Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)

Director:

Emmett Alston

Writer:

Emmett Alston

Release Date:

April 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

The Ninja Master... is now The Ninja Avenger

Plot:

Two anti-terrorist agents are assigned to free a busload of American schoolchildren in the Philippines who are taken hostage by terrorists.

Plot Keywords:

Terrorist | Philippines | Violence | Stylized Violence | Action Hero

Cast

Shô Kosugi	...	Spike Shinobi
Brent Huff	...	Steve Gordon
Emilia Crow	...	Jennifer Barnes (as Emilia Lesniak)
Blackie Dammett	...	Alby the Cruel
Regina Richardson	...	Honey Hump
Vijay Amritraj	...	Rankin
Lisa Friedman	...	Tour Guide
Kane Kosugi	...	Kane
Shane Kosugi	...	Shane
Bruce Fanger	...	Dr. Wolf
Sonny Erang	...	Rahji
Aiko Cownden	...	Marisa Lee
Jennifer Crumrine	...	Amanda
Helen McNeely	...	Mrs. Garcia
Protacio Dee	...	Feng Fu
Judy Wilson	...	Woo Pee / Woo Wee (as Judy Blye)
Joji Nagai	...	Dr. Yamada
Ken Watanabe	...	Sensei
Vic Ordonez	...	Major Quirino (as Victor Ordoñez)
Lea Navarro	...	Museum Assassin
Ric Segreto	...	PC Trooper
Ron Milhench	...	Perkins
Jacques Gervais	...	Congressman Morrison
Warren MacLean	...	Slanker
Susan Meyer	...	Bus Passenger
Sam Lombardo	...	Bus Passenger
Nancy Keaton	...	Bus Passenger
James Crumrine	...	Bus Passenger
Emebet Aigaz	...	Bus Passenger
Des Ayallew	...	Bus Passenger
Cynthia Villa-Abrille	...	Rankin's Date
Henry Strzalkowski	...	Bus Driver
Ann Milhench	...	Hump's Drone
Chantal Manz	...	Hump's Drone
Marina Miatke	...	Hump's Drone
Allen Beatson	...	Edward Branham
Mike Alejandrino	...	Goon Guard
Timoteo Bismark	...	Observer (as Tim Bismark)
Kess Burias	...	Monique
Carissa Carlos	...	Lita
Imelda Dominguez	...	Female Ninja
Gina Valenciano	...	'Hotlegs' Dancer
Mabeth Webb	...	'Hotlegs' Dancer
Lani Fernando	...	'Hotlegs' Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Brass	...	Tex
John Ladalski	...	Goverment agent
Louie Senn	...	CIA Agent

Directed by
Emmett Alston

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Emmett Alston

Produced by
Ashok Amritraj	....	producer
Yoram Globus	....	executive producer
Menahem Golan	....	executive producer
Shelley E. Reid	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Cecile Colayco

Cinematography by
Roy H. Wagner

Casting by
Maria Metcalfe

Production Design by
Rodell Cruz

Makeup Department
Zeny Marcelo	....	makeup artist
Yoly Unabia	....	makeup artist (as Yolanda Unabia)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jun Amazan	....	first assistant director
Timoteo Bismark	....	second assistant director (as Tim Bismark)

Art Department
Francisco Balangue	....	construction supervisor
Benjamin Delina	....	head prop man (as Ben Deliña)
Angelito Felipe	....	painter
Danny Melendez	....	set dresser
Anselmo Mendoza	....	set dresser
Melchor Pacheco	....	props assistant
Carmelo Sta. Maria	....	props assistant
Nelson Valeza	....	construction assistant
Catalina Villaluna	....	assistant to production designer

Sound Department
John Kovarek	....	sound mixer
Leonardo Sta. Maria	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Cesar Dominguez	....	special effects assistant
Danilo Domínguez	....	head special effects (as Danilo Dominguez)
Roland Salem	....	special effects assistant (as Rolando Salem)

