The Delta Force (1986)

Director:

Menahem Golan

Writers:

James Bruner (written by) &
Menahem Golan (written by)

Release Date:

14 February 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller | War

Tagline:

They don't negotiate with terrorists... they blow them away!

Plot:

A 707 aircraft jetliner on its way from Athens to Rome and then to New York City is hijacked by Lebanese terrorists...

Plot Keywords:

Terrorist | Pilot | Hostage | Commando Mission | Brutality

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Chuck Norris	...	Maj. Scott McCoy
Lee Marvin	...	Col. Nick Alexander
Martin Balsam	...	Ben Kaplan
Joey Bishop	...	Harry Goldman
Robert Forster	...	Abdul
Lainie Kazan	...	Sylvia Goldman
George Kennedy	...	Father O'Malley
Hanna Schygulla	...	Ingrid
Susan Strasberg	...	Debra Levine
Bo Svenson	...	Capt. Campbell
Robert Vaughn	...	Gen. Woodbridge
Shelley Winters	...	Edie Kaplan
William Wallace	...	Pete Peterson
Charles Grant	...	Tom Hale (as Charles Floye)
Steve James	...	Bobby
Kim Delaney	...	Sister Mary
Jerry Weinstock	...	Dr. Jack
Marvin Freedman	...	Dave Hoskins
Bob Levit	...	Jim Montgomery
Chelli Goldberg	...	Tina
Chris Ellia	...	Lesley
Jerry Lazarus	...	Robert Levine
Natalie Roth	...	Ellen Levine
Jerry Hyman	...	Ted Bilicki
Gael Lehrer	...	Rosalee Bilicki
Hank Leininger	...	Jay Bilicki
Howard Jackson	...	Ed
Eric Norris	...	Andy
Zipora Peled	...	Sister Ann
Aaron Kaplan	...	Mike Fraser
Caroline Langford	...	Sally Fraser
Yehuda Efroni	...	David Rosovsky
David Menachem	...	Moustapha (as David Menahem)
Shaike Ophir	...	Father Nicholas
Avi Loziah	...	Jaffer
Uri Gavriel	...	George Berri
Panos Nicolaou	...	Peter
Elki Jacobs	...	Bartender
Menahem Einy	...	Issam
Assi Dayan	...	Raffi Amir (as Assaf Dayan)
Jack Cohen	...	Lebanese Minister
Adib Jahschan	...	Salim (as Adiv Gahshan)
Haim Sirafi	...	Samir
Mosko Alkalai	...	TV reporter (as Mosco Alkalai)
Larry Price	...	Journalist
Susan Ophir	...	ATW girl
Jack Messinger	...	ATW agent
Janet Harshman	...	TV announcer
Ezra Kafri	...	Israeli commando
Danny Friedman	...	Israeli commando
Richard Selano	...	Capt. Ross (as Richard Salno)
Andy Shulman	...	Pete's assistant
Joe Sapel	...	Delta pilot
Richard Peterson	...	American ambassador in Algiers
Eugene Klein	...	American ambassador in Tel Aviv
Albert Amar	...	Controller in Algeria
Ben Ami Shmueli	...	Officer with George
Moti Shirin	...	Terrorist in plane
Yitzhak Aloni	...	Amal sergeant (as Itzik Aloni)
Boaz Ofri	...	Gate guard
Albert Iluz	...	Passport inspector
Osnat Vishinski	...	Information agent, El Al
David Leshnik	...	TV announcer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kevin Dillon	...	Delta Force member (uncredited)
Liam Neeson	...	Delta Force member (uncredited)

Directed by
Menahem Golan

Writing credits
James Bruner		(written by) &
Menahem Golan		(written by)

Produced by
Yoram Globus	....	producer
Menahem Golan	....	producer
Rony Yacov	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Alan Silvestri

Cinematography by
David Gurfinkel

Film Editing by
Alain Jakubowicz

Production Design by
Luciano Spadoni		(as Lucisano Spadoni)

