Life Academy thanks - only seems these elitist cannot understand Bruce lee’s so-called accent. Bruce was acting from a young age, this man was is full of shit! You can feel the red coming out of his neck.
I don’t speak good inglish but Brucee had good acent at the end of the interview he says if i have another chance I would use Bruce Lee, but guess what sometimes there’s only one chance.
It’s bittersweet listening to him describe his decision. I’ve seen this guy in another interview where he described his meeting with Bruce and was kind of put off by his description of their meeting. Especially when he spoke of his “thick” accent. Give me a break. Bruce would have been great in Kung Fu! It’s sickening how Hollywood has whitewashed Asian culture over the years. With the success of Crazy Rich Asians and seeing Sandra Oh hosting the Globes hopefully the mentality will begin to change. Bruce would have been a fabulous actor! This guy was a barrier to Bruce’s success in Hollywood. Without a doubt in my mind Bruce would have made Kung Fu a huge hit! Sadly one wonders if he had not experienced the discrimination he did whether he would still be alive. I hope other producers out there can learn from this and realize that whitewashing a culture is wrong. I’d like to see this guy try to speak Chinese as well as Bruce spoke English. Bruce is a legend. This guy is a nobody.
I'm glad Bruce didn't get the part and went on to do those incredible movies. He was too big for television and the Waltons an' all. I was a white kid back in the early 70's and Bruce just exploded out of the screen in those theaters. My John Wayne. David Carradine in that t.v. series was great and did it for me.
Exactly, a nobody who most likely tried to block his way. He said his English was hard to understand. Nonsense. Bruce was a real great actor. Not might have been great at it. He would've been great at it. Talking about ethnically. Listen to what he says. It just didn't work out. He was a marvelous actor ,not just a great martial artist. Can't believe he had a chance to do a documentary on him.
I think its a shame he didnt get that role, he was a good actor he had years of experience as a kid. I think however James Coburn was right in what he said. He said that Bruce was too big for tv, and he was right, he was destined for the big silver screen.
Bryan Partington 100% god decision was right... bruce wouldve wasted alot of time philosophy and ideas on kung fu. Enter the dragon would probably never of happened and ithink bruce even though wouldve done a great job... like you say bruce wouldve been without a doubtthw biggest movie star on the planet... had he done kung fu and it beena hit. He wouldve been stuck as a cliche and we would never of gotten to see thw real bruce lee.... Bruce in his movies was playing himself... had he got the role for kung fu i dont think he wouldve developed sucha strong need to be such a perfectionist and put his ideas on film.... he wouldve bent to alot of the ways for the script... Without a doubt bruce was too big for kung fu series.
Best coment on here. Bruce really was too big for TV. Period. Sure he did the Green Hornet thing for it's short run....but you can tell he was stifled and held back by TV. But on the big screen he exploded with his arts.....both acting and martial arts.
I watched Bruce interviews and he spoke perfect English. Tom Kuhn didn't want to admit he didn't want to work with Bruce because of his nationality. Too bad Tom you missed your once a lifetime opportunity.
This guy said "Bruce was too Americanized" basically what he meant was Bruce was asian and wasn't the stereotype asian with a pigtails, slanty eyes, chop chop and all that. Simply put it was Bruce's gift and his destiny to go the route that he went bottom line. No need to speculate no need to debate. Job well done Bruce your legacy is well-established.
It's a shame that Bruce was not cast as the star of Kung Fu, mostly because he deserved it and it started out as a feature made with him in mind. However, I can't help but think that things turned out for the best in how it played out, having David Carradine playing Kwai Chang Cain and Bruce Lee doing the movies. David Carradine's portrayal and Bruce Lee just being Bruce Lee at that time in history was a true spiritual chemistry of awareness in the U.S. that catapulted Bruce Lee into being an instant legend, hero and role model. It was a perfect chemistry.
The truth is they didnt want a Asian back then it was hard for them to except a Asian hero but its was a blessing he didnt get the role because Bruce most likely would not done enter the Dragon rip Bruce u were something special
Bruce prove them wrong in the end, he an Asian actor who they did not want had become more famous, more successful than all of them put together. We will still remember Bruce another 50 years from now.
I find Bruce Lee much easier to understand when he is speaking than say, Jackie Chan. But in Enter the Dragon they did have Bruce Lee loop his dialogue .
