Commando (1985)

A retired Special Forces colonel tries to save his daughter, who was abducted by his former subordinate.

Director:

Mark L. Lester

Writers:

Jeph Loeb (story) (as Joseph Loeb III), Matthew Weisman (story)

Stars:

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Hedaya

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	John Matrix
Rae Dawn Chong	...	Cindy
Dan Hedaya	...	Arius
Vernon Wells	...	Bennett
James Olson	...	Major General Franklin Kirby
David Patrick Kelly	...	Sully
Alyssa Milano	...	Jenny Matrix
Bill Duke	...	Cooke
Drew Snyder	...	Lawson
Sharon Wyatt	...	Leslie
Michael DeLano	...	Forrestal
Bob Minor	...	Jackson
Michael Adams	...	Harris (as Mike Adams)
Gary Carlos Cervantes	...	Diaz (as Carlos Cervantes)
Lenny Juliano	...	Soldier

Storyline

A retired special agent named John Matrix led an elite unit and has left the armed forces to live in a secluded mountain home with his daughter Jenny. But now he is forced out of retirement when his daughter is kidnapped by a band of thugs intent on revenge! Unbeknownst to Matrix, the members of his former unit are being killed one by one. Even though Matrix' friend General Franklin Kirby gives Matrix armed guards, attackers manage to kidnap Matrix and Jenny. Matrix learns that Bennett, a former member of his Matrix' unit who was presumed dead has kidnapped him to try to force Matrix to do a political assassination for a man called Arius (who calls himself El Presidente), a warlord formerly bested by Matrix who wishes to lead a military coup in his home country. Since Arius will have Jenny killed if Matrix refuses, Matrix reluctantly accepts the demand.

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | bare breasts | kidnapped daughter | one man army | body count | 

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Taglines:

If there's a mission that no man could survive...then *he's* the man for the job.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shooting began on 22 April 1985 in Mt. Baldy, CA, before moving to the Los Angeles International Airport. A three-week night shoot took place in Long Beach and San Pedro, CA. The Sherman Oaks Galleria, in Sherman Oaks, CA, served as the film's shopping mall location, and was used for six days after 9pm, after stores closed. "Arius's" fortress was filmed in San Simeon, CA. There, with permission from the Hearst Corporation and the California Department of Parks and Recreation, a watchtower and five barracks were constructed, and subsequently blown up for the film's finale.

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Goofs

When the military guy leaves Matrix's house, the chopper's shadow points in a 12 o'clock direction. A frame later it's pointing to 3 o'clock.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lawson: What's that?
Leslie: It sounds like the garbageman.
Lawson: Oh? On Tuesday?

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Alternate Versions

On several US TV versions of the film, the garden shed shootout scene only shows one soldier shooting the shed instead of the large group of soldiers as in original version.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Weapon Rooms in Movies (2016)

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Soundtracks

WE FIGHT FOR LOVE
Music by Andy Taylor
Lyrics by Michael Des Barres
Performed by Power Station
Produced by Bernard Edwards and Andy Taylor
Courtesy of Capitol-EMI Records

User Reviews

Noisy, violent, stupid and lots of fun

Ridiculous but fun film with Arnold Schwarzenegger as a retired special agent being pulled back into action when his daughter (well played by Alyssa Milano) is kidnapped. To get her back he has to kill someone else.

An 80s action film all the way. It's full of noisy battles, tons of gun play, loads of fistfights and a grand total of EIGHTY-ONE bloody on-screen deaths! The film works so well because it has a good, strong sense of humor and never takes itself seriously. It makes all the blood and gore seem cartoonish. The plot barrels also full speed and it's very short (88 min). Also Rae Dawn Chong (whatever happened to...?) is very good in a supporting role. My only complaint is that the final battle between Arnie and psycho Vernon Wells (badly overacting) is way too violent--even for this film. Otherwise, well worth seeing--lots of fun if you don't mind mindless, violent films (like me). Gotta love any film where Chong learns to use a rocket launcher in a few seconds by reading the directions!

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Commando

Filming Locations:

Harold Lloyd's Greenacres Estate - 1740 Green Acres Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,700,015, 6 October 1985

Gross USA:

$35,100,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$57,491,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

SLM Production Group, Silver Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 92 min (director's cut) 75 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo (4 channels)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1