Airwolf (1984)

A scientist who has created a super helicopter has defected to Libya and taken the machine with him. A secretive government agency hires an ex-Vietnam War pilot to go to Libya, steal the chopper and bring it back.

Director:

Donald P. Bellisario

Writer:

Donald P. Bellisario

Stars:

Jan-Michael Vincent, Ernest Borgnine, Alex Cord

Won 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Stringfellow Hawke
Ernest Borgnine	...	Dominic
Alex Cord	...	Michael Coldsmith Briggs III
David Hemmings	...	Dr. Charles Henry Moffet
Belinda Bauer	...	Gabrielle Ademaur
Deborah Pratt	...	Marella
Eugene Roche	...	Senator William Dietz
W.K. Stratton	...	Chuck Gordon
Dean Wein	...	Mark, Co-Pilot
Frank Annese	...	Major Mufta Ben-Kamal
John Calvin	...	Blaze
Philip Bruns	...	Mitch, the Director
Tina Chen	...	Faye
Herbert Jefferson Jr.	...	Carrier Commander
Gary Epper	...	Red Star Controller

Storyline

Airwolf is a high tech helicopter created by a government agency called "THE FIRM". The scientist who created it, is also a bit deranged, he steals it and takes it to Libya. Deputy Director Michael Colesmith Briggs, codenamed Archangel, who oversaw the Airwolf project has to try and get it back. Stringfellow Hawke, the only other man other than the creator who knows how to fly Airwolf, is recruited by Archangel to go to Libya to try and get it back. Only problem is that Hawke is a bit of a loner and an introvert, and his fee for doing this job is that THE FIRM must locate his brother, who is MISSING IN ACTION in Vietnem, dead or alive.

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Plot Keywords:

rotorcraft | pet canine | eyepatch | one eyed man | explosion | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie is a re-edited version of the TV series pilot. It also includes some action scenes from the first season.

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Goofs

While Moffet tortures Gabrielle next to the jeep, she has her shoes on. When Hawke finds her, she appears to be barefoot.

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Quotes

Michael 'Archangel' Coldsmith Briggs III: Straight at the Libyan coast! You trying to egg them out?
Carrier Commander: There's no need for that, sir. If your boys don't get that chopper in 4 hours, our boys go in and blow it away!
Faye: Our 'boys,' Captain, include women! One of whom has already given her life on this mission!
Carrier Commander: I'm sorry, ma'am, it's just a figure of speech!

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Alternate Versions

This 2-hour TV-movie/pilot has been re-edited into a two-part episode, entitled "Shadow of the Hawk", for the subsequent TV series' rerun package.

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Connections

Follows Airwolf (1984)

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Soundtracks

Moonshadow
by Cat Stevens

User Reviews

TOP ACTION THRILLER OF THE 80'S

The 1980's were the best time for action fans. During that decade we had The A-Team, Knight Rider, Street Hawk, The Fall Guy and my personal favourite Airwolf.

In this movie Stringfellow Hawke is asked by some government agency to retrieve a billion dollar helicopter stolen by a Dr. Moffett who is working with the Libyans. And we get action and suspense throughout.

Airwolf was quite a dark show. It aired during the mid 80's when the cold war was still very hot and paranoia was at an all time high. Jan Michael Vincent and Ernest Borgnine did a great job as the duo sent to retrieve Airwolf. Vincent played Hawke who was a moody and pessimistic Vietnam veteran whose brother became missing in action. He was perfect for this role.

Alex Cord played Archangel who worked for the government agency (it was referred to as The Firm throughout the series but that was all we knew) and he seemed innocuous enough although you could never be sure what his real motives were.

The best things about Airwolf was the music and the action. The music was so cool and the action scenes were fantastic. At the end Airwolf is in Libya evading missiles and battling helicopters and Moffett himself and the action doesn't let up for a minute.

Damn good series!

Details

Official Sites:

Official soundtrack site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Airwolf - Eine unschlagbare Waffe

Company Credits

Production Co:

Belisarius Productions, Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min 95 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1