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The Hong Kong movie poster.

The Big Boss (唐山大兄; also known as Fists of Fury) is a 1971 Hong Kong martial arts-action film.The Big Boss was Bruce Lee's first major film. Initially, the star of the film was intended to be James Tien, but Lee's strong performance relegated Tien, then a major star in Hong Kong, to second billing. His success in this film made Bruce Lee a star across Asia.

Plot

Bruce Lee as Cheng Chao-anCheng is a Chinese man from Guangdong who has moved to Thailand, with the help of his uncle, to find a job working with his cousins in an ice factory. When a block of ice is accidentally broken, something that looks like a bag of white powder comes out. Later that night, the two cousins who discovered the heroin are asked to stay to see the manager. They are told that there are better jobs for them. Apparently, the factory is a front for a drug smuggling ring led by the Big Boss, Hsiao Mi. The cousins are offered good positions. When they decline, they are swiftly eliminated.

Hsiao Mi attempts to cover up the murders, but Cheng and his surviving cousins become suspicious. Two more of his cousins, Hsu Chien and Ah Pei, go to Mi's house to ask if he knows what happened to them. When they realize he is acting suspicious and start toward the police station, Mi also has them killed (but not before Hsu takes several of Mi's men down with him). Hsiao Mi then distracts Cheng by promoting him to foreman and providing him with alcohol and prostitutes (turning some of his cousins against him). However, out of affection, one of the prostitutes reveals the truth to Cheng, who then breaks into the factory at night and discovers, his cousins' corpses. Cheng's snooping around is immediately discovered by a gang led by Hsiao Mi's son, Hsiao Chiun.

Cheng defeats the gang and kills many, including Hsiao Chiun. Unfortunately he returns home only to find that his entire family has been murdered. Cheng exacts revenge by killing Hsiao Mi in the final fight, by stabbing him with his own fingers. He then surrenders to the police.

Cast

Bruce Lee as Cheng Chao-an: Cheng Chao-an (郑潮安) is a young man who travels from China to the remote town of Pak Chong in Thailand to work at the Man Lee Ice Factor. He is a skilled martial artist, but he is very naive. He is described as someone who believes anything he is told, but will do everything in hs power to set things straight. He doesn't fully understand the ramifications of his fighting until after the damage is done, so he wars a jade pendant as a symbol of a promise to his mother never to fight again.
Maria Yi as Chiao Mei: Chiao Mei is portrayed as the typical helpless "damsel in distress" and a love interest for the film's protagonist, Cheng Chao-an. She is a young woman who resides over her cousins and brother. Mei is very kind and tries to keep her family and friends together during troubling times. However, she is known to be very sensitive, and may break down crying within seconds of feeling sad or depressed.
James Tien as Cousin "Hsu Chien"
Yin-Chieh Han as Hsiao Mi ("The Big Boss")
Lee Kwan as Cousin "Ah Kun"
Tony Liu as "Hsiao Chiun" (Hsiao Mi's son)
Chao Chen as "Foreman of the Ice factory"
Chia Ching Tu as "Uncle"
Gam Saan as Cousin "Ah Shan"
Billy Chan Wui-Ngai as Cousin "Ah Pei"
Lam Ching-Ying as Cousin "Ah Yen" (also Assistant Action Director of the film)
Nora Miao as the drinkstand owner
Ma La Lene as "Miss Wuman"
Unknown as Cousin "Ah Chen"
Unknown as Cousin "Ah Wong"