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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

2 Døgn i Helvede

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller | War

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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

James Hong and M. Emmet Walsh previously appeared in Bound for Glory (1976) and Blade Runner (1982).

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Goofs

The Vietnamese officials use the term 'People's Republic of Vietnam' - the official name in reality is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since July 2, 1976.

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Quotes

Col. James Braddock: I'm looking for Jack Tucker, is he around?
Madame Pearl: He'll be here in a moment.
[Tucker falls from over the railing in the second floor, onto a table and smashes it]
Col. James Braddock: Thanks. How's it going, Tuck?
Tuck: Braddock, what the hell are you doing here?
Col. James Braddock: I wanna rent your boat. It's important, how much?
Tuck: [Tucker replies while fighting goons] Five grand... four grand...
Col. James Braddock: I didn't hear ya.
Tuck: Two...
Col. James Braddock: Did you say one thousand?
[...]

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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".

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Connections

Referenced in Lance Hool on 'Wolf Lake' (2016)

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Soundtracks

Living on the Edge
Written by Larry Frankland Lee and Shandi
Performed by Shandi

User Reviews

Chuck Norris vehicle as tough Colonel Braddock and followed by two sequels

A Vietnam war vet (Chuck Norris) and previous POW goes back to Vietnam ten years after . When Braddock arrives is accused of war crimes by a Vietnam general (James Hong) . He then schemes to free some American soldiers still held prisoners in a far prison camp into Vietnam . As long as he's there , Braddock decides to head Thailand where is pursued by a former enemy who tortured him in the concentration camp where he was prisoner . He's helped by a gunrunner friend (M. Emmet Walsh) . The two-fisted Colonel Braddock tries continuously to free the prisoners held captives suffering various tortures in charge of the camp wardens and the evil ruler.

This is a routine actioner with Karate star Chuck Norris as the Vietnam veteran resulting go be one of the best roles he'd made to date , as he's nice as tough , cold and stubborn Colonel Braddock . It's a predictable , shallow and brainless film , though it will appeal to Chuck Norris enthusiasts because of it contains some excellent action sequences (when Braddock shoots with his machine gun or scenes about bounds and leaps aboard a motorboat) . Chuck stated that he made this picture as a memorial honor of his younger brother who was a war casualty in the long Vietnam conflict . In the wake of ¨ Uncommon courage ¨(by Ted Kotcheff) and ¨ Rambo II ¨(George Pan Cosmatos) with Norris attempting to imitate Silver Stallone or Arnold Schwarnezzegger like an one army man .

The film is the original from a trilogy , concerning the second part (directed by Lance Hool , the first one 's producer) about tortures and Braddock suffering in a prisoner camp , and the third part (directed by Aaron Norris , Chuck's brother , who in 'Missing in action 1' was the stunt coordinator) upon looking for his wife after downfall Saigon . Shot right after Missing in action 2 (1985) , this movie was supposed to be the follow-up . Nevertheless, when ¨Cannon¨ realized this film was the better of the two , they re-titled them and made the other film a prequel . In the three movies there are some nasty , ominous villains well played by Asian players : James Hong , Soon Teck Oh , and Aki Aelong , who bear offensive racial stereotypes . Appropriate musical score by Jay Chattaway and adequate as well as atmospheric cinematography by cameraman Joao Fernandez , filmed in Philippines . The motion picture produced by Cannon films (Mennahem Golan and Yoram Globus) was professionally directed by Joseph Zito (USA invasion , again with Norris). The motion picture will appeal to Chuck Norris fans .