IMDb > Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
Assault on Precinct 13
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Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 3 NEW)
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) -- A street gang vows revenge on the police officers who ambushed them in this vintage trailer
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) -- The lone inhabitants of an abandoned police station are under attack by the overwhelming numbers of a seemingly unstoppable street gang.
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   12,174 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 13% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Carpenter
Writer:
John Carpenter (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Assault on Precinct 13 on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
5 November 1976 (USA) more
Tagline:
L.A.'s deadliest street gang just declared war on the cops. more
Plot:
The lone inhabitants of an abandoned police station are under attack by the overwhelming numbers of a seemingly unstoppable street gang. full summary | add synopsis
User Comments:
Violent and witty more (182 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

Also Known As:
John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13
The Anderson Alamo (USA) (working title)
The Siege (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
91 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:16 | UK:15 (re-rating) (2008) | Australia:R | Canada:18A (Manitoba) (re-rating) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) (original rating) | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 (cut) | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2005) | Norway:18 | South Korea:15 (cut) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R | West Germany:18 (original rating) (1976) | Iceland:16

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director Cameo: [John Carpenter]as one of the gang members shot trying to climb in through a window more
Goofs:
Continuity: The sign above the police station door reads, "Division 14" instead of 13. more
Quotes:
Lt. Ethan Bishop: You're pretty fancy, Wilson.
Napoleon Wilson: I have moments.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Cowgirl (2004) more

FAQ

Is this film a remake?
more
48 out of 54 people found the following comment useful.
Violent and witty, 17 August 2004
Author: jbarnett76 from United Kingdom

This is rightly considered a classic cult movie from the 1970's by the once reliable John Carpenter (who also composed the edgy early synth score). Basically it's a faint mish-mash of other movies, the dialogue is reminiscent of great westerns as a black policeman and a white convict battle against gang members in a Night of The Living Dead re-working. It's also tempting to draw Vietnam allegories (as with many American movies of the mid 1970's and after); the faceless, nameless gang members die in the droves but keep attacking the besieged police station and the lawmen and the lawbreakers, black and white, must unite to defeat them and escape with their lives.

The real joy of this movie, however, is the playing of the two virtually unknown leads, Austin Stoker and the late Darwin Joston. They have a great, almost wry chemistry and use Carpenter's stripped-down witty dialogue to great effect. Because there are no 'stars', there are no real expectations, and the shocks when they come (including the famous ice cream sequence) are more shocking for it.

The representation of women leaves a little to be desired (the two female characters obviously shop at the same sweater store!) but the character Lee shows some inner strength and resolve, and even has time for some kind of upper hand in terms of sexual tension between herself and Joston's Napoleon Wilson.

If you haven't seen this movie I urge you to watch it; in terms of B movies and cult thrillers it's the yardstick in my opinion; simple, stylish, violent, witty and not remotely sentimental.

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