Over 50 years since it was released, Enter the Dragon still packs a punch, with some of the most iconic fight scenes in film history. Bruce Lee's masterpiece follows a Shaolin martial artist as he infiltrates an island compound run by a violent drug kingpin. It combines elements of martial arts cinema with western cultural influences, leading to a unique synthesis that draws from James Bond as much as Hong Kong cinema.
Enter the Dragon has defined the martial arts genre for decades. Its immense box office success kick-started a new wave of martial arts mania in American cinema, and the rest of the 1970s produced a number of genre classics following the same playbook. Bruce Lee sadly died just a few days before Enter the Dragon was released, but the movie's unforgettable fight scenes have cemented his status as a martial arts icon.
Why Bruce Lee Almost Gave Up Martial Arts For Good
Despite his status as a kung fu movie icon, Bruce Lee once reached a point where quitting martial arts for good was a real possibility.
13 Roper Vs. Liu
Roper Is Comfortable Enough To Pretend To Be On The Back Foot
Roper's first-round match-up in the martial arts tournament is one of the briefest fight scenes in Enter the Dragon. This scene is all about revealing his character, rather than providing many action thrills. Roper and Williams are in cahoots with a gambling scheme in which one will start intentionally losing their fight while the other watches on. They will continue to lose until the other man is offered advantageous odds, at which point they will take the bet and unleash their full potential. Roper defeats his opponent in seconds after ensuring his pay day. This shows the bond that Williams and Roper share, as well as their immense confidence.
12 Williams Vs. Parsons
Jim Kelly Shows A Flash Of His Brilliance
Williams' first-round fight is much like Roper's. He keeps one eye on his friend in the audience to make sure that he maximizes their gambling earnings. Williams' fight is a little more dynamic than Roper's. Jim Kelly was a great martial artist, and Enter the Dragon allows him to show his skills off in a wide shot. By contrast, Roper's fight is directed with more close-ups and quick cuts. John Saxon wasn't as esteemed a martial artist as most of his co-stars in Enter the Dragon. He had some formal training, but he lost interest in the genre after Enter the Dragon, proving that it wasn't his main focus.
11 Williams Resists Arrest
Williams Travels To Hong Kong To Flee Prosecution
Before the group arrives at Han's island, their backstories are revealed in a series of flashbacks. Williams re the time that he was accosted by two police officers back home in the United States. When they start to harass him, he fights them off and steals their police car. This brief scene reveals a lot about Williams' treatment on home soil, even as a veteran of the Vietnam War. It also gives the first glimpse of his incredible skills, although the two corrupt cops aren't exactly the most formidable opponents. It's a mere taste of what's to come from Williams.
10 Roper Fights Off The Mob
John Saxon Gets An Early Chance To Show His Martial Arts Skills
Similar to Williams' flashback, Enter the Dragon shows a brief scene from Roper's life back in the United States. While playing golf, he is ambushed by three mobsters who pressure him to repay his debts. This highlights the depths of Roper's gambling addiction, and it isn't a habit that he seems to have any interest in shaking. Accosted by three men with weapons, Roper has little trouble fighting them all off. Just like with Williams' flashback, this quick scene shows off Roper's skills, as well as the reason why he has had to flee his home country.
9 Bolo Punishes The Guards
Bolo Yeung Takes On Four Challengers At Once
When Han discovers that one of his guests has been snooping around his compound after hours, he decides to send a message by punishing his guards for their failure to apprehend the perpetrator. He unleashes Bolo's full force on them in front of everyone else. Bolo is Han's right-hand man, but he spends the first day or two on the island as a silent, intimidating observer. His first real fight scene highlights his formidable martial arts skills, but, more importantly, it shows his ruthless nature. Han believes that any lenience is a sign of weakness, and Bolo exemplifies this mindset.
8 Lee Vs. O'Hara
Lee Gets Revenge For His Sister's Death
Lee's first fight in the tournament is a lot more meaningful than either Roper's or Williams'. Lee comes face-to-face with the scarred man who he holds responsible for the death of his sister. Lee starts dominating the contest from the early stages, which causes O'Hara to resort to cheating. Still, he is no match for Lee. Bruce Lee pulls off some of his most impressive moves in this short fight, including a backflip kick which is slowed down to highlight the technical expertise involved. Lee isn't a flashy fighter in Enter the Dragon, but he struts around in his fight against O'Hara when he sees that it infuriates his opponent. By killing him, he avenges his sister's death.
7 Bolo Vs. Roper
Bolo Yeung's Final Fight Shows His Skills
Bolo's fight with Roper, after Lee is discovered by Han's guards, is the highlight of Enter the Dragon for both fighters. Bolo Yeung gets to show off an impressive blend of skill and raw power, first by almost choking Roper to death and then by picking him up over his head and tossing him onto the ground. Roper gradually gains the upper hand in the fight, just as the prisoners begin to escape elsewhere on the island. Bolo and Roper's fight makes interesting use of POV shots. The fight is shown from Bolo's perspective a few times. Initially, the camera is squared up to Roper, but it starts to shake and tilt down to mimic Bolo's exhaustion.
6 The Opening Fight
Enter The Dragon Starts Off Strong
Bruce Lee isn't the only legendary martial artitst in Enter the Dragon. As well as Bolo Yeung and Jim Kelly, Sammo Hung makes a brief appearance near the beginning of the movie. He plays Lee's opponent in a training bout in Hong Kong. Enter the Dragon starts off with a bang, as Hung and Lee trade ferocious blows. It's one of the purest showcases of technical ability in the entire movie, without the added embellishments of mirrors and blades. It's a simple scene between two great martial artists, filmed largely in wide shots or from low angles to emphasize their skills without being too static.
5 Williams Vs. Han
Han Takes A While To Show His Full Power
Han has a reputation as one of the most dangerous martial artists around, but he doesn't show what he's capable of for a long time. His first fight scene comes when he faces Williams in his office. After ordering four of his minions to attack Williams, Han takes matters into his own hands. Before his different attachments later on in Enter the Dragon, Han uses a metal hand for this fight. Williams seems extremely comfortable in every fight until this one, showing that Han is a cut above his other opponents. When the two fighters break into an ading room, the scene shifts gears to mirror the drugged-up haze of the women there.
4 Lee Escapes The Guards
Bruce Lee Shows His Mastyery Of Different Weapons
After releasing a cobra into the radio room and sending a message back to Hong Kong, Lee is attacked by scores of guards. The following fight scene gives Bruce Lee the chance to show off many different sides of his talents. He doesn't use many weapons in Enter the Dragon, even in his final confrontation with Han when he is surrounded by options, but he does so in this scene. Lee uses a bo staff, kali sticks and nunchuka in quick succession, showing that he can master any weapon that he picks up. The fight choreography is brilliantly done, making the most of each weapon's potential.
Jackie Chan's role in Enter the Dragon can be spotted in this scene. He plays one of Han's goons who attacks Lee.
