Bruce Lee movie director, actor present plaque to San Francisco hospital where star was born

Wednesday, August 16, 2017
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A new movie based on the legendary fight between Bruce Lee and Chinese kung fu master Wong Jack Man is also helping the San Francisco hospital where the martial artist and movie star was born.

The film, "Birth of the Dragon," is set against the backdrop of 1960s San Francisco.



FULL VIDEO: Star of new Bruce Lee movie talks to ABC7 in SF
FULL VIDEO: Star of new Bruce Lee movie talks to ABC7 in SF


On Wednesday, the film's director George Nolfi and star Philip Ng presented a commemorative plaque to Chinese Hospital, where Bruce Lee was born in 1940.

"I tried to capture the spirit of Bruce Lee. He was a superhero but he was also a human being," said Ng. He went on to say, "'Birth of the Dragon' was here, so having the press conference here and also, you know, brings that point to life and also we want to help the community and have people donate to this hospital so they can further help the community."

PHOTOS: Bruce Lee film director, actor in SF

PHOTOS: Bruce Lee film director, actor visit SF


Nolfi added, "Bruce was born in 1964. In this film, he's young, not fully formed... trying to prove himself, recently married and dealing in a world where he's trying to become a movie star. He was thinking of racism and constraints that might keep him down. You can see that in the movie... why he's fighting and how it transformed him. He's like a movie star being born in this movie."

Wednesday night's premiere of "Birth of the Dragon" is a benefit for Chinese Hospital.

The film is set to be released in theaters nationwide on Aug. 25.

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