Bruce Lee was finally hired in an American film in 1972, after years of being overlooked by Hollywood. Enter the Dragon, his first and only Hollywood picture was produced by Warner Bros. Shortly after his death in 1973, the film that made him a household figure in the United States was released in theatres. When Lee lived in California, he dreamed of becoming a movie star. During the 1960s, The Green Hornet actor intended to one day equal or surpass Steve McQueen’s stardom. Unfortunately, his employment did not turn out as he had hoped. He was often passed up for roles, making it difficult for him to obtain work in the film and television industries.
Apart from The Green Hornet, the majority of his work consisted of guest appearances on various television shows. Lee attempted to develop a film called The Silent Flute for Warner Bros. With the support of James Coburn, but the studio’s lack of commitment to the project caused it to be shelved. Lee migrated to Hong Kong after becoming dissatisfied with the way his career was headed. He wanted to make movies there instead. Because Hollywood wasn’t interested in Lee during those years, he didn’t become a Hollywood celebrity until the end of his career. The success he attained after returning to Hong Kong eventually persuaded them to rethink their minds. Warner Bros.
Loved what they saw when they saw the stats for Lee’s first Kung Fu film, The Big Boss, according to Bruce Lee: A Life. When The Big Boss was launched in theatres in 1971, it became an instant hit, and the same was true when Fist of Fury was released in March 1972. Not only that but Kung Fu movies, in general, were becoming increasingly popular. It also helped that ABC’s Kung Fu show had gained a lot of popularity.
The success of Lee’s films in Hong Kong, combined with these other considerations, prompted Warner Bros. to take a gamble on both Lee and the martial arts genre. Producers put aside their long-held qualms about employing an Asian actor in the lead role thanks to The Big Boss and had Lee sign a contract. Even still, certain reservations remained, especially since Enter the Dragon was unlike anything they had ever done before. Understanding the danger, Warner Bros. prepared for the prospect of failure by hammering out a co-financing contract with Golden Harvest. If Enter the Dragon failed (which movie didn’t), the studio’s losses would be modest.
Lee would almost certainly not have gotten that opportunity if he hadn’t changed his career path. Bruce Lee realized that waiting for Hollywood to cast him wasn’t going to work, so he decided to make a name for himself elsewhere first. Lee’s casting as the central character in Warner Bros.’ Enter the Dragon demonstrated he made the right decision.
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