American Ninja (1985)

User Rating:

4.6/10   

Director:

Sam Firstenberg

Writers:

Gideon Amir (story)
Paul De Mielche (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

30 August 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Tagline:

The Orient created the world's deadliest art.Now there's an American master!

Plot:

American soldier, obviously very skilled in martial arts, single-handedly takes on mercenaries in the Philippines.

Plot Keywords:

First Of Series | Martial Arts | Ninja | Jungle | Katana

Cast

Michael Dudikoff	...	Pvt. Joe Armstrong
Steve James	...	Cpl. Curtis Jackson
Judie Aronson	...	Patricia Hickock
Guich Koock	...	Col. William T. Hickock
John Fujioka	...	Shinyuki
Don Stewart	...	Victor Ortega
John LaMotta	...	MSgt. Rinaldo (as John La Motta)
Tadashi Yamashita	...	Black Star ninja
Phil Brock	...	Pvt. Charley Madison
Tony Carreon	...	Older Colombian
Roi Vinzon	...	Younger Colombian
Manolet Escudero	...	Bodyguard
Gregg Rogero	...	Bodyguard
Berto Spoor	...	Bodyguard
Michael Hackbart	...	Bodyguard
Jerry Bailey	...	Head hijacker
Rohy Batliwala	...	Truck driver
Jim Gaines	...	Truck driver (as James Gaines)
Steve Cook	...	Truck driver (as Steven Cook)
Brian Robillard	...	Truck driver
Zenon Gil	...	Truck driver
Willie Williams	...	Barrack soldier #1
Christian Hoss	...	Barrack soldier #2
Joey Galvez	...	MP Arresting officer
Nick Nicholson	...	Duty officer
Eric Hahn	...	Supply sergeant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Norton	...	MP (uncredited)
Henry Strzalkowski	...	Bit part (uncredited)

Directed by
Sam Firstenberg

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gideon Amir		story
Paul De Mielche		writer
Avi Kleinberger		story
James R. Silke		writer

Produced by
Gideon Amir	....	associate producer
Yoram Globus	....	producer
Menahem Golan	....	producer
Avi Kleinberger	....	associate producer
Ken Metcalfe	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Michael Linn

Cinematography by
Hanania Baer

Film Editing by
Michael J. Duthie
Andy Horvitch
Peter Lee-Thompson
Marcus Manton
Marcel Mindlin
Daniel Wetherbee		(as Dan Wetherbee)

Casting by
Perry Bullington
Robert MacDonald
Ken Metcalfe

Production Design by
Adrian Gorton		(as Adrian H. Gorton)

Costume Design by
Audrey M. Bansmer		(as Audrey Bansmer)

Makeup Department
Tony Artieda	....	makeup artist
Totoy Cerna	....	assistant makeup artist
Edith Sanchez	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Tod Scott Brody	....	post-production supervisor
Tony Ezpeleta	....	production manager: Philippines
Michael Kansky	....	production manager
Romulo Ramos	....	unit manager: Philippines
Michael R. Sloan	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ricardo De Guzman	....	first assistant director: Philippines
Pepito Diaz	....	third assistant director: Philippine
Tal Ron	....	assistant director
Gene Rose Singson	....	assistant director: Philippine

Art Department
Giovanna Gorton	....	assistant art director
Alan Munro	....	storyboard artist

Sound Department
Jim Borgardt	....	adr editor (as Jim Bogardt)
Ed Callahan	....	sound effects editor
Joseph D. Citarella	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Joseph Citarella)
Simon Coke	....	sound effects editor
David Fechtor	....	foley editor
Robert Fitzgerald	....	dialogue editor (as Bob Fitzgerald)
Marva Fucci	....	assistant sound effects editor
Jacob Goldstein	....	production sound mixer
Ruben Goltiano	....	cable person
Charles Grenzbach	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bud Grenzbach)
Allan Hartz	....	sound effects editor (as Alan Hartz)
Cliff Latimer	....	dialogue editor (as Clifford Latimer)
Lorie O'Shatz	....	dialogue editor (as Lorrie Oshatz)
Hari Ryatt	....	supervising sound editor
Donald Santos	....	sound
Craig Smith	....	foley editor
Tracey Smith	....	adr editor
Ira Spiegel	....	sound effects editor
Amy Vincent	....	assistant sound effects editor
Fred Wasser	....	sound effects editor
Marian Wilde	....	assistant sound effects editor
John Wilkinson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as John 'Doc' Wilkinson)