Set Decoration by
Ladislav Wilheim		(as Ladi Wilheim)

Costume Design by
Tami Mor

Makeup Department
Vittorio Biseo	....	key makeup artist
Esty Kariv	....	makeup artist
Tamy Levy	....	hair stylist
Patrice Morieres	....	hair stylist
Zivit Yakir	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Zion Chen	....	unit production manager
Itzik Kol	....	production supervisor (as Itzhak Kol)
Dov Maoz	....	production manager
Michael R. Sloan	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Brandt	....	first assistant director
Michal Engel	....	second assistant director
Carlos Gil	....	second unit director
Shauli Gorodeski	....	third assistant director: second unit
Mike Katzin	....	second assistant director
Avi Mograbi	....	second assistant director: second unit
Avner Orshalimy	....	first assistant director: second unit
Haim Rinski	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Yuda Acco	....	assistant production designer (as Yuda Ako)
Chris Buchinsky	....	storyboard artist
Leonardo Coen Cagli	....	set designer
César Díez Álava	....	property master
Batia Grafka	....	property master
David Varod	....	set dresser
Arie Ben Yishai	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Gary Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Bartlett	....	sound effects editor (as Dave Bartlett)
Ron Bartlett	....	sound editor
George Berndt	....	supervising dialogue editor
David Bifano	....	audio programming
Baird Bryant	....	foley editor
Ed Callahan	....	sound effects editor
Denise Cochran	....	assistant sound editor
Keith Critchlow	....	foley editor
Lee Dragu	....	foley editor
Ann Ducommun	....	assistant sound editor
Mark Eiges	....	foley editor
Peter Friedberg	....	assistant sound editor
Thomas A. Fucci	....	dialogue editor
Jessica Gallavan	....	assistant sound editor
Stanley B. Gill	....	sound recordist
Victor Grodecki	....	dialogue editor
Allen Hartz	....	sound effects editor
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Christopher Jenkins)
Richard King	....	sound effects editor
J.W. Kompare	....	sound effects editor
Cliff Latimer	....	adr editor
David Lebrun	....	dialogue editor
Martin Maryska	....	sound effects editor
Susan Mazzei	....	assistant sound editor (as Sue Mazzei)
Oscar Mitt	....	assistant sound editor
Gilberto Costa Nunes	....	assistant sound editor
Andrew Patterson	....	dialogue editor
Jerry Ross	....	supervising sound editor
Ruth Schell	....	dialogue editor
Craig Smith	....	supervising foley editor
Tracey Smith	....	adr editor
Larry Stensvold	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ralph Stuart	....	assistant sound editor
Justine Vacco	....	assistant sound editor
Fred Wasser	....	sound effects editor
Marian Wilde	....	assistant sound editor
Eli Yarkoni	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Ian Biggs	....	special effects
Chris Corbould	....	special effects
Neil Corbould	....	special effects
Chris Gant	....	special effects
John Gant	....	special effects
Pini Klavir	....	special effects coordinator
Yoram Pollack	....	special effects
Alon Reuven	....	special effects assistant
Andy Williams	....	special effects
Shemesh Yaron	....	special effects assistant
Yoram Zargary	....	special effects assistant

Stunts
Koby Azarly	....	stunts
BJ Davis	....	assistant stunt coordinator
BJ Davis	....	stunts
Mike De Luna	....	stunts
Jon H. Epstein	....	stunt double: Chuck Norris (as John Epstein)
Greg Gault	....	stunts
Robert Hammond	....	stunts
Don Pike	....	stunt coordinator
Gary Pike	....	stunts
Alberto Vaknin	....	stunts (as Albert Vaknin)
B.J. Worth	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Effi Agami	....	grip
Avi Avrahami	....	electrician
Danny Ben Menahem	....	gaffer
Arik Bernstein	....	camera operator: second unit
Michael Biniaminy	....	focus puller
Yoni Hamenachem	....	still photographer
Mikey Inbari	....	electrician
Gerard Jakubowicz	....	assistant camera
Avi Koren	....	focus puller
Hans Kühle Jr.	....	photographer: second unit (as Hans Khules Jr.)
Avraham Leibman	....	gaffer
Benny Mali	....	clapper loader
Shimon Sabach	....	key grip
Danny Schneider	....	clapper loader
Danny Sheneor	....	camera operator
Rami Siman-Tov	....	clapper loader
Yuda Tatarko	....	best boy: second unit

