy enough so far?
Think again.

2099
02:52:53,744 --> 02:52:55,954
Getting into the compound is one thing.

2100
02:52:56,079 --> 02:52:58,749
Getting into the pagoda is another.

2101
02:52:58,874 --> 02:53:04,546
I've sent ten men in there before,
and none of them ever made it out alive.

2102
02:53:04,671 --> 02:53:08,342
We don't know much,
but here's what our spies have told us.

2103
02:53:09,134 --> 02:53:10,677
Once you get to the pagoda,

2104
02:53:10,802 --> 02:53:13,931
you'll have to fight your way
through the deadliest karate fighters

2105
02:53:14,056 --> 02:53:16,308
this part of the world has ever produced.

2106
02:53:16,433 --> 02:53:18,644
Most guys never get inside.

2107
02:53:18,769 --> 02:53:21,104
But I think you'll make
short work of them.

2108
02:53:21,730 --> 02:53:25,943
Once you're inside the temple,
that's where this game really gets going.

2109
02:53:26,610 --> 02:53:28,904
Each floor is guarded by a fighter

2110
02:53:29,029 --> 02:53:31,907
trained in the deadliest skills
known to man.

2111
02:53:32,032 --> 02:53:33,867
And when they're not in training,

2112
02:53:33,992 --> 02:53:38,038
their sole purpose in life is to guard
whatever's at the top of that temple,

2113
02:53:38,163 --> 02:53:41,208
even if it means fighting to the death.

2114
02:53:41,333 --> 02:53:45,420
The fighter on the first floor is said
to be the world's greatest kickboxer.

2115
02:53:45,545 --> 02:53:48,966
(Man) 'His feet are mightier
and faster than your fists,

2116
02:53:49,091 --> 02:53:50,759
'so watch out. '

2117
02:53:54,763 --> 02:53:58,809
Once you get past him,
you reach the Hall of the Tiger.

2118
02:53:58,934 --> 02:54:00,769
The man who guards that floor

2119
02:54:00,894 --> 02:54:03,355
is an eskrima grandmaster
from the Philippines.

2120
02:54:03,480 --> 02:54:07,526
(Man) 'He won't need to kick you.
His sticks will do the job for him. '

2121
02:54:26,378 --> 02:54:29,214
if, by some miracle,
you survive him,

2122
02:54:29,339 --> 02:54:32,050
you'll reach the Hall of the Dragon,

2123
02:54:32,175 --> 02:54:34,678
'where you'll face
the greatest hapkido master

2124
02:54:34,803 --> 02:54:36,847
'this country's ever seen. '

2125
02:54:52,696 --> 02:54:55,490
Should you succeed in making it
to the floor above that...

2126
02:54:56,158 --> 02:55:00,662
Well, they don't call it
the Hall of the Unknown for nothing.

2127
02:55:00,787 --> 02:55:05,500
(Man) 'No one knows who,
or what, is waiting for you up there. '

2128
02:55:06,418 --> 02:55:09,546
Like any good gambler,
I like to hedge my bets,

2129
02:55:09,671 --> 02:55:11,631
so you won't be on your own.

2130
02:55:12,215 --> 02:55:15,385
Four of my men
will be heading out with you.

2131
02:55:15,510 --> 02:55:18,305
Two to wait outside
and guard the pagoda,

2132
02:55:18,430 --> 02:55:20,557
the other two to finish the job

2133
02:55:20,682 --> 02:55:24,895
if it turns out you're not
the champion they all say you are.

2134
02:55:25,020 --> 02:55:28,356
Now, I've got a good feeling
you'll do what it takes to win this

2135
02:55:28,482 --> 02:55:30,317
and keep your family safe.

2136
02:55:30,442 --> 02:55:33,153
But I have to incentivise my people, too.

2137
02:55:33,278 --> 02:55:35,238
Which is why I've already told them

2138
02:55:35,363 --> 02:55:39,743
that whoever gets to the top first
wins fifty grand in cash

2139
02:55:39,868 --> 02:55:42,996
and a seat at the table for life.

2140
02:55:43,121 --> 02:55:45,999
They win, you lose.

2141
02:55:46,124 --> 02:55:49,169
Just in case you thought
about sitting this one out

2142
02:55:49,294 --> 02:55:51,004
or trying to escape.

