Code of Silence (1985)

A Chicago cop is caught in a middle of a gang war while his own comrades shun him because he wants to take an irresponsible cop down.

Director:

Andrew Davis

Writers:

Michael Butler (screenplay), Dennis Shryack (screenplay)

Stars:

Chuck Norris, Henry Silva, Bert Remsen

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chuck Norris	...	Eddie Cusack
Henry Silva	...	Luis Comacho
Bert Remsen	...	Commander Kates
Mike Genovese	...	Tony Luna
Nathan Davis	...	Felix Scalese
Ralph Foody	...	Cragie
Allen Hamilton	...	Pirelli
Ron Henriquez	...	Victor Comacho
Joe Guzaldo	...	Nick Kopalas (as Joseph Guzaldo)
Molly Hagan	...	Diana Luna
Ron Dean	...	Brennan
Wilbert Bradley	...	Spider
Dennis Farina	...	Dorato
Gene Barge	...	Music
Mario Nieves	...	Pompas

Storyline

Eddie Cusack is a Chicago police officer about to bust some members of the Comacho gang when the gang is shot up by a rival drug gang from the neighboring building, led by Tony Luna. Victor Comacho is the only survivor of the Comacho gang and his older brother, Luis, who is the leader of the gang, retaliates by killing Luna's family and kidnaps Luna's daughter, Diana. Cusack must face Tony Luna and Luis Comacho alone because nobody on the police force is willing to help him since he was the only cop who broke the code of silence by testifying against a fellow cop who killed an unarmed teenager, but Cusack is not really alone. A police robot called "Prowler" aides Cusack as he takes down the gangs.

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Plot Keywords:

police | rescue | gun | robot | drugs | 

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Taglines:

Eddie Cusack's a good cop having a very bad day.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 May 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dirty Harry IV: Code of Silence

Filming Locations:

Lower Wacker Drive, Downtown, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,512,461, 5 May 1985, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$20,345,261

Company Credits

Production Co:

Orion Pictures, Raymond Wagner Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Astrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actress Molly Hagan and actor Joe Guzaldo both received 'introducing' credits.

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Goofs

Whet Tony is leaving Comacho's apartment, after he takes the money and drugs, he leathers on a small piece of slat from the broken window. In next shot the slat disappears.

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Quotes

Eddie Cusack: I'm looking for one of your nephews... Tony Luna.
Felix Scalese: [coldly] Goodbye, Mr. Cusack.
Eddie Cusack: There's a shit-storm coming, old man. And you can stop it.
Felix Scalese: [more firmly] Goodbye, Mr. Cusack!
Eddie Cusack: Nobody talks, right?
Felix Scalese: That's right, sergeant. Just like the cops. Just like the Comachos. Nobody talks. Omerta!
Eddie Cusack: I'm gonna' find Tony Luna, and I'm gonna' nail his ass - and anyone connected to him. You got that?
Felix Scalese: Why, you punk! Nobody threatens me!
Eddie Cusack: It's not a threat, Mr. Scalese... it's a prediction.

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Connections

Referenced in Remo, Rambo, Reagan and Reds: The Eighties Action Movie Explosion (2014)

User Reviews

Routine but solid entertainment

An undistinguished action vehicle for Chuck Norris, this time playing a maverick cop (a real stretch for him) who has to battle a street war between rival drug dealers. What his movie lacks in an original plot it makes up for with an intelligent script which somewhat surprisingly focuses on characterisation instead of macho one-liners, and good pacing and direction from Andrew Davis, here cutting his teeth on the genre which would later serve him well in the likes of UNDER SIEGE.

Norris plays the typical tough-yet-likable hardman character he always seems to play, except that he's less reliant on the martial arts here. The physical fights that do ensue are generally unexciting and limp, the shoot-outs and gun battles more convincingly portrayed. Henry Silva (NICO: ABOVE THE LAW) is the chief villain, and is very good as per usual; there aren't many actors who manage to look as genuinely evil as Silva - except Christopher Walken perhaps. Dennis Farina appears in a minor role as a buddy of Norris, and the supporting cast are rounded out by passable actors and actresses who put in solid, if unmemorable, performances.

The movie draws in drug dealing and battles between rival gangs with a subplot involving police corruption, specifically an officer who accidentally shoots an innocent bystander. The various plot strands are woven together well, and there are a couple of set-pieces (like Norris taking on an entire bar) which certainly don't disappoint. The violent ending is predictable and pretty clichéd, but executed with a certain style. This is routine but solid stuff from Norris.