The Life and Times of Bruce Lee
The legend of Bruce Lee is one of the more unique account of Hollywood success. What makes Bruce Lee's achievements so successful is the incontrovertible fact that he truly did overcome all sort of adversities and obstacles to realize stardom that was apparently evasive to him. As a martial arts instructor to the stars, one of Lee's most famous clients was Steve McQueen. McQueen was a major global star coming off the achievement of 'Bullitt ' and in a training routine with Bruce Lee, Lee asked McQueen if he would help open a door in Hollywood. McQueen arrogantly said no and did so in a dismissive attitude. Essentially, McQueen claimed "Why should I let you ride my coattails?"
The majority of folks would have been broken down and dejected over the obvious dismissive betrayal but Lee let it be known he would not be discouraged. He discussed to others he would be a much bigger star than McQueen ever was.
Today, both men have passed on and the legend of Bruce Lee has far eclipsed the somewhat forgotten career of Steve McQueen.
The life and career of Bruce Lee really took off when the film 'Enter The Dragon ' earned over $10 million in a month - an amazing sum in 1973. The film made Lee an enormous worldwide star and, together with Clint Eastwood and Sean Connery, he was thought to be one of the Founders of the modern action film idiom.
Unexpectedly , this success was short-lived. Lee had passed just prior to the release of 'Enter The Dragon'. Films he had made in HK in 1971 and 1972 would be released after the US premiere of 'Enter The Dragon'. The double feature of 'Fists Of Fury ' and 'The Chinese Connection ' would earn over $50 million in North America and Europe.
Yes, Bruce Lee was a giant ticket office draw because there simply was no one else in the flick industry similar him. He used to be a superhero come to life which helped 'Enter the Dragon ' draw in huge audiences of kids on matinee showings. This was ironic considering the film carried an R Rating at the time.
Thru the lens of history, plenty will have a heavy time believing that Bruce Lee ever had a difficult time in becoming such a star considering all his abilities. The truth of the matter is Hollywood was leery of putting an Asian actor in a lead role. That's why he was turned down for the David Carradine role in the television series 'Kung Fu'. Warner Brothers. Television did not think an Asian star would be accepted in a lead role in American TV.
Bruce Lee proved his critics wrong and did so ever since his youth.
Lee was a notoriously hyperactive child who was considered "incorrigibly bad" and subject to fighting. His father felt that enrolling him in self-defense skills lessons would be good for him. Lee dunked himself in the study of Wing Chun southern kung fu at Yip Man's kwoon (school) in Hong Kong. Reputedly this calmed him down rather that he was disciplined enough to work as a kid actor in HK films. Actually, this is where the seeds of being a film star blossomed.
Highly inquisitive , Bruce Lee studied as much as he could about various sorts of Chinese fighting skills till coming to America in 1959.
Lee moved to Seattle where he began to teach kung fu to non-Chinese students...something that did not sit well with most masters. Ultimately, Lee moved to Oakland where the legend of Bruce Lee took another turn. He was challenged by a fellow kung fu consultant due to Lee's teaching non-Chinese kung fu. Lee won the fight but felt it took too long and that he was too winded in the aftermath. This led on to him developing a new self-defense skills approach dubbed Jeet Kune Do, The Way of the Intercepting Fist. This new strategy eschewed the conventional idea of learning a martial-arts style and, instead , mixed kung fu, boxing, and fencing to substantiate a much more organic and fluid form of private combat. Such a fluid nature not only made for a high quality self defense system; it also helped form the basis for a uniquely appealing theatrical style that was developed for demonstrations and films.
Bruce Lee finally got bit by the acting bug once again and that led straight to his landing the role of 'Kato' in the 'Green Hornet' series. The successfulness of the 'Green Hornet' in syndication in HK finally led straight to a film deal overseas which ultimately led on to the green light for Enter the Dragon in America.
Unfortunately , Bruce Lee would die at the age of 33 after a severe allergic reaction to a prescription led on to cerebral swelling. As he passed on from this world, he would enter the records of popular culture history due to his amazing success in life.
