Bruce Lee Wanted To Join Hands With His Idol To Establish Himself Bigger Than ?Unworthy? Rival Once

When Bruce Lee gradually began to climb the ladder of success in the Hong Kong film industry in the early 1970s, he became more careful than ever with his film choices. The perfectionist in Lee wanted to overtake his rivals in the industry. Hence, for his second film, Fist of Fury, the master pleaded with his idol, Shintaro Katsu, to star with him with a well-thought strategy in mind.?

Lee?s biography, Bruce Lee: A Life, revealed the master?s competent nature during the filming process of Fist of Fury. From script writing to casting, Lee was vigilant about everything. So much so that he meticulously analyzed what would best suit his film.?

Bruce Lee once visited Japan to plead with his idol

During the pre-production phase of Fist of Fury, Lee was disappointed with the sub-par script of the Lo Wei-directed film. He refused to start its filming until a detailed screenplay was written. This delayed the film?s production for a significant time. However, by the time the production worked on it, Lee was brainstorming ways to make his film and himself a superhit in the industry.?

He made a solo visit to Japan to entreat his matinee idol to join his movie. The master went to the Roppongi district of Tokyo, to meet Shintaro Katsu, the forty-year-old star of the Zatoichi film series. Lee?s biography revealed the flattering words he told to the veteran film star, ?Mr. Katsu, I hold you in high esteem, cinematically and otherwise.? He continued, ?I want to act with you, and I want to learn from you.??

It would have been an honor for Lee to work with his idol. Besides this, Lee also wanted to work with Katsu because he had starred with Jimmy Wang Yu in Zatoichi Meets the OneArmed Swordsman. According to Lee, Jimmy was an unworthy rival who was ?an actor pretending to be a tough guy, not a serious martial artist.? This made the master develop serious contempt for him.?

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Lee knew that if his film starring Katsu became a major hit, it would make him look better than Jimmy in the industry. However, the master?s idol had to turn down his offer due to his other contractual commitments.?Despite the ups and downs in the filming of the film, Fist of Fury became a massive hit surpassing Lee?s rivals. It did a worldwide business of US$100 million, making Lee the biggest film star in Hong Kong.?

Although Lee began enjoying his giant stardom, he also faced setbacks as well after the success of the movie.

Bruce Lee burnt a HK$200,000 cheque after his success

Rising to stardom also made Bruce Lee experience some suspicious activities around him. Lee?s biography revealed an interview with?Fighting Stars, an American martial art magazine, in which the Sensei opened up about receiving a HK$200,000 cheque.

Lee explained that after the massive success of Fist of Fury, random people stopped by his door to pass him a HK$200,000 cheque. When Lee would ask what was it for, they would tell him to keep him as a gift. He knew that keeping lumpsum money as a gift would someday backfire on him. Hence, he burnt the cheque.?

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Later on, the master increased security around him and also began keeping a gun to tackle the negative aspects of his success.?