Stunts
Douglas Ivan	....	stunts (as Doug Ivan)
Steven Lambert	....	stunt coordinator (as Steve Lambert)
Ken Lesco	....	stunts (as Kenny Lesco)
Renato Morado	....	stunt coordinator: Philippines crew
Richard Norton	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Fred Conde	....	camera operator: second unit (as Freddie Conde)
Eitan Gartushka	....	gaffer (as Eithan Gartushka)
Jun Rasca	....	assistant camera
Nonong Rasca	....	additional photographer
Diane Roderick	....	still photographer
Rick Rolnick	....	gaffer
George Rosales	....	assistant camera
John Savka	....	key grip

Casting Department
Maria Metcalf	....	casting: Philippines
Henry Stalkowski	....	casting assistant
Henry Strzalkowski	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dana Sanchez	....	assistant wardrobe

Editorial Department
Clement Barclay	....	assistant editor
Ken Bornstein	....	associate editor
Dan Engstrom	....	assistant editor
Omneya 'Nini' Mazen	....	post-production coordinator
Marcelo Sansevieri	....	assistant editor
Lauren A. Schaffer	....	assistant editor (as Lauren Schaffer)
Grace Valenti	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Brad Barclay	....	assistant music editor
Virginia S. Ellsworth	....	music editor (as Virginia Ellsworth)
Dory Lubliner	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Emil De Guzman	....	picture vehicle coordinator: Philippines
Primo Guina	....	transportation manager (as Firmo Guina)

Other crew
Joe Alonsabe	....	production accountant
Ann Bang	....	production coordinator
Paul Clowdus	....	production accountant
Jessie Cuneta	....	location manager: Philippines
Salvador De Guzman	....	legal advisor
Anne G. Garcia	....	production secretary
Lope V. Juban Jr.	....	production supervisor: Philippines
Ronit Ravich-Boss	....	script supervisor (as Ronit Ravich)
Mike Stone	....	choreographer: ninja/martial arts

Production Companies

• Cannon Group
• Golan-Globus Productions

Distributors

• Cannon Film Distributors (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Pan-Canadian Film Distributors (1985) (Canada) (theatrical)
• América Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video
• Hoyts Distribution
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Prooptiki (Greece) (theatrical)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1986) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• U.G.C. Worldwide Distribution

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | West Germany:18 (original rating) (cut) | Germany:18 (re-release) (uncut) | Australia:M | USA:R (Certificate #27866) | Finland:K-16 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Company:

Cannon Group

Trivia:

A rare 1984 poster featuring the rock band 'KISS' advertising their then current album "Animalize" can be seen on the wall in Joe's squad's sleeping quarters. Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Eric Carr have their faces hidden by additional stickers to avoid any legalities and Mark St. John's head seems to be cropped off by the camera angle.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ninjas attack the convoy, a Soldier enters a Truck and Joe orders him to drive on. The truck's back is open as it's driving towards the excavator blocking its way. After the truck passed the blockade, the back is closed with a green cover.

Quotes:

Shinyuki: The Black Star Ninja has betrayed the code.
Joe: Then... he must die.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Robbing Peter (2004)

"He...Possess...Great...Skills."

When asked at school "What do you want to be when you grow up?" most kids answer fireman or astronaut. To hell with that, I wanted to be the American Ninja. As far back as I can remember I wanted to be the American Ninja. So, I finally picked it up on DVD the other day and let me say this is one of the corniest action movies out there, but I still love it. It's one of my fondest childhood dreams. As unrealistic as it may seem, Michael Dudikoff stills kicks ass, as does the late, great Steve James. Dudikoff single handedly takes out an entire private army of ninjas. It's better than Commando. It's definitely not for the serious action audience. But here's the real kicker, the villain who is hijacking military equipment to sell to the highest bidder is only making 4 million dollars. That's really not that much money for all of the trouble he's going through. Did he only go to one bidder or what? Oh well, it's all about fun, right? My friend came up with the suggestion that we should get all of the eighties martial arts stars and have a huge battle royal. To which I replied: "Well, Dudikoff and Steve James would team up with Ralph Macchio to win the thing." Check out jedibolger's comments for a hearty laugh.