What Bruce would have done with this "technology?". You mean this quick-cut shots with CG that can make anyone look like an expert? Yeah, he didn't need technology. He needed people to give him a chance to do what he was born to do. And those who did, and still reaping the benefits. And the rest of us are still thanking all of them for capturing as much of Bruce as was possible, for us.
Well said. He was pure dynamite without the cgi and tech. A testament to his obvious skill and charisma. He's still as impactful as he was in the 60s and 70s. True legend
Bruce Lee acted since childhood! He was very intelligent and articulate...had loads of charisma, was very expressive. He was also clearly good at public speaking. It's illogical to assume he couldn't act! Never seen him act badly or stiff in anything. Actually especially watching funny scen ! He was hilarious in the comedic scenes at the start of the movie. He would have made this TV show so much better! But of course he wouldn't have played it as a pseudo hippie in the past 🙄
It's very telling how deceptive this guy is. His English was bad? He's American? Just watch bruce talk on the Burton show. If you can't understand him there, then this guy is just bad.
no bruce actually was the one that wrote and created " Kung Fu". Sure, they tried to submit it and Lee playing the role of the warrior but they stole it and gave it to carradine because he looked less asian. All because hollywood wasnt excepting of an asian in a lead role at that time. Fred did not develop kung fu. This is universally known documented Bruce wrote the kung fu series. Think about it, hollywood had no asian based movies or shows so sudden weintraub and others create a KUNG FU show out of the blue? i call BS
So is this one of the person who denied Bruce the kung-fu series part? Too bad you didn't pick Bruce... I don't see what David Carendine did in the series including his acting that Bruce can't do or do even better. I believe with Bruce's talent/skills/passion he would have made the kung-fu series an even bigger success. Just as he did with Enter The Dragon. Nobody ever thought Bruce could do what he did with Enter The Dragon.
@@onionsan7688 Let's agree that David Carendine is a better Hollywood actor. But how come Bruce is more entertaining, more successful, etc? My point is, Bruce was an exception, he doesn't have to have superb Hollywood acting skills because he has something else more special that will make it work. In my opinion, if Bruce had gotten the kung-fu series roll, he would have brought on his unique talent and made it even more successful. If Warner Brothers had not witness Bruce's ability and success, and they were looking for someone to play Enter The Dragon role, they probably would have thought the same that Bruce might not fit the roll either. I also don't get why those producers keep saying Bruce's English was bad, he was very hard to understand. I watched Bruce's Lost Interview tape and his English is as crisp and clear as day light. I was amazed how good his English was and his vocabularies too. Bruce was something special, extraordinary, Hollywood either didn't know it at the time, or they just didn't want to work with a China man, or they were just looking for a regular to play the role. Once they found out how good Bruce really is, they went chasing after him and wanted a piece of him too.
@@onionsan7688 I disagree. Bruce is an under-rated actor. His personality and charisma comes through in every movie, especially in the fight scenes of course.
it was Bruce lee that actually wrote the idea of the programe he originally called it the silent flute. and like sylvester stallone with rocky bruce wanted to play the part of the charactor he invented.
He wants to tell the poeple that due to Bruces accent, he was hard to understand?? Realy?Just go and watch the interviews at that time and his way of talking, especially at the pierre burton interview, will blow your mind and give you goosebumps! this guy just was a fool and still is!
I think this bloke is absolutely spot on. The series Kung Fu WAS a 'hit' ie, it 'made serious money'. At the end of the day? Hollywood is ALL about money. its a simple Fact. Now I'm a HUGE fan of Bruce Lee. To me, he's like a bloody GOD. But NOBODY in their right mind can tell me that Bruce Lee was this brilliant 'actor' because he was NOT that at all. When I say 'actor' you need to think of just some of the truly Fabulous actors over the years. Clarke Gable, James Cagney, Steve McQeen, Charles Bronson and the list goes on. THEY are what you consider GREAT actors. Now I'm not saying Bruce Lee would not have become a great actor but at the time? his acting ability just was'nt up to scratch and that is why the role was given to Carradine. Like I said, Hollywood was NOT thinking of Bruce lee's colour/race, they were ONLY thinking of the 'profit' that they stood to make and obviously they thought by having Carradine as Caine, that profit would be higher!
Totally agree. Infact Bruce’s acting ability was a let down. He was actually a consultant for movies, and not for acting. Like they have stunt people going their magic… Bruce would have been better in the background. He was lucky to be noticed in Hong Kong.
