Firewalker (1986)

A pair of adventurers try to track down an ancient Aztec/Mayan/Egyptian/Apache hoard of gold.

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writers:

Robert Gosnell (story), Jeffrey M. Rosenbaum (story)

Stars:

Chuck Norris, Louis Gossett Jr., Melody Anderson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chuck Norris	...	Max Donigan
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Leo Porter
Melody Anderson	...	Patricia Goodwin
Will Sampson	...	Tall Eagle
Sonny Landham	...	El Coyote
John Rhys-Davies	...	Corky Taylor
Ian Abercrombie	...	Boggs
Richard Lee-Sung	...	Chinese Man / The General
Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez	...	Indian Girl
Álvaro Carcaño	...	Willie
John Hazelwood	...	Tubbs
José Escandón	...	Co-Pilot
Mario Arévalo	...	Guerilla Leader
Juan Jaramillo	...	Tough Guerilla
Miguel Ángel Fuentes	...	Big Man (as Miguel Fuentes)

Storyline

Max Donigan sets off on a treasure hunt with his friend Leo and newly-acquired partner Patricia, who provided the treasure map. Along the way they encounter a few bar fights, evil "coyotes", and other obstacles they are able to overcome with ease. When they find the temple with the treasure, they also find the Firewalker, who wants to retain the power of his ancestors and put an end to the trio's treasure hunt. In the end, Max and his two friends persevere and return home wealthy.

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Plot Keywords:

love interest | blonde | blonde woman | cat fight | leg | 

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Taglines:

A pair of down-and-out fortune hunters cash in on high adventure!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hungarian

Release Date:

21 November 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le temple d'or

Filming Locations:

Sierra de Organos, Sombrerete, Zacatecas, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$11,834,302

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cannon Group, Golan-Globus Productions, Major Studio Partners

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Firewalker was the name of Cordell Walker's farher In Walker, Texas Ranger.

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Goofs

In the scene where Max frees himself, and Leo from being tied down under the sun, somehow Leo's right foot becomes untied with out Max cutting it.

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Quotes

Max: We need a new plan.

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Alternate Versions

TV versions omit the scene in Max's apartment and the fight sequence in the burnt-out town.

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Connections

Referenced in Best of the Worst: Our VHS Collection (2019)

User Reviews

One of Chuck's Best Performances

"Firewalker" is more than a bit of a mess. Like most movies from the Cannon studio, it's not low budget enough to dip into Ed Wood land, but not well done enough to rise to a major studio production. The sets are cheap and the story is not much more than a vaguely connected series of scenes referencing better films--but I think the filmmakers were well aware of these and other shortcomings and set a self effacing, tongue in cheek tone from the start. Though as sloppy and slapdash as most of director J. Lee Thompson's other 80's efforts, "Firewalker" shows Thompson turning these attributes to his advantage and giving us a breezy, goofy, self-aware-yet-totally-clueless, low budget pop culture gem. I don't think anyone was under the impression that they were making the next "Raiders of the Lost Ark," they just wanted to give us some old fashioned fun. I mean, an Academy Award winner costarring with CHUCK NORRIS? How could it not be great in its own way? And while we're on the subject, this is one of the few films where you couldn't call Norris "Old Stone Face." In this film Chuck gives one of his liveliest, most natural performances ever--almost charming. Too bad he didn't work with Thompson more often.