American Ninja (1985)
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- R
- 1h 35min
- Action, Adventure
- 30 Aug 1985 (USA)
- Movie
American soldier, obviously very skilled in martial arts, single-handedly takes on mercenaries in the Philippines.
Director:
Writers:
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Michael Dudikoff | ... |
Joe
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| Steve James | ... |
Jackson
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| Judie Aronson | ... |
Patricia
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Guich Koock | ... |
Hickock
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| John Fujioka | ... |
Shinyuki
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| Don Stewart | ... |
Ortega
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John LaMotta | ... |
Rinaldo
(as John La Motta)
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| Tadashi Yamashita | ... |
Black Star Ninja
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| Phillip Brock | ... |
Charley
(as Phil Brock)
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Tony Carreon | ... |
Older Colombian
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| Roi Vinzon | ... |
Younger Colombian
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Manolet Escudero | ... |
Bodyguard
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Greg Rocero | ... |
Bodyguard
(as Gregg Rocero)
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Berto Spoor | ... |
Bodyguard
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Michael Hackbart | ... |
Bodyguard
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Jerry Bailey | ... |
Head Hijacker
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Rohy Batliwala | ... |
Truck Driver
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Jim Gaines | ... |
Truck Driver
(as James Gaines)
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Steve Cook | ... |
Truck Driver
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Brian Robilliard | ... |
Truck Driver
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Zenon Gil | ... |
Truck Driver
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Willie Williams | ... |
Barrack Soldier #1
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Christian Hoss | ... |
Barrack Soldier #2
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| Joey Galvez | ... |
MP Arresting Officer
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Nick Nicholson | ... |
Duty Officer
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Eric Hahn | ... |
Supply Sergeant
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Edmund Cupcupin | ... |
Capt. Falcon (uncredited)
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Magaji Edwards | ... |
Young Joe (uncredited)
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Edouard Spyk Gheur | ... |
Bodyguard (uncredited)
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| Richard Norton | ... |
MP (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Sam Firstenberg | ... | (directed by) |
Written by
| Paul De Mielche | ... | (screenplay by) |
| Avi Kleinberger | ... | (story by) & |
| Gideon Amir | ... | (story by) |
Produced by
| Gideon Amir | ... | associate producer |
| Yoram Globus | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Menahem Golan | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Avi Kleinberger | ... | associate producer |
| Ken Metcalfe | ... | associate producer: Philippines |
Music by
| Michael Linn | ... | (music by) |
Cinematography by
| Hanania Baer | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Andy Horvitch | ... | (as Andrew Horvitch) |
| Peter Lee-Thompson | ||
| Marcus Manton | ||
| Marcel Mindlin | ||
| Daniel Wetherbee | ... | (as Dan Wetherbee) |
Editorial Department
| Clement Barclay | ... | assistant editor |
| Ken Bornstein | ... | associate editor |
| Michael J. Duthie | ... | supervising editor |
| Dan Engstrom | ... | assistant editor |
| Marcelo Sansevieri | ... | assistant editor |
| Lauren A. Schaffer | ... | assistant editor (as Lauren Schaffer) |
| Grace Valenti | ... | assistant editor |
| Omneya 'Nini' Mazen | ... | post-production coordinator (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Perry Bullington | ... | (casting by) |
| Robert MacDonald | ... | (casting by) |
| Ken Metcalfe | ... | (uncredited) |
Production Design by
| Adrian Gorton | ... | (as Adrian H. Gorton) |
Costume Design by
| Audrey M. Bansmer | ... | (as Audrey Bansmer) |
Makeup Department
| Tony Artieda | ... | makeup artist: Philippines |
| Totoy Cerna | ... | assistant makeup artist: Philippines |
| Edith Sanchez | ... | assistant makeup artist: Philippines |
Production Management
| Tony Ezpeleta | ... | production manager: Philippines |
| Lope V. Juban Jr. | ... | production supervisor: Philippines |
| Michael Kansky | ... | production manager |