Today, the legend of Bruce Lee is still as powerful as ever as he has risen to worldwide celebrity as a selfdefense skills icon and all-time great action superstar.
The majority of folks would have been broken down and dejected over the obvious dismissive betrayal but Lee let it be known he would not be discouraged. He discussed to others he would be a much bigger star than McQueen ever was.
Today, both men have passed on and the legend of Bruce Lee has far eclipsed the somewhat forgotten career of Steve McQueen.
The life and career of Bruce Lee really took off when the film 'Enter The Dragon ' earned over $10 million in a month - an amazing sum in 1973. The film made Lee an enormous worldwide star and, together with Clint Eastwood and Sean Connery, he was thought to be one of the Founders of the modern action film idiom.
Unexpectedly , this success was short-lived. Lee had passed just prior to the release of 'Enter The Dragon'. Films he had made in HK in 1971 and 1972 would be released after the US premiere of 'Enter The Dragon'. The double feature of 'Fists Of Fury ' and 'The Chinese Connection ' would earn over $50 million in North America and Europe.
Yes, Bruce Lee was a giant ticket office draw because there simply was no one else in the flick industry similar him. He used to be a superhero come to life which helped 'Enter the Dragon ' draw in huge audiences of kids on matinee showings. This was ironic considering the film carried an R Rating at the time.
Thru the lens of history, plenty will have a heavy time believing that Bruce Lee ever had a difficult time in becoming such a star considering all his abilities. The truth of the matter is Hollywood was leery of putting an Asian actor in a lead role. That's why he was turned down for the David Carradine role in the television series 'Kung Fu'. Warner Brothers. Television did not think an Asian star would be accepted in a lead role in American TV.
Bruce Lee proved his critics wrong and did so ever since his youth.
Lee was a notoriously hyperactive child who was considered "incorrigibly bad" and subject to fighting. His father felt that enrolling him in self-defense skills lessons would be good for him. Lee dunked himself in the study of Wing Chun southern kung fu at Yip Man's kwoon (school) in Hong Kong. Reputedly this calmed him down rather that he was disciplined enough to work as a kid actor in HK films. Actually, this is where the seeds of being a film star blossomed.
Highly inquisitive , Bruce Lee studied as much as he could about various sorts of Chinese fighting skills till coming to America in 1959.
Lee moved to Seattle where he began to teach kung fu to non-Chinese students...something that did not sit well with most masters. Ultimately, Lee moved to Oakland where the legend of Bruce Lee took another turn. He was challenged by a fellow kung fu consultant due to Lee's teaching non-Chinese kung fu. Lee won the fight but felt it took too long and that he was too winded in the aftermath. This led on to him developing a new self-defense skills approach dubbed Jeet Kune Do, The Way of the Intercepting Fist. This new strategy eschewed the conventional idea of learning a martial-arts style and, instead , mixed kung fu, boxing, and fencing to substantiate a much more organic and fluid form of private combat. Such a fluid nature not only made for a high quality self defense system; it also helped form the basis for a uniquely appealing theatrical style that was developed for demonstrations and films.
Bruce Lee finally got bit by the acting bug once again and that led straight to his landing the role of 'Kato' in the 'Green Hornet' series. The successfulness of the 'Green Hornet' in syndication in HK finally led straight to a film deal overseas which ultimately led on to the green light for Enter the Dragon in America.
Unfortunately , Bruce Lee would die at the age of 33 after a severe allergic reaction to a prescription led on to cerebral swelling. As he passed on from this world, he would enter the records of popular culture history due to his amazing success in life.
Today, the legend of Bruce Lee is still as powerful as ever as he has risen to worldwide celebrity as a selfdefense skills icon and all-time great action superstar.
About the Author:
Today, the legend of Bruce Lee lives on. He is an inspiration to many worldwide through his
way of life, character, philosophy and his impact on martial arts and the film
industry. For more information, visit Bruce Lee Fan Club and LIKE us on Facebook!
way of life, character, philosophy and his impact on martial arts and the film
industry. For more information, visit Bruce Lee Fan Club and LIKE us on Facebook!
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