The Way of the Dragon vs the BBFC Censor's

In this video, I'm comparing Bruce Lee's The Way of the Dragon un-cut
Blu-Ray (2010) to heavily censored ForFront VHS (1997)
Credits: © 1972 Miramax Film, Fortune Star Media, LeakID, WediaCorp
AVAILABLE TO BUY WAY OF THE DRAGON: www.amazon.co.uk/Way-Dragon-D...
WAY OF THE DRAGON AVAILABLE FOR RENT www.amazon.co.uk/Way-Dragon-B...
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Copyright Disclaimer Under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statutes that might otherwise be infringing.

[@davidbowie2046]

I never seen the un cut version of WOTD till 88 when I bought a pirate copy for £15 from the Bruce Lee British fan club, someone had advertised un cut copies of his movies. Was well amazed when i finally saw it. FOF was slightly cut in the nunchaku scene and ETD original Warner box box release was un cut, Mind, I still have ETD recorded from TV when shown in 84/85 when it was shown totally un cut! The young don't realise how lucky they are to see most films uncensored

[@StripeyR]

I know how you felt, mate. I didn't get to see Way or Game un-cut til 92 (the year of Resevior Dogs), it was incredible to finally get to see the in their full glory. That's wild you still have ETD taped from the TV. I recorded that back in the 80's even though I has the big box uncut VHS. 👍

[@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson]

I recall Enter the Dragon being shown uncut back in 84', i kept the recording for many years as the re-release rental was censored for quite some time.

[@davidbowie2046]

@@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson 18/12/84/ Just looked at the tape, which I still have and it plays brilliantly! Here's a link the the adverts that were shown between the film kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZq9nqxtbaZ6p5Y

[@adamkane7513]

When I was buying VHS and DVDs in the 1990s I would seek out the Dutch releases. They were the most likely to leave the violence _and_ nudity intact.

[@jwhyte2042]

I know exactly how that felt mate! The pain and misery from through the 90s with the Rank Video and 4 Front Video brands, was awful. But it was all we had in the UK right? 😢😂 I remember desperately wanting to see the Nunchaku ETD scene scene for years. That was the most important and my parents always spoke about that scene and the Uncut version they saw before I was born. I Bought a pirate copy of ETD from a Kung Fu magazine in the late 90s when I was 13/14 years ago, that advertised ETD uncut. I was skeptical… then after waiting several months, after I thought I was ripped off, a VHS arrived in the post, I stuck it on and the person had put an old US trailer at the start before the film and then the film itself. In the trailer it showed a short snippet of the Nunchaku scene, and then I knew this could be the real thing 😮. Fast forwarded to the dungeon fight, held my breath and then it was there 🎉🎉🎉🎉 after about 7 years of waiting. Magical moment! The only tiny negative after seeing it was I thought “it was shorter than I expected 😂 “ but still incredible and over the moon! Then a couple years later all of them Uncut (well, The Big Boss “Uncut” minus the missing footage we now have) was released on DVD. I think from the early-mid 80s up to 2001 (I think ) was a nightmare with all the BBFC cuts 😅 as you all know but so happy it’s different now 👊🏽🤙🏽🎉 Oh yeah, I just remembered that a mate of my Dad’s (before all the Uncut DVD’s were released in 99/2000) one day visiting told me he had WOTD uncut with the double Nunchaku fight etc. I almost fainted with joy, he borrowed it to me and low and behold was the Full Uncut version on VHS. A copy he had from somewhere. Before seeing this, I saw the butchered cut version and it was so obvious the scenes had been cut badly. The flow in the fight scenes were terrible because this. 👎🏽

[@scottfowler50421]

I really remember buying the VHS version of The Way of the Dragon, the cut version I had was "The Collection series " so Way of the Dragon was the no 3 tape. All the cuts you shown were on my version. In the nineties I used to buy The Martial arts illustration Magazine and there was a article about buying the directors cut of all Bruce Lee films copied on Laserdisc, from a London based called Shaolin Videos, I order The way of the Dragon by this company and it came as the original artwork and it was very exciting to see the full version from this tape, so as teen back then I sent them a cheque and bought all the over uncut films of Bruce Lee and I was set up just right until the blu ray reprint came out in the future released.

[@jasonhart751]

Great comparison piece, Stripey. It was actually James Ferman's predecessor, Stephen Murphy, who initially cut WOTD, but it was Ferman who later butchered it. When the film was originally released on video in 1982, it did actually show Bruce with a single pair of nunchaku (when the chubby thug tries to attack him with a pole) and you also saw Bruce throwing the darts when he goes back in to the restaurant. But these scenes were also cut when the film was re-released in 1986. Thankfully everything was restored in 2001.

[@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson]

Great video Stripey, i recall watching Way of the Dragon uncut back in 88', a friend had an Italian bootleg copy which was watchable & i could not believe the amount of footage that had been trimmed, we both watched in awe & which began my fascination with acquiring Bruce Lee's movies in their uncut form. Thankfully we are now able to watch them as was intended albeit minus the saw scene from Big Boss, i wonder whether Boss was cut during pre-production which would explain why the scene does not appear to exist & the Mandarin Cut may be the longest version made available to the public, who knows lol..

