No Retreat, No Surrender (1986)

User Rating:

4.6/10   

Director:

Corey Yuen

Writers:

See-Yuen Ng (writer)
Keith W. Strandberg (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

2 May 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

Tonight, He either fights for his life or he'll be running for the rest of it.

Plot:

Jason Stillwell, a Bruce Lee fan, is beaten numerous times and trains from the ghost of Lee. Jason then...

Plot Keywords:

Ghost | Bruce Lee | Challenge | Karate | Contest

Cast

Kurt McKinney	...	Jason Stillwell
Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Ivan Kraschinsky the Russian
J.W. Fails	...	R.J. Madison
Kathie Sileno	...	Kelly Reilly
Tai Chung Kim	...	Sensei Lee (as Kim Tai Chong)
Kent Lipham	...	Scott
Ron Pohnel	...	Ian Reilly
Dale Jacoby	...	Dean Ramsay
Peter Cunningham	...	Frank Peters (as Pete Cunningham)
Timothy D. Baker	...	Tom Stillwell
Gloria Marziano	...	Mrs. Stillwell
Joe Verroca	...	New York Agent (as Joe Vance)
Farid Panahi	...	New York Assistant #1
Tom Harris	...	New York Assistant #2
John Andes	...	New York Boss
Mark Zacharatos	...	New York Fighter #1
Ty Martinez	...	New York Fighter #2
Bob Johnene	...	Karate Fight Emcee
Dennis Park	...	Karate Fight Referee
Alex Stelter	...	Karate Fight Judge
Harold Engel	...	Karate Fight Judge
Jerry Cole	...	Karate Fight Judge
Ken Firestone	...	Karate Fight Judge
Wayne Yee	...	Karate Fight Judge
Charlie Sparks	...	Scott's Father
Lynetta Welch	...	Kelly's Friend
Carin Badger	...	Kelly's Friend
Tina Erickson	...	Kelly's Friend
Corey Jordan	...	Dean's Friend (as Corey Jacoby)
Neil Rozbaruch	...	Dean's Friend
George Mason	...	Bar Thug #1
Robert Villeaux	...	Bar Thug #2
Dave Robinson	...	Bar Thug #3
Keith Strange	...	Bar Thug #4
Ruckins McKinley	...	Breakdancer
Roz McKinley	...	Breakdancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michele Krasnoo	...	Karate Student (uncredited)
Dennis Casey Park	...	Karate Fight Referee (uncredited)
Brandon Pender	...	Ian Reilly's Sparring Partner (uncredited)
Rey-Phillip Santos	...	Karate Student (uncredited)
Sharice Zulo	...	Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Corey Yuen

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
See-Yuen Ng		writer
Keith W. Strandberg		writer
Corey Yuen		writer

Produced by
See-Yuen Ng	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul Gilreath

Cinematography by
David Golia
John Huneck

Film Editing by
James Melkonian
Mark Pierce
Allan Poon		(as Alan Poon)

Casting by
Paul Maslak

Production Management
Neva Friedenn	....	executive in charge of production (as Jean Ferguson)

Sound Department
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist

Stunts
Terry Bixler	....	stunts
Rok Cvetkov	....	stunt double
Paul Dahomme	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Shane D. Kelly	....	gaffer

Editorial Department
Derrick Mitchell	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Hoi Mang	....	martial arts choreographer (as Harrison Mang)
Brandon Pender	....	kick boxing direction
Mary Temkin	....	production coordinator
Corey Yuen	....	martial arts choreographer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• New World Pictures
• Balcor Film Investors
• Seasonal Film Corporation

Distributors

• New World Pictures (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• RCV Home Entertainment (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Starmaker Entertainment (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Vestron Video International (1988) (Belgium) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Karate Tiger (Europe: English title)

Runtime:

85 min | UK:94 min (DVD version) | UK:79 min (1986 video release)

Country:

USA | Hong Kong

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Germany:12 (uncut version) (2008) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Company:

New World Pictures

Trivia:

Fight choreographer "Harrison" Mang Hoi doubled both Kurt McKinney and Kim Tai Jong for the back somersault flip kick.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Scott confronts RJ at the Burger joint several palm trees are visible in the background, even thought the film is based in Seattle Washington.

Quotes:

Scott: It's that slimeball RJ!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Best of the Martial Arts Films (1990)

Soundtrack:

A Bottle and a Song

This is an outstanding film

No Retreat, No Surrender was a fantastic film which is one my absolute favorites. It reminds of the equally great The Karate Kid and Rocky 4 starring Sylvester Stallone. These three films came out during the mid 80`s and as we know most of the finest film was made from 84 to 90, No Retreat, No Surrender was no dissapointment.

When i rented it the first time when i was 12 me and my brother watched it 7 times in one day. The film is full of comedy and moving moments and the subject of martial arts is right down my alley, all around this is an outstanding picture that has all the right elements. The fact that most of the players are unknown doesn`t make a difference, they fit right in this film.

Kurt Mckinney is very fine in the lead role.