Maps of Movies

The Way of the Dragon (1972)

Where The Way of the Dragon says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

Bruce Lee fought in the Colosseum, but the fight was not filmed inside it, and the garden where he and Nora Miao stroll is not in Rome.

Scenes and places

Tang Lung lands in Rome

Tang steps off a flight from Hong Kong into a city he does not know, and looks like a country bumpkin. Chen, who asked for help, has to ask herself what use he can be.

Set in Rome airport — Where Tang Lung arrives from Hong Kong and Chen meets him.

Rome's airport is the gateway where the film's Hong Kong hero first meets Italy.

The restaurant under pressure

Gangsters scare the customers away, and the staff, who trained in karate, are beaten when they fight back. Tang beats the thugs alone, and the staff decide to train under him.

Set in The Chinese restaurant — The family restaurant that a local crime boss wants to take over.

A Chinese restaurant in Rome, set up by the film as the center of the conflict.

A tour of the gardens

Chen takes Tang on a tour of Rome, and they grow closer. Tang is not impressed by the sights.

Set in Villa d'Este gardens (story: a tour of Rome) — Chen shows Tang a garden and palace on her tour of Rome.

A Renaissance villa famous for its fountain garden.

Filmed at Villa d'Este, Tivoli — Filmed here; Bruce Lee and Nora Miao take a tour of the gardens. The garden is in Tivoli, outside Rome. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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A woman in Piazza Navona

Tang walks through Rome and meets a woman in the square, one of the film's cameo roles.

Set in Piazza Navona — The Roman square named as the setting of the prostitute role in the film. Google Maps · Apple Maps

A baroque square built on an old Roman stadium, known for its three fountains.

Filmed at Piazza Navona, Rome — The Italian Wikipedia names Piazza Navona as the setting of this role; it does not say the scene was filmed here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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The rooftop shot

An assassin aims at Tang from a nearby rooftop. Tang, already jumpy from fireworks, survives, then tracks the sniper down by tricking him into wasting his ammunition.

Set in Rooftop near the restaurant — A rooftop from which an assassin tries to shoot Tang.

A rooftop near the restaurant; no real filming location is documented in the sources found.

The boss's headquarters

Believing Chen has been kidnapped, Tang leads the restaurant staff to the boss's base and defeats his men. He gives the boss a final warning to leave the restaurant alone.

Set in The boss's headquarters — The crime boss's base, which Tang storms with the restaurant staff.

The crime boss's base; no real filming location is documented in the sources found.

The ambush at the isolated spot

Ho leads some of the staff to an isolated spot under the pretence of a truce, and two hired karate masters ambush them. The staff are losing until Tang steps in.

Set in An isolated spot — A lonely place where two karate masters ambush the staff.

A lonely spot used for the ambush; no real filming location is documented in the sources found.

Tang vs. Colt at the Colosseum

Ho lures Tang to the Colosseum to fight Colt, a world-class martial artist. The two meet in a ten-minute battle of different fighting styles.

Set in Colosseum — The ancient arena where Tang faces Colt in a ten-minute battle. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The Roman amphitheater, built to hold gladiator fights. Chuck Norris makes his film debut here.

Filmed at Colosseum (exterior), Rome — Exterior filmed here. For safety the fight itself was not filmed inside the Colosseum; where the inside was shot is not stated in the sources. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Characters

• Tang Lung — A young martial artist from Hong Kong, sent to help a family restaurant in Rome.
• Chen Ching-hua — The young owner of a Roman restaurant that a crime boss wants to take over.
• Colt — A world-class martial artist brought in by the crime boss to beat Tang.