A good talker-I’ve heard him before-but kinda backhanded in his complimenting of Bruce. I wince at his comparison of Carradine as the great actor, and Bruce as the great martial artist. Bullshit. Mind you, as an Asian dude who grew up in Hawaii I absolutely loooved Kung Fu; it was by far my favorite show at the time and I was able to put my blinders on and accept this haole guy as half Chinese because, to my eye at least, he looked hapa. And Carradine's slow, ruminating persona fit the introspective Kwai Chang Caine. HOWEVER…had Bruce played the part? I have no doubt whatsoever it would've become the enduring iconic classic that Star Trek is now, rather than a cult series fondly remembered by those who were around in the 70s. You would've seen a proactive Caine using his abilities to affect change rather than passively waiting for things to unfold, usually badly, before stepping in. He would've applied his philosophy and altered and evolved it as he was forced into new, challenging, unknown situations. He would've QUESTIONED what he was taught in the temple rather that blindly following it. The show would've been equally deep and moving but in different ways, all propelled by the energy, commitment, and, yes, acting ability of one man who-if Tom Kuhn had ever watched Longstreet-could blend action, philosophy, and personality like no other performer before or since. But all suspension of disbelief aside, and as much as I adore the series, Carradine was about as convincing a fighter as Ralph Macchio, lol. And in the acting department? I’ll put Bruce’s training scenes on Longstreet up against ANY scene in the Kung Fu series. Contrary to Mr. Kuhn, The Little Dragon could act his tail off-WA-TAAAH!
como dijo steve mc queen: me considero más q actor un REACTOR...reaccionaba naturalmente a lo q se le presentaba. Así era Bruce Lee y además, sus pocas frases dichas en ENTER THE DRAGON han quedado más en la mente d la gente q todas las q dijo Carradine...es el fondo y LA FORMA en q se dicen.
Everybody Know Bruce Lee, nobody know you, Qualität over Quantität. Grasshopper. Evers actor can Mass with Carradine, Nobody with Mr the one and only Lee.
I firmly believe that the role of cain would not have suited Bruce, it was a too laid back part, just like Clint Eastwood in rawhide as Rowdy Yates, who when he got the part of The Man with no name in a fistfull of Dollars suddenly took off to stardom!
i get the feeling that this was one of the main guys saying NO to Bruce for the role. He was probably put off by the physical way Bruce presented himself and was uncomfortable with Bruces accent Brucr had a notable Chonese accent in the same eay that Arnold has a noticeable Herman accent but theyre both unferstandable. In fact Bruce joked that one of the reasons he landed the Kato role wasbecause he was one ofvthe few Asoan actors who could pronounce the name BRITT REED
It was a bad business decision for not having Bruce on the "Kung Fu" series. I have purchased TV series on DVDs such as "The Brady Bunch," "Happy Days," "The Twilight Zone," and "Long Street." I would have purchased "Kung Fu," if Bruce was on it...
Bruce was NOT "Hard to understand," back then; he spoke quite well, as a mattet of fact. You jerks just couldn't see past your own prejudices. David Carridine...Ya' gotta' be KIDDIN'!
It would've helped if Frank Weintraub accompanied or assisted Bruce with the meeting between execs regarding Kung Fu. Why would he just flop the script on the guy's desk then suddenly disappear? Why not champion Bruce for the role by talking with execs and pounding some sense into this numbskull here. Oh well, in hindsight it's always brighter I guess.
how awesome is it that GEORGE TAKEI auditioned for the role of CAINE on Kung Fu?? When Carradine was cast it mustve left a bad taste in the mouth of many Asians nesife Bruce
As unjust as the casting decision was I cant belie e anyone else couldve played the role better than David Carradine Bruce was too intense for the role and IMO never wouldve been able to realistically play the role as a pacifist . Whats really criminal is how Hollywood stole Bruces idea of a Kung Fu Western THAT WAS GROUNDBREAKING
It was a lot racism back in the days in America and that is the only reason why we never saw Bruce Lee in that Americano soup kung fu wanna be movie , with unskilled and unknown David whatever name was ...
As James Coburn stated, Bruce was too big for television. I wish this guy would have just cut to the chase and be honest. Dancing around words to say, we didn't want an Asian. Thankfully it didn't stop Bruce going onto bigger and better things.
