The Green Hornet (1974)
After the superstardom and early death of Bruce Lee, 20th Century Fox decided to cobble together a couple of theatrical feature films from this property, of which this 1974 effort is the first. The bulk of the film consists of four episodes crudely spliced together. Scattered throughout are bizarrely irrelevant fight scenes from other episodes, which make the already disjointed plotting quite surreal. The television image was cropped to make a widescreen film, which means the tops of heads and hats are lopped off the frame with alarming regularity.
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the audience applauded
How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.
If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.
It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.
In 1974 they edited together footage from the 1960s Green Hornet series to make this "movie". I am told this was a smash hit in some parts of the world and it even got a follow up show called Fury Of The Dragon. The second "Fury" show is one hell of a lot better than this first "movie".To my way of thinking, this 1974 show does not get the best episodes or best moments of the short lived Green Hornet series. It even features the two-part space invasion show which is hardly a classic. But I am only a very mild fan of this series so perhaps I am not the best person to judge it? Whatever the case, if you want a 90 minute or so blast from the past, I would go with Fury Of The Dragon.
In 1974,a year after Bruce Lee's sudden death at age 32 at the apex of his popularity from ENTER THE DRAGON,film producers around the world were scrounging for any existing footage starring Bruce Lee to release in films to capitalize after his death. 20th Century Fox who produced THE GREEN HORNET TV series during it's one year run back in 1966,decided to pick among the 26 TV episodes of the series,the best footage to re-edit them in a feature long film but with more emphasis on Lee who played Kato the sidekick to the Green Hornet. Four episodes of the show are featured in this 1974 feature film version: "The Hunters & The Hunted","Invasion From Outer Space Part I & II" and "The Preying Mantis" which features a classic but short kung fu battle between Lee & Mako. Even though the film doesn't have a coherent story line per se, but this film is at least better crafted that it's sequel,FURY OF THE DRAGON that is really a badly edited podgehodge of about 15 episodes of the TV series that is an absolute mess to watch. As it is this film is a great way to see Bruce Lee at the beginning of his stardom and in the role that he is most remembered for.