Off Limits (1988)

McGriff and Albaby are probably doing the worst law enforcement job in the world - they are plain clothes U.S. military policemen on duty in war-time Saigon. However, their job becomes even... See full summary »

Director:

Christopher Crowe

Writers:

Christopher Crowe, Jack Thibeau

Stars:

Willem Dafoe, Gregory Hines, Fred Ward

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Willem Dafoe	...	Buck McGriff
Gregory Hines	...	Albaby Perkins
Fred Ward	...	Dix
Amanda Pays	...	Nicole
Kay Tong Lim	...	Lime Green
Scott Glenn	...	Colonel Dexter Armstrong
David Alan Grier	...	Rogers
Keith David	...	Maurice
Raymond O'Connor	...	Elgin Flowers
Richard Brooks	...	Preacher
Thuy An Luu	...	Lanh (as Thuy Ann Luu)
Richard Lee Reed	...	Colonel Sparks
Woody Brown	...	Co-Pilot
Ken Siu	...	Plowboy
Viladda Vanadurongwan	...	Sister Agnes

Storyline

McGriff and Albaby are probably doing the worst law enforcement job in the world - they are plain clothes U.S. military policemen on duty in war-time Saigon. However, their job becomes even harder when they start investigating the serial killings of local prostitutes. Their prime suspect is high ranking U.S. Army officer which brings their lives in danger.

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | vietnam | female nudity | race against time | vietnam war | 

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Taglines:

Being a cop is tough. But in Saigon, 1968, being a cop is crazy.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Parts of James Newton Howard's score was re-used a year later in Tsui Harks's A Better Tomorrow 3 (1989). Coincidentally this movie also takes place primarily in Saigon.

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Goofs

In an early scene McGriff and Perkins are driving through what is supposed to be the bar district in Saigon, but the names of two famous bars from Patpong, Bangkok, Thailand are clearly visible, "Pussy Galore" and "King's Castle".

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Quotes

Dix: Here my confession Sister... like a priest

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Alternate Versions

Although the cinema version was intact the UK video was cut by 22 secs to edit shots of a man caressing a woman's breasts with a riding crop as she is tied to a bed. The cuts were waived for the 2007 DVD.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Little Nikita/Vice Versa/D.O.A./Off Limits/Stand and Deliver (1988)

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Soundtracks

Dang Me
Written by Roger Miller

User Reviews

Murder mystery with a sweaty backdrop.

Off Limits (AKA: Saigon) is the missing Vietnam film, a film I feel not many have actually seen since I never see it mentioned on the message boards out there in net land. While I have certainly never heard it spoken about when talk of Vietnam films crops up. The film is in essence a who done it police drama, two cops on the streets of Saigon during the war are searching for a high ranking officer who is, erm, offing prostitutes.

It is the backdrop of the war that gives the film added substance and lifts it way above average, because we see not only the problems a murder investigation brings, but also the horror of war getting in the way as well. Some damn fine and tidy performances flesh out the characters, with both Gregory Hines & Willem Dafoe as our two stoic and battle weary coppers engaging us from the off, whilst the supporting cast of Fred Ward, Keith David (look out for his dance man!) & Scott Glenn are interestingly watchable; the latter of which who leaves the lasting impression with what has to be the best 5 minutes work he ever did during a brilliant interrogation sequence during a mid-air flight.

It's gritty and interesting and deserves to be better known and sought out. It doesn't pull up any trees as regards formula, and it certainly isn't one you will want to go back to time and time again for thrills and spills, but it hits the spot and as the mystery and stifling heat of Vietnam pervades the mood, you will remember watching it long after the credits have rolled. 7/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 March 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Off Limits

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,796,111, 13 March 1988

Gross USA:

$7,242,035

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,242,035

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, American Entertainment Partners L.P.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1