2143
02:55:51,713 --> 02:55:53,590
Those are the rules of the game.

2144
02:55:54,508 --> 02:55:57,552
You play to win, or you die.

2145
02:55:57,677 --> 02:55:59,096
Your choice.

2146
02:55:59,888 --> 02:56:01,139
Begin!

2147
02:57:25,682 --> 02:57:27,684
(Panting)

2148
02:57:27,809 --> 02:57:29,186
Huh?

2149
02:57:37,360 --> 02:57:38,653
Huh?

2150
02:57:45,160 --> 02:57:48,663
Those red sticks look pretty cute.

2151
02:57:48,788 --> 02:57:52,417
But still, size always wins out.

2152
02:57:53,251 --> 02:57:54,669
Show him.

2153
02:58:17,317 --> 02:58:19,152
(Rhythmic tapping)

2154
02:58:46,846 --> 02:58:47,889
Huh?

2155
02:58:49,224 --> 02:58:51,643
Two little sticks. Ha!

2156
02:59:01,111 --> 02:59:03,321
Don't let him psyche you out.

2157
03:02:22,812 --> 03:02:24,856
Do you speak English?

2158
03:02:26,900 --> 03:02:28,985
Of course I speak English.

2159
03:02:33,740 --> 03:02:37,285
I hope you don't mind us
moving our man,

2160
03:02:37,410 --> 03:02:40,538
so that the two of us
have more room to groove.

2161
03:02:44,876 --> 03:02:51,883
But have your men stay as far away
from that stairway as possible.

2162
03:03:04,479 --> 03:03:06,356
(Groaning)

2163
03:03:06,481 --> 03:03:08,107
Hey, wake up.

2164
03:03:58,700 --> 03:04:00,451
You know, baby...

2165
03:04:02,120 --> 03:04:04,372
...this bamboo is longer...

2166
03:04:06,207 --> 03:04:10,587
...more flexible
and very much alive.

2167
03:04:11,921 --> 03:04:15,258
And when your flashy routine
cannot keep up with the speed

2168
03:04:15,383 --> 03:04:18,344
and elusiveness of this thing here,

2169
03:04:18,469 --> 03:04:22,724
all I can say is that
you'll be in deep trouble.

2170
03:04:23,808 --> 03:04:25,435
(Rhythmic tapping)

2171
03:04:26,978 --> 03:04:29,439
That we will have to find out.

2172
03:05:09,395 --> 03:05:10,980
I'm telling you,

2173
03:05:11,105 --> 03:05:14,942
it's difficult to have
a rehearsed routine to fit in with...

2174
03:05:16,402 --> 03:05:18,237
...broken rhythm.

2175
03:05:28,998 --> 03:05:30,500
You see?

2176
03:05:30,625 --> 03:05:35,171
A rehearsed routine lacks
the flexibility to adapt.

2177
03:05:53,147 --> 03:05:55,191
It's a challenge, isn't it?

2178
03:05:56,109 --> 03:05:59,362
When bamboo strikes, it's hard.

2179
03:06:22,051 --> 03:06:23,094
(Snapping fingers)

2180
03:06:26,723 --> 03:06:28,099
Hmm?

2181
03:06:52,999 --> 03:06:54,625
Surprised?

2182
03:08:53,786 --> 03:08:55,496
How do you like that...?

2183
03:09:02,169 --> 03:09:04,297
How do you like that?

2184
03:09:04,422 --> 03:09:05,965
Uh-uh.

2185
03:11:40,786 --> 03:11:42,496
Hmm. (Scoffs)

2186
03:12:46,560 --> 03:12:51,524
In this red light, the floor before you
becomes an arena of war.

2187
03:12:51,649 --> 03:12:53,776
If you value your lives,

2188
03:12:53,901 --> 03:12:56,445
go down those stairs
and leave this place.

2189
03:12:56,570 --> 03:12:59,156
If you step forward,
you must leave your weapons

2190
03:12:59,281 --> 03:13:01,492
and take your lives into your own hands.

2191
03:13:02,493 --> 03:13:03,911
Hmm.

2192
03:13:04,036 --> 03:13:05,454
Hmm?

2193
03:13:20,970 --> 03:13:22,429
(Chuckling)

2194
03:13:22,555 --> 03:13:24,348
Again.

