Death Before Dishonor (1987)

Gunnery Sergeant Burns reports for duty to an American Embassy in the Middle East. However due to the 'enlightened' views of the Ambassador, the marine security detachment he is in charge ... See full summary »

Director:

Terry Leonard

Writer:

John Gatliff

Stars:

Fred Dryer, Joseph Gian, Sasha Mitchell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fred Dryer	...	Gunnery Sgt. Burns
Joseph Gian	...	Sgt. Manuel Ramirez (as Joey Gian)
Sasha Mitchell	...	Ruggieri
Peter Parros	...	James
Brian Keith	...	Col. Halloran
Paul Winfield	...	Ambassador
Joanna Pacula	...	Elli
Rockne Tarkington	...	Jihad
Daniel Chodos	...	Amin
Mohammed Bakri	...	Gavril
Chaim Girafi	...	Zabib (as Haim Gerafi)
Tuvia Tavi	...	Elias
Yossi Ashdot	...	Hamed
Yossi Virginsky	...	Attache
Yossi Virzansky	...	Attache

Storyline

Gunnery Sergeant Burns reports for duty to an American Embassy in the Middle East. However due to the 'enlightened' views of the Ambassador, the marine security detachment he is in charge of is severely restricted in their functions and presence to avoid upsetting the host government. As a result, when terrorists attack the compound, they are able to kidnap hostages and escape with little opposition. Burns ignores the Ambassador's restrictions, and throws the rule books out the window, as he becomes a one man army in an attempt to rescue the hostages, and wipe out the terrorists.

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Plot Keywords:

terrorist | hostage | ambassador | middle east | marine | 

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Taglines:

In a world of compromise, he wouldn't!

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 February 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Los héroes jamás se rinden

Box Office

Gross:

$4,546,244 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Balcor Film Investors, Bima, MPI

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

US military in Lebanon AKA "Jamal" the event with the suicide car bomber is based on a true event in Beirut 1983 but it was an American army barrack not an American embassy.

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Quotes

Gunnery Sgt. Burns: Both sides of those rocks.
Ruggieri: Why we got to paint both sides of the rocks?
James: I don't know.
Gunnery Sgt. Burns: You boys ever heard of Korea?
James: Yes sir, Gunny.
Gunnery Sgt. Burns: Well then you are probably very familar with the conflict at Hill 442. Is that right?
Ruggieri: Yes sir. Everyone has heard of that battle.
Gunnery Sgt. Burns: And did you know your Colonel is personally responsible for pulling 52 marines off that hill? Alive.
Gunnery Sgt. Burns: So don't you think the Colonel deserves to have his rocks painted tops and bottoms?
Gunnery Sgt. Burns: Good; paint the rocks.

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Connections

Featured in Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People (2006)

User Reviews

Hunter goes on another hunting trip, in the middle east...

Fred Dryer stars as a gung ho marine who rounds up the troops and conducts a rescue mission in response to the U.S government's underwhelming response to his commanding officer's(Brian Keith) abduction. Of course it is the Arabs who are behind it and basically this is jingoism at it's most hideously lame. The movie has an interesting cast (Brian Keith, Joanna Pacula, Paul Winfield and Sasha Mitchell) but all of these counterparts are mainly wasted in favor of Fred Dryer's charisma-less performance which consists of grunting and looking deeply ticked off. The movie seems to live in a timeless vortex where repetition rules the day. Everything about the movie is tired and clichéd but the details are so groan inducingly lame and so absurd you just keep rolling your eyes in disdain. All of this would be enjoyable had Death Before Dishonor contained some punch in the action sequences but unfortunately these one sided action sequences feature a three digit body count on one side, while only one good guy dies. At this type of ratio, it is no wonder the movie went into obscurity.

* out of 4-(Bad)