| Romulo Ramos | ... | unit manager: Philippines |
| Michael R. Sloan | ... | post-production supervisor |
| Tod Scott Brody | ... | post-production supervisor (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Ricardo De Guzman | ... | first assistant director: Philippines |
| Pepito Diaz | ... | third assistant director: Philippines |
| Tal Ron | ... | first assistant director (as Ron Tal) |
| Gene Rose Singson | ... | second assistant director: Philippines |
Art Department
| Francisco Balangue | ... | construction manager: Philippines |
| Mario Carmona | ... | assistant construction lead: Philippines |
| Tess Catapusan | ... | draftswoman: Philippines |
| Bill Dacuson | ... | assistant set decorator: Philippines |
| Angelito Felipe | ... | head painter: Philippines |
| Camilo Felipe | ... | assistant head painter: Philippines |
| Giovanna Gorton | ... | assistant art director |
| Roy Lachica | ... | assistant art director: Philippines |
| Pense Libre | ... | set decorator: Philippines |
| Salustiano Maestro | ... | assistant propsman: Philippines |
| Alan Munro | ... | story boards |
| Ramon Nicdao | ... | art director: Philippines |
| Gambino Payawal | ... | construction foreman: Philippines (as Gavino Payawal) |
| Fred Sangalang | ... | set dressing carpenter: Philippines |
| Dading Urbano | ... | property master: Philippines |
| Eduardo Urbano | ... | assistant propsman: Philippines (as Eddy Urbano) |
Sound Department
| Jim Borgardt | ... | adr editor (as Jim Bogardt) |
| Ed Callahan | ... | sound effects editor |
| Joseph D. Citarella | ... | re-recording mixer (as Joseph Citarella) |
| Simon Coke | ... | sound effects editor |
| David Fechtor | ... | foley editor |
| Robert Fitzgerald | ... | dialogue editor (as Bob Fitzgerald) |
| Marva Fucci | ... | assistant sound effects editor |
| Stanley B. Gill | ... | sound recordist |
| Jacob Goldstein | ... | sound mixer |
| Charles Grenzbach | ... | re-recording mixer (as Bud Grenzbach) |
| Ruben Gultiano | ... | cable man: Philippines (as Ruben Goltiano) |
| Allen Hartz | ... | sound effects editor (as Alan Hartz) |
| Cliff Latimer | ... | dialogue editor (as Clifford Latimer) |
| Lorie O'Shatz | ... | dialogue editor (as Lorrie Oshatz) |
| Hari Ryatt | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Donald Santos | ... | sound man: Philippines |
| Craig Smith | ... | foley editor |
| Tracey Smith | ... | adr editor |
| Ira Spiegel | ... | sound effects editor |
| Amy Vincent | ... | assistant sound effects editor |
| Fred Wasser | ... | sound effects editor |
| Marian Wilde | ... | assistant sound effects editor |
| John Wilkinson | ... | re-recording mixer (as John 'Doc' Wilkinson) |
Special Effects by
| Danilo Dominguez | ... | head of special effects: Philippines |
| Roland Salem | ... | special effects assistant: Philippines (as Rolando Salem) |
Visual Effects by
| Danilo Dominguez | ... | head of visual effects: Philippines |
Stunts
| Douglas Ivan | ... | stunts (as Doug Ivan) |
| Steven Lambert | ... | stunt coordinator (as Steve Lambert) |
| Ken Lesco | ... | stunts (as Kenny Lesco) |
| Renato Morado | ... | stunt coordinator: Philippines |
| Richard Norton | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Rufo Ballos Balicas | ... | grip: Philippines (as Rufo Balicas) |
| Silvano Balicas | ... | head grip: Philippines |
| Ernesto Baltonado | ... | electrician: Philippines |
| Julian Baltonado | ... | chief electrician: Philippines |
| Fredy Conde | ... | second unit camera: Philippines (as Freddie Conde) |
| Joe Dadley | ... | generator operator: Philippines |
| Dan Elsasser | ... | first assistant camera |
| Eitan Gartushka | ... | gaffer (as Eithan Gartushka) |
| Jun Rasca | ... | camera assistant: Philippines |
| Nonong Rasca | ... | additional photography: Philippines |
| Diane Roderick | ... | still photographer (as Diane Gale Roderick) |
| Rick Rolnick | ... | gaffer |
| George Rosales | ... | camera assistant: Philippines |
| John Savka | ... | key grip |
Casting Department
| Maria Metcalfe | ... | casting: Philippines |
| Henry Strzalkowski | ... | casting assistant: Philippines (as Henry Stralkowski) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Ramon Alonzo | ... | assistant wardrobe: Philippines |
| Wynn Arenas | ... | wardrobe master: Philippines |
| Dana Sanchez | ... | assistant wardrobe |
Location Management
| Jessie Cuneta | ... | location manager: Philippines |
Music Department
| Brad Barclay | ... | assistant music editor |
| Virginia S. Ellsworth | ... | music editor (as Virginia Ellsworth) |
| Jay Chattaway | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
| Dory Lubliner | ... | music editor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Ronit Ravich-Boss | ... | script supervisor (as Ronit Ravich) |
| Claire Felicen | ... | script supervisor: second unit (uncredited) |
Transportation Department
