THE ART OF BRUCE-PLOITATION: A LOW BUDGET LOOK-ALIKE CRAZE
The art and legacy of the high-octane blend of jaw-dropping action, gravity-defying stunts, and enough Bruce Lee look-alikes to start a full-blown martial arts army.
In the wake of Bruce Lee's untimely death in 1973, a new genre of martial arts film emerged: Bruceploitation. Created as a cashew by studios to capitalize on intense interest in the star, and the, sadly, small amount of titles he headlined, these low-budget films were made with questionable execution and starred actors who bore a passing resemblance to Lee, and titles riffing on Lee’s box office successes, often with dubious stretches of the imagination (The Pig Boss (1972), Enter the Game of Death (1978)). The genre reached its peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but evolved into a cult favorite among fans of martial arts cinema thanks to some actually competent action.
New Fist Of Fury (1976)
A typical sample of Bruceploitation films included such whimiscal titles as Exit the Dragon, Enter the Tiger (1974) starring Bruce Li, Bruce Lee Fights Back From the Grave (1976) sporting a resurrected Bruce Lee thanks to a bolt of lightning striking his grave and Bruce the Super Hero (1978) starring Bruce Le.
Bruce Lee Fights Back From The Grave (1976)
The Bruceploitation genre was born out of a desire to capitalize on Lee's immense popularity. In the years following his death, Lee's films continued to be released in theaters and on home video, creating a new generation of fans who missed Lee's work first time around, and yearned for a dose of what might have been had his career trajectory continued upward, as ;promised with his western breakthrough Enter The Dragon (1973). The nature of Lee’s death, sometimes attributed to a curse, found it’s way into the Bruceploitation genre by way of films like Exit the Dragon, Enter the Tiger in which Lee asks Bruce Li to replace him after his death.
Bruce Lee: The Man, The Myth (1976)
A curious and specific subgenera, like many exploitation era productions, several Bruceploitation films are considered to be cult classics, beloved for their camp value and over-the-top action sequences and a bittersweet reminder of where Bruce Lee’s star was headed. Certainly not in the realm of high art, or in the same league of production level as the Shaw Brothers films, they remain immensely entertaining as cheap cash grabs of the era, and fodder for a night of B Movie madness.
The Clones of Bruce Lee (1980)
Enter The Invincible Hero (1977)
Fist of Fury 3 (1979)
The Dragon Lives (1976)
Bruce Lee: The Invincible (1978)
Fist of Fury 2 (1977)
JAWS: THE FEAR THAT SWALLOWED THE JULY 4TH WEEKEND.
Where to catch the thriller that defined the notion of the ‘Summer Blockbuster’ on the big screen this holiday weekend!
Ah, Jaws! The toothy titan that forever scarred our summers. Released back in 1975, this Spielbergian masterpiece has left an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape and our collective consciousness, and became the unofficial mascot movie of the July 4th long weekend.
Long lined were a staple of movie houses screening Jaws in 1975
Based on the 1974 novel, Speilberg's thriller was beset by massive technical problems and delays, but paid off by becoming the prototype 'summer blockbuster', becoming the highest grossing movie of all time until Star Wars in 1977.
Starring Roy Schieder and Richard Dreyfuss, it pits sun-kissed beach goers against a relentless Great White lurking beneath the waves, waiting to devour the shoreline. As fireworks explode overhead, Jaws injects a healthy dose of horror into the holiday festivities, serving as a reminder that even the most patriotic celebrations can quickly turn into a gut-churning swim for your life.
A massive pop culture compliment; Mad Magazine spoofed the movie as ‘Jaw’d’ in 1976.
So, if you crave adrenaline and suspense while basking in the summer bliss, grab your popcorn and prepare for a thrilling ride that transformed the way we view both summers and the lurking terrors beneath the neon-lit marquee and see the original on the big screen via 35mm Prints or the recent 4K Restorations;
Tues 7/4th 7pm at American Cinematheque x Los Feliz. More info HERE.
Tues 7/4th 8:45pm at The Prince Charles Cinema, London. More info HERE.
Mon 7/3rd 1:30pm & Tues 7/4th 1pm, 4pm & 7pm at The Brattle Theatre Massachusetts in 35mm. More info HERE.
Sun 7/2nd - Wed 7/5th at The Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, 4K Restoration. More info HERE.
Sat 7/1st, Sun 7/2nd 11am and Tues 7/4th 12pm at The Nitehawk Cinema, New York City. More info HERE.
Sat 7/1st & Sun 7/2nd 2pm at The New Beverly Cinema, Los Angeles in 35mm. More info HERE.