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...In 1985
Jean Claude Van Damme gots his first real role as
a villain in the low-budget movie "No
Retreat, No Surrender."
After approaching a producer for Cannon Pictures
outside a Beverly Hills restaurant, Van Damme
demonstrated his unique contribution to the
martial arts genre: executing a karate kick to his
opponent's head during an impressive 360-degree
leap.
Suitably impressed, the producer (Menahem Golan)
hired him for "Bloodsport". But when it
was completed, "Bloodsport" was so bad
they shelved it for almost two years. It might
have never been released if not Van Damme helped
re-cut the film and begged producers to release
it.
They released the film, and the miracle happened.
"Bloodsport", shot in Hong Kong on a
meager 1.5 million dollar budget, became a US
box-office hit in the spring of 1988. It made
about 30 million worldwide and audiences supported
this film for only one reason: Van Damme was
sensational. A new star was born.... |
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