ENTER THE DRAGON

Yes, the plot is lifted from Dr. No. Sure, the dialogue is a bit stilted. But as it celebrates its 50th year, Enter the Dragon remains one of the most influential, profitable and, thanks to Bruce Lee, purely enjoyable films ever made. Fifty years have done nothing to diminish Lee’s sheer magnetism and star power. He’s the movie’s sole selling point, and that’s more than enough. While the production was famously troubled, there’s no denying the results. The fights (all choreographed by Lee), particularly the hall-of-mirrors finale, remain the best and most influential in the genre. Budgeted at $850,000, the film has grossed more than $400 million, making it one of the most profitable films ever made. In 2004, the Library of Congress’ dubbed it a “culturally significant film.” Sadly, Lee died of a cerebral edema at age 32, weeks before the movie’s release. What if…? ~SM