The popularity of martial arts actor reached its zenith in
1973 with the release of his film ENTER THE DRAGON. Unfortunately that
popularity came after he passed away at age 32 that same year. Because of that
popularity in the wake of his death tons of movies were released trying to
capitalize on his popularity. Dubbed “Bruceploitation” films they exploited his
name, image and abilities in the hopes of making a buck which most of them did.
Similar named performers like Bruce Li and Bruce Le popped up. And then movies
like FISTS OF FEAR TOUCH OF DEATH came out. Using footage of non-martial arts
movies that Lee did when he was young as well as martial arts sequences from
other films he never took part in, they put together a story that is at times
hilarious and at other times head scratching.
The film kicks off with a martial arts show taking place at
Madison Square Garden, hosted by martial arts promoter Aaron Banks. Before it
starts he claims that Bruce Lee was murdered with a secret killing method, the
touch of death. Announcer Adolph Caesar discusses this with him as well as
conducting interviews with action star Fred Williamson and martial arts actor
Ron Van Clief. After these we get into the story of how Lee came to be the
martial artists he was and his trip to America.
This is where footage of others films is used, mostly a 1957
film he was in called THUNDERSTORM. It has nothing to do with his real life but
the film is redubbed to make it seem so. In the film he talks to his mother and
learns about his family’s past. This uses footage from yet another movie,
INVINCIBLE SUPER CHAN, a historical styled samurai movie. Much of the films
running time is filled with clips from these two movies redubbed to form the
singular story.
The film takes us back to the present where a poor Bruce Lee
stand in shows off his martial arts prowess defending two female joggers in the
park from would be rapists while wearing his Kato outfit from THE GREEN HORNET.
He ends by killing one of the would be rapists with a throwing star.
Which brings us back to Madison Square Garden where the
competition is about to begin. A two round fight sequence that doesn’t take
long crowns the next superstar, someone we never heard from again.
The movie isn’t shot that well and the clear reason for
making it, to capitalize on the death of Lee and make money, is obvious. The
story feels put together as quickly as they could, the dubbing is on par for
many of the chop sockey films that came out when kung fu films kicked into gear
in the US and the addition of Williamson and Van Clief is mercifully short as
both deserve better. And yet the film has a certain following. There is
something nostalgic about the film and the craze for all things Bruce Lee at
the time worth making it a movie to watch.
Fans of any and all Bruceploitation films will most likely
have this one in their collection but Film Detective is trying to offer it as
an anniversary edition with a newly restored 4k scan resolution of the film. In
addition to that there are extras as well including an exclusive collectors
booklet featuring authentic published stills and release cards from the
original premiere, a featurette of behind-the-camera takes on the film in brand
new interviews with starring actors Fred Williamson and Ron Van Clief, producer
Terry Levene, director Matthew Mallinson, and scriptwriter Ron Harvey, a
featurette of brand new interviews with starring actors Fred Williamson and Ron
Van Clief, producer Terry Levene, director Matthew Mallinson, and scriptwriter
Ron Harvey, and a collectors booklet featuring authentic published stills and
release cards from the original premiere.
The release from Film Detective is being limited to just
1,500 copies so if you want one my suggestion is your pick it up as fast as
possible.
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