[@safeashouses211]

The first time I saw the fight scenes in The Way of the dragon uncut was when I saw "Return of the Dragon" whilst on holiday in Canada in 1990.

[@mickboswell3484]

the 74 cinema release had slightly more in it , just like ETD different versions popped up in different prints ! First time I saw it uncut was on a Dutch VHS copy that cost £45.00 ! half a months salary back then . The things you did for Bruce back then ...... and even today . Happy 83rd Bruce

[@TheBudgie29]

Hi Stripey, another great video. As You know I saw the workprint, In my local Private Cinema (Closed on a Wednesday) with all of His other Films as well. This would have been the one John Ferman would have butchered for the Cinema and Video market. There was another cut on some of the tapes, not mentioned here. And that Is the scene In the airport, where Bruce goes up to the kid with the Ice Cream, and taps him on the shoulder, then puts His hand In His mouth and goes AAAAHHHH!. And some even cut the Inside of the restaurant scene. It starts with Bruce coming to the end of His run after the Boy. Then It cuts to Nora walking up and down and Him checking the Picture from His pocket. There are some more cuts as well. So The Film Is still not Totally Uncut, like Enter the Dragon as well. Keep 'Em Coming.

[@ForgottenHorrorchannel]

Great vid, the very first vhs tapes I bought were the original rank cert x from my local video shop. This was before sell thru came out in around 1986. The only uncut vhs at that point was my Fist of fury it featured all the nunchaku scenes. I still have those vhs tapes in my collection but the 1st dvd I ever bought was way of the dragon I was like a child again watching all those scenes that were missing. Cheers mate great trip down memory lane 👍

[@Phil-wf7nh]

what a great breakdown. I do remember seeing EtD on TV, uncut nunchaku scenes, prior to mid-80s and I wonder if its subsequent censorship on TV was due to the Video Recordings Act 1984? I also had the Rank VHS of FoF that WAS uncut.

[@Paul01191]

Hi stripey Great video really enjoyed you going through the BBFC cuts to way of the dragon. Shocking how the BBFC cut way of the dragon James ferman recalled all the Bruce Lee films in the late 1970s. Making more cuts to enter the dragon and way of the dragon and fist of Fury. When rank video released the BRUCE LEE films in the early 80s, they put out the BBFC cert X versions But by mistake they put out fist of Fury totally UNCUT I don't know if you remember stripey when rank video put out BRUCE LEE The LEGEND in 1988 The bbfc put some fights which were cut from way of the dragon back in on BRUCE LEE the LEGEND Which was ridiculous you could see them in legend but not in the video version of way of the dragon. I first saw the uncut version to way of the dragon in the late 80s On a VHS copy of return of the dragon the uncut American version Picture quality was very poor but it was still great to see the uncut version The double nunchaku was amazing to see for the first time One thing's for certain if James ferman had carried on cutting more out of way of the dragon it would have had a running time of 10 minutes. Cheers stripey👍👍😃😁

[@wayne5508]

Great to see you back, Stripey. Super video. The amount of shite we had to put up with in the 80s and 90s as Bruce Lee fans was crazy. When you consider the 80s was the height for the horror genre and what they got away with, a few nunchaku twirls really were tame compared. Like you described, some of the cuts were pointless. I still have the rank copy. I did have the 4 front box set, but that has long gone, especially when everything got released uncut late 90s early 2000s..

[@StripeyR]

Thanks, mate. Glad you enjoyed the video. it was a crazy time indeed (glad it's well behind us) I wish i'd kept my Rank VHS tapes, even though they were cut (Fist of Fury wasn't) there was something magical about having them sat next to ETD big box on the shelves cheers pal 👍

[@nova8243]

Speaking of cuts, I remember renting WOTD on VHS and having the film end right after Tang covers Colt with his Gi. I thought my player chewed up the tape at first before realising the actual VHS wasn’t long enough to hold the entire movie. 😆 The funny thing was, of all the times this movie was rented, no one mentioned this to the video store before. Never the less, it felt like a treat when they finally got in the full censored version months later.

[@stejcool]

Super video, Stripey! I remember buying my first DVD player in Sony Store at Nottingham in the late 90s (and spending extra to get it “chipped “ to play multi region discs) just so I could watch all of Bruce’s films- especially WOTD- uncut. I bought the Master Collection from the US but soon discovered my PAL TV couldn’t display an NTSC signal… so it was back to Sony for a new TV. I think it cost me a grand in total to watch the double nunchaku fight, but it was worth it!

[@MrOliverK]

Look at that pole in his hand instead of the nunchucks, stupid and hilarious. That sound effect as Tan Lung rolls his eyes (and smiles) is hilarious to me. Love the part at 7:52 No need to edit out BBFC. This is a great video DUDE

[@30plusfitnesstv]

Good to see you back Stripey. Great episode. Something like this should have been done for the Arrow boxset. Can’t believe they over looked the butchering of the Bruce Lee movies. Most of the cuts made no sense. You’ve got to wonder if the BBFC was trying to make Bruce a laughing stock. The first time I watched the WOTD fights uncut was on a bootleg of the US ROTD release. Sadly the American release had the comedy scenes cut out. You can’t win 😢 Thankfully Ferman and his chums at the BBFC are long gone.

