Missing in Action (1984)

Colonel Braddock launches a mission deep into the jungles of Vietnam to find the POW camp that he escaped from and free the Americans still held captive there.

Director:

Joseph Zito

Writers:

Arthur Silver (characters), Larry Levinson (characters)

Stars:

Chuck Norris, M. Emmet Walsh, David Tress

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chuck Norris	...	Col. James Braddock
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Jack Tucker
David Tress	...	Sen. Maxwell Porter
Lenore Kasdorf	...	Ann Fitzgerald
James Hong	...	Gen. Tran
Ernie Ortega	...	Vinh
Pierrino Mascarino	...	Jacques
Erich Anderson	...	Masucci (as E. Erich Anderson)
Joseph Carberry	...	Carter
Avi Kleinberger	...	Dalton
Willie Williams	...	Randall
Ric Segreto	...	GI
Bella Flores	...	Madame Pearl
Gil Arceo	...	First Vietnamese Businessman
Roger Dantes	...	Second Vietnamese Businessman

Storyline

Colonel James Braddock is an American officer who spent seven years in a North Vietnamese POW camp, then escaped 10 years ago. After the bloodiest war, Braddock accompanies a government investigation team that goes to Ho Chi Minh City to check out reports of Americans still held prisoner. Braddock gets the evidence then travels to Thailand, where he meets Tuck, an old Army buddy turned black market kingpin. Together, they launch a mission deep into the jungle to free the American POWs from General Trau.

---

Plot Keywords:

vietnam war | rescue mission | one man army | prisoner of war | martial arts | 

---

Taglines:

2 Døgn i Helvede

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller | War

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Vietnamese

Release Date:

16 November 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Portés disparus

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Box Office

Budget:

$2,550,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,101,000, 18 November 1984, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$22,812,500

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Cannon Group, Golan-Globus Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The blue taxicabs seen when Braddock arrives in Bangkok are 1968 Toyota Crown sedans.

---

Goofs

When Braddock rigs the grenade to fall after the jeep is moved, the enemy jeep hits it and dislodges the Grenade. There two separate explosions that shoot up from the ground as the FX explosions were set off.

---

Quotes

Sen. Maxwell Porter: Colonel James Braddock
Gen. Trau: Ah, Colonel Braddock. I heard much about you. Welcome to the People's Republic of Vietnam.
[Offers a handshake but Braddock ignores him and stares at him]
Sen. Maxwell Porter: Colonel! You are a goddamn embarrasment, Braddock.
Col. James Braddock: That's why I'm here, senator.

---

Alternate Versions

Prior to 2000, all versions released in Germany were cut for violence to achieve a "Not under 16" rating. The DVD release features the complete film, but is also rated "Not under 16".

---

Connections

Referenced in Half-Life (1998)

---

Soundtracks

Reckless
Written by Chris The Glove Taylor (as Chris "The Glove" Taylor)
Performed by Ice-T

User Reviews

Sorely missing in action!

This was filmed back-to-back with part 2, and was originally intended to be released as the second film in the series, but Cannon executives moved it to be the first entry after realizing it was much better than the other film. It is indeed a better movie, but it still can't be called a good movie. To be sure, the production values are decent, and director Joseph Zito occasionally creates an effective moment. But for the most part, the movie is extremely dull; it takes more than halfway through the movie before Norris starts his primary mission, and the action sequences (the few that there are) are mediocre at best. Zito also shows no sense of pacing; there are a number of scenes that serve no real purpose, or are let to run on for what seems like forever. As for Norris, he is his usual stony near-mute self, though he is to be admired for doing some of the risky stunt sequences himself.