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:

The war's not over until the last man comes home.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both the North Vietnamese and Vietnam People's Army are seen using the Chinese Type 56 assault rifle - originally produced in the People's Republic of China as a licensed copy of the Soviet AK-47 (when technology transfer between both nations were commonplace) prior to the Sino-Soviet split in 1962.

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Goofs

The Bangkok, Thailand setting featured motor vehicles which are left-hand drive; motor vehicles sold in Thailand are majority right-hand drive.

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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 MovieBerto: Desaparecido en combate (2014)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Boring, racist, brainless rubbish.

MISSING IN ACTION is one of those "God Bless America!"-themed, war-mongering movies made after the Vietnam War in order to cash in on the newfound pseudo-patriotism of the average American citizen (just like what happened after the September 11th attacks). It is your typical action vehicle, made in the wake of films like RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD, with all the thoughtless racist overtones you'd expect. Chuck Norris's performance here is pretty much the exact same one he's always delivered, but as anyone who's seen a Norris flick knows, that's NOT a good thing. Come to think of it, Norris's character Braddock is the most shallow, underdeveloped role I have ever seen him play. It blows my mind to think that this was a box office hit, but then again, we Americans seem to have a pension for paying top dollar for moron-entertainment. Bottom line: MISSING IN ACTION has absolutely no value whatsoever (entertainment, artistic, or otherwise), and should be avoided at all costs.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Vietnamese

Release Date:

16 November 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Missing in Action

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Box Office

Budget:

$2,550,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,101,460, 18 November 1984

Gross USA:

$22,812,411

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$22,812,411

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