"At present I am working on a script for my next film. I haven't really decided on the title yet, but what I want to show is the necessity to adapt one-self to changing circumstances. The inability to adapt brings destruction. I already have the first scene in my mind."

"As the film opens, the audience sees a wide expanse of snow. Then the camera closes in on a clump of trees while the sounds of a strong gale fill the screen. There is a huge tree in the centre of the screen and it is all covered with thick snow. Suddenly there is a loud snap and a huge branch of the tree falls to the ground. It cannot yield to the force of the snow so it breaks. Then the camera moves to a willow tree which is bending with the wind. Because it adapts itself to the environment, the willow survives."

"It is this sort of symbolism which I think Chinese action films should seek to have. In this way I hope to broaden the scope of action films."

Also, when Bruce talked to his former student Dan Lee on telephone in April '72, he talks about the film that would later become 'The Game of Death' and said it would be a beautiful film filled with philosophy and deeper meanings. This was prior to the filming of 'The Way of the Dragon' and was to be in Bruce's eyes, his film masterpiece! He was not going to let information become known about this special project which was very close to his heart. This new higher level film was in main to be kept top secret and even from his co-partner of Concord Productions, Raymond Chow. Bruce even hinted at why he had to keep this project mainly secret, "I would like to evolve in to different roles, but I cannot do so in Southeast Asia. I am already type-cast. I am supposed to be the good guy. I can't even be a bit gray, because no producer would let me." "I want to direct more films. Directing, I feel, is more creative. You really get to produce the result you want. An actor is restricted. He can only do as the director instructs. One must always strive to be better. The sky's the limit."

'A film to end all films' was how Bruce described it. He eventually settled on the title 'The Game of Death.'

The first pagoda scene believed to be filmed (Sept. 72) was a fight sequence between Bruce and former student Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Known formally as 'Big Lew' Alcindor, an American star basketball player who later played for the Los Angeles Lakers. Kareem first met Bruce after dropping in to the offices of Black Belt Magazine. They soon started training together during the Winter of 1967. Bruce was fascinated by a fight between Kareem who stood 7 foot 2 inches and Bruce who was only 5 foot 7 inches in height. Another former student and instructor Dan Inosanto also appeared as an opponent in the film. Dan arrived at Hong Kong airport and was whisked away to Bruce's house to do some tough rehearsals. Commented Dan, "the video was great. Bruce would show me what was good for a movie and what was good for combat. Maybe a technique was too quick, or maybe it wasn't showy enough. And if it wasn't showy enough, was it realistic? So we had to go back and forth and hash it out. He was a genius." Bruce would rise early every morning, do his work out, and then get down to business after a quick bite to eat. Right through the day he would keep on going. Complained Dan, "I just couldn't keep up with him. He never stopped! In both rehearsals and during shooting he was the most intensive worker I've ever seen."

Another fight scene Bruce completed was against the founder of Hapkido, Ji Han Jae.

Some 'unseen' outside fight scenes

There are two plots that I have read. The first is the plot in 'A Warrior's Journey' by John Little and another I have witnessed. The following storyline, the third to my knowledge, is from research I have conducted but I have yet to verify it so don't take it as to be the real truth because I've got more research still to do!

After the opening adapt or die scene that was explained above by Bruce Lee, we then cut to Tang Lung (aka Chinese Dragon) teaching his martial arts students in Hong Kong. He is continually being threatened over the phone by an unknown person to participate in a challenge called 'The Game of Death.' Bruce refuses to participate in this challenge but still the calls keep coming. One day at his school he is attacked by four fighters and Bruce easily defeats his opponents and they are sent packing back. Finally, Bruce is informed that his two cousins have been kidnapped. Bruce who performs a crying scene now acts and accepts the challenge. Bruce is then informed that the people who have kidnapped his cousins are probably a triad group known as the 'Red Tongs' so Tang Lung is encouraged to speak to their rivals, the 'Jade Dragons' whose leader is played by James Tien (the reason he is wearing street clothing in his pagoda scenes!) who is after the treasures at the top of the pagoda. Chieh Yuan plays the brother of Miss Chen (Nora Miao) and finally an Anglo joins the mission for personal revenge. A fighter played by Hwang In-Shik (who lost to Tang Lung in 'The Way of the Dragon' but survived) informs Tang Lung of the challenge and some of the guardians that he will have to face in the pagoda. These are when some of the outside sequences are seen in the form of flashbacks from 'Bruce Lee: The Legend' documentary. At the airport the team take an airplane to the island somewhere located near South Korea. Once at the island, Tang Lung (Bruce Lee), James Tien, Chieh Yuan and the Anglo try and search for the pagoda. After some outside battles, Bruce finally finds the correct pagoda (Bruce first enters another pagoda in black jeans) and the 4 man team enter. The Anglo is forced to leave his gun behind because of the metal detectors. Once inside, they come to the first level which is guarded by 20 or so karate guys and a master sitting in his throne. The Anglo dies on this level with Bruce Lee hearing his last words. Chieh Yuan and James Tien by this time have already proceeded up to the next level, the 'Temple of the Tiger' which is guarded by Dan Inosanto. Bruce receives the black nunchaka case from the Anglo who then dies and collects the blue bako from a nearby vase and goes up to Dan's level where he finds James and Chieh taking a severe pounding from Dan. The pagoda battles ensues.........

More Unseen outside scenes

Exactly how many fight scenes Bruce shot in the pagoda are still unknown. Only three fight scenes have ever been released to the public i.e. Dan Inosanto, Ji Han Jae and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's. Other floors rumoured are a Level of Traps Floor, Gung Fu Men etc. I have been informed by several witnesses that these film scenes do exist and should hopefully be released someday in the near future. Bruce goes back down to the bottom of the pagoda and then has a change of heart and decides to finish the challenge. Bruce gets to the top of the pagoda and defeats the master of disguise who is behind the whole set up i.e. kidnapping and challenge.

Another scenario was told to Top Bruce Lee Historian George Tan by Robert Chan, who starred as one of the waiters in 'The Way of the Dragon'. He said that after Bruce had defeated Jabbar, he goes back down to the bottom floor where the bad guys have set up a surprise trap for Bruce. A massive bloodbath ensues with Bruce being victorious. Bruce was apparently unhappy as having the Jabbar fight as an ending to the film!

There is also a major twist for the ending of the film! It is rumoured that Bruce originally had three different plots for this film with one being the character 'Hai Tien' which John Little used in his 'Warrior's Journey' documentary. This original Bruce Lee film would of been a world wide box office smash for sure and the greatest ever tribute to the extraordinary man!!

Rumours - Original Unedited Footage (over 4 hours exist), Full Original Script by Bruce Lee (100 pages exist).

Lost Airport Car Park Fight Scene

Original Cast - Bruce Lee, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ji Han Jae, Dan Inosanto, James Tien, Chieh Yuan, Nora Miao, George Lazenby, Hwang In-Shik, Bob Baker, Bolo Yeung, Lam Ching Ying, Wu Ngan, Lee Quin, Betty Ting-Pei