[@thomaslaw8528]

I saw all Bruce Lees Movies in Germany about 1980 when I was a young boy and they were all uncut I was 14 at the time I saw Enter the Dragon first an was absolutely blown away.

[@powertwisters]

😂 enjoyed the music edit at 12:14

[@topcats78]

Hi Stripey, really great work on this video - well done!. You must have busier than James Ferman himself - but for the right purposes. The BBFC website used to publish a full history of the different versions of 'Way of the dragon' and Bruce's other film's in their archive. That is now no longer so - which is strange in itself. Perhapsm they want to bury their bad decision making. It was firstly Stephen Murphy who censored 'Enter the Dragon' but left the nunchaku in for cinema release and he also censored ' The Big boss' while ' 'Fist of Fury' was mostly uncut. Then enter the ferman! He took over when Murphy retired and believed all the false press stories about kids attacking each other with nunchaku. So when ' Way of the dragon' came to be cerficated it was Ferman who had the nunchakus removed and decided to make cuts to all the other fight scenes as well. Ferman oddly never questioned that the film was an 'X' and it was for over eighteens - not underage teens. I wrote to the board a number of times and got a very patronizing letter ( still have it) from them. I pointed out that that there was more of a problem with knives than nunchakus on the streets and guess what? They used my very words in a press release as to why their policy was changing regarding nunchaku a few years later. Cheeky, very cheeky.

[@mindin82]

Great video Stripey. It was crazy the amount of cuts made to this film. They didn't make any sense. I remember they showed the subtitled version on tv back in the 90's and they had all the scenes apart from the nunchaku scene. This was the 1st time I realised how badly cut this film was. I also never understood how they allowed some of the nunchaku scene from WOTD and Game of Death to be shown in the documentary Curse of the Dragon. So inconsistent. I remember as a kid getting hold of 2 video recorders and making up the most complete version I could of WOTD by editing in the nunchaku scene from curse of the dragon into the almost complete subtitled version I recorded of TV. Kids today don't realise how good they've got it 😂

[@thewordkeeper]

Great video. I enjoyed it. The first time I ever saw Bruce Lee on the Silver Screen was in 1973 when I was in the Navy. My girlfriend and I went to a downtown Philadelphia theater to see *_The Chinese Connection._* This was a few months before he passed away and the release of *_Enter the Dragon._* Never in my wildest thoughts did I ever think that Bruce Lee's fights would be censored. When I watch KZbin videos of people reacting to his movies sometimes they frustratingly edit out parts of his fight scenes. My take is to say to them if you're going to edit anything cut out the rest of the movie but KEEP ALL of his fight scenes intact. It's funny because, as you alluded to in your video Arrows, nowadays there's still such a major thirst for everything Bruce Lee whenever any deleted fights scenes are uncovered they're rushed out so the world can see them. So knowing they butchered his fights in Way.... 30 or 40 years ago when the craving to see him was much higher than it is now is both puzzling and troubling. Stripey I don't know if you've seen it already but below is a KZbin interview of the guy (John Derbyshire) who Bruce kicked over the chair in the boss's office. He goes into how he got the part in *_Way of The Dragon_* and whatever interactions that he had with Lee. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIfXgn2fes59e8Usi=GOzHVPUmlZquRrBM

[@ak77dragon1]

Really enjoyed this one this morning I had saved this in my watch list but forgot all about it lol .. I remember buying all these years ago and when way of the dragon was released on video in the 90s I thought WTF ,like you say it’s crazy and I just didn’t get it . All the stuff you see in movies now lol .. now we can watch all in its heavenly glory as it should be .. enjoy your Sunday 👍🏻

[@StripeyR]

Cheers, bud. This was a crazy time with the censorship in the UK. I'm glad it's well & truly behind us. You too have a great Sunday, my friend 👍

[@peterfreeman8211]

Hey Stripey, first off I hope u are doing well. I always want to thank u for showing a true BL fan and showing clips from his films that I never knew either exists or was removed. I hope one day in the future all the lost clips from ETD or even GOD or WOTD or the others he made will be shown and u are the man hopefully to tell us about the clips and here is the scenes. Stripey u are amazing and a true collector and hope one day u will show more and hope u will do ok.

[@Beamer66]

Great video Stripey, used to go to The Classic in Westcliff as they often had way and FOF as late night showings, FOF was always completely uncut and I was always hoping Way would be too, never was uncut and having many stills of the double nunchuck fight was so frustrating to not ever see it on the big screen. In 2001 I saw the HKL DVD IN HMV Southend, reading the back of the case saying it was uncut had me buy a dvd player that day from Dixons in the High Street, my excitement level was through the roof, went straight to the nunchuck scene and must have watched it 20 times, an amazing moment I had been waiting for was finally realised! BTW I thought that the HKL label was really thorough and top notch, still have it and they also made a 2 disc version which I also have. Hooe all is good with you Stripey x

[@StripeyR]

Cheers fella, I saw a Bruce Lee all nighter at The Classic in Westcliff, hoping they would be un-cut, but alas I was wrong. I had them uncut on video from the early 90's but in 2001, like you said Hong Kong Legends released them on DVD & was blown away. HKL was a superb label & put out some amazing films on DVD. it was a golden time for us Bruce fans. Thanks Pal 👍

[@michaelmcdonnell5998]

This is your best Bruce Lee video to date! Your editing was spot on! A big Bruce Lee 👍to you 😂

[@StripeyR]

Thank you, mate. I appreciate it 👍

[@user-le4sm4wd1e]

Brilliant comparison. 👍 Thank you for that. 👊

[@pcblu1]

They took out those scenes because young people will emulate what they see. I'm amazed you don't understand that, but keep up the good work Stripey.