Stunts
Alan Amiel	....	assistant stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Melchor Abaya	....	generator operator
Felipe Badilla	....	generator operator
Eduardo Badiola	....	electrician
Mariano Bautista	....	electrician
Eddie Buenaflor	....	camera operator
Johnny Cecogo	....	gaffer
Nelson Cecogo	....	grip
Victor Cecogo	....	dolly grip
Roger De La Roma	....	assistant camera
Jose Gleabo	....	electrician
Gene Jackson	....	camera operator
Jaime Manguni	....	assistant camera
Nilo Odiaman	....	still photographer
Domenguito Saguion	....	generator operator
Eduardo Sta. Maria	....	electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cesar Cervantes	....	wardrobe assistant
Roberto Lechuga	....	wardrobe assistant
Nancy Mendoza	....	wardrobe assistant
Salvador Santos	....	wardrobe assistant
Teena Villaluna	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Bernard Bismark	....	apprentice editor
Timoteo Bismark	....	assistant editor (as Tim Bismark)

Transportation Department
Eulalio Esteban	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Benito Badiola	....	motorman
Brian Brocking	....	special gymnast
Kess Burias	....	production assistant
Elizalde Cordero	....	mechanic
Lourdes Dino	....	field nurse
Jun Ella	....	production assistant
Rafael Gaba	....	bookkeeper
Susan Katz	....	assistant to producer
Olivia M. Lamasan	....	production assistant (as Olive Lamasan)
Gaia Lopez	....	production assistant
Marie Miñoza	....	assistant to producer
Marie Miñoza	....	executive secretary
Douglas Nierras	....	choreographer
Ernesto Punzalan	....	production auditor
George Rosales	....	production assistant
Marilou Santos	....	field cashier
Ricky Santos	....	liaison
Manuel Sta. Maria	....	legman

Distributors

• Crown International Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Rhino Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Astro Distribution (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• BCI Eclipse (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Creswin Distribution (????) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Cinematográfica F.J. (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Media Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R | West Germany:18 (nf) | Norway:15 (DVD rating) (2005) (uncut) | Finland:K-15 (2003) | Finland:K-18 (1985) | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Soundtrack:

Take Me High

Entertaining tongue in cheek action movie parody

Make no mistake, Nine deaths Of The Ninja is not a great film by any stretch of the imagination, however, reading a number of reviews on the web for this film, it is plainly overt that a great many of the reviewers have woefully missed the point.....this is NOT a movie that begs to be taken at all seriously!

What it actually is, is a deliberate tongue in cheek parody that mixes and simultaneously pokes fun at a number of other movies such as its main star's previous ninja films which were produced by Golan Globus. Also added to the mix we have elements that could well have jumped straight out of a James Bond film such as a group of midget assassins, a sadistic lesbian militia leader and a megalomaniac wheelchair bound Nazi!

With such exaggeratedly comic characters on display it frankly baffles me how any reviewer could perceive this as and subsequently attempt to judge this against the criteria of a serious action film!

As to the actual quality of the film in question, and adjudicating it for what it actually represents, Nine Deaths Of the Ninja comes out as a fairly entertaining watch.

Sho Kosugi plays Spike Shonobi aka lollipop (on account of his predilection for them!), head of the fictional highly elite 'DART' team. Under his command are Steve Gordon aka Macho Man and Jennifer Barnes aka Foxy (and she is to!!!) Their mission in this case is to free a group of hostages who have been seized by the exceedingly evil Alby the Cruel.

The above plot provides a great excuse for lots of martial arts action, big explosions, military shenanigans and even some ninja along the way!

As mentioned previously, the whole thing is basically played for laughs and plenty of fun can be derived throughout (check out the hilarious scene when our man Sho is besieged by some villainous midgets!)

Overall then, whilst ambiguously labelled as an 'action' film, this is not a classic by any means, but is in fact a refreshingly light hearted and self effacing take on what is for the most part a stoic and humourless genre.

All in all, good fun!