Game of Death (1978) Columbia/Action RT: 100 minutes Rated R (martial arts violence, language) Director: Robert Clouse Screenplay: Robert Clouse (as “Jan Spears”) Music: John Barry Cinematography: Godfrey A. Godar and Tadashi Nishimoto (original footage) Release date: June 9, 1979 (US) Cast: Bruce Lee, Tai Chung Kim (doubling for Lee), Yuen Biao (doubling for Lee), Gig Young, Dean Jagger, Hugh O’Brian, Colleen Camp, Robert Wall, Mel Novak, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Chuck Norris, Dan Inosanto, Billy McGill, Sammo Hung (as “Hung Kim Po”), Roy Chiao, Tony Leung, Jim James, Russell Cawthorne, Yuan Chieh, Han Jae Ji, James Tien. Box Office: $43M (US est.)
Rating: ***
The story behind the production of Game of Death would make an interesting movie. It was completed and released about five years after lead actor Bruce Lee died in 1973. The famed martial artist and up-and-coming action star was at work on it in ‘72 when he received an offer to star in a major Hollywood movie. That, of course, would be Enter the Dragon. Shortly after it wrapped, Lee died of a cerebral edema.
Game of Death was left uncompleted until Robert Clouse (Enter the Dragon) stepped in about five years later to finish the job. He reworked the original plot and shot new footage using stand-ins for Lee. He got around their lack of resemblance to the late actor/martial artist by having them spend much of the movie in disguise- e.g. big sunglasses, fake beard. There’s only about eleven minutes of actual footage of Lee, mostly at the end when he fights his way to the top floor of the bad guys’ center of operations. It’s the best part of Game of Death.
Let’s talk plot. Billy Lo is a martial arts superstar being threatened by the “syndicate” to allow them to manage his career. He’s not interested. They try to persuade him as only gangsters can. When he refuses to be intimidated, syndicate boss Dr. Land (Jagger, Alligator) orders his assassination. While shooting the final scene of his latest movie, henchman Stick (Novak, An Eye for an Eye) sneaks onto the set in the guise of an extra. He replaces the blank in the prop gun with a real bullet and shoots Billy in the face leaving him disfigured. Realizing what he’s up against, Billy privately undergoes plastic surgery while publicly faking his own death with the help of his friend, newspaper reporter Jim (Young, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?). He leaves behind a girlfriend (Camp, Police Academy 2) so stricken with grief, she has to be hospitalized. His appearance changed, Billy goes looking for revenge.
All things considered, Game of Death is pretty good even if the two stand-ins (Kim and Biao) don’t look enough like Lee to fool anybody. The disguises are a nice try though. The same goes for the brief inserts of Lee close-ups during the fight scenes. I can’t be said that Clouse didn’t make an honest effort. In his defense, it’s considerably more convincing than what Edward D. Wood Jr. tried to do to get around Bela Lugosi’s death three years before he started shooting Plan 9 from Outer Space. That so-called “double” was at least a foot taller than Lugosi.
Rest assured you’re seeing the real Bruce Lee in the exciting climax of Game of Death. Nobody else has skills like him. The most memorable fight is the one against Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. At 7’ 2”, the basketball star towers over Lee. He has some good moves himself, a fact explained by him being a student of Lee’s. Game of Death has a mighty impressive cast. Another of Lee’s students Chuck Norris (A Force of One) appears via footage from Way of the Dragon. Enter the Dragon co-star Robert Wall plays a champion fighter in cahoots with the syndicate. Hugh O’Brian (The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays yet another henchman who ultimately gets his ass handed to him by Lee. Game of Death also features a great score by John Barry who composed the music for several James Bond movies. In fact, the opening credits look like they could be for a James Bond flick.
Although the idea of completing a movie after one of the main actors die is somewhat morbid, it’s not uncommon. It’s been done a few times, most notably Brainstorm (Natalie Wood) and The Crow (Brandon Lee). What’s creepy about Game of Death is the scene where Billy is shot while filming his movie. It’s eerily similar to the circumstances surrounding his son Brandon’s death on the set of The Crow 20 years later. It’s been said that the Lee family carries a curse stating all males will die at a young age. I’m not so sure about that, but who knows? Want to know something else creepy? The makers use footage from Lee’s funeral including a shot of the star in his coffin.
Overall, Game of Death is an entertaining albeit disjointed kung fu flick with a cool cast and awesome fight scenes. On a personal note, it’s the first Bruce Lee movie I saw as a teen. I was 13 when I watched it at my cousin’s house. I dug it immensely. It’s still a thrill seeing Lee (and not Lee) doing what he does best like in the scene where he takes on a group of baddies on motorcycles, knocking them off with great ease. At the same time, Game of Death is tainted with the sadness of knowing that Lee’s stardom was cut short by his tragic untimely death. He had a bright future ahead of him judging by the few movies he made- e.g. Fist of Fury and The Chinese Connection (American titles). Is Game of Death a fitting tribute? That’s an emphatic YES! The mere fact the makers went back and completed it affirms it.
