Wanted: Dead or Alive (1987)

This movie features a character who is a descendant of the character played by Steve McQueen in the television series of the same name. And like McQueen's Josh Randall, Hauer's Nick Randall... See full summary »

Director:

Gary Sherman

Writers:

Michael Patrick Goodman, Gary Sherman

Stars:

Rutger Hauer, Gene Simmons, Robert Guillaume

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rutger Hauer	...	Nick Randall
Gene Simmons	...	Malak Al Rahim
Robert Guillaume	...	Philmore Walker
Mel Harris	...	Terry
William Russ	...	Det. Danny Quintz
Susan MacDonald	...	Louise Quintz
Jerry Hardin	...	John Lipton
Hugh Gillin	...	Patrick Donoby
Robert Harper	...	Dave Henderson
Eli Danker	...	Robert Aziz
Joseph Nasser	...	Hasson
Suzanne Wouk	...	Jamilla
Gerald Papasian	...	Abdul Renza (as Gerald Papasyan)
Nick Faltas	...	Amir
Hammam Shafie	...	Chemical Expert

Storyline

This movie features a character who is a descendant of the character played by Steve McQueen in the television series of the same name. And like McQueen's Josh Randall, Hauer's Nick Randall is also a bounty hunter. & also an ex-CIA operative, who is asked by his former employer to help them track down a terrorist, Malak Al Rahim, who is in the country, and has already made a move. But he is also looking for Randall, and the people, whom Randall is working for, is telling Malak, where he can find Randall.

---

Plot Keywords:

telephone booth | terrorist | cia | bounty hunter | cia agent | 

---

Taglines:

He's America's most lethal weapon, a living grenade waiting to explode. Someone has just pulled the pin.

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 January 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wanted Dead or Alive

Filming Locations:

San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$7,555,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

New World Pictures, Balcor Film Investors

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was made and released about thirty years (around twenty-nine years to be exact) after the original television series Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958).

---

Goofs

About a third of the way through, Nick and other policemen are trying to disarm a suspect holding seven sticks of dynamite only 100 feet away. The dynamite explodes much less than it should; seven sticks of dynamite would level a house, and everyone would have to be at least 300 feet away to avoid serious injury or death.

---

Quotes

Nick Randall: We've been seeing each other for six months now.
Danny Quintz: Six months? Six fucking months? That's a goddamn sivler anniversary for you!

---

Alternate Versions

There exist two different version on videotape. One where Malak Al Rahim dies at the end, by having his head blown off, and one where this doesn't happen. The ending where Rahim doesn't die, is very tame, since the picture just fades to black, and then fades back in, with Randaal sitting somewhere pondering his fate.

---

Connections

References Suburbia (1983)

---

Soundtracks

Live Bait
Written by Joe Renzetti and Simon Stokes
Performed by Delaney Bramlett

User Reviews

A terrorist's enemy who can see, even in the darkness.

This is the type of hero, we all need. Someone who can handle the situation and get the job done! And done indeed, he does as 'Nick Randall', a bounty hunter with a proved ability for survival.

I hadn't followed Rutger's rolls very closely until he played a very controlling and virtually unstoppable cereal-murderer.

Eric Red's story and Robert Harmon's directed film, 'The Hitcher'. A thriller that makes the hairs on your neck stand straight up, with a strange echoing eeriness.

Rutger was 'mesmurizing' in the roll that he just, took over. He was aptly the killers's killer.

I walked out of the theater stunned at his absolutely convincing performance. So when I went and saw, 'Wanted' with the reversal of 'rolls' for Rutger, Hell! He goes back and forth through 'Goodguy' 'Badguy' 'Protag' and 'Antag' character rolls better than Sylvester Stallone or Kevin Costner, even better than Harrison Ford for crying out loud.

This man has that skilled ability, to lay it out unmistakably. The Hero that Nick Randall is in "Wanted: Dead or Alive" is a 'Snake-Eater'. First zero's in on his target and sets it up, then hit's them hard, knocking them down and then out. He is a 'Patriot', that doesn't want to be 'Snowed' by anyone. He is a strong man and yet he's a caring friend to fellow actor William Russ's character ((the L.A. officer Danny Quintz and even Agent Walker of the F.B.I. who considers him a 'Friend' for over 15 years)) the most impressive part(s) to me are when you can feel the emotionally-loaded response from Hauer's 'Randall'. You see him angry, hot, sweating feeling the strain. He is broken down emotionally with tears in his eyes at the death of his friend and his new love'Terry' whose lives have been brought to an 'abrupt end' by an anti-American group of killers. He still doesn't lose accurate focus under the pressure of his 'cover' being given away to his enemy, 'used as live bait' by those supposedly on his side of the fence (for their own strategic manoeuvrings).

Even so, he forces himself not to stop or even slow down but follows his conscience through to the very ending of this Government contracted game, in which they are involved with 'holy-waring' terrorists. Rock group lead-singer Gene Simmons plays a jihad-violent terrorist that is a madman out to appease himself and his killing partners. Even with Simmons who plays well, he knows being an Israeli what it feels like to have a terrorist organization plotting to destroy your very existence.

An incredible action movie that blows doors off of many others in this film 'genre'. If you haven't seen this one, but you have seen 9/11 on the television news and the papers...do yourself a favor, rent or buy this on D.V.D, watch it and feel better.

This was not four-star acting. But the story can take you through if you're into it. It's like a late night made for television feature to be honest...but its fun. No fear but loss, triggering anger, causing Nick to bring about 'exacting' vengeance and then...comforting relief. (**)