The Kato Plot

The Kato Plot

Joseph Parish

How well I still remember attending the Saturday matinees and watching the Green Hornet series each week. I have always been a fan of Bruce Lee and classify him as the number one martial artist of all time. Although he was an arrogant individual, he was also extremely talented and highly intelligent. Being one of his fans, I decided to watch the old 26-episode series of the Green Hornet which appeared in the 60s. In my honest opinion, these weekly renditions were degrading to Bruce Lee in all manner of speaking.

These short shows lasted a mere 30 minutes and featured not only Bruce Lee as Kato but also starred Van Williams as the Green Hornet. It lasted only one season, but the season was repeated for a second time at a later date. In no show was Bruce Lee’s martial art ability shown at its peak of prominence. It seems as if he was required to hold back in order to make Van Williams look good.

The plot of the series was centered on a playboy named Britt Reid, who was also the masked vigilante known as the Green Hornet. As far as the public was concerned the Green Hornet was a wanted criminal, however, in all reality he was working undercover for the police. Britt was assisted by martial-artist expert Kato, who used very fundamental Kung Fu moves throughout the series. Britt’s motivation was revealed to be revenge for his father dying in prison after being framed for a crime he was innocent of.

Originating from the early radio series of the 30s to 50s and later adapted to both comic books and later movies, one finds it interesting that the Britt Reid’s father was said to be Dan Reid who was the nephew of the Lone Ranger.

I am a firm believer that Bruce Lee got the secondary part in the show simply because he was of Chinese descent and the producers wanted to appease the average white American audience. With Bruce’s skill and martial art talents he should have rightfully had a starring role in this series and not a backup, secondary position. In all reality, the producers were taking advantage of Bruce’s fame in the Karate world while refusing to give him the honor of the star performer. Without the magic of Lee’s Kung fu the Green Hornet would have died in the first show.

Although not a prime star, Bruce Lee launches his Hollywood career with this TV series. He became a Kung fu star in not only America but also in Hong Kong where he had been raised. When introduced in Hong Kong the show was entitled “The Kato Show”. In later years there were several episodes of Batman where both The Green Hornet and Kato appeared together.

In the Green Hornet series, there were several technological devices introduced over the years. In the early versions of the Hornet we find him holding and using a telescoping device known as the “Hornet's Sting”. This item projected ultrasonic sound waves at a locked door or to set items on fire. In later episodes he used a form of knockout gas gun. Kato in turn had a system of darts which he used to provide him a distance or range for which he could attack his foes as well as using his rudimentary hand-to-hand combat.

In conclusion, I repeat that I felt that Bruce Lee was degraded in the Green Hornet series. He was never given an opportunity to use his Kung fu skills as he was employed to do. He was allowed to perform only minor martial art moves which never really showed his talents off. This is really sad as he was a very talented martial arts student and master. He should never have been delegated as a doorman, driver, waiter or other type of minor roles in the show but rather given a leading position. We can thank the Hollywood stereotype directors for all this. Perhaps they would have better enjoyed Bruce as wearing a pony tail and working on the railroad line laying rails. This complete ruse was nothing short of Chinese racism and bias at work.

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