Bruce Lee at Golden Harvest Limited Edition [4K/Blu-ray]
Arrow Video’s Limited Edition release of Bruce Lee at Golden Harvest is a fantastic, comprehensive collection for fans of Bruce Lee, and those who are new to his movies. Not only does the set include all of the classic Bruce Lee titles, it is also jam-packed full of additional content in the form of interviews, documentaries and more.
Available in both 4K/Blu-ray and Blu-ray alone, all of the movies look absolutely glorious on screen. Arrow have done a phenomenal job with these restorations, and the extra content even includes some never-before-seen footage, making this a must-have. Priced at £120.00 for the 4K Limited Edition, or £110.00 on Blu-ray, there also an Arrow Exclusive Boxset with stunning alternate art that is available in 4K for £120.00 too.
Whilst the above artwork is beautiful, the Arrow Exclusive set (shown below) is ever so slightly better in my view, though I definitely still want them both - even if my purse doesn’t. There’s something about the consistently designed artwork that just ticks all the right boxes for me, and it would look fantastic on my shelf!
One thing I did notice as strange is that the promo images of all of the sets only show 9 discs and 9 cases for these, pretty odd given that it’s a 10-disc set, but turns out it’s due to licensing. Warner Bros. still holds the rights to Enter the Dragon, and whilst it has been permitted to be released as part of this set, it’s mysteriously absent from the promo shots.
It’s a really special set given all of the extra content that is included, with full feature-length documentaries and tonnes of really interesting interviews, video essays and more. Even the most well-versed Bruce Lee fans are sure to find this set absolutely top-tier, as there are never before seen elements such as extended and deleted scenes included alongside the new restorations, which all look virtually flawless. I’ve included a breakdown of all of the included content below, if you want to check it all out for yourself - and maybe even pick up a copy, if you haven’t already!
LIMITED TEN-DISC UHD/BLU-RAY COLLECTION CONTENTS
Limited edition packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by Tom Ralston
200-page hardbound book featuring new writing by Walter Chaw, Henry Blyth, Andrew Staton, Dylan Cheung, David West and James Flower
Twenty-four lobby card reproductions
Ten glossy photos of Lee in action
Reversible poster with vintage quad poster artwork
DISC ONE - THE BIG BOSS (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of the 99-minute 1983 version of The Big Boss, newly restored by Arrow Films from the original negative
Original newly restored lossless Mandarin, English and Cantonese mono audio
Two English mono options, the standard mix and a Japanese mix with alternate score
Newly translated English subtitles, plus optional subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing for the English dubs
Two brand new feature commentaries, one by David Desser and one by Brandon Bentley
Return to Thailand, a new documentary produced and presented by Matt Routledge exploring the original filming locations
Newly uncovered deleted and extended scenes, with optional commentary by Bentley
The Not-Quite-Biggest Boss, a video essay by Bentley investigating the scenes still lost, such as the ‘saw-in-the-head’ scene
Archive interviews with co-star Lau Wing and stuntman Tung Wai
Bruce Lee Vs. Peter Thomas, a short video essay about the music for the English version
Alternate credits sequences
Trailer gallery, including a 'Before The Big Boss' reel and the trailer for lost sequel The Big Boss Part II
Image gallery
DISC TWO - THE BIG BOSS: THE MANDARIN CUT (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of three alternate versions of The Big Boss with lossless mono audio, newly restored by Arrow Films: the 110-min Mandarin Cut, with restored Mandarin mono; the 100-min English Export Cut, featuring a rare alternate English dub track (some scenes in Mandarin); and the 100-min US Theatrical Cut
Newly restored English subtitles for the Mandarin Cut
Subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing on both English cuts
Axis of English, a brand new video essay by Will Offutt profiling the English dubbing actors for The Big Boss, Fist of Fury and The Way of the Dragon
Unrestored raw scan of the Mandarin Cut (1080p only)
DISC THREE - FIST OF FURY (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible), newly restored by Arrow Films from the original negative
Alternate ‘English Export Cut’ viewing option with different opening and closing credits via seamless branching
Original newly restored Mandarin, English and Cantonese mono audio
Two English mono options, the standard mix and a Japanese mix with alternate music
Newly translated English subtitles, plus optional subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing on the English dubs
Two brand new feature commentaries, one by Jonathan Clements and one by Brandon Bentley
Legend of the Dragon, a newly filmed 80-minute overview of Lee's life and career by film critic and historian Tony Rayns
Visions of Fury, a new featurette on Bruce Lee's collaboration with Golden Harvest and Lo Wei, featuring interviews with co-producer Andre Morgan and martial arts experts Michael Worth, Frank Djeng, John Kreng, Andy Cheng and Bruce Willow
Archive interviews with co-stars Nora Miao, Riki Hashimoto, Jun Katsumura and Yuen Wah
Alternate credits sequence
Trailer gallery, including a Chen Zhen trailer reel
Image gallery
DISC FOUR - THE WAY OF THE DRAGON (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentations in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible), newly restored by Arrow Films from original film elements, of the Hong Kong Theatrical Cut and the Japanese Cut via seamless branching
Original newly restored lossless Mandarin, English and Cantonese mono audio on the Hong Kong Theatrical Cut
Alternate lossless English mono audio on the Japanese Cut
Optional newly translated English subtitles
Subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing on both English audio options
Two brand new feature commentaries, one by Frank Djeng & Michael Worth and one by Brandon Bentley
