*******************************************************

Bruce Lee has gained worldwide popularity as a kung-fu star, but how was his performance as a comic actor and fooling around with girls?

Lee was intense, macho and powerful in his films, could he be light and dance playfully as well?

Which film is the legendary star's first breakthrough picture?

Why the new documentary "Bruce Lee - A Warrior's Journey" which was produced so many years after Lee's death contains never-before-seen footage shot by Lee himself?

To commemorate the 60th birthday of the late Bruce Lee, the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present his films in a Retrospective "The Immortal Bruce Lee: From the Kid to Kung Fu Dragon" from November 20 to December 17 as a tribute to the legendary star's contribution to the cinema in Hong Kong and the world. Audiences will be able to see Bruce Lee at different stages from a child actor to a superstar.

Twenty precious films including a newly restored print of "The Kid" (1950), his teenage work "The Orphan" (1960) to classical kung fu films "The Big Boss (1971) and Lee's last project "The Game of Death" (1978) will be featured.

Jointly presented by the HKFA and the Bruce Lee Union., a special premiere of "Bruce Lee - A Warrior's Journey" will be screened on November 27, Lee's birthday. The new film is a 99-minute documentary including 25 minutes excised footage from "The Game of Death" shot by Lee himself.

Lee's last movie "The Game of Death" contains only some 11 minutes directed by the superstar. In 1994, John Little, the only person authorized to compile Lee's written, photographic, audio and video materials discovered in the late star's home in Idaho the original shooting script and choreography notes for the film.

With the assistance from the superstar's widow, Linda Lee Cadwell, an author on martial arts films, Bey Logan and Golden Harvest, Little located outtakes of the film and put them together in what he considers as "its proper sequence" into the "Bruce Lee - A Warrior's Journey".

The opening film of the Retrospective "The Kid" will be shown on November 20 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre while all other films will be screened from November 21 to December 17 at HKFA cinema (50 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho, MTR exit A). The HKFA will fully open to public early next year. Audiences attending the Bruce Lee Retrospective will be able to enjoy the priority of using the HKFA's cinema facilities.

Lee's first starring role was in "The Kid" when he was only 10. His lively and vivid performances as a street urchin has won him praise and "The Kid" is now regarded as his first breakthrough picture. Lee starred with his father, the noted opera clown Lee Hoi-chuen in the film and this was the first time he used the name "Lee Siu-lung" (Bruce Lee). The film shown in the Retrospective will be a newly restored print by the HKFA.

Known for his stunning martial arts prowess, Lee's performance in his early comedies was equally amusing. In "The Wise Guys Who Fool Around", Lee played a young pubescent kid developing his first taste for the opposite sex and even demonstrated how to become a lady killer. Lee succeeded in holding his own against the famous comic actor Sun Ma Si-tsang.

Seldom did people know about Lee's dancing skill. In fact, he was very fond of Cha-Cha in real life. He first showed his Cha-Cha talent in "Too Late for Divorce" and danced again in "Darling Girl". It was said that he taught martial arts master Siu Hon-sang how to do the Cha-Cha in exchange for learning martial arts from the master. He also taught Cha-Cha classes in return for pocket money when studying abroad.

Lee appeared in several great Cantonese pictures including "A Son is Born", "A Mother Remembers", "A Myriad Homes", "In the Face of Demolition", "Love" (Part 1 & 2), "An Orphan's Tragedy", "Orphan's Song", and "The More the Merrier". His works were terrific. In "The Thunderstorm", the teenage Lee put on the Zhongshan uniform and played the virtuous second son of the patriarch. In "The Orphan", Lee was a juvenile delinquent. From straight roles to heavies, from comedy to tragedy, Lee proved that he could play well in any roles.

"The Big Boss" made Lee an idol for millions. His nose-thumbing, huffs and puffs and expression of the eyes became his symbol. His famous weapon, the nunchaku, was shown for the first time in his next movie "Fist of Fury". "The Way of the Dragon" which hit the box offices locally and in Southeast Asia was Lee's only self-directed, self-acted film. "Enter the Dragon' was Lee's co-production with Warner Brothers which helped to catapult him into the international market.

All films in the Retrospective are in Cantonese except "Bruce Lee - A Warrior's Journey", which has an English voice-over. Screenings of " A Myriad Homes" on December 17, "In the Face of Demolition" and "Love" (Part 2) on November 25 will have English subtitles, while screenings on "The Kid", "The Orphan", "The Big Boss", "Fist of Fury", "The Way of the Dragon", "Enter the Dragon" and "The Game of Death" will have both English and Chinese subtitles.

In addition to the screening of Lee's films, a mini-exhibition on Lee will be held from November 21 to December 17 at the HKFA foyer. The exhibits include precious stills from Lee's movies, costumes, original letter written by Lee and his nunchaku. Admission is free to the public.

Tickets for all screenings priced at $30 except for video screening of "An Orphan's Tragedy" at $20 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concession are available for senior citizens, people with disabilities and full-time students. Reservation can be made at 2734 9009 and programme enquiries at 2739 2139.

End/Thursday, November 9, 2000

NNNN