Episode 64 - Bruce Lee at 80: Legacy of the Dragon

Episode 64 - Bruce Lee at 80: Legacy of the Dragon

Author: Ben Johnson November 23, 2020 Duration: 1:08:50

On 27 November 2020, the martial arts superstar and pop culture icon Bruce Lee would have celebrated his 80th birthday. To commemorate the occasion, we have put together this bonus podcast featuring a range of voices from across our five seasons, exploring the legacy of the 'Little Dragon' and the impact he continues to have in society, media, and the world of martial arts. Bruce Lee was only 32 when he died in 1973, but in the 47 years since his death, his star has not waned. In fact, judging by the range of new films, TV shows, books and documentaries inspired by his life, Bruce Lee's fame is now more prevalent than ever. On this compilation show, you will hear from his daughter, Shannon Lee, on why she thinks her father's legacy continues to inspire and influence people from all over the world. You will hear from his good friend and co-star, Bob Wall, and his goddaughter, Diana Lee Inosanto, on Bruce Lee's impact on the fighting arts and, in particular, his role in the development of today's hugely popular sport of mixed martial arts. You will also hear from action stars including Scott Adkins, Loren Avedon, Jean-Paul Ly and Jerry Trimble who explain the impact Lee has had on their lives and careers.


SHOW NOTES

This episode features the song 'Theme from Enter the Dragon (Main title)' composed by Lalo Schifrin, copyright 1973 Warner Music Inc., available to buy now via Warner Music Group. Link to purchase: https://music.apple.com/us/album/enter-the-dragon-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/375639617

This episode includes an audio clip from 'Bruce Lee: The Lost Interview', recorded 9 December 1971 for 'The Pierre Berton Show'. Please find full interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uk1lzkH-e4U

Shannon Lee's book, 'Be Water, My Friend: The True Teachings of Bruce Lee', published by Flatiron, is available now via Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Water-My-Friend-Teachings/dp/1846046661

Follow the official Bruce Lee social media accounts on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/brucelee/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/brucelee) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BruceLee/)

Bruce Lee profile on Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://bit.ly/BruceLeeKFMG


TAKE PART IN OUR 2020 END OF YEAR SHOW

Let us know your favourite martial arts action films of the year and why and your comments could be read out on the show. Please find a list of films released in 2020 on our website: https://bit.ly/KFMGPodEndOfYearShow2020.


COMPETITION

We have 3 x Blu-rays of the 1993 Hong Kong classic, The Bride with White Hair, and 3 x Blu-rays of the 2019 Chinese animated fantasy, White Snake, to give away in this month's competition. Full competition details will be announced in our next newsletter, released 30 November. Sign-up to our newsletter via our website (http://bit.ly/KFMGhome) to be in with a chance of winning. Good luck!


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


There's a particular magic in the stories behind the fights, the philosophy woven into the choreography, and the sheer dedication it takes to create martial arts cinema. The Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast is built on those stories, offering a backstage pass to the world of Hong Kong action, classic Shaw Brothers epics, and modern martial arts filmmaking. Host Ben Johnson, who created the extensive kungfumovieguide.com resource, sits down for detailed conversations with the very people who bring these films to life. Each episode features an unscripted, in-depth interview with actors who threw the punches, stunt performers who designed the falls, directors who framed the shots, and choreographers who turned violence into poetry. You'll hear about their career paths, the challenges on set, and the deep, personal passion that fuels their work. This isn't just a surface-level recap of famous movies; it's about the craft, the history, and the human effort behind every iconic scene. For anyone who has ever wondered about the artistry behind a perfectly executed fight sequence or the legacy of a genre that spans decades, this podcast provides a rich, engaging listen. Tune in for genuine insights from the heart of martial arts cinema.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 78 - End of Year Show 2021 with Mike Fury: Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:29
Ho ho ho and happy holidays to all our listeners around the world. Welcome to the first part of our annual, end-of-year wrap-up podcast featuring the Life of Action author, Mike Fury. And, wow, what a year it has been fo…
Episode 77 - Kenji Tanigaki [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:12
What a year it has been for the stunt coordinator, fight choreographer and second unit director, Kenji Tanigaki. Not only did he craft the action on two more 'Rurouni Kenshin' films - called 'Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginni…
Episode 76 - Daniel Bernhardt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:45
Daniel Bernhardt is a true renaissance man; a martial artist from Switzerland who went from being a professional model in Paris to a Hollywood action star. In the 1990s, he was a leading man in low-budget martial arts fi…
Episode 75 - Lee Charles / James Nunn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:37
It has taken six years for director James Nunn to bring his one-take, real-time action movie to the screen. During that time, 'one-shot' movies like 'Birdman' and '1917' have not only dominated at the box office, but the…
Episode 74 - Brad Martin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:48
Brad Martin is one of Hollywood’s top stunt coordinators with a string of blockbusters to his name, including the 'Underworld' series, 'Live Free or Die Hard', 'Tropic Thunder', 'Gemini Man', plus the Emmy-nominated 2021…
Episode 73 - Max Huang [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:04
Max Huang's turn as Kung Lao - the deadly, hat-throwing, Shaolin-trained kung fu cousin of Liu Kang - in the 2021 reboot of Mortal Kombat was a delightful surprise; a scene-stealing performance complete with comedy, dram…
Episode 72 - Cynthia Rothrock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:06
Cynthia Rothrock - the undisputed 'Queen of martial arts movies' - never anticipated a career as an action film star. The Scranton-raised martial artist initially headed west in search of furthering her kung fu knowledge…
Episode 71 - Philip Ng [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:19
When Philip Ng burst onto the scene in his 2014 leading-man debut, 'Once Upon a Time in Shanghai' - co-starring Sammo Hung and with fight choreography by Yuen Woo-ping - followed by his turn as Bruce Lee in the 2016 Holl…
Episode 70 - Brahim Chab [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:35
Over the last 15 years, French stunt performer and martial artist Brahim Chab has jumped, kicked and punched his way into the upper echelons of the fight film business. In 2021, he wrapped on 'Monkey Man' - the directori…
Episode 69 - Ron Van Clief [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:34
Martial arts legend Ron Van Clief never wanted to be a movie star. Known as the 'Black Dragon' - a name originally given to him by Bruce Lee and adopted as his screen persona in a series of Hong Kong kung fu movies in th…