The Way of the Camera, a new documentary looking at Lee's filmmaking and fighting method in his directorial debut, featuring interviews with Golden Harvest producer Andre Morgan, martial arts experts Michael Worth, Jon Kreng, Andy Cheng, Frank Djeng, David Yeung, film historian Courtney Joyner and actors Piet (Peter) Schweer, Jon Benn and John Saxon
Meet the Italian Beauty, a newly filmed interview with star Malisa Longo
The Scottish Soldier Meets the Dragon, a newly filmed interview with on-set observer John Young
Newly recorded select scene commentary by ‘thug’ actor Piet Schweer
Archive interviews with co-stars Jon Benn, Bob Wall and Hwang In-shik and production managers Chaplin Chang and Louis Sit
Trailer gallery, including a Bruceploitation trailer reel
Image gallery
DISC FIVE - ENTER THE DRAGON (BLU-RAY)
40th Anniversary Special Edition Blu-ray courtesy of Warner Home Video
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of the extended 1998 Special Edition of the film
5.1 DTS-HD Surround English audio, plus additional audio options in Russian, Castilian, French, German, Italian, Polish and Latin Spanish
English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, plus subtitles for other languages
Feature commentary by writer Michael Allin and producer Paul Heller
Featurettes: No Way As Way, Wing Chun: The Art that Introduced Kung Fu to Bruce Lee, Return to Han’s Island, Blood and Steel: The Making of ‘Enter the Dragon’, Bruce Lee: In His Own Words, Backyard Workout with Bruce
The Curse of the Dragon documentary
Interviews with Linda Lee Cadwell
1973 archive featurette Hong Kong with ‘Enter the Dragon’
Theatrical trailers and TV spots
DISC SIX - GAME OF DEATH (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentations in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible), newly restored by Arrow Films from original film elements, of the international cut and the Japanese cut via seamless branching
Original newly restored English mono audio on both cuts
English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Brand new feature commentary by Brandon Bentley & Mike Leeder
The Song I’m Singing Tomorrow, a newly filmed interview with star Colleen Camp
Deleted and extended scenes from the Chinese-language versions of the film, including two alternate endings (contains some standard-definition material)
Archive interviews with co-stars Dan Inosanto and Bob Wall
Behind-the-scenes footage as featured in Bruce Lee: The Legend
Rare pre-production sales featurette from 1976 with new commentary by Michael Worth and producer Andre Morgan
Fight scene dailies directed by Sammo Hung
Locations featurette from 2013
Trailer gallery, including Bruceploitation and 'Robert Clouse at Golden Harvest' trailer reels
Image gallery
DISC SEVEN - GAME OF DEATH: ALTERNATE VERSIONS (BLU-RAY)
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of the Chinese version of the film
Original lossless Mandarin and Cantonese mono audio
Newly translated optional English subtitles
Archive interview with Casanova Wong from 2001 on his relationship with Sammo Hung, and Lee’s influence on him
Two alternate Cantonese and Mandarin versions of the film in High Definition via seamless branching, with different credits, ending and reinstated Ji Han-jae fight (contains some standard-definition material)
Archive featurettes on Lee’s life and impact: The Hong Kong Connection, Bruce Lee Remembered, Legacy of the Dragon, Dragon Rising and The Grandmaster & The Dragon, featuring interviews with Hung, Donnie Yen, William Cheung and many others
Archive interviews with Robert Lee, Phoebe Lee, Pat Johnson, George Lee, Gene LeBell, Van Williams, Joe Torrenueva, Jeff Imada, Linda Palmer, Fred Weintraub, Tom Kuhn, Paul Heller and James Lew
DISC EIGHT - GAME OF DEATH: BONUS DISC (BLU-RAY)
The Final Game of Death, a brand new three-hour video essay by Arrow Films that incorporates a new 2K restoration of all two hours of Lee’s original dailies from a recently-discovered interpositive
Game of Death: Revisited, an earlier attempt to reconstruct Lee’s original vision from 2001
Super 8 footage from 1974 of Dan Inosanto demonstrating the nunchaku
Brief archival interview with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from 1976
Image gallery
DISC NINE - GAME OF DEATH II (BLU-RAY)
Brand new 2K restoration of the International Cut of the film titled Game of Death II by Arrow Films from original film elements
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of Game of Death II as well as the Hong Kong Theatrical Cut titled Tower of Death (contains some standard-definition material)
Original lossless English mono audio on Game of Death II
Original lossless Cantonese, Mandarin and English mono audio on Tower of Death
English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing on Game of Death II, and optional newly translated English subtitles on Tower of Death
Brand new feature commentary by Frank Djeng & Michael Worth, co-producers of Enter the Clones of Bruce
Archive interview with co-star Roy Horan
Alternate Korean version with unique footage, presented in High Definition with original lossless mono audio and newly translated English subtitles
Alternate US video version in High Definition with lossless English mono audio, via seamless branching
Alternate end credits sequence for Game of Death II
Trailer gallery
Image gallery
DISC TEN - DOCUMENTARIES (BLU-RAY)
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of Bruce Lee: The Man & The Legend (1973) and Bruce Lee: The Legend (1984)
Original lossless Mandarin mono audio for The Man & The Legend, and lossless English mono audio for both films
Newly translated optional English subtitles for The Man & The Legend, and subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing for both films
Alternate video version of The Legend, featuring different editing and credits (standard definition only)
Archive video of a tour of Golden Harvest Studios conducted in the mid-1990s by Russell Cawthorne, writer of Bruce Lee: The Legend
Alternate animated Hong Kong credits for Enter the Dragon
Trailers and image gallery for both films
Have you picked up this set? What do you think of it?
Let us know in the comments below!
- V x
Thank you to Fetch Publicity for sending me the Bruce Lee at Golden Harvest 4K review discs!