[@kashifnasar1769]

Those 4Front VHS releases are a major part of the UK's (therefore my) history with the Bruce Lee films. There are a fascinating document of what was done to them before they were allowed a release. I don't have them anymore, but am on the lookout for them.

[@StripeyR]

They often pop up on eBay, mate. 👍

[@MAGICMONKEY52]

This is the video I have been waiting for. Thank you for this Stripey much appreciated. I managed to get a copy of the film during VHS times. Ironically it was still cut but it was only the scene where he's in the apartment with the prostitute. Evidently there's a problem with nudity but no issues with the rest of the film. Fortunately we now live in an era where anything that is censored can be usually found quite easily.

[@michaelafci0]

Great video Stripey and thanks for all the hard work you must have put into it Remember seeing it at the cinema just as you showed in video

[@StripeyR]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it, mate 👍

[@CharlesDamianoBLC]

GREAT JOB STRIPEY! GREAT VIDEO! NICE JOB! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

[@JohnWick-ro8zv]

Enjoyed the video you should also do this for his another movies as well

[@Craigolcfc]

Well done stripes as always top notch great editing 👍. I have all 4 of the golden harvest releases on the original green label 1982 by rank video. It always struck me why fist of fury was uncut. My theory behind it is that when them killjoy butchers at the bbfc were going through them they might of the American titles on them as well and as we all know big bosses alternative title is fists of fury so i think they thought they already classified it. I could be wrong. Also remember enter the dragon first premiered on 18 December 1984 10 .35 pm on itv fully uncut. When it was shown again on itv it was part of the masters of fury that was being shown on late Friday nights from mid January to mid February in 1987. That version had all the fight scenes including the nunchucka sequence but the roper and Williams dream sequences were cut as well as the parsons scene on boat. Which i think itv did that for pacing . Them rank 82 releases are still mint considering their age and usage over last 40 years. Keep up the good work stripey. As always excellent 👌

[@NcboreasVapes]

Great video, Stripey. I grew up with the censored version and they didn't even do a tidy job with the splicing. For years I wondered how the uncut versions would play out and well, when I finally saw it you can imagine my delight. All the power, speed and technique Bruce employed was finally on show. I personally don't see a reason for any of the cuts. It really takes the sting out of the fights. Of course I can't close this comment without mention of the infamous saw scene from The Big Boss. And who knows? There may be the odd old reel knocking about somewhere. I can't believe it remains merely as an image or picture. Must've been filmed.. Cheers, mate. Catch ya on the next one.

[@jasonhart751]

The 'saw in head' scene from TBB is a different story, as this hit the cutting room floor before the film was released in HK in 1971. The censors there thought it was too violent and removed it. It hasn't been seen since...

[@thomaswillans4085]

This reminds me of being 15 and swapping the BL VHS collection with school mates 😂😂 we didn't ever think we'd ever see the cut scenes

[@desiman0786]

This brings back memories of misery trying to get hold of this Uncut version on VHS which was impossible in the UK.. So I ended up getting a copy from Amsterdam which was fully Uncut . Frustrating years of my life 😂 But Thanks for this video it sure brought back some memories.

[@serak1977]

Fantastic video Stripey! After being blown away by Enter The Dragon, I remember being so disappointed when I rented the rank videos in '92... I actually just thought Bruce only had one good film until I saw the Golden Harvest DVD's in early 2000's. Anyway, cheers for making such a great video!!👍

[@StripeyR]

Thank, mate. I'm glad you enjoyed the video 👍

[@flogalvez82]

Wow what a great video. I had no idea about the censorship of Mr. Lee’s films. It’s insane. The english language versions I grew up with had a charm, but the fight scenes were intact. They didn’t reflect how the character Tang Lung did not speak Italian nor english and how it would play dramatically in the story. Many martial arts films of the era are filled with so much blood and gore, some of which is unwatchable to this day. I understood those cuts on Kung Fu Theater on tv every Saturday afternoon. Bruce’s films for the most part de-emphasized the blood and gore levels, in favor of displaying and focusing on the art. Even the gore in The Big Boss/Fists of Fury is relatively tame compared to other films of the period. Way Of The Dragon has is share of brutal moments, including in the Norris/Lee fight, once again, nothing compared to other films. Most of the fights are comedic, except for the climactic fight. Regardless, it’s a great film!

[@michaelpidgeon567]

Hey stripey, i have the full uncut version of the way of the dragon, vhs from the Lebanon, since 89,fist of fury, enter the dragon, big boss, the only one cut, was the big boss, now i have the 110mins Mandarin cut, which i have to admit, shown the movie in a whole new light honestly, take care mate 💯🎦🎥🙄🇮🇪🙏🇮🇪👍👍👍

[@darren2514fv]

That Movement No 4/Dragon Whips his tail scene was uncut in Bruce Lee The Legend yet it was cut on here

[@gutz1981]

Yep, this is exactly how the 1983 Star Video VHS of Bruce Lee's Way of the Dragon was censored in Australia. Ironically, the only film that was not censored of those 4 was fist of fury, which had the "Black screen, red text" version of the intro, the nunchuck scenes and 100% all of Bruce's screams from the HK version and not the mixed dub version and his scream at the end was left in tact.

