The American Way

1986
R
1h 32m

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

541

YOUR RATING

Comedy Sci-Fi

A group of Vietnam vets disturbs television programs from a B-29 airplane. They want to sabotage Mrs Westinghouse's political campaign who is running for the Senate in support of US military... Read allA group of Vietnam vets disturbs television programs from a B-29 airplane. They want to sabotage Mrs Westinghouse's political campaign who is running for the Senate in support of US military involvement in South America. Mrs Westinghouse orders some nuclear missiles to be launche... Read allA group of Vietnam vets disturbs television programs from a B-29 airplane. They want to sabotage Mrs Westinghouse's political campaign who is running for the Senate in support of US military involvement in South America. Mrs Westinghouse orders some nuclear missiles to be launched against the saboteurs, but they manage to avoid the impact and even succeed in exposing ... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

541

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 1 nomination

Trivia
Feature debut for director Maurice Phillips.

Goofs
When Sam is picked up from the building, with a rope ladder hanging from the belly of the the B-29, for a brief moment the landing skids of a helicopter are visible.

However, as the Aspect ratio listed for the film is 1.33 : 1 (negative ratio) 1.85 : 1 (intended ratio), it leads me to believe we're seeing things that were meant to be "matted" out at the top and bottom to make the aspect ratio 1.85 : 1. There is also a scene where the religious group is shooting or doing a commercial and we see a boom microphone at the bottom of the screen. This also would have been "matted" out at 1.85 : 1.

Crazy credits
The closing credits of the film include a video screen showing the film itself being played backwards at high speed.

Alternate versions
Originally released in Great Britain with the title "The American Way" at 105 minutes; was recalled, recut and re-released in the rest of the world a shorter 92-minutes version as "Riders of the Storm".

Connections
Features Captain Blood (1935)

Soundtracks
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer
Performed by Joe Fagin
Written by Jimmy McHugh (as McHugh) / Harold Adamson (as Adamson)
Published by The United Partnership Limited

User reviews15

Review

Featured review

10/10

Still a Classic

I may have been one of the few people to have actually seen this movie in the theaters in the 80's. I was living in Houston,TX at the time, and had heard of it because some of the filming was done in the Houston area (I was very familiar with the shopping mall and downtown scene locations).

This movie is a strange mix of Classic Rock, Science Fiction, and Social Parody/Commentary. Anyone interested in at least two of these three genres MUST see this film.

I was lucky enough to be rooming with a fellow in Houston who enjoyed the movie as much as I did, and didn't mind watching it dozens of times. Over the course of 5 years, we introduced at least a couple of people a month to this film, and almost always had positive feedback.

I consider this one of Dennis Hopper's best roles. When I state that his "Captain" character is one of the most sane of the plane crew, that should make clear what an eccentric group of individuals he is surrounded by.

I'm a little disappointed that this movie didn't get more recognition than what it did. As far as I know, there has been no DVD release for it. With a soundtrack of its caliber, this movie screams for a DVD with a remastered audio track.