Casting Department
Perry Bullington	....	casting: Los Angeles
Tova Cypin	....	casting: Israel
Robert MacDonald	....	casting: Los Angeles

Editorial Department
Robert Baird	....	second assistant editor
Smador Cohen	....	third assistant editor
Anne Couk	....	first assistant editor
Iris Dagan	....	second assistant editor
Kobi Dagan	....	first assistant editor
Albert Gasser	....	second assistant editor
Elinoar Hardy	....	second assistant editor (as Elinoah Hardy)
Anat Kenet	....	second assistant editor
Dory Lubliner	....	first assistant editor
Omneya 'Nini' Mazen	....	post-production coordinator
Hadara Oren	....	third assistant editor
Omer Tal	....	second assistant editor
Tony Wakefield	....	second assistant editor
Craig Weintraub	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Tom Carlin	....	music editor
Paula Erickson	....	music supervisor
Dennis S. Sands	....	music scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Doron Mizrachi	....	action vehicles
Sam Rubi	....	transportation captain
Meir Sigura	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Wenden K. Baldwin	....	title designer
Raz Chen	....	location manager
Alan Gershenfeld	....	production coordinator: Los Angeles
Sharon Kahn	....	assistant: Menahem Golan
Sophie Kahn	....	unit publicist
Naomi Kol	....	production accountant
Naomi Mayberg	....	production coordinator
James Monaghan	....	army consultant (as Jim Monaghan)
Kyle O'Feere	....	title designer
Avner Peled	....	location manager
Charlotte Rose	....	assistant to production coordinator
Daniel Schneor	....	operator
Burton Sharp	....	adr group coordinator
Jim Taylor	....	production coordinator: Los Angeles
Vivalda Vigorelli	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Golan-Globus Productions

Distributors

• Cannon Film Distributors (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1986) (West Germany) (theatrical) (as SD Scotia Deutschland Filmverleih)
• Scotia-Cannon (1986) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Cannon France (1986) (France) (theatrical)
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (1986) (France) (theatrical)
• Succéfilm AB (1986) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Astral Video (1986) (Canada) (VHS)
• Media Home Entertainment (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• VMP (1986) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Vestron Video International (1986) (Belgium) (VHS)
• Vestron Video International (1986) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• MTC Video (1987) (Greece) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1987) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1988) (USA) (TV)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (France) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Pan-Canadian Film Distributors (198?) (Canada) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• América Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Video Treasures (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Enigma Records  soundtrack released by
• Freeze Frame  titles and opticals
• G.G. Israel Studios Ltd. (I)  production facilities
• Intrada  score album released by (signature edition) (limited edition)
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services

Also Known As:

Runtime:

125 min | 129 min

Country:

USA | Israel

Language:

English | Arabic | Hebrew | Greek

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) (heavily cut) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:R (DVD rating) | Iceland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | South Korea:15 | West Germany:18 (nf) (original rating) | Netherlands:16 | Canada:18A | Portugal:M/16 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2011)

Filming Locations:

Ben-Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel

Company:

Golan-Globus Productions

Trivia:

Lee Marvin's last film

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): On his way to stop the attack, Colonel Alexander calls McCoy by the wrong name, but corrects himself. His exact line is: "Get out of there, Miloy... McCoy!"