[@StripeyR]

It was very strange, Fist & Enter was originally released fully un-cut when they first arrived on video, then the censores went batshit bonkers. cheers pal 👍

[@darren2514fv]

@@StripeyR Fist Of Fury and Enter The Dragon was recalled by the BBFC in 1979 and the nunchaku scenes were cut as a result as well as some violence in 1981-82 when Enter The Dragon and Fist Of Fury was released on video many rented the videos instead of seeing them in the cinema where they would be cut but when they were reissued in 1986 they were cut

[@themilk7853]

If you notice nora laughs at the very start ,before bruce does movement no 4 , you can also see that the first guy is slightly staggering as he approaches Bruce, this is supposed to be the uncut version, when in fact bruce delivers a series of blows leading up to movement no 4 , i managed in the early 80s to see a full uncut mandarin version of way of the dragon , even the Coliseum fight was longer , even to this day i have never seen the same version of the movie, even though they claim to be totally uncut

[@biccytrollox]

I remember renting the Rank videocassettes pre-VRA & am sure they were reasonably unmolested . The sell-through re-releases were so badly cut by the BBFC it was criminal. James ferman must have really hated martial arts movies. The bad old days...

[@paulwaines9701]

I saw Way in 74 and it wasn’t cut anywhere near as much as this VHS version. That said, as we went into the 80’s Bruce’s films were hammered even more by the Censor. I went to see Enter on a D/B with Mad Max, and by then, the whole Nunchaku senes were cut, as was a lot of the other fights. It was around this period the poster for enter had a brush shank…. Some were even just painted black. Oh, and a note about you saying the Nunchucks were airbrushed out on the video poster…. The Quad poster for way was rejected by the BBFC, and Chantrell the poster artist had to paint them out on the first release for Way.

[@bentramer8201]

Its really good to see exactly where the cuts were made, I saw the butchered version in the 90s,

[@mikeenglish1492]

Fascinating 👍

[@brucewalker7500]

That was great Stripey, thank you for all of your effort & editing work on the video! Yeh, the Way Of The Dragon was cut to shreds by James "Hatchet Man" Ferman & his cronies. I always thought the guy was a complete bellend for butchering Bruce's (and others!) movies. What with him & Mary Shitehouse, the 70's were a dark time indeed for movie lovers. So glad that we finally have the 4k box set of uncut goodness. I had the Fourfront set too, and was always disappointed with the overall quality of it. Keep these vids coming pal, it's always good stuff! Cheers!

[@RoyBatty16]

Great video as always Stripey and would love if you covered the other films in the future. Back in the day I was lucky to have a (Rank? Pre-cert?) Copy of Fist of Fury, as well as an uncut version of Enter the Dragon from ITV of all places. However, the first time I saw Way of the Dragon was via 4front video...😳

[@LurgsHowToGuides]

I remember buying videos and being furious that loads of scenes were cut. Nunchaku was deemed to be too violent. How hilarious when hi now see films like John Wick which are 15 and very violent. Kung Fu was getting popular at that time and people in suits were scared so cut out lots of scenes to stop people copying them. I’ve still got my sponge nun chucks which we used to practice with at Kung Fu club. Bruce Lee was the king of Kung Fu and still is

[@SuperGrumpyDaddy]

Saw WoTD on a re-release in about 1981, and there were quite a few occasions when I was like ‘what the hell happened there?’, but seeing Bruce on the big screen was a treat. I think it was on a double bill but I can’t remember which film was with it, had previously seen FoF and GoD on a double. Think we are so lucky now to have these wonderful new 4K (and blu-rays) of Lee’s films. I just love the Arrow boxset. 👍

[@gozitan5]

Never mind the cuts…the dubbing is hilarious.

[@davidtaylor2152]

Way of the Dragon escaped censorship in the 1970s early 80s, but for some reason by 1983 Aust had the UK butchered version by accident, and in 1993 Way had a re-release with an unedited opening credit with no titling.

[@darren2514fv]

Regarding the Bruce Groin kick on Bob Wall that was cut on Way of the Dragon the BBFC ordered a similar cut in a fight scene where James Bond kicked one of Zorin's thugs in the 1985 James Bond film A View To A Kill where it was cut in post production

[@gavnewton77]

Excellent video my man ! You pretty much said anything I would have said. Good riddance to Ferman. Don't even get me started on censorship.

[@Urbankungfu61]

Awesome video and info!! You are TOPS!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@StripeyR]

Thank you, Hector, I appreciate it 👍

[@kierank1982]

Another great vid, Ferman cut anything that would be "unbritish" and unsporting in a fight (ironic, since he was American!). So kicks to someone on the ground, hits to the gooleys, all gone because of that.

