Return of the Dragon (The Way of the Dragon)

1974

Return of the Dragon (The Way of the Dragon)

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Return of the Dragon (The Way of the Dragon) Photos

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Movie Info

Bruce Lee's pre-Enter the Dragon outing is a surprising change of pace from his usual hard-hitting action fare because it favors humor as much as it does kung-fu. It's also notable because it represents Lee's only venture as a director. For the most part, Return of the Dragon works thanks to its charismatic star. Lee shows great comic timing in the humorous set pieces in addition to the usual physical prowess he displays during the action scenes. He also manages to utilize both skills at once on occasion, the best example being a scene where he squares off with a group of mobster goons at a restaurant. It also benefits from its picturesque Italian setting (a novel location for a kung-fu film) and an impressive fight finale between Lee and Chuck Norris (making his film debut). On the down side, the film's low-budget shows and the other performers all pretty much pale in comparison to Lee. However, the real flaw with Return of the Dragon lies in its ending, which features a last-minute twist that doesn't work because it is too unexpectedly tragic for a film that had previously been so lighthearted. Despite this misstep, it remains a likeable blend of kung-fu and comedy that is likely to bring a smile to the face of Bruce Lee fans. ~ Donald Guarisco, Rovi

Rating:

R (nudity, violence)
Genre:

Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Classics, Drama
Directed By:

Bruce Lee
Written By:

Bruce Lee
In Theaters:

Aug 7, 1974 limited
On Disc/Streaming:

Jul 3, 2001
Runtime:

90 minutes
Studio:

Bryanston Distributing

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Cast

Bruce Lee
as Tang Lung

Nora Miao
as Chen Ching Hua

Chuck Norris
as Colt

Malisa Longo

Robert Wall
as Fred

Huang Chung Hsun
as Uncle Wang

Chin Ti
as Ah K'ung

Jon T. Benn
as Boss

Tony Liu
as Tony

Shô Kosugi
as Japanese Fighter

Ch'eng Pin Chih

Chu'eng Li

Huang Jen Chih

Liu Yun

Mali Sha

Ping-Ao Wei

Chung-Hsin Huang

Ing-Sik Whang

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Critic Reviews for Return of the Dragon (The Way of the Dragon)

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (1)

This sort of stuff is magnificently silly, and Lee, to give him credit, never tried to rise above it.

Apr 29, 2018 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic
Strip down the excess of strange characters and bizarre humour, and you have Bruce: mesmerising, fast, witty, and one of the rare examples of true screen magnetism.

May 30, 2001 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Almar Haflidason
BBC.com
Top Critic
Bruce F*@king Lee!

Jul 27, 2007 | Rating: 4/5

Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
Certainly the only movie in history to have Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris do battle in the Roman Colosseum.

Nov 18, 2005 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Scott Weinberg
DVD Clinic

View All Critic Reviews (9)

Audience Reviews for Return of the Dragon (The Way of the Dragon)

Oct 08, 2014

This is probably Bruce Lee's best known, and most beloved film, which he directed, starred in, and dubbed. While the plot isn't especially new, and the humor is so amazingly corny, the action more than makes up for it. The film is set in Rome, which warrants many great sights, and an interesting setting. Lee's character helps saves a tiny restaurant from the clutches of the mafia, and they retaliate against him by calling Chuck Norris from America to come fight him. The fight between Lee and Norris has got to be one of the best onscreen, in film history. Each choreographs very interesting moves, there's a savagery to their vendetta, and it underlines the clear skill of both fighters. If there's any Bruce Lee film that you need to see, it's this very fast paced, and very badly dubbed adventure.

Spencer S Super Reviewer
Jun 07, 2013

Bruce Lee fighting Chuck Norris in the Roman Colosseum 70s style is enough for me to declare this a potential manly celluloid device to cause the Universe to implode out of epicness. 91/100

Edgar C Super Reviewer
Aug 08, 2012

Bruce Lee vs. Chuck Norris. Even today the world's not ready for the epic-ness of this film.

Joshua W Super Reviewer
Dec 22, 2011

Bruce Lee plus comedy equal gold in Return of the Dragon. While it's a unusual movie compared to other of Bruce Lee classic, it'a still a entertaining to watch. Bruce Lee both wrote and directed Return of the Dragon, by watching the movie you wouldn't be able to tell it's Bruce Lee first and only time directing a movie. Like his Martial Arts, he does it with grace and flows easily to watch. Main plot is Bruce Lee plays a man who visits his relatives at their restaurant in Italy and has to help them defend against brutal gangsters harassing them. It has a good blend of drama and humor, though I think it lack in Martial Art when compared to Enter the Dragon or Fists of Fury. It's still to this day that Bruce Lee died unprecedentedly, he had a bright future many more bright ideas. This movie reminds us of what could have been a legendary career of Martial Art cinema Icon.

Caesar M Super Reviewer