Bruce Lee?s Mother Was ?Flustered? While Watching Her Son Face His First Movie Camera in 1941

Bruce Lee?s connection with the camera was established much before the 1960s. In fact, the master was barely crawling when he did his first gig in 1941. However, Lee?s parents were hesitant to expose their infant to glitz and glamour so early in life. Especially Lee?s mother, who was absolutely flustered when she saw her little one facing the camera in the costume of a girl.?

Lee?s biography, Bruce Lee: A Life by Mathew Polly, mentions Lee’s experience when he was first exposed to a movie camera. It also describes the feelings of Li Hoi Chuen and Grace Ho, Lee?s parents when they saw their child acting in director Esther Eng?s film.?

Bruce Lee?s first gig left his parents in a dilemma?

Lee?s father Li Hoi Chuen was a famous Cantonese opera singer in Hong Kong. He began visiting San Francisco in 1939 to perform in Chinatown. Moreover, after the Pacific War in Hong Kong in 1941, he visited America again to raise funds from the overseas Chinese community, to support the war’s effect in his country.

During the visit, one of Chuen?s friends, Esther Eng, a pioneering film director, famous for making wartime movies, was directing the movie Golden Gate Girl. She needed to cast a newborn girl for several scenes, asked Lee?s father to cast his son. At first, Li Hoi Chuen was hesitant because he was aware of the uncertainties of artistic life and did not want his son to face it. However, since he abided by the tradition of maintaining relationships in the Chinese community, he agreed to the filmmaker?s request.?

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So, on Lee?s first gig, the master was cast in a brief scene, as a two-month-old girl being rocked to sleep in a wicker bassinet, wearing a lacy bonnet and a blouse. Moreover, in another scene, he was seen crying inconsolably with his eyes squeezed shut and mouth wide open. Looking at his son, Grace was baffled. Lee?s biography, explained, ?His mother, Grace, was flustered to see her delicate child so transfigured for the camera.?

Although after the completion of Lee?s part in the film, his family returned to Hong Kong. But this was just the beginning of Lee?s acting career.?

Bruce Lee starred in more than 20 films before moving to San Francisco again

Growing up, Lee developed an interest in movies. Thanks to his father?s connections in the entertainment industry, Lee received several opportunities to work in films from a young age. The Birth of Mankind (1946) was the master?s first film as a child actor which, unfortunately, did not do well. After this, Lee continued working on several films like Wealth is Like a Dream?(1948), The Kid, and many more.

However, Lee?s unruly behavior in school compelled his parents to put a stop to his acting career for three years. Eventually, when Lee was 18, it was time for him to shift to San Francisco. Throughout his time in Hong Kong, Lee starred in nearly 20 films.?

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Lee?s experience as an actor in his country prepared him for the storm of ups and downs he was going to face in Hollywood.?