Hands of Steel (1986)

A cyborg is programmed to kill a scientist who holds the fate of mankind in his hands. He fails and hides in a diner in a desert run by a woman who likes him. The people who sent him are after him and so is the local arm wrestling champ.

Director:

Sergio Martino (as Martin Dolman)

Writers:

Sergio Martino (story by) (as Martin Dolman), Elisa Briganti (screenplay by) (as Elisabeth Parker Jr.)

Stars:

Daniel Greene, Janet Agren, Claudio Cassinelli

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Daniel Greene	...	Paco Queruak
Janet Agren	...	Linda
Claudio Cassinelli	...	Peter Howell
George Eastman	...	Raul Morales
Roberto Bisacco	...	Cooper (as Robert Ben)
Pat Monti
Andrea Coppola	...	Eddie (as Andrew Louis Coppola)
Donald O'Brien	...	Prof. Olster
Frank Walden
Darwyn Swalve	...	Anatola Blanco
Amy Werba	...	Dr. Peckinpah
John Saxon	...	Francis Turner

Storyline

Sinister industrialist Francis Turner, played by John Saxon, creates a cyborg known as Paco Queruak (Daniel Greene) who has been programmed to terminate the leader of an ecological faction that stands in the way of the dystopian country in which the story is set. After failing in his mission to eliminate the ecologist, Paco flees to Arizona where he must face his opponents; and ultimately choose between his humanity and robotic natures.

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Plot Keywords:

world trade center | chinatown manhattan new york city | tragic event | watching tv | cyborg | 

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Taglines:

The year 1997: the guardian of the future is much more than a human being... [Scandinavian DVD cover]

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian Spanish English

Release Date:

29 August 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hands of Steel

Filming Locations:

Lee's Ferry Lodge at Vermilion Cliffs - Highway 89A, Marble Canyon, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Cinematografica,Dania Film,Medusa Distribuzione

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The peculiar rock formation behind Paco when he gets out of his old car (prior to pushing it off the cliff) is referred to the locals at Page, AZ as "Dead Indian Butte" because from Lake Powell it resembles a man wearing a headdress lying on his back.

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Goofs

At approximately 29 minutes and 46 minutes a Hughes 500 (369) helicopter is seen. These have a 5-bladed main rotor. The sound heard is that of a 2-bladed main rotor helicopter.

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Connections

References The Terminator (1984)

User Reviews

What a cool movie!

One things for sure; There's never a dull moment in this awesome B-movie from Sergio Martino!

The story centres around a Cyborg with a conscience who goes on the run after deliberately failing his mission to assassinate a blind professor. None too impressed by this sudden humanitarian leaning however, the cyborgs' boss (John Saxon) decides to have our hero wiped out.

Meanwhile our cyborg seeks solace at a diner in the middle of the Arizona desert where he hopes to be left alone. Unfortunately, he just seems to attract trouble like a dog turd does flies and even in this desolate location he manages to get on the wrong side of some local truckers headed by big George Eastman who challenges our hero to an arm wrestling bout.

Various bar brawls and further trouble ensue until a sadistic hit-man and the corporate goons eventually catch up with our man and attempt to take care of him for good.

OK so it's obvious that this was made on the cheap but frankly who cares; the action never lets up for a second and is backed by a cool thumping Claudio Simonetti score throughout.

Daniel Greene is admittedly wooden as the lead but nonetheless proves to be perfect physically for the role whilst the supporting cast are all fine and it's always a pleasure to see the lovely Janet Agren on screen.

Watch out also for a direct scene lift from the Terminator where our hero performs some self surgery on his forearm!

Tremendously enjoyable from start to finish! If only all films were this much fun!