The show was kind of fun except for when the lame action would start lol. The fighting was just the WORSE. I bet when Bruce saw the fighting he must've said "what have I done! I screwed up Kung Fu's reputation by handing it over to these assholes!!"
The TV show would be a million times better with Bruce Lee! Not this lame ass pseudo hippie in the past portrayal they went for. But definitely: Bruce would have never played this wimpy role like that. Especially as proud as Chinese he was. And I don't think for a second those executives wanted an actual strong Chinese masculine kick ass active lead role on TV! He was a good actor too... never seen anything to assume he wasn't! Acting since childhood. I think this guy didn't like Bruce and the way he carried himself ... maybe he was intimidated...or annoyed... concerned whatever but it's clear hearing him talk that he had a negative impression from his meeting with Bruce. It's hard to not see that.
LIAR. He bleeds deception and bullshit. He should be HONORED to have met Sifu Lee. He knows WHY he didn't cast Bruce. And cast a Caucasian as the ASIAN Kung Fu master. AND LEES ACCENT? HE SPOKE WONDERFUL ENGLISH. I have NEVER had the TINIEST problem understanding Lee. Anyone have a problem understanding Kato? Or Enter the Dragon? Exactly. Lee was too big for tv and thank God we have his films, the green hornet, and his recorded interviews.
Huge mistake they didn't cast Bruce Lee in Fung Ku. David Carradine was boring. The actions were mediocre at best and put me to sleep. I watched one or two episodes and gave up.
I hate this guy the more he talks. First Bruce's accent is too Chinese, then later Bruce was too "American.". I hate this man. And I've never been able to watch ANYTHING with David Carradine. I know it it's DCs fault, and I'm glad Bruce didn't get stuck doing TV, but I've just never been and to look at Carradine without feeling upset. To me, his face always reminds me of how Hollywood choose HIM over Bruce Lee, to play Chinese, for A role Lee helped create and inspire.
No way they went through every Asian actor and couldn't find one who could act??? That's hilarious...in a really sad way. Tell me how this can be anything but not actually wanting an Asian lead? And pretending like the TV show was a bright light of great acting? Get out of here! It was a hippie pseudo philosophy sorta bad martial arts mumbo jumbo. And this guy explain or decide that Bruce didn't play a Chinese!!!! 😂😆 how the heck does he know how a Chinese person behaves or carries themselves? I think he means Bruce Lee wasn't a subservient pacifist little fella who doesn't cause any troubles and asks for nothing and only reacts when forced and the white guys just go a little bit too far 😏 bet that's what they needed to tell themselves with the Vietnam war disaster....
I have seen Bruce Lee speaking on interviews and I never found his accent to be a problem.
Life Academy thanks - only seems these elitist cannot understand Bruce lee’s so-called accent. Bruce was acting from a young age, this man was is full of shit! You can feel the red coming out of his neck.
I don’t speak good inglish but Brucee had good acent at the end of the interview he says if i have another chance I would use Bruce Lee, but guess what sometimes there’s only one chance.
In fact Life, he is THAT much more appealing BECAUSE of his accent, it just seems that more "real' I NEVER liked the dubbing of his voice
oxymoron, they want an Asian to play Chinese but with perfect English accent. What a bunch of bull
He just didnt want an asian, period.
It’s bittersweet listening to him describe his decision. I’ve seen this guy in another interview where he described his meeting with Bruce and was kind of put off by his description of their meeting. Especially when he spoke of his “thick” accent. Give me a break. Bruce would have been great in Kung Fu! It’s sickening how Hollywood has whitewashed Asian culture over the years. With the success of Crazy Rich Asians and seeing Sandra Oh hosting the Globes hopefully the mentality will begin to change. Bruce would have been a fabulous actor! This guy was a barrier to Bruce’s success in Hollywood. Without a doubt in my mind Bruce would have made Kung Fu a huge hit! Sadly one wonders if he had not experienced the discrimination he did whether he would still be alive. I hope other producers out there can learn from this and realize that whitewashing a culture is wrong. I’d like to see this guy try to speak Chinese as well as Bruce spoke English. Bruce is a legend. This guy is a nobody.
I'm glad Bruce didn't get the part and went on to do those incredible movies. He was too big for television and the Waltons an' all. I was a white kid back in the early 70's and Bruce just exploded out of the screen in those theaters. My John Wayne.
David Carradine in that t.v. series was great and did it for me.
