The Last Dragon

For the television series, see The Last Dragon (2004 TV series). For the novel, see The Last Dragon (novel).

The Last Dragon
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Michael Schultz
Produced by	Rupert Hitzig Berry Gordy Joseph Caracciolo
Written by	Louis Venosta
Starring	Taimak Julius J. Carry III Chris Murney Leo O'Brien Faith Prince Glen Eaton Vanity Jim Moody Mike Starr Lisa Loving
Music by	Bruce Miller Misha Segal
Cinematography	James A. Contner
Editing by	Christopher Holmes
Studio	Motown Productions
Distributed by	TriStar Pictures
Release date(s)	March 22, 1985 (1985-03-22)
Running time	108 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$10 million
Box office	$25,784,554

The Last Dragon is a 1985 martial arts musical film produced by Rupert Hitzig for Berry Gordy and directed by Michael Schultz. The film was a critical disappointment but a financial success, and is now considered a cult classic. The film stars Taimak, Vanity, Julius J. Carry III, Chris Murney, and Faith Prince. Choreography was done by Lester Wilson and Lawrence Leritz. It was released in theatres by TriStar Pictures on March 22, 1985.

Plot

Set in New York City, the plot follows a teenage martial arts student named Leroy Green (often referred to as "Bruce Leroy") with dreams of becoming a great martial artist like his idol Bruce Lee. Leroy goes on a quest to achieve the highest level of martial arts accomplishment, known as "The Final Level". Martial artists who reach this "Final Level" are said to possess "The Glow", a mystical energy that can only be attained by a true martial arts master. When a fighter's hands glow, he is one of the best in the world and when his entire body glows, he is the greatest fighter alive. On his journey to becoming the "Last Dragon" and wielding the power of "The Glow," Leroy must confront villains such as a crooked arcade mogul Eddie Arkadian and the evil Sho'nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, from whom he must also protect his younger brother Richie (Leo O'Brien) and his love interest, TV music video host Laura Charles.

Cast

• Taimak as Leroy Green
• Julius J. Carry III as Sho'nuff / The Shogun of Harlem
• Chris Murney as Eddie Arkadian
• Leo O'Brien as Richie Green
• Faith Prince as Angela Viracco
• Glen Eaton as Johnny Yu
• Vanity as Laura Charles
• Jim Moody as Daddy Green
• Mike Starr as Rock
• Lisa Loving as Sho's Woman #3
• Ernie Reyes, Jr. as Tai
• Esther Marrow as Mama Green
• Keshia Knight as Sophia
• Jamal Mason as Roy
• B.J. Barie as Jackie
• Chazz Palminteri as Hood #2
• William H. Macy as J.J.
• Carl Anthony Payne II as Kid in pizza shop

Production

This was the first acting role for Taimak, a then-20-year-old black belt who learned to act on the set of this picture. Leroy and Richie's younger sister Sophie is portrayed by Cosby Show actress, Keshia Knight Pulliam. Ernie Reyes, Jr., martial artist and actor, made his film debut at the age of twelve in this film. Leo O'Brien, the actor portraying Bruce Leroy's younger brother Richie, is the younger brother of Guy O'Brien, better known as "Master Gee" from the hip-hop group The Sugarhill Gang, as well as television host London Reyes a.k.a. "B-Boy London" of the New York City Breakers.

Veteran actor William H. Macy makes a brief appearance as "JJ", and Chazz Palminteri makes a brief appearance as "Hood #2". Carl Anthony Payne II, who appears in a small role as a kid in the family-owned pizza shop, went on to co-star in The Cosby Show and Martin. Mike Starr went on to act in Dumb and Dumber, as the pill-popping ulcer-afflicted thug tracking down Lloyd and Harry.

Producer Berry Gordy intentionally cast Sho'Nuff's entourage for a Rainbow effect using real martial artists such as André D. Brown and Janet Bloem combined with professional actors such as Lisa Löving.

