An Eye for an Eye (1981)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Steve Carver

Writers:

James Bruner (writer)
William Gray (writer)

Release Date:

14 August 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Chuck Norris doesn't need a weapon... he is a weapon !

Plot:

Sean Kane is forced to resign from the San Francisco Police Department's Narcotics Division when he goes berserk after his partner is murdered...

Plot Keywords:

Police | Undercover | Drugs | Informant | Subway

Cast

Chuck Norris	...	Sean Kane
Christopher Lee	...	Morgan Canfield
Richard Roundtree	...	Capt. Stevens
Matt Clark	...	Tom McCoy
Mako	...	James Chan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeffrey Bannister	...	Man on Walkie-Talkie
Robert Behling	...	Coroner
Joe Bellan	...	A.J.
Rosalind Chao	...	Linda Chan
Michael B. Christy	...	Reporter
Maggie Cooper	...	Heather Sullivan
Tim Culbertson	...	Policeman
Dorothy Dells	...	Cab Driver
Joe De Nicola	...	Parlor Manager
Nancy Fish	...	Reporter
Daniel Forrest	...	VW Driver
J.E. Freeman	...	Tow Truck Dude
Edsel Fung	...	Proprietor
Dov Gottesfeld	...	Doctor
Sam Hiona	...	Ambler
Kelly Jo Horton	...	Background Artist
Terry Kiser	...	Dave Pierce
Joe Lerer	...	Reporter
Douglas Meyers	...	SWAT Commander
Gary T. New	...	Reporter
Earl Nichols	...	Officer Ed
Mel Novak	...	Montoya
Stuart Pankin	...	Nicky LaBelle
Don Pike	...	Watcher
Rick Prieto	...	Stark
Professor Toru Tanaka	...	The Professor
Harry Wong	...	Shop Owner

Runtime:

106 min | Germany:97 min (25 fps) (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Norway:(Banned) (1981-2003) (cinema release) | Norway:16 (video premiere) (1984)

Filming Locations:

2417 Franklin Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Adams Apple Film Company

Goofs:

Continuity: During the Triad assault on James Chan's house, Sean Kane attacks a Triad terrorist who knocks an ornamental box off a desk as he falls. When Kane runs for the door, the box is back on the desk again.

Quotes:

James Chan: [knocking a bad guy out with a handy desk telephone] The warrior uses whatever is closest to hand.

Dirty Harry-esque

Chuck Norris is an undercover narcotics cop that quits the SFPD after his partner is killed in the line of duty. His partner, Terry "Bernie" Kiser, appears in the first few minutes of the movie, and the same fate occurs with his girlfriend, Rosalind Chao (of Star Trek: DS9 fame).

Norris's portrayal of Sean Kane is his version of Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry, but Chuck does not pack a .44 Magnum. He drives a red Trans Am, and he uses only his fists and feet if anyone gets in his way. Like Dirty Harry, Norris goes after those responsible for his partner's death, as well as his girlfriend, who was doing an investigative news report, which involves the Chinese Triad, which has been connected to narcotics smuggling out of Hong Kong and Bangkok.

The ultimate plot twist is Christopher Lee's portrayal of a TV station owner that covers as a front for illegal Tong activity, as well as employing hitmen and a henchman (portrayed by wrestler/actor Professor Toru Tanaka), similar to Oddjob in Goldfinger. Throughout the film, Norris goes beyond the law, a la Dirty Harry, and wages a one-man war against the Chinese Triad once and for all.