I’ve never been much of a fan of . It seems there are zillions of them, all very same-y, and I’ve struggled to sit through any of them.
Enter The Dragon is still perhaps the best known from the entire genre, and that’s the only one I recall seeing in its entirety. I didn’t like it much at all, but one nevertheless has to admire the late Bruce Lee’s artistry. The Way Of The Dragon (aka Return Of The Dragon) preceded this and was the only movie Lee also directed himself.
The film also features an early, and villainous, turn from Chuck Norris, in his movie debut. The final showdown fight between the two of them is set, rather appropriately, in Rome’s Colosseum. Personally, I find it all rather cheesy, what with the enhanced sound effects and obvious non-contact staging. It is nonetheless one of the most famous fight scenes in all kung fu films, so what do I know!
I have two posters from the movie – a Spanish re-release one, which is a rare version showing both Bruce and Chuck in combat, and a smaller Belgian. Both of these are for sale here, along with a complete set of lobby cards from Spain.