Julius J. Carry III, in the role of Sho'nuff, trained in martial arts for the film, appeared in numerous television roles: Dr. Abraham Butterfield on Doctor, Doctor and, most notably, the bounty hunter Lord Bowler in The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.. He was also a supporting actor in the R. Ray Moore film Disco Godfather, and also appeared in The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh and on shows such as Murphy Brown, Family Matters, A Different World, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, and Boy Meets World. He enjoyed playing basketball. Carry died August 19, 2008 of pancreatic cancer.

Filming

• The film began production on exclusive New York City locations on April 16, 1984.
• The Dojo and workout scenes were filmed at the Harlem Karate Institute of Grandmaster Ernest Hyman, Japanese Goju-Ryu, in Harlem, New York City.
• The Victory Theater on 42nd Street which was used for the scene where Sho'nuff interrupts the viewing of Enter The Dragon was an adult movie theater. Ron Van Clief choreographed the fight for this scene in which Julius J. Carry III performed his own stunts.
• Bernstein's-on-Essex, a kosher Chinese restaurant used in the film with its decor intact.
• Village East Pizza restaurant between 11th and 12th street on Ave C in lower Manhattan. (Daddy Green's);
• A Chinese warehouse on Walker Street in Manhattan (the Sum Dum Goy fortune cookie factory);
• Super Amusements in Flushing in the Queens Borough of New York City (Eddie's Video Emporium);
• An abandoned wire factory and warehouse at East 118 Street and East Side Highway in Manhattan which was used for the climatic fight between Leroy and Sho'Nuff.
• Peter Larkin's spectacular Seventh Heaven club video set was built on Camera Mart stages at 54th and 10th Avenue, a set so impressive that Diana Ross, visiting one day, promptly asked if she could buy it for her next tour.
• Barry Gordy was frequently on the set and had many of his Motown artists visit. Producer Suzanne de Passe was very hands on with the project.

Music

The film is known for its soundtrack, featuring a bevvy of talent and highlighting the best of what hip-hop offered in the West in that time integrated with references to martial arts from the East. The music was supervised by executive producer Gordy, the founder of Motown Records. Featured in this film is a DeBarge song, "Rhythm of the Night", written by Diane Warren. The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard R&B charts. The film's Richard Perry-produced title theme was nominated for Worst "Original" Song at the 1985 Golden Raspberry Awards, as was Vanity's song "7th Heaven". A song that was not featured but still benefited from critical acclaim was "Upset Stomach", written and performed by Stevie Wonder. It also marked the return of Willie Hutch to Motown with the song "The Glow". Charlene (sang "I've Never Been to Me") also performed the song "Fire" in a last attempt to revive her singing career, but it never worked. The score was composed by Misha Segal. The love theme song called First Time on a Ferris Wheel was also composed by Misha Segal and performed by Smokey Robinson and Syreeta.

In 1997, rapper Busta Rhymes released the song "Dangerous". In the music video he dressed as Sho'Nuff for one scene, repeating lines from the film.

Reception

The film received a mixed reception.

In 2002 a paper in the Journal of Asian American Studies applauded the strong character development of the black hero, who in the film reverses the stereotype of the typical Asian in an action film. The hero of the movie, while learning from an Asian Zen Master, learns to use his internal strength and aura to overcome obstacles.

Remake

In 2008, a remake of the film was announced, with Samuel L. Jackson assuming the role of Sho'nuff. John Davis of Davis Entertainment and Gordy's son Kerry Gordy, along with the RZA were set to produce. Penning the screenplay as well as producing was Dallas Jackson, who heads up the urban family label DJ Classicz with Davis.

External links

• The Last Dragon at the Internet Movie Database
• The Last Dragon at AllRovi
• The Last Dragon at Box Office Mojo
• The Last Dragon at Rotten Tomatoes
• The Last Dragon flashback website
• Fan tribute to The Last Dragon