BRUCE LEE UK

The Unbeatable Bruce Lee DVD TDVD 9017 Telestar
Executive Producers Gareth Watson and Andrew Staton; script and research by Will Johnson.

Language: English
DVD 5
PAL Region 2
Release Date 21st May 2001
DVD TDVD 9017 85 minutes running time £15.99
VHS TVE 5046 63 minutes running time £10.99
For the die-hard fan the DVD or the VHS tape is a vital piece of film history to own, if just for the trailer section alone!
This review is based around the DVD version of the documentary. The VHS tape, which is available for non-DVD owners, just has the main feature. If you do not own a DVD - then obtain one, the extra features are wonderful!
For you DVD buffs, there are no DVD easter eggs or hidden sections that I could find, maybe the nice staff of BBLA can let us know otherwise?
The DVD is broken into four main sections, the main feature, scene selection, and USA trailer and clip archive and photo gallery.
The scene selection menu is broken up into 8 sections. I would suggest to viewers of the DVD that they read the last sequence first, the errors and omissions section. This has been compiled by Will Johnson and his corrections to the original screen writers version of events in the main feature gives you a better understanding of the actual factual account of Bruce Lee the film star.
There are 20 corrections made by Will for the Telestar production. The only critiscm I would make is that the text is too small and it scrolls too fast on the screen. Get ready to hit the 'slow' button on your remote.
Although some of the archive sections do not have picture galleries, there are 24 good quality photographs in the menu segment. Twelve full colour and 12 black and white images are used. For continuity purposes it would have been nice to see photo galleries in each archive section.
This does not take away the impact of a lot of these trailers, which have not been seen by the public in the United Kingdom, will now have the opportunity to see them all, as was originally intended.
The main feature uses some split screen sequences, which work quite well. The narration is typically American, and there are quite a few errors, which Will Johnson has been given the opportunity to correct.
For the die-hard fan the DVD or the VHS tape is a vital piece of history to own just for the trailer section alone! The editing of the documentary is good and the overall production is professional.
USA Trailer and Clip Archive
There are 10 original trailers within the archive section, all of excellent quality. There are a history section and a photo gallery on some of the segments. Will Johnson of the BBLA has written the history section of each trailer.
There are 9 main parts to the archive of the DVD starting with the original screen test.
1. Bruce completed this screen test for the part of "Number one Son", (a show never made). The history segment gives the viewer an insight into the background of the screen test. Thee are also 4 black and white images, which were used for test publicity shots from the feature. The screen test is a reminder of how Bruce started in the American film business.
2. The Green Hornet. There are 2 pages of text regarding the production history of the Green Hornet and its impact on the American public. The actual trailer is from the 1974 compilation movie "Bruce Lee as Kato in the Green Hornet" There are no photo gallery images.
3. Marlowe. There are 3 pages of text informing the viewer of the production around the making of "Marlowe". The original USA trailer is used and this is the first time in 3 decades that this has been seen in the UK. There are 6 black and white stills taken from the film in the photo gallery.
4. Fists of Fury (AKA Big Boss). There are 2 pages of text outlining the first film Bruce made for Golden Harvest. The trailer, which was filmed in July 1971, is based on the mandarin theatrical trailer but without the miss-spelt text flashes. This is the US theatrical release.
5. Chinese Connection (AKA Fist of Fury). There are 2 pages of text outlining the second film Bruce made for Golden Harvest. There are 2 trailers; the first clip is the shortened version of the main theatrical release. The 2nd clip provided is the first time the uncensored format with Bruce using the nunchaku has been seen. No picture gallery.
6. Return of the Dragon (AKA Way of the Dragon). There are three pages of interesting facts about the third film Bruce made. A rarely seen trailer in the UK, includes Bruce's twin nunchaku sequence and dart scenes. No picture gallery.
7. Game of Death. There are 3 pages of clear well informed information on the production of this film. The trailer from the USA in 1979 has been rarely seen in the UK. No picture gallery.
8. Enter the Dragon. There are 3 pages of history on the production of this film in Hong Kong. There are no less than 3 trailers for this part of the archive.
Clip 1 The full production trailer, listing all the film characters.
Clip 2. Champion of Champions.
Clip 3. Roper, Williams and Lee, this has been rarely seen in the UK due to the inclusion of the nunchaku scenes. Due to the relaxation by the BBFC this year on this issue the trailer can be shown in its full content. No picture gallery.
9. James Coburn. There are three pages of text relating to Bruce and James' friendship. The archive clip is the first known interviews with James Coburn from the TV show "Backstage", hosted by J Grant and which was filmed in 1980. No picture gallery.

A great documentary for any fan to add to their collection. I was impressed by the extras and would certainly recommend it to any longstanding fans who remember the films the first time around, and too any new fans that are embarking on the history of "the unbeatable Bruce Lee".