Firefox (1982)

A pilot is sent into the Soviet Union on a mission to steal a prototype jet fighter that can be partially controlled by a neuralink

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers:

Alex Lasker (screenplay), Wendell Wellman (screenplay),

Stars:

Clint Eastwood, Freddie Jones, David Huffman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Clint Eastwood	...	Mitchell Gant
Freddie Jones	...	Kenneth Aubrey
David Huffman	...	Captain Buckholz
Warren Clarke	...	Pavel Upenskoy
Ronald Lacey	...	Semelovsky
Kenneth Colley	...	Colonel Kontarsky
Klaus Löwitsch	...	General Vladimirov (as Klaus Lowitsch)
Nigel Hawthorne	...	Pyotr Baranovich
Stefan Schnabel	...	First Secretary
Thomas Hill	...	General Brown
Clive Merrison	...	Major Lanyev
Kai Wulff	...	Lt. Colonel Voskov
Dimitra Arliss	...	Natalia
Austin Willis	...	Walters
Michael Currie	...	Captain Seerbacker

Storyline

The Soviets have developed a revolutionary new jet fighter, called "Firefox". Naturally, the British are worried that the jet will be used as a first-strike weapon, as rumours say that the jet is indetectable on radar. They send ex-Vietnam War pilot Mitchell Gant on a covert mission into the Soviet Union to steal Firefox.

---

Plot Keywords:

soviet union | refueling | russia | jet fighter | fighter plane | 

---

Taglines:

...the most devastating killing machine ever built... his job... steal it!

---

Genres:

Action | Thriller | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

18 June 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Firefox - tulikettu

Filming Locations:

Cut Bank, Montana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$21,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$8,152,948 (USA) (18 June 1982)

Gross:

$8,152,948 (USA) (18 June 1982)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Malpaso Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The real life MiG-31 (Mikoyan-Gurevich 31) is known not as the "Firefox" but as the "Foxhound". It is similar in appearance to the MiG-25 from which it is believed to be based.

---

Goofs

Wires supporting the MiG-31 model are clearly visible in a close-up just when the plane touches down on the glacier.

---

Quotes

Maj. Gant: Oh? Where is it?
Buckholz: Russia.
[Gant studies him]
Buckholz: You've got to steal it.

---

Crazy Credits

There are no opening credits after the title has been shown. This has since become a trademark of all Eastwood-directed films.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Directors: The Films of Clint Eastwood

User Reviews

Clint flies a really cool plane

During the height of the Cold War, the Soviet military develops a super high-tech fighter aircraft - it flies fast, has deadly weapons, and has technology that allows the pilot to control guided missiles with his mind. Basically any army with this baby in its arsenal will have air superiority. Clint is assigned to steal it from the heart of Soviet territory for the USA.

The plot is fairly generic and in this day and age most Cold War thrillers have seem to have lost much of their edge, but this is nonetheless an entertaining film from Eastwood. It is not one of his best and not one that he will be remembered for, but no one can deny the slickness of the plane of the title. The final section of the film, which admittedly does take a while to get to, has Clint flying around and raising hell is a fun ride and on par with the final chase in "Where Eagles Dare" in terms of entertainment. However, the buildup has enough suspense to make the whole movie worth a watch. 7/10

Rated PG: violence