'Be Water': How Bruce Lee's 'Enter the Dragon' sparked the birth of martial arts films in Hollywood
When 'Enter the Dragon' hit the world in 1973, it sparked off the birth of a new genre — martial arts films. It made Bruce Lee a legend, a pop culture icon, and an inspiration. It was a new level of macho — a ridiculously shredded fighter who could kick ass. Bruce Lee's image, where he lets out a yell of fury in his fight with Robert Wall's O'Hara, is forever etched in the memories of fans. 'Enter the Dragon' was a prime example of Blaxploitation clubbed with a new genre in Hollywood.
Lee comes into focus as ESPN gears up to release a documentary film on the late actor. 'Be Water' directed by Bao Nguyen captures the final years of his life. According to ESPN, the logline says: "'Be Water' is a gripping, fascinating, intimate look at not just those final, defining years of Lee’s life, but the complex, often difficult, and the seismic journey that led to Lee's ultimate emergence as a singular icon in the histories of film, martial arts and even the connection between the eastern and western worlds.
While researching, there was a quote from Sascha Matuszak of Vice that said the film "is referenced in all manner of media, the plotline and characters continue to influence storytellers today, and the impact was particularly felt in the revolutionizing way the film portrayed African-Americans, Asians, and traditional martial arts." As far as portrayal goes, it served as the launchpad for actors like Jim Kelly and Bolo Yeung. The latter would go on to essay Chong-Li in Jean Claude Van Damme's 'Bloodsport'.
'Enter the Dragon', in addition to being a cult film, was also a commercial success grossing over $20 million in the US. Following the film, there came a string of martial arts films which were then popular only in Hong Kong. For Bruce Lee, this was meant to be the start of his meteoric rise in Hollywood, but tragedy befell the star as he died a month before the release of the film. And instead of being remembered as a star, he is now alive in the hearts of fans as an icon and a legend.
For Lee, the film was more than just a precious project. It was the start of something new and great. According to Matthew Polly, author of 'Bruce Lee: A Life', the actor wanted to create a "heroic Asian Male character." He said, "But it simply didn't exist. There were only two types of roles — Fu Manchu, the villain, and Charlie Chan, the model minority. And both of these characters were played by white actors in multiple films during the '50s and '60s."
It was a crusade for Lee as he wanted to change the way Asians and Asian- Americans were portrayed in Hollywood. The film was supposed to be the beginning of a change in perceptions and it is safe to say it was. Maybe, had he still been alive longer, there would be more of such content. Lee came to the US in 1959 and then caught a break as Kato in 'The Green Hornet'. He starred alongside the titular character in the TV series, played by Van Williams, produced and narrated by William Dozier.
'The Green Hornet' was rather short-lived and lasted for a year. Lee went back to Hong Kong and made three martial arts films — 'Way of the Dragon', 'Fist of Fury' and 'The Big Boss.' Following the success of these films, Lee reached out to Warner Brothers, and well, the rest, as they say, is history. That said, it was unfair that he died of cerebral edema at age 32. Fans will be hoping that much of this might be explained in 'Be Water'.
'Be Water' releases on June 7 at 9 pm ET on ESPN.