Kung Fu Kid's Bruce Lee Page 2

Kung Fu Kid bows to ...

Bruce Lee
Page 2

Bruce, Linda, and young Brandon. A memorable date is February 1, 1965 when Brandon Lee is born in Oakland, California.
On February 8, 1965, in Hong Kong, Lee Hoi Chuen, Bruce's father passes away.
In 1966, Bruce and his family move to Los Angeles where he begins working on a new TV series called "The Green Hornet" playing the role as Kato. Also, Bruce opens the third branch of the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute in the Chinatown district of Los Angeles.

From 1967 to 1971 in Hollywood, Bruce plays bit parts in various films and TV series like Marlowe and Longstreet. He also gave private lessons to well known actors and celebrities at that time like Steve McQueen, James Garner, James Coburn, Roman Polanski, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Lee Marvin for $250 an hour.
On April 19, 1969, Bruce's daughter Shannon Lee is born in Santa Monica, California.
In 1970, Bruce injured his back while training. While he was injured, he starts to document his training methods and philosophy of Jeet Kune Do meaning, "Way of the intercepting Fist". After his death, "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do" was published by his wife Linda Lee.
In 1971, Bruce returns to Hong Kong to arrange for his mother to live in the U.S.. Bruce didn't know though that he had become a superstar in HK since "The Green Hornet" was one of the most popular TV shows there. Raymond Chow, owner of the new production company Golden Harvest Productions offered a leading role to Bruce in the movie "The Big Boss". Bruce accepts and is paid over $100 000.

In July of 1971 in Thailand, the filming of "The Big Boss" begins. In the U.S., it was released as "Fists of Fury". When it premiered in Hong Kong, it broke all Hong Kong box office records proceeding to gross more than $3.5 million in less than three weeks!
In Hong Kong of 1972, "Fist of Fury", called "The Chinese Connection" in the U.S., is released and once again breaks all the box office records in Hong Kong and grosses more than "The Big Boss". This further established Bruce as an HK superstar.
In 1972, filming begins in Rome, Italy of his third film titled "The Way of the Dragon" and called in the U.S. "Return of the Dragon". Bruce directed, wrote, and starred in this film. Chuck Norris is Bruce's adversary in the final fight scene of the movie. Chuck Norris is a master of Tang Soo Do, a Korean martial art. This film once again breaks all box office records.

Lee & Chuck Norris
"Return of the Dragon"

In Hong Kong that same year, Bruce begins to work on "Game of Death". Bruce films several of the fight scenes at the end of the movie. The first was a fighting match with what looked like a TKD master. Next was a nunchaku fight then finally, the fight with basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In February of 1973, Hong Kong, the filming of "Enter the Dragon" begins. It was the first-ever production between the U.S. and Hong Kong film industries. Earlier, when Bruce came up with the idea of a Kungfu TV series, the part was instead given to David Carradine because Westeners were reluctant to have an Asian having the lead role. Disgusted with "the system", Bruce went back to Hong Kong to make his movies. Seeing his success there, Hollywood recognized its mistake and called him back. "Enter the Dragon" was recognized as Bruce's masterpiece. Because of this, "Game of Death" is never finished. Later, after Bruce's death, they used Bruce Lee imitators for the beginning shots. During the premier screenings of "Game of Death", the audience would be hollering because of the phony Bruce Lee imitators but at the end of the movie, when it was the real Bruce, everyone would cheer.

In April of 1973, HK, the filming of "Enter the Dragon" was completed. This was Bruce's final film and his masterpiece.
On July 20, 1973, HK, Bruce Lee dies of an apparent cerebral edema (swelling of the brain) because of an allergic reaction to some headache pills. "Enter the Dragon" premieres a month later to much success.
On July 25, 1973, HK, Bruce's funeral ceremony was held for friends and fans with over 25,000 people

attending. Bruce was in the Chinese outfit he wore in "Enter the Dragon". The funeral was filmed at part of the footage was shown as a clip in "Game of Death" when Bruce was Billy Lo and pretending to be dead.

On July 30, 1973, Seattle, a smaller second ceremony is held. Bruce Lee was buried as Lake View Cemetery. Among the pallbearers were his students, friends, and brother: Danny Inosanto, Taky Kimura, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, and brother Robert Lee.

Reference: Linda Lee, The Bruce Lee Story
(Santa Clarita, CA: Ohara Publications, 1989)

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