Quotes:

Nick Alexander:It's a go. TAKE THEM DOWN!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Cinema Snob: The Expendables (#2.27)" (2010)

Rack this one up for the good guys

****SPOILERS**** "Delta Force" begins in the darkness of the Iranian desert at "Desert One" on April 25, 1980 with the disastrous attempt to rescue the US hostages in Teheran. The movie then goes ahead to the summer of 1985 where a passenger plane with some 200 persons, mostly Americans, is skyjacked on a flight from Rome to Athens. It's there where the Delta Force redeems itself from what happened to it that dark April morning five years before.

Based loosely on the TWA 847 skyjacking and brutal beating and murder of Navy diver Robert Stethem "Delta Force" takes some liberties on the historical facts of that event. Like the movies of WWII that were made to uplift the American public "Delta Force" far more succeeds then fails in it's message that it's was trying the bring to those here in the USA and elsewhere on Americas, as well as the free worlds, "War on Terrorism" back then in 1986.

Admittedly over-the-top heroics by the Delta Force especially Maj. McCoy & Col. Alexender Chuck Norris & Lee Marvin. Who I think is the real hero, in the movie and in what really happened in real life on that plane, is the planes German stewardess Ingrid, Hanna Schygulia. Ingrid in real life showed more courage, as well as kindness and humanity, under pressure from the terrorists on the plane then the whole Delta Force combined showed in the make believe of the skyjacking and phony action scenes in the film.

High tension and terror in the sky as well as on land as a passenger plane is skyjacked by a gang of Arab terrorists. The Terrorists are led by their leader Abdul,Robert Foster, who threatens to blow up the plane and passengers inside unless the Israelis releases hundreds of terrorist that they have incarcerated.

Trying to get the terrorists to let at least the women and children go free the Delta Force tries to storm the plane when it lands in Algeria for re-fueling. At the same time there's a new group of terrorist entering the plane to reinforce those that are already there.

Navy diver Pete Peterson, William Wallace, who was brutally beaten to the point where he was almost dead is shot in the head and dumped on the tarmac in retaliation of the Delta Force attempted rescue. It's when the plane lands in Beirut that the real action begins and it's there where the Delta force, with the help of Israeli commandos, save the day and in the end rack this one up for the good guys.

Heart pounding and effective movie about the good guys giving it back to the terrorist in a movie that was made some 15 years ahead of it's time, September 11, 2001, that shows if you mess with Uncle Sam you'll only get burned in the end. Chuck Norris & Lee Marvin are great as the Delta Force team-leaders in some of the most enthusiastic action scenes you've ever seen in a war movie since WWII. Lee Marvin looks too old for the role of a hard as nails Delta Force soldier, he was 62 at the time and looked like he was about 80, but his reputation as a tough guy easily made you overlook that fact. "Delta Force" was Lee's last movie.

Chuck Norris was at the top of his game with his martial arts fighting chopping up the terrorists and his unbelievable motorbike that has machine guns mounted on it and rocket launched from it's front engines and back exhaust, do they really have something like that in the US military? Chuck & Lee made the terrorists see what real red-blooded American hero's can really do when they gets really p**sed off.

George Kennedy was very good as Father O'Malley, one of the passengers on the plane, who showed the terrorists that his faith can withstand anything that they believe in any day of the week. There was so much "Ham Acting" on the plane it made the movie in spite of most of it's subjects political and religious feelings, Arab and Israeli, look treyfe, un-Kosher in Yiddish.

You just can't dislike "Delta Force" despite it's over-the-top and unbelievable heroics on the part of the good guys because you just can't help rooting for them. As for the terrorists their so bad and vicious in what they do in the movie and so unlikeable that even their mothers would have a hard time finding anything good to say about them.

The movie has a feel for that time, the 1980's, with the terrorist praising as well as having posters and pictures of the Ayatollah Khomeini who was the #1 enemy of America back in 1986, like Osama Bin-Laden is now. In fact it seems now after the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001 that the movie "Delta Force" has gotten re-discovered by thousands of movie fans who want to see the terrorists who engineered that assault on America get theirs even if it's only in the movies.