| Emil De Guzman | ... | picture vehicles: Philippines |
| Primo Guina | ... | transportation manager: Philippines (as Firmo Guina) |
Additional Crew
| Joe Alonsabe | ... | production accountant: Philippines |
| Linda Angeles | ... | nurse: Philippines |
| Wenden K. Baldwin | ... | title designer |
| Ann Bang | ... | production coordinator (as Ann W. Bang) |
| John Buensalida | ... | production assistant: Philippines |
| Paul Clowdus | ... | production accountant |
| Anne Cochran | ... | publicity coordinator |
| Salvador De Guzman | ... | legal advisor: Philippines |
| Boy Dominguez | ... | chief armorer: Philippines |
| Anne G. Garcia | ... | production secretary: Philippines (as Anne Garcia) |
| Joseph Lee Michael | ... | stand in Michael Dudikoff & Ninja |
| Tony Racho | ... | medical team head: Philippines (as Dr. Tony Racho) |
| Joseph Santos | ... | head utility: Philippines |
| Mike Stone | ... | choreographer: ninja/martial arts |
Production Companies
- The Cannon Group (presents)
- Golan-Globus Productions
Distributors
- Cannon Film Distributors (1985) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cannon Film Distributors (1985) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cannon-City Distribution (1985) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (as Cannon-City Film Distribution)
- Pan-Canadian Film Distributors (1985) (Canada) (theatrical)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1985) (United States) (VHS)
- Hoyts Distribution (1986) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Scotia International Filmverleih (1986) (West Germany) (theatrical) (as Scotia Deutschland Filmverleih)
- Transmundo Films (1986) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Cannon/VMP (1986) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Transmundo Home Video (THV) (1986) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Oy Europa Vision AB (1987) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Viacom (1988) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- Canal+ (1989) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (United States) (VHS)
- RTL Entertainment (1992) (Netherlands) (tv) (RTL4)
- TV3 (1992) (Finland) (tv)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
- Dream Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Future Film (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
- Prooptiki Video (2008) (Greece) (DVD)
- TGG Direct (2011) (United States) (DVD)
- Olive Films (2014) (Canada) (DVD)
- Olive Films (2014) (United States) (DVD)
- Source 1 Media (2015) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- UGC Distribution (France) (theatrical)
- Alpha Video Distributors (United States) (DVD)
- América Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Cannon Video (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Beauchamp Farms (german shepherds provided by)
- Hollywood Rental Company (grip and electrical equipment supplied by)
- Manila Entertainment (philippine coordinator)
- Modern Film Effects (titles)
- Ryder Sound Services (re-recorded at)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Joe Armstrong, an orphaned drifter with little respect for much other than martial arts, finds himself on an American Army base in the Philippines after a judge gives him a choice of enlistment or prison. On one of his first missions driving a convoy, his platoon is attacked by a group of rebels who try to steal the weapons the platoon is transporting and kidnap Patricia, the base colonel's daughter, who happens to be along for the ride. Joe rescues Patricia and gets her safely back to the base, but everyone else in the platoon is killed, leading his superiors to conclude that Joe is guilty of cowardice, collaboration or simple incompetence. At the same time, the rebel leader vows revenge against the serviceman who disrupted his plans, and sends an army of ninjas to assassinate him and bring back Patricia. If he wants to survive and save the girl, Joe's going to have to draw on every last ounce of his training.
Written by Jean-Marc Rocher |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The Orient created the world's deadliest art. Now there's an American master! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $3,234,837, 02 Sep 1985 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | In an interview with German media in 2012, Michael Dudikoff revealed that he sweated so much during the later fight scenes because he had malaria. See more » |
| Goofs | After Joe jumps Jackson's bike over the wall to the American base, the stuntman, who is not wearing a helmet, smashing his face into the bike's windshield. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in American Ninja (2011). See more » |
| Quotes |
Shinyuki:
You are ready, my son. I will be with you indeed and in my heart. Follow the Bushido. Joe: I will honor the code, father. See more » |