Way of the Dragon, The

Date: 1972
Director: Bruce Lee
Production Company: Golden Harvest Films, Concord Productions, Golden Harvest Company

Stars: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, Chuck Norris
Location(s): Rome

Region(s):

Storyline:

Martial arts expert arrives in Rome to defend his cousins and their restaurant from the syndicate. SJ

Additional Information:

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Lee is picked up at the larger of Rome's two international airports.

Rome's Fiumicino/Leonardo da Vinci Airport, about 20 miles southwest of Rome, with a clear view of the tower. The car park has now been filled in by multi-storey buildings.

The start of rather an extraordinary route from the airport to the Lee's cousins' restaurant.

The Piazza del Popolo.

The camera tilts to reveal St. Peter's.

Taken from the Terrazza del Pincio, a popular spot. SJ

Much further south at the Colosseum.

Now pedestrianised. SJ

On west to pass the Arch of Constantine.

More grass now. SJ

This is suddenly to the west of the Colosseum and therefore in the opposite direction.

Definitely pedestrians only nowadays in the Piazza del Campidoglio. SJ

Back heading north past the Trevi Fountain.

No chance for private cars here now. SJ

  • 'Now' required

A useful street sign Villa Borghese and Via Veneto straight ahead. Left for Via Campania and Centro. So heading west on the Corso d'Italia with Via Toscana on the left behind the old city walls.

  • 'Now' required

And this is the western end of Via Campania near the Porta Pinciana. Again an unlikely approach from the Trevi but at least it was roughly the correct direction.

Lee enters the restaurant... Manuel adds, "In fact this is the servants’ entrance to the famous Hotel Flora, where 1943 the Gestapo took up residence. The main entrance of the Grand Hotel Flora is just around the corner at Via Vittorio Veneto."

Google & Manuel have captured the laundry service for the current Marriott Grand Hotel Flora in action, looking towards the via Vittorio Veneto. (SJ)

Some sightseeing in the Piazza Navona.

Crowded as ever. SJ

Further sightseeing.

Emerging from the Campidoglio to the Via Monte Tarpeio. SJ

Lee and Miao enjoy the Foro Romano.

The very spot. SJ

More sightseeing at the Villa d'Este, Tivoli.

Sitthirith Phay visited the Oval Fountain on the 2nd December '23 for this tourist-free shot. (SJ)

A familiar image, seen in many a Rome film even though Tivoli is a trek away from the centre.

Sitthirith's shot of the 100 fountains. (SJ)

  • 'Now' required

Some tough guys ready for some kung fu fighting.

Lee enters the Colosseum/Flavian Amphitheatre

This is the west entrance. SJ

The opposition in the shape of Norris is there. Can you see him?

No longer there but the Colosseum still stands after nearly 2000 years. SJ

There he is.

I wonder how they got him up there. SJ

Surely a set.

But this is the background. SJ

After the fight is over, there is only one victor.

The north side of the Colosseum. SJ

The end titles play. This is in the large Verano Monumental Cemetery, at coordinates 41.899215,12.524840 (SR)

Sitthirith returned to Italy and visited the cemetery on the 30th January in Rome east of the main railway station. He also provides this youtube link for then and nows which confirm our locations. https://youtu.be/UnkuLtsf5S4?si=JOCjKV7H0uqv6aMF (SJ)