Longstreet the TV Series
Longstreet was a crime drama that aired for one season in 1971. It follows insurance investigator Mike Longstreet who is played by James Franciscus. He is blinded by an explosion but overcomes his disability and continues to investigate insurance fraud with the help of his assistant Nikki, a seeing eye dog, and his best friend Duke.
Bruce Lee as recurring Guest Star
Bruce Lee guest starred in a total of four episodes including The Way of the Intercepting Fist, (Episode 1, aired September 16), Spell Legacy Like Death, (Episode 6, aired October 21), Wednesday’s Child, (Episode 9, aired November 11), I See, Said the Blind Man, (Episode 10, aired November 18, 1971). Lee played the character Li Tsung who worked in a nearby antique shop. The producer of the show was Lee’s friend Stirling Silliphant who worked with Lee on the unmade movie The Silent Flute.
Plot
The first episode The Way of the Intercepting Fist is named after Lee’s martial art of Jeet Kune Do. In the story, Longstreet is attacked by criminals on the street. Li Tsung passes by and rescues him but has to go to the police station as an eye witness. Longstreet asks Li Tsung to teach him how to defend himself.
Martial Arts
This episode is a delight to watch. At times it feels like Lee is giving you a personal lesson on martial arts. He names his martial arts Jeet Kune Do and instructs Longstreet how to be aware of his surroundings. There are several scenes where Li Tsung demonstrates a fast side kick. They practice with a kick shield and try to put their whole body weight into the kick. At one point Li Tsung kicks the shield so hard that it knocks Longstreet across the courtyard!
Philosophy
Lee’s personal philosophy of individual development comes out loud and clear. At first Li Tsung refuses to teach Longstreet and says that he does not believe in systems or method so there is nothing he can teach. However Li Tsung eventually agrees to be a guide to help Longstreet express himself and discover his own ignorance.
Li Tsung teaches that one should be present in the moment and react to your opponent by giving the famous quote, “Empty your mind, Be formless, shapeless, like water. Now if you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. Put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow, or creep or drip or crash. Be water my friend.”
Final Analysis
If you are a fan of Bruce Lee you should most definitely check this out. It gave me a sense of what Bruce Lee would have been like as an instructor. The producer Stirling Silliphant wrote the episode and was also a student of Lee. I got the sense that Silliphant used his own experience as Lee’s student for the script. Currently this show can be watched on Youtube or purchased on Ebay.
Resources:
Longstreet, The Way of the Intercepting Fist, Season 1, Episode 1, aired September 16, played Li Tsung. Bruce Lee teaches the blind Mike Longstreet to defend himself. The first of four episodes on Longstreet. Bruce Lee received much positive attention and made important statements about his martial arts philosophy. 48m (IMDB).
Longstreet, Spell Legacy Like Death, Season 1, Episode 6, aired October 21, played Li Tsung. Mike Longstreet must discover who is setting off bombs in the city. 49m (IMDB).
Longstreet, Wednesday’s Child, Season 1, Episode 9, aired November 11, played Li Tsung. Bruce Lee helps Mike Longstreet to rescue the kidnapped Nikki. 49m (IMDB).
Longstreet, I See, Said the Blind Man, Season 1, Episode 10, aired November 18, 1971, played Li Tsung. Mike Longstreet must find out the identity of a murderer. 49m (IMDB).
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