Bullet Points: Call Me Dragon
Over the years I have covered a number of films produced by the Seasonal Film Corporation, however I have never covered any of their early productions when they were strictly a Hong Kong based company.
Over the years I have covered a number of films starring the “Bruce Lee clones”, but they are usually movies starring Bruce Li, Dragon Lee or Bruce Le and not Bruce Leung.
In this installment of Bullet Points, I will be reviewing 1974’s Call Me Dragon. Call Me Dragon is one of Seasonal Film’s earliest productions and it stars Bruce Leung (aka Siu-Lung Leung)…
- Hey, Big Dragon: Bruce Leung plays Big Dragon and two things are established about the character almost immediately. One, he is a great fighter. Two, he is one of the coolest humans to ever walk the face of the Earth. After dispatching a group of baddies during the opening credits, Big Dragon comes across two nameless robbers played by Han Kwok-Choi (The Iron Dragon Strikes Back) and Mang Hoi (Legacy of Rage). The robbers attempt to rob Big Dragon, but fail miserably. However all is not lost, as they manage to beg Big Dragon to let them tagalong and become his sidekicks for the rest of the movie. We never learn their names, but we do know they have an affinity for settling their differences by playing “rock, paper, scissors”.
- The Town That Dreaded Justice: Big Dragon and his two sidekicks make their way to a town that is as corrupt as corrupt can be. When Big Dragon arrives he starts disrupting the illegal operations in town under the guise that he is a special investigator with the provincial police. First on his list, the place that sells young boys to creepy dudes, then there’s the cash for gold scammer, finally he visits the brothel and convinces the proprietor to send all the girls who work there home. News of Big Dragon’s actions quickly make their way to the guy who runs the town, Mr. Yim. But before Big Dragon and Mr. Yim meet, Dragon has another foe to deal with…
- Hit Woman: While walking around town, a young woman named Miu Yung bumps into Dragon and reveals that she has been hired to take Dragon down. Dragon laughs her off and even starts flirting with her. The two begin to fight, but their confrontation is cut short when some guys show up looking to deliver a beating to Miu Yung, Dragon steps in on her behalf and she quickly changes her tune where Dragon is concerned. After Dragon takes care of Miu Yung’s attackers, he is approached with an invitation to come see Mr. Yim.
- Leopard Head is Coming: Big Dragon and his sidekicks pay Mr. Yim a visit… and Mr. Yim does what he does with all police officers who show up in his neck of the woods, he offers a bribe. Before it is all said and done, Yim ends up giving Big Dragon $100,000 dollars… but Big Dragon is more interested in some rare pearls from Northern Tibet that are being transported by Mr. Yim’s associate, Leopard Head (Yasuaki Kurata, Edge of Fury). Leopard Head gets a big build up and a chance to show off that like Big Dragon, he is an exceptional fighter.
- Pearl Jam: I am not sure how Dragon knew that Leopard Head was going to be coming into town with the pearls. I am not sure how Miu Yung knows that the real reason Dragon was in town was because of the pearls. What I am sure of is Dragon and Miu Yung team up to increase their chances of getting the pearls from Leopard Head and Leopard Head doing his best to prevent that from happening. The pearl focused third act is highlighted by a couple of switcheroos, Leopard Head in a COVID mask and the inevitable Big Dragon vs. Leopard Head fight. It is one action highlight after another as the two skilled fighters battle in a tight alley way and manage to make it to the roof of one of the buildings in unique fashion, we also get to see Dragon break out a pair of nunchaku and hit a Frankensteiner on Leopard.
The final fight between Leung and Kurata is worth the price of admission and you’ll feel like you are stealing money if you watch Call Me Dragon for free on Tubi like I did. But Call Me Dragon is not a one trick pony, it was entertaining throughout with Bruce Leung making a bigger impression on me with his performance than all of my previous Leung viewing experiences combined.
How much of an impression will these Bonus Bullet Points make on you? There’s only one way to find out…
- AKA: Call Me Dragon is also known as Fighting Dragon vs. Deadly Tiger, however don’t let the above poster fool you. There was no guy clinging to the top of a car in the movie, in fact there are no cars in the movie whatsoever. But there is a motorized mode of transportation featured in the movie.
- If You Ever: …wanted a Kung Fu movie to feature a three wheeled motorbike that seemingly had a mind of its own, then Call Me Dragon is the movie for you.
- Unexpected Quote: “I bet you’re a real expert when it comes to lovemaking.”
- The Name Game: The 1975 Bruce Li film Bruce Lee Against Supermen was also released in the United States as Call Me Dragon according to IMDb. I know for a fact I have seen a poster for a movie called Call Me Dragon with Bruce Li listed as the star and artwork of a guy, who looks nothing like Bruce Li, chopping a guy’s skull in two.
