HKL Way Of The Dragon, missing scene???

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grim_tales
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HKL Way Of The Dragon, missing scene???

Post by grim_tales »

Hey,

I just read these selection of posts on Rewind which seemed odd, could WOTD HKL be missing a scene? After reading about it I dont remember it, I'll check my copy of the PE.

Its' the scene after Bruce eats the soup in the restaurant. He goes to the toilet, and because hes never seen one, he flushes it a few times, and then squats on it. Another guy walks into the cubicle and Lee kicks the door shut on him.

Then another scene is mentioned, the one where Bruce tries to tell the little kid he is hungry by sticking his fingers in his mouth, but he freaks the kid out because he thought Bruce wanted his ice cream. Apparently there is more footage in that scene (?) with Bruce using many more gestures.

I'm confused. I dont remember those scenes (the first one with the kid is there though), did HKL use a US print or something? Its not beyond them to get stuff wrong, they used Cantonese audio for starters... ;)
AFAIK, WAY was cut for cinema release over here in the 70's but not sure about other places, by about 7.5 minutes.

Its very odd because I always assumed WOTD was uncut as far as footage went, with BOSS it isnt really their fault as the original uncut Mandarin print of that is a long lost treasure. HKL FIST is totally uncut (AFAIK).

Mark you can help here :D :wink: Do you remember that footage?

http://www.therewindforums.co.uk/forums ... sc&start=0
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Post by Markgway »

Those scenes you mention were cut for the US release RETURN of the Dragon. It was felt that the cultural humour wouldn't travel. The HKL should be uncut. The bit with the kid and the ice-cream is in the opening scene. Should be easy to spot.
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Post by grim_tales »

Yeah, I spotted that one, but got confused when it was mentioned there should be more gestures? :? Don't remember the other scene in the HKL though.
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Post by saltysam »

the toilet scene happens around 25 minutes just after bruce has met the restaurant workers for the first time.he's about to show them "chinese boxing" when they are called back to serve customers.he asks where the toliet is and one of the passengers follows him in,finds him squatting on the bog and bruce gives him a dirty look and shuts the door.it's in the hkl.
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Post by grim_tales »

Thanks Salty, I will check.
The poster seemed to suggest there was a SECOND (or rather, first) toilet scene at the place I described. One other says "Way of the Dragon was not released in HK theatres (in 1972)" - maybe I'm getting confused between HK and US releases :?

:? I'm sure it (WOTD) was released in HK in 1972. The original trailer is in Mandarin for a start.
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Post by Markgway »

grim_tales wrote:One other says "Way of the Dragon was not released in HK theatres (in 1972)" - maybe I'm getting confused between HK and US releases :? :? I'm sure it (WOTD) was released in HK in 1972.
The Way of the Dragon was released in Hong Kong on December 30th 1972 in Mandarin.
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Post by grim_tales »

Thankyou :D I thought it was.
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Post by grim_tales »

My bad :D What user "ozcollector" actually says is -

WOTD was not originally released in Hong Kong theatres (in 1972) in the versions we now have on VHS/DVD, the toilet scenes I mentioned earlier and more scenes of Bruce having problems communicating were the main scenes removed for the 1974/5 re-releases.

:? Thats very strange. Is that guy saying footage was removed from the 1972 HK release, prior to a later 70's HK release? Wierd... :( He claims to have seen those things in a 70's theatrical screening in Oz.
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Post by Markgway »

That's a different story... No idea if it's true...
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Post by grim_tales »

Me neither, I would've thought Bey wouldve said something on the commentary if there was alternate HK footage :D What we have on DVD (print wise) is apprently a 1974/5 HK re-release plus the wrong audio track (which is definite). Oh dear... :roll:
Doesnt look like IVL will re-release the Lee titles seperately, I'm not buying the massive box just for the Mandarin audio. :(
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Post by saltysam »

i believe some of the early footage at the airport inolving bruce scaring the kid etc was cut for usa release as it was clearly out of focus. :P other bits cut were the scene where he goes back to the apartment with the prostitute and some travelogue footage around rome.however for a truly decimated version of way of the dragon watch the old uk vhs.every fight was censored! :o
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Post by Markgway »

grim_tales wrote:Me neither, I would've thought Bey wouldve said something on the commentary if there was alternate HK footage :D
There are things that even Lord Bey doesn't know... :wink:
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