Under Fire (1983)

Three journalists in a romantic triangle are involved in political intrigue during the last days of the corrupt Somozoa regime in Nicaragua before it falls to a popular revolution in 1979.

Director:

Roger Spottiswoode

Writers:

Clayton Frohman (screenplay), Clayton Frohman (story)

Stars:

Nick Nolte, Ed Harris, Gene Hackman

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nick Nolte	...	Russell Price
Ed Harris	...	Oates
Gene Hackman	...	Alex Grazier
Joanna Cassidy	...	Claire
Alma Martinez	...	Isela (as Alma Martínez)
Holly Palance	...	Journalist
Ella Laboriel	...	Nightclub Singer
Samuel Zarzosa	...	Jazz Combo: drums
Jonathan Zarzosa	...	Jazz Combo: piano
Raul Picasso	...	Jazz Combo: bass
Oswaldo Doria	...	Boy Photographer
Fernando Elizondo	...	Businessman
Hamilton Camp	...	Regis Seydor
Jean-Louis Trintignant	...	Marcel Jazy
Richard Masur	...	Hub Kittle

Storyline

Nicaragua 1979: Star photographer Russel Price covers the civil war against president Somoza. Facing the cruel fighting - people versus army - it's often hard for him to stay neutral. When the Guerillas have him take a picture of the leader Rafael, who's believed to be dead, he gets drawn into the happenings. Together with his reporter friends Claire and Alex he has to hide from the army.

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Plot Keywords:

nicaragua | revolution | journalist | photographer | reporter | 

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Taglines:

This wasn't their war but it was their story...and they wouldn't let it go!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bajo fuego

Filming Locations:

Chiapas, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$9,500,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$5,700,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lion's Gate Films, Under Fire Associates

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

WILHELM SCREAM: when a man is thrown off an elephant in the beginning of the film

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Goofs

In the dark room of the guerrilla base the rays of sunlight are cast in two different directions, probably to form an appropriate atmosphere, however it is not possible in natural conditions.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Russell Price: Can I get a ride?

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream (2005)

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Soundtracks

Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Fran Landesman
Music by Tommy Wolf
Sung by Gene Hackman with jazz combo

User Reviews

Outstanding writing and acting in a credible milieu.

"Under Fire" is a well-written, well-acted piece, showing photo-journalists operating in the milieu of insurrections in Chad, then Nicaragua. Watching Gene Hackman, Nick Nolte and Ed Harris perform together was a treat. And the writers gave them terrific lines. "This is a great war: good guys, bad guys, and lots of cheap shrimp." I especially liked when Hackman's character asked if Nolte's character had slept with Hackman's woman when their relationship hits the skids, and Nolte answers directly, "Hell no, Alex. We're friends." And you just know Nolte's character meant it, man to man. Great moment. Also appealing was the way third-world conflicts were portrayed as global brushfires; put out one here, while another flares up over there. Using the real civil war in Somoza's Nicaragua gives the film unexpected credibility. And probably in keeping with reality, Ed Harris has several memorable scenes as a pure mercenary, a globe-trotting soldier-for-hire, who shows up where the gun-battle action is. His last line is something like "See you in Laos". The beat goes on. -ejpede