Exactly, a nobody who most likely tried to block his way. He said his English was hard to understand. Nonsense. Bruce was a real great actor. Not might have been great at it. He would've been great at it. Talking about ethnically. Listen to what he says. It just didn't work out. He was a marvelous actor ,not just a great martial artist. Can't believe he had a chance to do a documentary on him.
David Carridine was great in that role. Bruce Lee would not have been as good for a myriad of reasons
They have a crafty way with their words
Exactly Bruce was bilingual. where did this guys ancestors come from?
James Coburn was right in what he said that Bruce was too big for tv
I think its a shame he didnt get that role, he was a good actor he had years of experience as a kid. I think however James Coburn was right in what he said. He said that Bruce was too big for tv, and he was right, he was destined for the big silver screen.
Bryan Partington: True. Plus when a pathway is denied it's usually a sign that a better path is meant for you
Bryan Partington 100% god decision was right... bruce wouldve wasted alot of time philosophy and ideas on kung fu. Enter the dragon would probably never of happened and ithink bruce even though wouldve done a great job... like you say bruce wouldve been without a doubtthw biggest movie star on the planet... had he done kung fu and it beena hit. He wouldve been stuck as a cliche and we would never of gotten to see thw real bruce lee....
Bruce in his movies was playing himself... had he got the role for kung fu i dont think he wouldve developed sucha strong need to be such a perfectionist and put his ideas on film.... he wouldve bent to alot of the ways for the script...
Without a doubt bruce was too big for kung fu series.
in my country kuhn , ass , is right !
Best coment on here. Bruce really was too big for TV. Period. Sure he did the Green Hornet thing for it's short run....but you can tell he was stifled and held back by TV. But on the big screen he exploded with his arts.....both acting and martial arts.
Bruce wasn't a good actor; he was a GREAT actor. That gets overlooked because of his other considerable talent.
What this man is saying is “ I had no vision.”
yep one dimensional.
I watched Bruce interviews and he spoke perfect English. Tom Kuhn didn't want to admit he didn't want to work with Bruce because of his nationality. Too bad Tom you missed your once a lifetime opportunity.
To be fair, Bruce Lee most likely was coached or endured a lof of practices in speaking English for those interviews.
This guy said "Bruce was too Americanized" basically what he meant was Bruce was asian and wasn't the stereotype asian with a pigtails, slanty eyes, chop chop and all that. Simply put it was Bruce's gift and his destiny to go the route that he went bottom line. No need to speculate no need to debate. Job well done Bruce your legacy is well-established.
well said i agree with you.
It's a shame that Bruce was not cast as the star of Kung Fu, mostly because he deserved it and it started out as a feature made with him in mind. However, I can't help but think that things turned out for the best in how it played out, having David Carradine playing Kwai Chang Cain and Bruce Lee doing the movies. David Carradine's portrayal and Bruce Lee just being Bruce Lee at that time in history was a true spiritual chemistry of awareness in the U.S. that catapulted Bruce Lee into being an instant legend, hero and role model. It was a perfect chemistry.
This is basically a confession of how they fucked up one of the biggest opportunities to have the world's greatest Legend in the TV show.
MY BRUCE IS ALWAYS WITH ME!!
The truth is they didnt want a Asian back then it was hard for them to except a Asian hero but its was a blessing he didnt get the role because Bruce most likely would not done enter the Dragon rip Bruce u were something special
Bruce prove them wrong in the end, he an Asian actor who they did not want had become more famous, more successful than all of them put together. We will still remember Bruce another 50 years from now.
Thank you for all these cool interviews with the people that new him 😎❤️🎥🙏
I think one day Bruce Lee will be recognized as one the greatest actors. As he said, movements are a form of acting.
As James Coburn said, Bruce was to Big for TV and how right James was.
I find Bruce Lee much easier to understand when he is speaking than say, Jackie Chan. But in Enter the Dragon they did have Bruce Lee loop his dialogue .
What does loop the dialogue mean?
What Bruce would have done with this "technology?". You mean this quick-cut shots with CG that can make anyone look like an expert? Yeah, he didn't need technology. He needed people to give him a chance to do what he was born to do. And those who did, and still reaping the benefits. And the rest of us are still thanking all of them for capturing as much of Bruce as was possible, for us.
