Return of the Dragon
| Way of the Dragon | |
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Hong Kong film poster
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| Traditional | 猛龍過江 |
| Simplified | 猛龙过江 |
| Mandarin | Měng Lóng Guò Jiāng |
| Cantonese | Maang5 Lung5 Gwo3 Gong1 |
| Directed by | Bruce Lee |
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| Written by | Bruce Lee |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Joseph Koo |
| Cinematography | Tadashi Nishimoto () |
| Edited by | Peter Cheung |
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Release date
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Running time
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100 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Mandarin Cantonese English |
| Budget | HK$130,000 |
| Box office | HK$5.30 million (Hong Kong) US$5.2 million (US/Canada) (rentals) |
The Way of the Dragon (Chinese: 猛龍過江, released in the United States as Return of the Dragon) is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film written, produced and directed by Bruce Lee, who also stars in the lead role. This was Lee's only complete directorial effort. The film co-stars Nora Miao, Chuck Norris, Robert Wall and Hwang In-shik. Way of the Dragon was released in Hong Kong on 30 December 1972.
In Rome, Chen Ching-hua and her uncle Wang experience trouble with their restaurant from a mob boss who wants their property. When Chen refuses to sell, the mob boss sends gangsters to scare away customers. Appealing to an uncle in Hong Kong, Chen receives help in the form of Tang Lung, a martial artist. Disappointed, Chen asks how he can help her, but Tang confidently assures her that he is capable. At the restaurant, Tang learns that the staff have begun to learn karate, much to the annoyance of Quen, an employee who favors Chinese martial arts. Tang tells Quen that he should be open-minded and incorporate any moves that work. Before Tang can demonstrate his style to them, customers arrive, and the staff change clothes.
Before long, gangsters appear at the restaurant and chase off the customers while Tang is in the bathroom. Angered by Tang's poor timing, the staff question his skill and the usefulness of his style. Later, the gangsters return to harass more customers. Before the staff can engage the gangsters, Wang asks all involved to take their fighting outside. The staff engage the thugs, only to be beaten. However, Tang single-handedly defeats the thugs, and the staff abandon their training to study under him. Wang warns them that the gangsters will now seek revenge and that this victory could make the situation worse. Tang vows to protect the restaurant. Chen and Tang grow closer, and she takes him on a tour of Rome, though Tang is unimpressed.
Ho, the mafia boss's consigliere, returns with armed thugs and takes the restaurant staff hostage while they wait for Chen and Tang to return. Ho gives Tang a ticket back to Hong Kong; when his men escort Tang outside, Tang quickly disarms and overpowers them. When reinforcements from the restaurant arrive to subdue him, he defeats them using a pair of nunchaku. Tang warns Ho not to return, and the thugs leave the restaurant. The staff celebrate their victory, though Wang again urges them to focus more on business than fighting. Meanwhile, the mafia boss threatens to send an assassin to kill Tang unless he leaves by Chinese New Year, and Wang urges Chen to convince Tang to leave.
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Wikipedia