A Show of Force (1990)

An American journalist in Puerto Rico in 1978 investigates the death of nationalists who may have been murdered by the police.

Director:

Bruno Barreto

Writers:

Anne Nelson (book), Evan Jones (screenplay)

Stars:

Amy Irving, Robert Duvall, Andy Garcia

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Amy Irving	...	Kate Melendez
Andy Garcia	...	Luis Angel Mora
Lou Diamond Phillips	...	Jesus Fuentes
Robert Duvall	...	Howard
Kevin Spacey	...	Frank Curtin
Erik Estrada	...	Machado
Juan Fernández	...	Captain Correa
Lupe Ontiveros	...	Pepita
León Singer	...	Julio Dominguez
Priscilla Pointer	...	Alice Ryan
Hattie Winston	...	Foster
Joseph Campanella	...	Walker Ryan (as Joe Campanella)
Jorge Luis Ramos	...	Asencio
Fernando Quinones	...	Fernando Quinones
Claribel Medina	...	Carla De Ruiz

Storyline

Porto Rico, 1978. The Antillian autonomous US Commonwealth is divided by supporters of becoming a full US member state and independence activists, including a violent wing the governor labels as terrorists. Divorced reporter Kate Melendez, widow of independista lawyer Juan, gets in personal danger when she stumbles on a dark set-up. Federal agent Jesus Fuentes officially infiltrated an operation to illegally broadcast a message on Constitution Day in which students Jorge Rey and Alfredo Ruiz are killed. He instigates kidnappings and murders, covered by powerful people. She's scared away, but the senate appoints a special investigator, Luis Angel Mora.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | gun | television reporter | parade | crying woman | 

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Taglines:

When a person murders, it's a crime. When a government murders, it's a cover-up.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Priscilla Pointer (Alice Ryan) is the real-life mother of Amy Irving (Kate Melendez).

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Goofs

When Carla De Ruiz is being interviewed by Kate Melendez, she refers to her husband as "Arnaldo" instead of "Alberto". (The character Alberto is based on Arnaldo Dario Rosado, who was murdered on Cerro Maravilla.) This error can't be seen on the "televised" interview.

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Quotes

Captain Correa: Chavez knows a lot of information that I need.
Kate Melendez: He was obviously afraid of how you were going to get it.
Captain Correa: This isn't Chile. This isn't Cuba. We're Americans. We operate under the American law.
Kate Melendez: So you gonna tell me the charges, then?
Captain Correa: Every citizen's duty is to support enforcement of the law.
Kate Melendez: What are the charges against me? Because I've got two kids at home, and you have no right holding me here.
Captain Correa: I don't like you, either. You think you know what's going on. But you don't know a damn thing.
Kate Melendez: You didn't ...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

UK video version is cut by 20s for a '15' rating.

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Soundtracks

Que Bonita Bandera
Written by Flor Morales Ramos

User Reviews

All-star cast, cheesy script

This movie was an attempt to portray actual events, but it fictionalized the story and the locales so much that it detracts from the movie. In addition is what I perceive as the pro-nationalist slant of the script.

All in all, the movie presents great examples of early work by Andy Garcia, Lou Diamond Phillips, Kevin Spacey and also has Robert Duvall.

If you can stand the inaccuracies, watch it for the cast of then future stars, and for Robert Duvall in a solid supporting role.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

11 May 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Show of Force

Filming Locations:

Puerto Rico

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$73,405, 13 May 1990

Gross USA:

$91,578

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$91,578

Company Credits

Production Co:

Forna Productions, Golden Harvest Company, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1