Well said. He was pure dynamite without the cgi and tech. A testament to his obvious skill and charisma. He's still as impactful as he was in the 60s and 70s. True legend
Lee didn't need cg for anything that is one of the reasons he's so great and still is .!!!!!.
Maybe bruce still might be alive if he got the roll . Maybe it would of been less stress .
Poor Bruce
If Bruce got the job in Kung Fu there would be no Enter the Dragon. Everything would've happened differently.
Bruce Lee acted since childhood! He was very intelligent and articulate...had loads of charisma, was very expressive. He was also clearly good at public speaking. It's illogical to assume he couldn't act! Never seen him act badly or stiff in anything. Actually especially watching funny scen ! He was hilarious in the comedic scenes at the start of the movie. He would have made this TV show so much better! But of course he wouldn't have played it as a pseudo hippie in the past 🙄
I love Bruce Lee, but he does have a accent! This is the reason why they didn't pick Bruce as the main star for Kung-fu!
Bruce guy had a lot of "good friends" n because of his skills he suddenly died.
It's very telling how deceptive this guy is.
His English was bad? He's American?
Just watch bruce talk on the Burton show. If you can't understand him there, then this guy is just bad.
no bruce actually was the one that wrote and created " Kung Fu". Sure, they tried to submit it and Lee playing the role of the warrior but they stole it and gave it to carradine because he looked less asian. All because hollywood wasnt excepting of an asian in a lead role at that time. Fred did not develop kung fu. This is universally known documented Bruce wrote the kung fu series. Think about it, hollywood had no asian based movies or shows so sudden weintraub and others create a KUNG FU show out of the blue? i call BS
They basically went for second best.. and regrets after that..
So is this one of the person who denied Bruce the kung-fu series part? Too bad you didn't pick Bruce... I don't see what David Carendine did in the series including his acting that Bruce can't do or do even better. I believe with Bruce's talent/skills/passion he would have made the kung-fu series an even bigger success. Just as he did with Enter The Dragon. Nobody ever thought Bruce could do what he did with Enter The Dragon.
Bruce had amazing screen presence, but David Carradine would of acted circles around him.
@@onionsan7688 Let's agree that David Carendine is a better Hollywood actor. But how come Bruce is more entertaining, more successful, etc? My point is, Bruce was an exception, he doesn't have to have superb Hollywood acting skills because he has something else more special that will make it work. In my opinion, if Bruce had gotten the kung-fu series roll, he would have brought on his unique talent and made it even more successful. If Warner Brothers had not witness Bruce's ability and success, and they were looking for someone to play Enter The Dragon role, they probably would have thought the same that Bruce might not fit the roll either. I also don't get why those producers keep saying Bruce's English was bad, he was very hard to understand. I watched Bruce's Lost Interview tape and his English is as crisp and clear as day light. I was amazed how good his English was and his vocabularies too. Bruce was something special, extraordinary, Hollywood either didn't know it at the time, or they just didn't want to work with a China man, or they were just looking for a regular to play the role. Once they found out how good Bruce really is, they went chasing after him and wanted a piece of him too.
@@onionsan7688 I disagree. Bruce is an under-rated actor. His personality and charisma comes through in every movie, especially in the fight scenes of course.
Kung Fu reminded me of The Fugitive tv series with David Janssen
The sign of the times....Think about it...People..
so this is the guy who turned down Bruce Lee on Kung Fu series
interesting (a lot of NLP signals, stress from a past not so distant I guess)
it was Bruce lee that actually wrote the idea of the programe he originally called it the silent flute. and like sylvester stallone with rocky bruce wanted to play the part of the charactor he invented.
If bruce would hav got the job instead of carradine it would of been 100 times better and this producer would hav been lot better off
Bruce Lee is the best martial arts ( the original)
Like Michael Jackson nobody take his place
It sucks that Bruce didn't get the role, but he would have not reached the heights he is at today if he went the TV route.
👍🐉🐲Bruce Lee🐲🐉👍
He wants to tell the poeple that due to Bruces accent, he was hard to understand?? Realy?Just go and watch the interviews at that time and his way of talking, especially at the pierre burton interview, will blow your mind and give you goosebumps! this guy just was a fool and still is!