[@peterreynolds141]

Excellent video mate you did a great job of explaining why our censorship laws are a joke concerning Bruce's movies .I saw way at the cinema back in 1980 double bill with fist of fury and even then I noticed a lot of cuts to Way nunchaku scenes definitely gone and other scenes cut back.having to wait until uncut dvds to see it in all its glory was a long wait for all Bruce fans .all the best Stripey

[@StripeyR]

Thank's mate, Glad you enjoyed the video. It was a strange time for us Bruce fan's back then, even though the films were cut to bits, them Rank videos were my pride & joy. cheers pal 👍

[@masmas6463]

I had this on video Rank pre cert back in the day. My brother and I as kids loved this film and consider it to be the best Bruce Lee film.

[@fahro2714]

Slightly off topic but I remember when ITV first screened Enter the Dragon back in either 1983 or 1984 and it was uncut. So glad I recorded that as later VHS editions had scenes edited out. The is another film called "The Last Dragon" which had a Bruce Lee montage scene and a Nunchaku scene and these were also removed. I am so glad those days are over

[@StripeyR]

I taped ETD from ITV back then, pal. (it's long gone now) I remember The Last Dragon, kinda cheesy but I liked it, "Bruce Leeroy" & " Sho'nuff". I had the soundtrack on record. I agree, I'm glad the BBFC lightened up. 👍

[@fahro2714]

@@StripeyR I forgot to mention that in the "ITV" recording the scene where Han puts a cat on the guillotine and jist before Roper picks the cat up some music plays (admittedly it isn't very long) but on later versions of ETD the music has been removed. Are you going to do a "Tower of Death" video (I really like the music in that film)

[@cornflakes3018]

They also cut the scene where Bruce Lee was sitting in the park and the lady took them home and got undressed not to mention the ice cream he stole from that little boy at the beginning.

[@Paul01191]

It got so bad with the BBFC and the nunchaku That when no retreat no surrender came to video The BBFC ordered a cut to the scene where the guy is training in the garage And there was a poster of BRUCE holding the nunchaku this at to go I mean come on how is a poster of BRUCE holding the nunchaku going to corrupt society The BBFC had completely lost the plot by this point Cheers

[@pjfdourley4998]

I watched all of these as a kid in the early 80s and listening to your very interesting analysis of the editing in this movie , I’m surprised they left so much in of the Chuck Norris fight , the one I watched left the lot in but every other fight was butchered

[@TuyenPham-bt6yx]

Damn, I'm sure glad I didn't grow up in the UK back in the 70s!

[@thomaswillans4085]

Stipes! This is a killer - I'm just about to start a leson, this new vid will have to wait!

[@Newengland1966]

Stripey bbfc went to town with way of the dragon great video as always pal. Take care

[@StripeyR]

Cheers fella, They butchered it, mate. 👍

[@MegaGordyboy]

very good video stripey,remember the time well,ferman was the mary whitehouse of cinema in my eyes.sure i saw fist with nunchakus still in,maybe 1980/81.

[@StripeyR]

Thank you. James Ferman, Mary Whitehouse & Graham Bright all took part in the "moral outrage". it seems crazy now. It's weird how Fist & Enter slipped through the cencors in the early days! cheers pal 👍

[@Thehumblecollectoruk]

Thanks for great video and insight .it was great see the diffrence between how films butcherd back in day .desevese more likes etc

[@kidhickey1659]

the Impact that Bruce Lee he still makes after 50 years after his Tragic Death , the way he used the nunchaku , in a lot ways he used basic technigues , but how he combined those techingues and the speed that he swung those Sticks takes it way beyond average ,you can see people that can swing nunchakus In videos You see on KZbin like a marching band majorette Swing a baton , and they are pretty Impressive in the way they swing their Nunchakus . But when it comes to seeing Bruce Using nunchakus in his movies , that stays in your memory long after you have finished watching a Bruce Lee movie .

[@DarkEchoesHorror]

Crikey those vhs days with the nunchuck gaps 😂 I was saying the other day I’d love to see a review of Bruce’s films through the perspective of how we initially saw them chopped and then as the cut shots were reintroduced. The first copies I owned with cut shots reinstated was massive life moments 😂 (I did manage to buy an early fist of fury vhs which was barely holding together after a previous chewing but there it was !!! The chucks 😂 keep up the good work buddy

[@StripeyR]

Thanks Pal, It was a weird time indeed here in the UK under James Ferman & the BBFC. It took me years to finally see Bruce's films uncut! Cheers Fella 👍

[@DarkEchoesHorror]

@@StripeyRthe ratings system was bizarre around the 80s. We had video nasty insanity and what reads like a version of the Hayes code well after everywhere else had gotten over that. To say how many films were butchered it’s amazing and shows the quality of them that they still became classics and amusingly the harsh cuts only helped people seek them out. 👍👌

[@StripeyR]

@@DarkEchoesHorror 100% fella, Half of the Nasties would have disappeared into obscurity if it wasn't for the censorship & the Video Nasty era. I couldn't wait to get my hands on Way of the Dragon & Game of Death un-cut (it took years) cheers Pal 👍

[@brendanduffy2367]

Chris Alexis was the man to go to for uncut vhs back in the day I think they were £15.00 a pop and decent quality, I've got one of his old catalogues knocking about in a folder somewhere I'll have to dig it out now and have a look 👍 nice one Stripey.😮

