Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
Short description
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story traces the life of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee, beginning with his childhood training in Hong Kong and following his move to the United States, where he opens his own kung fu school and meets his future wife, Linda. His skill and charisma eventually draw the attention of a Hollywood producer, leading to a career as an action star. The film, drawn from Linda Lee Caldwell's recollections of her husband, sets his rise against the obstacles and prejudice he encountered in America.
Rob Cohen directs this 1993 biographical drama, the first title in his filmography, working from a screenplay he wrote with Edward Khmara and John Raffo. Jason Scott Lee, no relation to his subject, plays Bruce Lee, with Lauren Holly as Linda Lee, Robert Wagner as Bill Krieger, Michael Learned as Vivian Emery, Nancy Kwan as Gussie Yang and Kay Tong Lim as Philip Tan. Raffaella De Laurentiis produced, and the film runs 119 minutes.
Made for about 14 million USD, the film took roughly 64 million USD worldwide, a strong return on its budget. Audiences have received it modestly on IMDb, where it holds 7 out of 10 from around 35,000 votes, and on TMDB, where it sits at 6.9 out of 10 from about 822 votes. A critics' rating of 6.8 out of 10 from 24 reviews places professional assessments close to audience opinion.
What's left behind the scenes
- At one point, Bruce Lee's son, Brandon Lee, was considered for the role of Bruce Lee in the film. Brandon Lee was the right age and skilled in martial arts, so many believed he was an ideal candidate for the part. However, producer Raffaella De Laurentiis stated that he didn't look Chinese enough, and if they tried to give Brandon Lee Chinese features through makeup, she would simply refuse to continue participating in the project. Meanwhile, Brandon Lee himself turned down the role, stating that he wouldn't feel comfortable playing his own father, especially when it came to filming romantic relationships between his parents.
- The alleyway set where Bruce Lee fought other restaurant workers was damaged during a hurricane that hit Hong Kong, delaying filming by three days. The scene was almost cut from the script, but director Rob Cohen was told that a large tent could be erected over the set to continue filming. By 8 a.m. the next day, with the efforts of all the Chinese workers involved in the film and their families, the tent was indeed erected, and work on the film continued.
- The character of Jerome, played by Sterling Macer Jr., was based on Bruce Lee's first student, whose name was Jesse Glover. Glover did not give the filmmakers permission to use his name.
- The film is based on the novel "Bruce Lee: The Man I Married," written by Bruce Lee's widow, Linda Lee Cadwell.
- Bruce Lee's daughter, Shannon, performed the song "California Dreams" in the episode where Linda announces her second pregnancy to Bruce.
- Jason Scott Lee and Lauren Holly spent several months studying the martial art of Jeet Kune Do under the guidance of Jerry Potite, a former student of Bruce Lee, in preparation for the film.
- Rob Cohen discovered that for the first two years after Bruce Lee's birth, his own parents presented him as a girl. This was due to a Chinese superstition that firstborn sons become the target of malicious demons. That is why Cohen decided to depict a demon pursuing Lee in the film. The director intended to show this metaphorically – that Lee was influenced and motivated by his inner demons.
- Initially, the role of Bruce Lee was offered to his son, Brandon Lee, who died in March 1993 during the filming of "The Crow".
- Jason Scott Lee had never practiced martial arts before and had no prior experience with them. He was a skilled dancer. He was chosen for the main role because it was believed that an experienced dancer would be able to most accurately reproduce Bruce Lee's movements. Jason Scott Lee diligently prepared for the role, and many stunt doubles helped him.
- The tombstone that Bruce Lee (Jason Scott Lee) sees in the fight scene with the "Demon" is an exact copy of Bruce Lee's original tombstone, and the photograph was also identical to the original.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