I think this bloke is absolutely spot on. The series Kung Fu WAS a 'hit' ie, it 'made serious money'. At the end of the day? Hollywood is ALL about money. its a simple Fact. Now I'm a HUGE fan of Bruce Lee. To me, he's like a bloody GOD. But NOBODY in their right mind can tell me that Bruce Lee was this brilliant 'actor' because he was NOT that at all. When I say 'actor' you need to think of just some of the truly Fabulous actors over the years. Clarke Gable, James Cagney, Steve McQeen, Charles Bronson and the list goes on. THEY are what you consider GREAT actors. Now I'm not saying Bruce Lee would not have become a great actor but at the time? his acting ability just was'nt up to scratch and that is why the role was given to Carradine. Like I said, Hollywood was NOT thinking of Bruce lee's colour/race, they were ONLY thinking of the 'profit' that they stood to make and obviously they thought by having Carradine as Caine, that profit would be higher!
Totally agree. Infact Bruce’s acting ability was a let down. He was actually a consultant for movies, and not for acting. Like they have stunt people going their magic… Bruce would have been better in the background.
He was lucky to be noticed in Hong Kong.
Why does this Man look so young ?
A good talker-I’ve heard him before-but kinda backhanded in his complimenting of Bruce. I wince at his comparison of Carradine as the great actor, and Bruce as the great martial artist. Bullshit. Mind you, as an Asian dude who grew up in Hawaii I absolutely loooved Kung Fu; it was by far my favorite show at the time and I was able to put my blinders on and accept this haole guy as half Chinese because, to my eye at least, he looked hapa. And Carradine's slow, ruminating persona fit the introspective Kwai Chang Caine.
HOWEVER…had Bruce played the part? I have no doubt whatsoever it would've become the enduring iconic classic that Star Trek is now, rather than a cult series fondly remembered by those who were around in the 70s. You would've seen a proactive Caine using his abilities to affect change rather than passively waiting for things to unfold, usually badly, before stepping in. He would've applied his philosophy and altered and evolved it as he was forced into new, challenging, unknown situations. He would've QUESTIONED what he was taught in the temple rather that blindly following it. The show would've been equally deep and moving but in different ways, all propelled by the energy, commitment, and, yes, acting ability of one man who-if Tom Kuhn had ever watched Longstreet-could blend action, philosophy, and personality like no other performer before or since.
But all suspension of disbelief aside, and as much as I adore the series, Carradine was about as convincing a fighter as Ralph Macchio, lol. And in the acting department? I’ll put Bruce’s training scenes on Longstreet up against ANY scene in the Kung Fu series. Contrary to Mr. Kuhn, The Little Dragon could act his tail off-WA-TAAAH!
como dijo steve mc queen: me considero más q actor un REACTOR...reaccionaba naturalmente a lo q se le presentaba. Así era Bruce Lee y además, sus pocas frases dichas en ENTER THE DRAGON han quedado más en la mente d la gente q todas las q dijo Carradine...es el fondo y LA FORMA en q se dicen.
Everybody Know Bruce Lee, nobody know you, Qualität over Quantität. Grasshopper. Evers actor can Mass with Carradine, Nobody with Mr the one and only Lee.
They should have filmed Bruce as a minor character that came back every so often.
I firmly believe that the role of cain would not have suited Bruce, it was a too laid back part, just like Clint Eastwood in rawhide as Rowdy Yates, who when he got the part of The Man with no name in a fistfull of Dollars suddenly took off to stardom!
i get the feeling that this was one of the main guys saying NO to Bruce for the role. He was probably put off by the physical way Bruce presented himself and was uncomfortable with Bruces accent
Brucr had a notable Chonese accent in the same eay that Arnold has a noticeable Herman accent but theyre both unferstandable.
In fact Bruce joked that one of the reasons he landed the Kato role wasbecause he was one ofvthe few Asoan actors who could pronounce the name BRITT REED
It was a bad business decision for not having Bruce on the "Kung Fu" series. I have purchased TV series on DVDs such as "The Brady Bunch," "Happy Days," "The Twilight Zone," and "Long Street." I would have purchased "Kung Fu," if Bruce was on it...
Bruce was NOT "Hard to understand," back then; he spoke
quite well, as a mattet of fact. You jerks just couldn't see past
your own prejudices.
David Carridine...Ya' gotta' be KIDDIN'!
please it all boils download to raise color genda you name it .still today it will never change.these hollywood people are full of it..
He made of iron rod
It would've helped if Frank Weintraub accompanied or assisted Bruce with the meeting between execs regarding Kung Fu. Why would he just flop the script on the guy's desk then suddenly disappear? Why not champion Bruce for the role by talking with execs and pounding some sense into this numbskull here. Oh well, in hindsight it's always brighter I guess.
