Cinema Retro London correspondent Spencer Lloyd Peet reports on a major Bruce Lee tribute that took place last weekend in London.
July
20 2008 marks the 35th anniversary of the death of martial art
superstar, Bruce Lee. In conjunction to
this his widow Linda and daughter Shannon paid a welcome visit to the UK on
Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th April as part of the Seni08 martial arts event at
the ExCel Exhibition in London – Europe’s trade exhibition dedicated to Martial
Arts, Combat Sports and Extreme Fitness with over 200 stands amidst grounds of
17,000 sqm.
Although
the Lee family’s appearance wasn’t overly publicised fans of the legendary film
star arrived in droves, and were treated to a Q & A session between midday
and 1.00pm in room 21 on both days with Linda, Shannon (her young daughter Wren
joined the panel on Sunday), Richard Bustillo and Tim Tackett, both former Jeet
Kune Do students of Bruce Lee.
There
was a free signing by Linda in the morning of both days at the Bruce Lee
Foundation Booth and Shannon took to meeting elated fans and signing autographs
in the afternoon accompanied by Richard on the Sunday. They were all extremely delightful and
courteous and generally surprised by the hospitality and enthusiasm of the
fans, so much so that Shannon is already considering returning next year.
The
purpose behind this rare visit was to promote The Bruce Lee Foundation; a
non-profit organization set up to preserve the memory, teachings and legacy of
the dynamic action hero founded by Linda and Shannon. Their aim is to build a permanent Bruce Lee
museum in Seattle,
his place of burial, and to exhibit original artefacts belonging to him.
Some
of Bruce’s personal belongings were on display at the exhibition such as, his
hand-written notes of the famous showdown with Chuck Norris from Way of the
Dragon (US title: Return of the Dragon), notes on the bout between
Bruce and 7-foot basketball star Kareem Abdul Jabbar from the incomplete 1972
film Game of Death, a Screen Actors Guild Residual Payment Cheque from
October 6, 1969 for his appearance as Kato from the Green Hornet and Batman
cross over episode, “Batman Satisfaction†(first aired in 1967) and a brown
3-piece suit worn in a scene from Enter the Dragon.
The
weekend event concluded with an auction comprising of many large prints of
Bruce in various stages of his career signed by Shannon;
each averaged £50 with all proceeds going to the Foundation.
As
head of the Foundation, Shannon revealed some of the possible projects that
that may develop; A 40 episode TV series of Bruce Lee’s life is being made in
China and will air at the time of the Olympics with a possible DVD release in
the west, a Japanese Anime feature with the idea of reaching a younger
audience, and a feature film incorporating Bruce perhaps through CGI. Shannon’s
dedication and passion for keeping her father’s memory alive is evident and she
is more than qualified to steer the Bruce Lee legacy into a new and exciting
future.
(For more photos continue to next page)