Peter Thomas Sound Orchester – Bruce Lee – The Big Boss

The Big Boss (aka The Fists of Fury) was the film which started Bruce Lee’s international career. Director Lo Wei’s movie premiered in Hong Kong in 1971, but its international success didn’t begin until 1973.

The German distributor Cinerama tried to subtly adapt the film to western visual habits. This was done mainly through an altered soundtrack. It was supposed that the original score of Chinese composer Wang Fu-ling would sound far too oriental for Europeans. That was the moment when Peter Thomas came into play. He had been commissioned to conceive the new soundtrack. As a result, his music can be heard in the film worldwide with the exception of China. So Thomas’ soundtrack virtually became the original score of The Big Boss.

It is striking the way in which Thomas successfully integrates his music into the oriental cinematic milieu. The snappy main theme alone, with it’s marvellous brass section, has something of the eternal in it’s very essence!
Now, 37 years later, this music is released on CD for the very first time!

The 20 tracks are accompanied by some rare large-sized colour film stills of young martial artist Bruce Lee.

The Big Boss (int. title)
aka.: Bruce Lee – Die Todesfaust des Cheng Li (Germany)
aka.: Tang shan da xiong (original title)
aka.: Fists of Fury (US)
aka.: Fists of Glory

Hong Kong, 1971

Director: Lo Wei

Actors: Bruce Lee, Maria Yi, Han Ying Chieh…

Music: Peter Thomas