RETURN OF THE DRAGON (1972)

MORGAN'S RATING

Bruce Lee pays a visit to family members who own a restaurant in Italy. But mobsters, who want the land the eatery is built upon, harass the owners, forcing Lee to defend his family, as only he can. In the film's high-voltage, high-kicking finale, Lee, for the sake of his loved ones, must battle a United States karate expert in a Roman coliseum!

Bruce Lee (Tang Lung), Nora Miao (Chen Ching Hua), Chuck Norris (Colt), Robert Wall (Fred), Ing-Sik Whang (Japanese Fighter), John T. Benn (Boss), Chung-Hsin Huang (Wang), Unicorn Chan (Jimmy), Tony Liu (Tony), Ping-Ao Wei (Ho), Malisa Longo (Italian Beauty), Russell Cawthorne (Bank President), Robert Chen (Robert), Ching-Ying Lam (Thug), Siu Kee Lun (Waiter), Andre E. Morgan, Wu Ngan, Ho Pich, Chin Ti (Ah Quen), Robert Baker (Thug/ Extra, uncredited), Anders Nelson (Thug, uncredited), Biao Yuen (Thug/Extra, uncredited).

FACTS

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

RELEASE DATE: December 30th, 1972 (Hong Kong) BUDGET: $130,000 SHOOTING DATES: May 1972 -- June 1972 - Last movie to be filmed in the actual Roman Colosseum. - This is the only Cantonese film in which Bruce Lee used his own voice speaking Cantonese. The other film he starred in and also used his own voice, this time speaking English, is Enter the Dragon (1973). - This film was completed before ETD, Lee's final film, but was released after it. It is the only film on which he served as director, writer and actor.

DIRECTOR: Bruce Lee. WRITER: Bruce Lee. PRODUCERS: Bruce Lee and Raymond Chow. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Andre E. Morgan (uncredited). ORIGINAL MUSIC: Joseph Koo, John Barry (uncredited), Ennio Morricone (uncredited). DISTRIBUTOR: 20th Century Fox

QUOTES

Boss: [runs his hand down Tang's chest] Oh, what rippling muscles!

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"It's hard to really hate this film, perhaps precisely because Lee clearly tries so hard." -- Harvey O'Brien, Harvey's Movie Review