Game of Death. Robert Clouse and Bruce Lee, 1972-1978.
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Edition screened: Included in Criterion Blu-ray box set #1036 Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits, released 2020. Original English dub. Runtime approximately 101 minutes.
Summary: An exotic fish in an aquarium quickly snaps up two small fish put in as feeders, 9:25-9:32.
The distraction of filming Enter the Dragon followed by Lee’s shocking death left the 1972 Game of Death abandoned until 1978, when a new director and leading man were hired to replace Lee. Scant footage of Bruce Lee constitutes only about ten minutes of the completed film. The replacement actor is a perfectly acceptable kickboxer, but the resuscitated film falls flat, lacking Lee’s charm, charisma, and much of the original storyline.
The final scene of the 1978 Game of Death finds Faux Bruce Lee fighting his way up three floors of a pagoda, much like a video game with each Boss tougher than the last. But back in 1972, Lee was so excited about this exciting 34-minute action sequence that he completed it early in production with himself in the starring role of course. That footage was not in the 1978 release and instead was re-shot with the new actor.
* Game of Death Redux *
In 2019 producer Alan Canvan cleaned up Lee’s original Triple Boss Pagoda Battle finale and released it as the 34-minute Game of Death Redux, both a wonderfully good-humored viewing experience and a poignant reminder of what the original film might have been had Lee not left us. Highlights include the elusive Shave-and-a-Haircut nunchuck technique, Lee’s charming reaction shots while fighting, and an awesome surprise for the third Boss. The Game of Death Redux short is recommended to everyone including those with no interest in martial arts films.
The Criterion set includes the 34-minute Game of Death Redux, starring and directed by Lee himself and salvaged by Canvan. This must not be confused with the unrelated posthumous Game of Death II, also in the Criterion set.
