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That Glickenhaus interview for the Shout Factory release

posted 8 years ago by Bunuel_Fassbinder_Pasolini
3 replies | jump to latest

Dude seems to have a real axe to grind with Jackie Chan. Though he says in the interview he had no problem with his movie being recut for the Asian market, his other comments and tone contradict that. He seems to revel in emphasizing that Warner Bros picked up HIS version for release in the US market, not Jackie's. Then offers misinformed info by saying his movie did "fare" business when in reality it was a huge bomb theatrically. He references Chan's earlier film The Big Brawl, and how no one in the US wanted to take a chance on him after that movie. Ironically that picture did way better business than The Protector. I also didn't care for his putting down Chan's abilities calling his kung fu silly, balletic and uninteresting. Also, that Jackie's Chan's brand of comedy-action would be lost on American audiences. History has dictated otherwise. All of that aside, I enjoyed Glickenhaus' movie despite the inherent flaws. It was a change of pace for Chan back then in terms of tone. Glickenhaus also says the shoot went smoothly. Though other reports and Chan's own memories dictate otherwise. Jackie Chan also knows how to choreograph action unlike Glickenhaus. Police Story released shortly after validates that. Overall interesting to get Glickenhaus' perspective,even though it seems to be a case of sour grapes.

[–] zee944 8 years ago

Thanks for sharing this, I knew about the interview and wanted to hear it but I don't have the Shout Factory Blu-ray. It would be still nice to see or hear it, but your description is much better than nothing.

It sounds like James Glickenhaus is as much an a$$ we assumed him to be. First off, I remember an interview with him (it was probably done in the 2000s) where he was enlighted by the interviewer that Jackie did in fact re-shot scenes and shot brand new footage as well. He didn't know about it, he was surprised and said "he had no right to do that". Up to that point, he thought that Jackie only re-edited the movie from the footage he (Glickenhaus) directed.

Just like Glickenhaus himself, Warner Bros probably haven't even seen Jackie's version, let alone considering using it. So there wasn't even "picking a version"-moment. To be honest, I'm sure they wouldn't have picked Jackie's version anyway, because the Sally Yeh storyline and other extra scenes weren't palatable for western audiences at all. Also no nudity and swearing - they wanted to have that. But they probably would've wanted to use Jackie's more intricate fight scenes. That would've worked in the US version too.

I could go on, but probably noone will read this anyway aside from OP, so...

[–] Bunuel_Fassbinder_Pasolini 8 years ago

He also makes a point to say he was a fan of "real" martial arts like Bruce Lee; and some of the Golden Harvest movies which initially attracted him towards making a movie for the studio in Hong Kong. Mentioned Bruce Lee one other time, which still came off as condescending. He does give Jackie some credit as being a good athlete with a strong sense of his own ideas,which occasionally caused them to clash. He also said they got along well at the wrap party. Whatever then.

Is it any surprise though that Glickenhaus might be bitter of the "industry" since he left it two decades ago. For the last twenty years he's been a hedge fund guy on Wall Street. Weird.

[–] zee944 8 years ago

Thanks for the further details.

Glickenhaus is full of himself, but I never felt [in the interviews I read or heard] he was bitter of the industry. I believe no one harmed or humiliated him, it was just the change of times that lead him to quit. There were not much room left for small budget action B-movies in the nineties, they couldn't make as much money with them anymore.