We are now entering the third phase of the controversy surrounding Bruce Lee’s inclusion in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” The first phase was the outrage shared by Lee’s daughter, who claimed that the film poorly portrayed her late father and made him look like an “arrogant asshole.” The second part was yesterday when we reported that the actor who plays Lee in the film, Mike Moh, explained how he thought the scene in question honored the legacy of the martial arts icon.
But now, there are reports that the fight scene in the film between Cliff Booth and the fictionalized Bruce Lee could have gone very differently, which would have likely created even more outrage. But luckily, those involved, such as Brad Pitt, were there to pump the brakes.
Speaking to Huffington Post, stunt coordinator Robert Alonzo talked about the fight scene in question (if you’ve seen the film, you know the one), and discussed how the original idea for the altercation included a definitive end, which wouldn’t have ended well for Bruce Lee. He explains that instead of coming out a draw, Tarantino’s original ending to the fight included a third round and featured Lee on the losing end.
“I know that Brad had expressed his concerns, and we all had concerns about Bruce losing,” Alonzo said. “Especially for me, as someone who has looked up to Bruce Lee as an icon, not only in the martial-arts realm, but in the way he approached philosophy and life, to see your idol be beaten is very disheartening. It really pulled at certain emotional strings that can incite a little anger and frustration as to how he’s portrayed. … There’s a certain mythology and mysticism about who Bruce Lee is, which is understandable.”
He continued, “Being an Asian American myself, I definitely related to how Bruce was a symbol of how Asians should be portrayed in movies, instead of the old ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ model that was really prevalent back in the day. … I had a difficult time choreographing a fight where he lost. Everyone involved was like, ‘How is this going to go over?’ Brad was very much against it. He was like, ‘It’s Bruce Lee, man!’”
According to the stunt coordinator, the third round of the “fight” would have featured Cliff Booth winning by using a “cheap-shot” to knock Bruce Lee on his butt. However, that was changed, thanks in part, to the aforementioned concerns expressed by those involved, including Pitt.
Of course, considering the controversy that has sprung up in light of the altercation ending up in a draw, who knows the level of outrage that would have existed if Brad Pitt beat up Bruce Lee in the film? Needless to say, it was probably for the best to have it end the way it did.
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is in theaters now.