[@darren2514fv]

The 1997 Channel 4 screening lost the twin nunchucku scene entirely yet the other scenes were uncut as I have a recording of the August 1999 Ch4 screening of the same version and that Channel 4 screening had the US end credits from Return Of The Dragon

[@MatthewStreets-sc1cv]

👍🙂 Well explained and well done video. 😏 BBFC, back in them days, did the same thing to the other entertaining titles involving the Nunchaku (Plus the other certain scenes) as well as on the Bruce Lee films. 😏 They did the same to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (Both on cartoons and live action films)

[@JohnMartin-oh6bf]

I remember all that

[@MrEchoes1962]

Back in the 1970s WotD that was screened in the cinemas also suffered major cuts and the videos were further cut to shreds....the 4front tapes were awful pan n scan and and as you state cut to pieces....I think every video release from the first to last were cut further each time Stripey. Also the nunchucks were notorious weapons at that time because you could make them quite easily with 2 pieces of round wood and toilet chain (younger folk will most likely have no idea what I'm posting about😂😂) I know because I use to make them as a kid and pretend I was Bruce Lee like many did do back then😂😂 and that is why they were taken out of films.

[@themovieandmusiclover6390]

Can u also do BBFC VHS cuts vs. unedited versions of The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Enter The Dragon, and Game of Death?!?!

[@darren2514fv]

What about doing one on Fist of Fury comparing the uncut pre cert Rank release/Blu-ray with the sell through Rank/4 Front release with what was cut

[@harry44mag]

I waited back in the day when Hong Kong Legends released it on dvd uncut Remember in the early 80’s seeing Big Boss/ Fist of fury double bill and they were cut welcome back Stripey Looking forward to the music video and Once Upona Time where Tarantino has got it so wrong

[@kidhickey1659]

Now the only scenes i remember being cut when they released the movie as Return of the Dragon in theaters and on VHS and early DVDs in the United States was the 2 Restaurant Scenes and the one Scene where Bruce Lee went back to that Woman's Apartment where she came out Topless from i guess her bed room and Bruce Lee ran away , now when they released that movie with the Way of Dragon Title those scenes were put back in .

[@Coastlinefx]

Good morning Stripey. A very concise and edited piece on "Way of the dragon" (1972) truthfully though it really wasn't James Ferman who was the big dictator in all this but the Video Recordings Act 1984 which came in force 10th June 1985. I think though Bruce Lee was given parole and leniancy compared to the severe cutting of martial weaponry in other stylized films around the same time. I do think though the times were still tolerent in the mid 1990s due to the Bulger case and violent children in the media.

[@StripeyR]

Cheers, mate. I've alway been led to believe it was James Ferman that had a problem with "chain sticks" I know Graham Bright & Mary Whitehouse had a lot to do with the "Video Recordings Act 1984" with the whole Video Nasties era. But Way of the Dragon was cut in 82, I may be wrong, but I thought that was down to Ferman. 👍

[@Coastlinefx]

@@StripeyR Stephen Murthy was the chief censor before Ferman . Stephen Murphy obviously must have seen this in 1973 because it got a Theatrical cinema exhibition (Cert (X) Nearly 7 minutes were cut ( i guess the print had a chainsaw taken to it) before hand for such cutting.

[@Jyw008]

Agree, the censors really butchered Bruce Lee's production of The Way of the Dragon. Actually, the US version , renamed Return of the Dragon after its release of Enter the Dragon) also has its censored cuts to the original version. I bought the imported Hong Kong version and noticed they took out the silly scenes with the young boy, asking for directions, then ordering all the soups at the restaurant, then Tung Lung awkwardly stepping on the toilet to take a crap . Other cut scenes includes the Italian beauty inviting Tung Lung to her place and then exposes herself in the nude. This scene of course was deleted for unknown reason. In the Big Boss, we see nudity of the prostitutes that were left uncensored. Luckily for US viewers, none of the fight scenes were censored.

[@cheekster777]

Thank you fella.

[@StripeyR]

Cheers mate 👍

[@cheekster777]

@@StripeyR 👊🏻

[@laurkanwalton5766]

Re: comment the only uncut Bruce Lee film that I had on vhs was the uk 2001 release of enter the dragon with extras tho there was sum how a dvd uk release with no features on a cardboard case dvd with the nunchuck scene missing strangely enough the 4front released fist of fury pt 2 (Ho Chung Tao) with nunchuck scene in tact tho the dvd releases where cut even the US versions I had the man the myth has neva had a uncut uk release. I enjoyed your video and luv of Bruce Lee. (I had 2 delete old comment didn’t make sense lol)

[@abbeypropertycare8081]

I hated it when the bruce lee films got censored on video

[@eddietours3728]

Just crazy 🙃

[@michaelholmes4374]

Horror movies got away with a lot more

[@adamrobles7748]

UK must to had it on Rated G instead of Rated R

[@MrOliverK]

UK doesn't have a R rating G PG 12 12A 15 15A 18 R18

[@alifuller1658]

so nowadays when you watch a old school movie such as a Bruce lee movie you can see the original version of the movie like dvds and blue rays amazing how time fly wow

[@StripeyR]

It is indeed, my friend. It dosen't seem so long ago I was watching these movies cut to ribbons. cheers 👍

[@mgaribaldy]

25:44 I don't think Bruce is "doing a few punches up close" in that bit. I think Bruce is ripping out handfulls of Chuck's chest hair in that scene.

