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 27 - Amy Johnston / Scott Adkins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:28
To celebrate the UK DVD and digital download release of Accident Man – a British action comedy based on a comic book by the creator of Judge Dredd – we have two of the world’s biggest martial arts movie stars on today’s…
Episode 26 - Cung Le [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:23
Having retired from the world of mixed martial arts, Cung Le is channelling the same grit and determination which made him a champion fighter into his career as an actor in Hollywood and Asia. Over the past decade, the f…
Episode 25 - Diana Lee Inosanto [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:19
Actor, stunt performer, filmmaker, teacher, activist - there's a lot more to Diana Lee Inosanto than just being the daughter of legendary Filipino-American martial artist Dan Inosanto, not to mention the goddaughter of t…
Episode 24 - Taimak / Daniel Lue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:58
Star of the 1985 Motown-produced cult classic, The Last Dragon, we welcome Taimak to our first podcast of 2018. Taimak Guarriello was only 19 when he made his starring-role debut as the wise kung fu kid 'Bruce' Leroy Gre…
Episode 23 - End of Year Show 2017 with Mike Fury [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:14
Welcome to the Kung Fu Movie Guide's End of Year Show 2017, featuring the action movie expert and ‘Life of Action’ author Mike Fury. Listen as we reveal our Top 5 martial arts films of the year - and also share our thoug…
Episode 22 - Fighting Spirit Film Festival 2017 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:49
This episode comes to you live from Fighting Spirit Film Festival 2017, an all-day celebration of martial arts movies which took place in London, UK, on 16 September 2017. You will hear from up-and-coming UK filmmakers w…
Episode 21 - Matthias Hues [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:49
Today we welcome one of martial art cinema's all-time greatest villains to the show. The giant, musclebound German fighter Matthias Hues has spent a career taking on the likes of Dolph Lundgren, Cynthia Rothrock, Don "Th…
Episode 20 - Michael Worth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:41
Today we celebrate the weird and wonderful world of Bruceploitation cinema with the martial arts action star, director, writer and fellow podcaster, Michael Worth. When he's not making his own movies, Michael has been fo…
Episode 19 - Tim Man [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:43
Fresh from his award-winning fight choreography duties on a string of Scott Adkins hits - including Boyka: Undisputed, Eliminators, Ninja: Shadow of a Tear, and the upcoming Accident Man and Triple Threat - it was a grea…
Episode 18 - Scott Adkins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:34
Scott Adkins is one of the world's biggest martial arts movie stars. From humble beginnings as a Van Damme and Bruce Lee obsessed taekwondo practitioner growing up in Birmingham, UK, to starring in some of the best fight…