Braddock: Missing in Action III (1988)

Braddock mounts a one-man assault to free his wife and son who are still being held in a Vietnam prison camp.

Director:

Aaron Norris

Writers:

Arthur Silver (characters), Larry Levinson (characters)

Stars:

Chuck Norris, Aki Aleong, Roland Harrah III

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chuck Norris	...	Col. James Braddock
Aki Aleong	...	Gen. Quoc
Roland Harrah III	...	Van Tan Cang
Miki Kim	...	Lin Tan Cang
Yehuda Efroni	...	Rev. Polanski
Ron Barker	...	Mik
Floyd Levine	...	Gen. Duncan
Jack Rader	...	Littlejohn
Melinda Betron	...	Thuy
Rick Prieto	...	CIA Agent (as Richard Prieto)
Jan Michael Shultz	...	CIA Agent (as Jan Schultz)
Keith David	...	Embassy Gate Captain
Robert Jochheim	...	Embassy Guard
Thuy Lien Samora	...	Embassy Secretary
Pita Liboro	...	Lin's Friend

Storyline

Colonel James Braddock has a Vietnamese wife who was supposed to leave Vietnam with him when they evacuate. But she loses her papers and wasn't allowed in the embassy. Braddock went looking for her and her friend took the bracelet Braddock gave his wife and was in an explosion. When Braddock finds the body with bracelet, he assumes it's his wife so he leaves Vietnam. 12 years later a Reverend in Vietnam who was visiting the States approaches Braddock telling him that his wife is alive and that he has a son. Braddock doesn't believe him at first but when a man at the CIA asks him to meet with him, Braddock realizes it's true. So he tries to get them out. So he contacts a friend in Thailand to get what he needs. As they are about to leave, the CIA tries to stop him but Braddock gets away, gets his equipment and heads to Vietnam. When he arrives he goes to the orphanage for Amerasian children, where the Reverend works. He takes him to them and is surprised to see them and his son resents...

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Plot Keywords:

kung fu | cult film | vietnam war veteran | child in danger | aerial camera shot | 

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Taglines:

I don't step on peoples toes. I break their necks!

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Genres:

Action | War

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is Aaron Norris first film to direct and the first with older brother, actor Chuck Norris. They went on to make many more movies together after this film.

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Goofs

The helicopter chasing Braddock and his truck full of kids, fires 20+ rockets at them, despite the fact the chopper only has two rocket pods; each with a capacity of 6 rockets per pod (as can be seen in close up).

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Quotes

Littlejohn: Braddock! I'm warning you, don't step on any toes.
Col. James Braddock: I don't step on toes, Littlejohn, I step on necks.

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Alternate Versions

German Video-Release (rated 16) was cut in many places to reduce violence (bullets impacting, the torture, wife's headshot front view, neck-breaks and more). Uncut Version was never released on Video but was to be seen one time on Free-Tv in 1996

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Connections

Spoofed in Cinéman (2009)

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Soundtracks

Freedom Again
Composed by Ron Bloom
Performed by Ron Bloom
For TMF Communications
Lead vocals by Lenny McDaniel

User Reviews

"Braddock!", "Braddock!"

"I don't step on toes littlejohn. I step on necks." Chuck Norris is at it again as Col. James Braddock heading into enemy territory; Communist Vietnam to rescue to his once-thought dead Vietnamese wife and his unknown son. The third entry of the series is an agreeable slice of rough and tumble action escapism (though maybe the lesser of the three), which is just as cheaply produced but for most part very well mounted. There was probably has a little more story hanging off it than say its first sequel; "The Beginning". But it feels like its rehashing ideas from the first two, while adding its own angle involving American / Asian orphans. Nonetheless it's just as thick with its overwrought propaganda push and b-grade dialogues with the quick-lipped one-liners. Director Aaron Norris conventionally lays it out. Keeping a brisk pace, even with some blotchy action it's surprisingly lean, sweaty and fist-pumping. I wasn't expecting it to be as sadistic as it was, as I remembered seeing bits and pieces of it thinking it was rather toned down compared to the other films in the series. But it's just as raw and brutal. The performances fall on the static side. Chuck Norris gives a weathered acting performance, but still effectively breaks out those lethal head hugs and neck snapping. After showing glimpses throughout, he finally lets loose in the dying stages by breaking out the big guns. Aki Aleong is vivid, but gets a bit over-the-top as the merciless Vietnamese General who'll do anything to see Braddock admit to the crimes towards his country. Also you got the likes of Jack Rader, Floyd Levine and a tiny show-in by Keith David.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Braddock: Missing in Action III

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,208,116, 24 January 1988

Gross USA:

$6,193,901

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,193,901

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Cannon Group, Golan-Globus Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min 88 min (video) 83 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo (4 channels)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1