[@compingnick]

I used to buy my vhs uncut version from shaolin video. Advertisted in martial arts illustrated magazine. I had to wait months for delivery. They also got me tickets to meet shannon lee in 1993 8n shepards bush. It had a 3 page article with pics. I was front row and therefor in the photos used in the mag. All the vhs versions from them ive never seen those again. Game of death included the dummy shot with the guy in the white akido outfit at the end. That shot isnt even in the new 4k box set dailys.

[@mickboswell3484]

refresh me about the final bit ....

[@StripeyR]

It was a wild time with all the films being cut here in the UK. It must of been cool meeting Bruce's daughter 👍 Was the dummy shot you mentioned the back break of Ji Han-jae?

[@compingnick]

when bruce breaks his back on his knee it cuts to a close up. I had a version which stayed wide and a terrible jumpcut which replaced the guy with an obvious dummy. it looked more like a guy forks dummy. in roughly 2002 the new footage amerged and we saw the 45 min version with the other two actors but they cut out the dummy shot and it went straight to the close up, thus looking much better. But where has the dummy shot gone and what else isnt in those dailies???@@mickboswell3484

[@compingnick]

Yes. it stayed wide and looked terrible but it was cut out in the 2002 45min newly found footage. I have the magazine with the full 3 page spread article.If you have a fanmail address I can post a scan of it with some scans of the photos I took.@@StripeyR

[@compingnick]

Maybe 4 front decided to cheap out on vhs tapes resulting in a low running time to work to. So they made the cut and that guy simply apprived it.

[@StripeyR]

I think the decision was down to James ferman

[@zetareticulan321]

Why not just cut all the fight scences out? 😆

[@joehart7260]

I first saw this in the cinema around 1975, and It was totally butchered even then before it was ever released on video. In the scene where Bruce turns up to rescue Nora Miao from the thugs I suspect it's Bruce's final punch to the thugs goolies that did it. My favourite Bruce Lee movie and an insult to cinema audiences everywhere to have done this. As Peter Hall once put it " You Censor Art at your peril."

[@berndkovi1562]

Hello, why are Bruce Lee's battle cries (sounds) different?

[@Craigolcfc]

Hi mate. I'm glad someone mentioned this . I always thought the same. I'm guessing bruce did 2 different battle cries 1 each for the English dub and 1 for the mandarin/Cantonese dub during post production. Because he had more control over this movie. But fist of fury and enter the dragon has just 1 battle cry soundtrack in all dubs I think . Big boss on the other hand bruce wasn't around at post production dubbing etc. Because he went back to the states to film further episodes of longstreet. So you don't here his battle cries in this movie. Until they released a new Cantonese soundtrack release in round about 82 83. And they used his battle cries from fist of fury enter the dragon and way of the dragon editing in the movie. They did the same on warriors journey and game of death revisited etc. Cheers pal 👍

[@berndkovi1562]

@@CraigolcfcHello. I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed this :) Did you notice that in the final fight between Norris and Lee, Bruce has the original battle cries in both versions? My version has the original battle sounds, I don't like the British version/US version. That sounds lame.

[@Craigolcfc]

@@berndkovi1562 Well spotted pal. Totally agree 👍

[@berndkovi1562]

@@CraigolcfcThank you my friend. It`s great to talk to a true Bruce Lee Fan.

[@Craigolcfc]

@@berndkovi1562your welcome my friend. God bless 🙌🙏

[@jibrilbey7462]

Blue Also There's a Video By Manager Marty..He has Some Very interesting Facts And Recipts by Victor Conte in His Own Words..Just Facts and Explaining it Deeper.Leave No Stone Unturned. Also I saw a Video of Haney On The Mitts with Freddie Roach,Is This Recent as Well..Check it All Out,Peace

[@gutz1981]

Not sure that is how the Ally fight was cut, as after the fat thug returns, it shows the one quick bit where Bruce swings her nunchuck at him and then kicks him as he traps the staff, then it cuts to Bruce walking into the restaurant, throwing the darts, and then shows him chuck the Nunchucks.

[@StripeyR]

That's how it was in 82 on Rank video but by 1996 they removed all the chuck scenes completely 👍

[@gutz1981]

@@StripeyR Makes sense, cause I remember the 1983 Australian Star Video version of this. Going to Australia soon, hope to find a copy again of those takes as I found an old Fist of Fury copy at a donation library basket about 15 years ago for like $2.

[@ionutzfulger7347]

Why release a movie if you're going to butcher it?! It's beyond me! Regarding The Way of the Dragon, I still can't decide, is it better than Fist of Fury, or is the other way around? What is certain is that the two movies are masterpieces!

[@paulkohut294]

Bruce Lee almost lost in every fight in England .Was your censor, racist ?

[@rogerhoward3750]

They butchered all of his films in the 80s/90s it was hart braking 👍🥷

[@rogerhoward3750]

In the old martial arts mags you could get WOD from a seller uncut cost me a arm and a leg in the 90s on VHS 👍🥷