The Way of the Dragon
The Way of the Dragon (Chinese: 猛龍過江, originally released in the United States as Return of the Dragon) is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film co-produced and directed by Bruce Lee, who also stars in the lead role. This is Lee's only complete directorial film and the last one released during his lifetime. The film co-stars Nora Miao, Robert Wall, Wei Ping-ou and Chuck Norris (playing his debut screen role).
| The Way of the Dragon | |
|---|---|
Hong Kong film poster | |
| Traditional Chinese | 猛龍過江 |
| Simplified Chinese | 猛龙过江 |
| Literal meaning | Ferocious Dragon Crosses the River |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Měng Lóng Guòjiāng |
| Jyutping | Maang5 Lung5 Gwo3 Gong1 |
| Directed by | Bruce Lee |
| Written by | Bruce Lee |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Tadashi Nishimoto (as Ho Lang-shan) |
| Edited by | Peter Cheung |
| Music by | Joseph Koo |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Golden Harvest |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Languages | Mandarin Cantonese English |
| Budget | US$130,000 |
| Box office | US$130 million |
The Way of the Dragon was released in Hong Kong on 30 December 1972, and in the United States in August 1974. The film went on to gross an estimated US$130 million worldwide (equivalent to over $700 million adjusted for inflation), against a tight budget of $130,000, earning a thousand times its budget. It was the highest-grossing Hong Kong film up until Lee's next film Enter the Dragon (1973).