Despite never being completed, Game of Death is remembered as one of Bruce Lee’s most iconic films.
Lee wrote, directed, produced and starred in the martial arts film, which was left unfinished when he died in Hong Kong unexpectedly on July 20, 1973, from a fluid build-up in the brain.
The storyline of Game of Death had Lee’s character ascending a tower and defeating new enemies on each floor, and has since inspired action-film and video-game makers, while Lee’s signature black and yellow jumpsuit has become a pop-culture icon.
Fifty-one years after Lee’s death, Hong Kong company Art Prince Advisory and Japan’s Fujifilm are presenting Bruce Lee: Unseen Photographs, an exhibition of stills and clips taken from the original footage Lee shot for The Game of Death, most of which never made it into the version shown in cinemas in 1978.
Visitors to the exhibition in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay neighbourhood are greeted as they enter by a replica of Bruce Lee’s red Mercedes-Benz 350 SL convertible, which featured in the final scene of his 1972 film The Way of the Dragon.
The exhibition space itself, while small, is eye-catching, with Lee’s classic yellow and black colour scheme from the film splashed across the walls. Footage shot for Game of Death plays, including combat sequences starring Lee and a scene featuring legendary American basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In addition to the photographs and film clips, the exhibition features reproductions of original film posters, and visitors will see contemporary artist Alfred Cheng create original thread art inspired by Lee.
Unseen Photographs pays homage to the legacy of Lee as a Hong Kong martial arts icon, curator Heiman Ng says.
“As a Hongkonger, I always think of what we can do to carry on his greatness.
“With this year being the Year of the Dragon [in the Chinese calendar], I’m very glad to have this opportunity to present such a rare collection of Bruce Lee’s photographs and film so we can honour his incredible legacy.”
“Bruce Lee: Unseen Photographs”, Shop A, G/F Sunshine Plaza, 1-29 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, daily, 12-8pm. Until July 16.