Just say it we were and still are prejudice.
how awesome is it that GEORGE TAKEI auditioned for the role of CAINE on Kung Fu??
When Carradine was cast it mustve left a bad taste in the mouth of many Asians nesife Bruce
But Lee acted in films since he was an infant. So that counted for nothing?
As unjust as the casting decision was I cant belie e anyone else couldve played the role better than David Carradine
Bruce was too intense for the role and IMO never wouldve been able to realistically play the role as a pacifist .
Whats really criminal is how Hollywood stole Bruces idea of a Kung Fu Western
THAT WAS GROUNDBREAKING
This is dude that came up with bs to stop Bruce from getting this role
It was a lot racism back in the days in America and that is the only reason why we never saw Bruce Lee in that Americano soup kung fu wanna be movie , with unskilled and unknown David whatever name was ...
I hope his Anti-Asian perspective has changed since 1966.
Thank his ignorance or else we might never have been left with ETD
Excuses!!!
This is how Hollywood and racist talk. A Legend in your face and you don't see it and we have to cast a white dude....yea, ok.
As James Coburn stated, Bruce was too big for television. I wish this guy would have just cut to the chase and be honest. Dancing around words to say, we didn't want an Asian. Thankfully it didn't stop Bruce going onto bigger and better things.
The show was kind of fun except for when the lame action would start lol. The fighting was just the WORSE. I bet when Bruce saw the fighting he must've said "what have I done! I screwed up Kung Fu's reputation by handing it over to these assholes!!"
I don’t believe this guy. He miss out on a great 😊 opportunity.. Bruce Lee
All lies his face said it all
The TV show would be a million times better with Bruce Lee! Not this lame ass pseudo hippie in the past portrayal they went for. But definitely: Bruce would have never played this wimpy role like that. Especially as proud as Chinese he was. And I don't think for a second those executives wanted an actual strong Chinese masculine kick ass active lead role on TV! He was a good actor too... never seen anything to assume he wasn't! Acting since childhood. I think this guy didn't like Bruce and the way he carried himself ... maybe he was intimidated...or annoyed... concerned whatever but it's clear hearing him talk that he had a negative impression from his meeting with Bruce. It's hard to not see that.
Who are you!
LIAR. He bleeds deception and bullshit. He should be HONORED to have met Sifu Lee. He knows WHY he didn't cast Bruce. And cast a Caucasian as the ASIAN Kung Fu master. AND LEES ACCENT? HE SPOKE WONDERFUL ENGLISH. I have NEVER had the TINIEST problem understanding Lee. Anyone have a problem understanding Kato? Or Enter the Dragon? Exactly. Lee was too big for tv and thank God we have his films, the green hornet, and his recorded interviews.
Huge mistake they didn't cast Bruce Lee in Fung Ku. David Carradine was boring. The actions were mediocre at best and put me to sleep. I watched one or two episodes and gave up.
I hate this guy the more he talks. First Bruce's accent is too Chinese, then later Bruce was too "American.". I hate this man. And I've never been able to watch ANYTHING with David Carradine. I know it it's DCs fault, and I'm glad Bruce didn't get stuck doing TV, but I've just never been and to look at Carradine without feeling upset. To me, his face always reminds me of how Hollywood choose HIM over Bruce Lee, to play Chinese, for A role Lee helped create and inspire.
It was better Bruce didn't get the role of Cain because we wouldn't have Enter the Dragon. The Kung Fu series was crap.
So u dumbed it down with a white guy with a horrible fake accident. Total BS
Liar
No way they went through every Asian actor and couldn't find one who could act??? That's hilarious...in a really sad way. Tell me how this can be anything but not actually wanting an Asian lead? And pretending like the TV show was a bright light of great acting? Get out of here! It was a hippie pseudo philosophy sorta bad martial arts mumbo jumbo. And this guy explain or decide that Bruce didn't play a Chinese!!!! 😂😆 how the heck does he know how a Chinese person behaves or carries themselves? I think he means Bruce Lee wasn't a subservient pacifist little fella who doesn't cause any troubles and asks for nothing and only reacts when forced and the white guys just go a little bit too far 😏 bet that's what they needed to tell themselves with the Vietnam war disaster....
Talking crap.