2195
03:13:28,435 --> 03:13:29,854
(Chuckling)

2196
03:17:13,535 --> 03:17:14,953
My friend,

2197
03:17:15,079 --> 03:17:18,874
now's our chance to get up those stairs
while they're still distracted.

2198
03:17:19,833 --> 03:17:21,585
- Oh...
- You go first.

2199
03:17:22,669 --> 03:17:24,380
Right. Thank you.

2200
03:17:28,592 --> 03:17:29,718
Wait, stop!

2201
03:17:30,260 --> 03:17:31,678
Watch me!

2202
03:17:43,232 --> 03:17:45,192
(Screaming)

2203
03:18:26,442 --> 03:18:27,776
(Chuckling)

2204
03:18:35,617 --> 03:18:36,660
(Snapping fingers)

2205
03:19:47,231 --> 03:19:48,607
Huh?

2206
03:21:42,387 --> 03:21:43,805
(Banging)

2207
03:22:31,061 --> 03:22:32,479
(Coughing)

2208
03:22:51,081 --> 03:22:52,708
(Croaking) Hai Tien...

2209
03:22:54,292 --> 03:22:55,711
Hai Tien...

2210
03:22:57,045 --> 03:22:58,380
Hai Tien!

2211
03:24:01,818 --> 03:24:03,820
(Thudding and screaming)

2212
03:25:08,426 --> 03:25:09,845
(Coughing)

2213
03:26:36,056 --> 03:26:40,185
(Hai Tien) 'His big advantage is that
he gives no thought to life or death,

2214
03:26:40,310 --> 03:26:44,189
'and with no distracted thoughts,
he is therefore free to concentrate

2215
03:26:44,314 --> 03:26:47,233
'on fighting against the attack
from the outside. '

2216
03:27:04,626 --> 03:27:07,879
Little one, you must have given up
all hope of living.

2217
03:27:12,384 --> 03:27:16,721
On the contrary.
I do not let the word "death" bother me.

2218
03:27:20,266 --> 03:27:21,893
Same here, baby.

2219
03:27:23,436 --> 03:27:25,563
Then what are you waiting for?

2220
03:27:54,467 --> 03:27:55,927
(Pottery shattering)

2221
03:29:07,624 --> 03:29:09,209
(Hai Tien) 'With his great size,

2222
03:29:09,334 --> 03:29:13,630
'he is going to find it difficult to keep
getting up each time I knock him down. '

2223
03:29:26,643 --> 03:29:28,603
(Heavy breathing)

2224
03:29:32,524 --> 03:29:36,111
(Hai Tien) 'Look at him.
Give him the fatigue bombing. '

2225
03:30:23,741 --> 03:30:25,243
(Groaning)

2226
03:31:43,571 --> 03:31:45,907
(Hai Tien) 'I'm so tired.

2227
03:31:46,032 --> 03:31:47,909
'No. No, Hai Tien.

2228
03:31:49,494 --> 03:31:51,996
'He must be much more tired than you.

2229
03:31:53,539 --> 03:31:55,750
'Calm down your soul. '

2230
03:31:59,671 --> 03:32:02,131
(Guardian) 'This tough son of a gun
is wearing me out. '

2231
03:32:33,246 --> 03:32:34,998
(Groaning)

2232
03:32:47,844 --> 03:32:50,221
(Heavy breathing)

2233
03:33:40,772 --> 03:33:42,190
Why continue?

2234
03:33:43,066 --> 03:33:44,942
Just let me pass.

2235
03:33:47,070 --> 03:33:48,696
You have forgotten

2236
03:33:48,821 --> 03:33:52,992
that I too am not bothered
by the word "death".

2237
03:35:32,758 --> 03:35:36,345
Come on!

2238
03:35:39,140 --> 03:35:41,225
(Man) Who is that up there?

2239
03:35:43,561 --> 03:35:45,396
Hai Tien!

2240
03:35:46,105 --> 03:35:49,108
(Man) Hai Tien?
Well, get down here right now!

2241
03:36:40,368 --> 03:36:42,828
Help me!

2242
03:37:25,329 --> 03:37:28,040
(Narrator) 'So much of the conversation
around "The Game of Death"

2243
03:37:28,165 --> 03:37:32,503
'revolves around what it was supposed
to be, or what it could have been.

