Bruce Lee Lives!

Robert Clouse just can’t shake the spirit of Bruce Lee. The director of Lee’s landmark martial-arts epic, “Enter the Dragon,” is in Hong Kong interviewing with those who knew the charismatic superstar for a Lee bio from Unique Publications. That’s the same company that published Clouse’s recent “The Making of ‘Enter the Dragon.’ ”

Clouse teamed with Lee for “Dragon.” Filmed in 1973 for $500,000, its worldwide grosses are now some $150 million. “And it keeps finding a new audience. I get letters from kids saying, ‘I’ve seen “Enter the Dragon” 100 times.’ ” He also worked with Lee for “Game of Death,” which was released six years after Lee’s death, with final footage of Lee linked with additional footage utilizing two Lee look-alikes (one who acts, one who does martial arts). “I’m embarrassed by that movie,” admitted Clouse.

Lee died mysteriously in July, 1973. An autopsy indicated a brain edema--or swelling. Among the questions: possible drug use by Lee. But Clouse doesn’t expect any headline-making revelations: “What I’m finding is that those who knew him are pretty protective of him. ‘Saint Bruce’ is what I’m finding.”

Footnote: In early 1986, Brandon Lee--son of Bruce and his American wife, Linda--made his acting debut playing the alienated son of Caine (David Carradine) in “Kung Fu: The Movie.” At the time, Lee told People mag that he didn’t plan to mirror his dad’s career.

But now, at 22, No. 1 Son has been signed to his first starring role, in the Hong Kong-produced martial arts pic, “Legacy of Rage II.”