Legionnaire (1998)

Alain is a boxer in 1925 Marseille, France. When he doesn't take the dive paid to take by a mob boss, he has to split. He joins the Foreign Legion and is sent to Morocco. He makes 3 friends and they watch each other's backs.

Director:

Peter MacDonald

Writers:

Sheldon Lettich (story), Jean-Claude Van Damme (story)

Stars:

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Steven Berkoff

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Alain Lefevre
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje	...	Luther
Steven Berkoff	...	Sgt. Steinkampf
Nicholas Farrell	...	Mackintosh
Jim Carter	...	Lucien Galgani
Ana Sofrenovic	...	Katrina
Daniel Caltagirone	...	Guido Rosetti
Joseph Long	...	Maxim
Mario Kalli	...	René Galgano
Joe Montana	...	Julot
Kim Rømer	...	Capt. Rousselot
Anders Peter Bro	...	Lt. Charlier
Paul Kynman	...	Rolf Bruner
Vincent Pickering	...	Viktor
Takis Triggelis	...	Cpl. Metz

Storyline

Alain Lefevre is a boxer paid by a Marseille mobster to take a dive. When he wins the fight he attempts to flee to America with the mobster's girlfriend Katrina. This plan fails and he seeks escape by joining the foreign legion. As part of the legion he tangles with abusive lieutenant Steinkampf and bonds with legionnaires Luther, Mackintosh and Rosetti. The mobster discovers his whereabouts and enrolls two hit men to finish him off. With their fort under siege and enemies within, Lefevre finds that second chances are difficult to come by in the Legion.

---

Plot Keywords:

one word title | male rear nudity | shower room | shared shower | group shower | 

---

Taglines:

From The Producer Of The Crow And The Director Of Rambo III

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for battle violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter MacDonald replaced Sheldon Lettich as director shortly before production commenced.

---

Goofs

Lefevre is photographed for the machine gun demonstration against his will, thus leading to his discovery. One of the few guarantees afforded legionnaires is anonymity, and it is specifically forbidden for a legionnaire to be photographed without explicit permission.

---

Quotes

Alain Lefevre: It's good to see an old face. Even as ugly as yours.
Viktor: [smirks] Still a comedian.

---

Connections

Version of March or Die (1977)

---

Soundtracks

Parlez-moi d'Amour
Music by Jean Lenoir
Lyrics by Jean Lenoir

User Reviews

Certainly different, and uniquely done!

I bought the DVD off the sales rack at Wal-Mart, thinking I could pawn it off after once viewing it. . . .not expecting much of it, even though I am a fan of Van Damme. BUT, it surprised me as Van Damme expresses his DRAMATIC skills! Not his usuall puncher-kicker film, he tells the story of how it is for a legionnaire watching people he knows being picked off one-by-one in the heated Hell of war! Although it's not a true story, it IS, however, true to the way it is with any heartfull man who joins the Foreign Legion and gets caught up in such Hellish realities of hatred in combat. Leaving behind all he's ever known & felt comfortable with and fighting for a whole different cause, and finding out later the trespasses that happen which can result in hatred. You can feel the loneliness he felt as the Arabs ride away & he's the only one left standing there in the death, rubble, and smoke of what was his fort in Northern Africa. Certainly a welcomed change from Van Damme's usuall martial arts mayhem. It's a keeper!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 1998 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Legionnaire

Filming Locations:

Atlas Corporation Studios, Ouarzazate, Morocco

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Long Road Productions, Pressman Film, Quadra Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1