2244
03:37:32,628 --> 03:37:37,466
'So let's take a step back and
ask a simpler question: what is it now?

2245
03:37:37,592 --> 03:37:40,177
'What are we left with?

2246
03:37:40,303 --> 03:37:45,016
'Stripping away any interpretations
or feelings the project may inspire,

2247
03:37:45,141 --> 03:37:49,979
'the inescapable truth is that all we have
is a series of disparate pieces,

2248
03:37:50,104 --> 03:37:55,318
'fragments of a vision forever unrealised,
too many puzzle pieces missing.

2249
03:37:55,943 --> 03:37:59,864
'We have two hours
of filmed material with no sound

2250
03:37:59,989 --> 03:38:03,242
'and no indication
of how much, if any of it,

2251
03:38:03,367 --> 03:38:05,661
'might have made it
into the finished film.

2252
03:38:05,786 --> 03:38:08,831
'Instead, there is a void
where additional scenes,

2253
03:38:08,956 --> 03:38:12,001
'editing and sound design should go,

2254
03:38:12,126 --> 03:38:14,503
'a void that allows
each individual to project

2255
03:38:14,629 --> 03:38:16,505
'the "Game of Death" that they want,

2256
03:38:16,631 --> 03:38:20,301
'the Bruce Lee that they want,
onto what is left.

2257
03:38:20,426 --> 03:38:22,428
'Is it his lost masterpiece?

2258
03:38:22,553 --> 03:38:24,722
'The pinnacle of his achievements
thus far?

2259
03:38:25,389 --> 03:38:27,933
'One could argue
that it cannot quality.

2260
03:38:28,059 --> 03:38:30,561
'Masterpieces have to be finished first.

2261
03:38:30,686 --> 03:38:33,856
'Whatever lofty ambitions
Bruce may have had for the project,

2262
03:38:33,981 --> 03:38:37,777
'and whatever virtues are evident
in the material available to us,

2263
03:38:37,902 --> 03:38:42,239
'ultimately we will always be left
with more questions than answers.

2264
03:38:42,365 --> 03:38:45,743
'So, allowing for that void,
the unknowable truth

2265
03:38:45,868 --> 03:38:49,246
'of how Bruce Lee might have completed
"The Game of Death",

2266
03:38:49,372 --> 03:38:52,124
'there is still so much to celebrate.

2267
03:38:52,249 --> 03:38:56,754
'It is an incomplete project, yes,
but even in its rawest form

2268
03:38:56,879 --> 03:39:00,383
'arguably shows more ambition
and offers more excitement

2269
03:39:00,508 --> 03:39:02,468
'than many finished films.

2270
03:39:02,593 --> 03:39:06,347
'It remains Lee's most straightforward
and earnest cinematic expression

2271
03:39:06,472 --> 03:39:08,015
'of his personal ethos,

2272
03:39:08,140 --> 03:39:13,229
'his next and sadly last
confident stride forward as a filmmaker.

2273
03:39:14,188 --> 03:39:16,148
'Some may argue
that "Enter the Dragon",

2274
03:39:16,273 --> 03:39:18,067
'as his last completed film,

2275
03:39:18,192 --> 03:39:20,653
'shows Bruce Lee
at the peak of his powers,

2276
03:39:20,778 --> 03:39:24,240
'the pinnacle of his physical form
and fighting ability.

2277
03:39:24,365 --> 03:39:27,952
'But if you believe the journey
is as important as the destination,

2278
03:39:28,077 --> 03:39:30,579
'then, as evidenced
by the photos taken on set

2279
03:39:30,705 --> 03:39:32,665
'and the glimpses seen between takes,

2280
03:39:32,790 --> 03:39:36,669
'what survives of "The Game of Death"
may show something greater,

2281
03:39:36,794 --> 03:39:41,006
'a man who has achieved great success
and is still reaching outward,

2282
03:39:41,132 --> 03:39:43,008
'still hopeful for the future,

2283
03:39:43,134 --> 03:39:47,596
'still expounding the boundaries of what
a man in his position might achieve.

2284
03:39:47,722 --> 03:39:49,306
'To watch "The Game of Death"

2285
03:39:49,432 --> 03:39:53,769
'is to see Bruce Lee
at his most assured, his most fulfilled

2286
03:39:53,894 --> 03:39:57,148
'and, arguably, his most happy. '