Missing in Action (1984)

Director:

Joseph Zito

Writers:

Steve Bing (characters)
James Bruner (writer)

Release Date:

16 November 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | War

Tagline:

The war's not over until the last man comes home.

Plot:

Colonel James Braddock is an American officer who spent seven years in a North Vietnamese POW camp, then escaped 10 years ago...

Plot Keywords:

Colonel | Vietnam | Flashback Sequence | Helicopter | Cult Favorite

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 21	1:15 PM	AMC
Fri. Aug. 1	11:00 AM	AMC

Cast

Chuck Norris	...	Col. James Braddock
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Tuck
David Tress	...	Sen. Porter
Lenore Kasdorf	...	Ann
James Hong	...	Gen. Trau
Ernie Ortega	...	Vinh
Pierrino Mascarino	...	Jacques
Erich Anderson	...	Masucci (as E. Erich Anderson)
Joseph Carberry	...	Carter
Avi Kleinberger	...	Dalton
Willie Williams	...	Randall
Ric Segreto	...	GI
Bella Flores	...	Madame Pearl
Gil Arceo	...	First Vietnamese Businessman
Roger Dantes	...	Second Vietnamese Businessman

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Peru:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Company:

Cannon Group

Trivia:

Filmed together with Missing In Action 2, this film was supposed to be the sequel, however when the producers realized this film was the better of the two, they simply renamed them and made the other film a prequel to this.

Quotes:

Col. James Braddock: [to Ann while undressing] Do you mind?... I'm a bit shy.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Darkest Hour (2005)

Soundtrack:

What I Like About You

A fun film about a bitter subject.

The subject of forgotten American soldiers left behind in Viet Nam served as a catalyst for some decent action flicks in the 1980s. This film and Rambo: First Blood Part II were the most prevalent of them. The film has some good action, but not much proof of the existence of POWs was found, however.

When I was about ten, these types of films really psyched me up. I really wanted the US military to stage a massive operation to go back in and get those guys. But my father who was an intelligence officer in the Air Force told me not to get too excited about things. We really never did have any concrete proof that a great number of our soldiers were being held in camps or used to harvest the rice and whatnot. Still, films like Missing In Action are a lot of fun to watch. My father did tell me that Bangkok is just as sleazy as the film makes it appear, though.

Joseph Zito does a good job making Chuck Norris look his best as he fights his way in and eventually out of Viet Nam looking for POWs. Lots of bullets fly, bombs go off, and people get the crap kicked out of them. Norris was perhaps the most wooden of all action stars during the period, but it was always fun to watch him whip up on the enemy.

There are two great supporting performances here, as well. M. Emmet Walsh and James Hong are two terrific character actors, and they are well used. Many people recognize Hong for being the host at the Chinese restaurant in Seinfeld when they have to wait for an entire episode to be seated.

If you get the chance, take another look at this film which has been forgotten by many. Norris was in his prime, and you'll likely be satisfied with the conclusion.

6 of 10 stars

The Hound.