Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Death Before Dishonor

  • 1987
  • R
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
4.9/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
Death Before Dishonor (1987)
ActionDrama

Gunnery Sergeant Burns reports for duty to an American Embassy in the Middle East. However due to the 'enlightened' views of the Ambassador, the marine security detachment he is in charge of... Read allGunnery Sergeant Burns reports for duty to an American Embassy in the Middle East. However due to the 'enlightened' views of the Ambassador, the marine security detachment he is in charge of is severely restricted in their functions and presence to avoid upsetting the host govern... Read allGunnery Sergeant Burns reports for duty to an American Embassy in the Middle East. However due to the 'enlightened' views of the Ambassador, the marine security detachment he is in charge of is severely restricted in their functions and presence to avoid upsetting the host government. As a result, when terrorists attack the compound, they are able to kidnap hostages a... Read all

  • Director
    • Terry Leonard
  • Writer
    • John Gatliff
  • Stars
    • Fred Dryer
    • Brian Keith
    • Joseph Gian
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    4.9/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Terry Leonard
    • Writer
      • John Gatliff
    • Stars
      • Fred Dryer
      • Brian Keith
      • Joseph Gian
    • 22User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Photos26

    Death Before Dishonor (1987)
    Death Before Dishonor (1987)
    Death Before Dishonor (1987)
    Death Before Dishonor (1987)
    Death Before Dishonor (1987)
    Death Before Dishonor (1987)
    Death Before Dishonor (1987)
    Death Before Dishonor (1987)
    Death Before Dishonor (1987)
    Death Before Dishonor (1987)
    Death Before Dishonor (1987)
    Death Before Dishonor (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Fred Dryer
    Fred Dryer
    • Gunnery Sgt. Burns
    Brian Keith
    Brian Keith
    • Col. Halloran
    Joseph Gian
    Joseph Gian
    • Sgt. Manuel Ramirez
    • (as Joey Gian)
    Sasha Mitchell
    Sasha Mitchell
    • Ruggieri
    Peter Parros
    Peter Parros
    • James
    Paul Winfield
    Paul Winfield
    • Ambassador
    Joanna Pacula
    Joanna Pacula
    • Elli
    Rockne Tarkington
    Rockne Tarkington
    • Jihad
    Daniel Chodos
    • Amin
    Mohammad Bakri
    Mohammad Bakri
    • Gavril
    • (as Mohammed Bakri)
    Chaim Jeraffi
    Chaim Jeraffi
    • Zabib
    • (as Haim Gerafi)
    Tuvia Tavi
    • Elias
    Yossi Ashdot
    • Hamed
    Yossi Virginsky
    • Attache
    Yossi Virzansky
    • Attache
    Katya Bishoff
    • Daughter
    Rassan Tanus
    • Arab boy
    Kasey Walker
    • Maude Winter
    • Director
      • Terry Leonard
    • Writer
      • John Gatliff
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Death Wish 4: The Crackdown
    5.4
    Death Wish 4: The Crackdown
    Wanted: Dead or Alive
    5.9
    Wanted: Dead or Alive
    Man on Fire
    5.8
    Man on Fire
    Death Wish II
    5.9
    Death Wish II
    An Innocent Man
    6.4
    An Innocent Man
    Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects
    5.5
    Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects
    Striking Distance
    5.8
    Striking Distance
    Appaloosa
    6.7
    Appaloosa
    Out for Justice
    6.1
    Out for Justice
    Death Wish 3
    5.8
    Death Wish 3
    The Delta Force
    5.6
    The Delta Force
    Hunter
    7.1
    Hunter

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The US Embassy in Beirut was bombed in April 1983, six months before the Marine Barracks, not Army barracks, were bombed. 'Death Before Dishonor' uses these incidents in the same manner the Heartbreak Ridge (1986) used the invasion of Grenada.
    • Goofs
      Brian Keith's character is tortured with a power drill, the drill bit being driven through the back of his hand. When he and Fred Dryer ride off into the sunset, shortly after the torture, there's no wound on either hand.
    • Quotes

      Gunnery Sgt. Burns: Both sides of those rocks.

      Ruggieri: Why we got to paint both sides of the rocks?

      James: I don't know.

      Gunnery Sgt. Burns: You boys ever heard of Korea?

      James: Yes sir, Gunny.

      Gunnery Sgt. Burns: Well then you are probably very familar with the conflict at Hill 442. Is that right?

      Ruggieri: Yes sir. Everyone has heard of that battle.

      Gunnery Sgt. Burns: And did you know your Colonel is personally responsible for pulling 52 marines off that hill? Alive.

      Gunnery Sgt. Burns: So don't you think the Colonel deserves to have his rocks painted tops and bottoms?

      Gunnery Sgt. Burns: Good; paint the rocks.

    • Alternate versions
      UK video versions were cut by 9 secs by the BBFC to edit shots of Halloran's hand being pierced with a power drill. The 2008 Anchor Bay DVD is uncut.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Over the Top/84 Charing Cross Road/Death Before Dishonor/Working Girls (1987)

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    3/10
    Hunter Rescues Uncle Bill
    About the kindest think I could possibly say about this movie, is that it is funnier than 'Commando.' Starring Fred 'Where the hell did my career go' Dryer as a Marine who lives by his own rules.(clever huh?) After the killing of all his buddies, and the kidnapping of his gruff but loveable Colonel, Yep... you guessed it, he goes on a one man rescue mission (against orders naturally) to rescue the Colonel, and to kill as many non-english speaking persons as possible. Laughably cliched from start to finish. Whoever wrote this should have their crayons taken away.
    helpful•12
    10
    • wbhickok
    • May 29, 2001

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 20, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Vengeance sans compromis
    • Filming locations
      • Israel
    • Production companies
      • Balcor Film Investors
      • Bima
      • MPI Home Video
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,546,244
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,847,950
      • Feb 22, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,546,244
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Ultra Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Death Before Dishonor (1987)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for Death Before Dishonor (1987)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.