Fighting Back (1982 American film)
Fighting Back | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Lewis Teague |
Screenplay by | Thomas Hedley Jr. David Zelag Goodman |
Produced by | Perm Presentations |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Franco Di Giacomo |
Edited by | Nicholas C. Smith |
Music by | Piero Piccioni |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 98 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $9 million[1] |
Box office | $6.4 million (rentals)[2] |
Fighting Back (UK title: Death Vengeance)
Plot
The film opens with
John decides to make a stand, organizing a neighborhood patrol of regular citizens who are also fed up with the crime in their neighborhood. They call themselves The People's Neighborhood Patrol (PNP). They have their own uniforms of blue hats and vests that have a PNP logo on them, headquarters to take phone calls, and vehicles containing the PNP logo and led by John and his best friend Vince Morelli, a police officer. After D'Angelo's house is burglarized and their dog is killed, the film cuts to the reporters' studio footage of
. With Vince's help, the police allow the PNP to patrol the neighborhood. However, the PNP seems to operate with no regard for the law and does what it wants. To make their first stand and to introduce themselves to the neighborhood, the group goes to a dirty bar in town known for being a hot spot for criminals, including Eldorado and his men. John casually walks into the bar with the rest of the PNP behind him. John confronts the bartender (Allan Graf) to try to get answers as to who is responsible for mugging his mother. Things turn violent when the bartender laughs in John's face, triggering an all-out brawl, but the PNP comes out on top.John and the PNP start gaining media attention, and the neighborhood starts to rally behind the PNP. The group starts taking out various street criminals. The PNP operates above the law. John does what he wants, and his actions are seen as
With widespread media attention, John decides to run for councilman in the upcoming election. Just when things are looking good for the city, tragedy strikes when Vince is gunned down and killed at the hands of Eldorado and his men. In retaliation, John organizes a large-scale attack on the park where Vince was killed. All members of the PNP head to the park, where they demand for everyone in the park to clear out. When their demands are ignored, the PNP takes action and starts to clear out the park by brute force. A large brawl soon erupts, and police arrive on the scene not long afterward. John spots Eldorado and chases after him; during the chase, John is tackled and arrested by police. Eldorado manages to get away.
Meeting with the Police Commissioner, John is informed where Eldorado is, the Commissioner sardonically explaining that John can understand that at the moment the police are "too busy" to arrest Eldorado and in effect inviting John to assassinate Eldorado. When John explains he does not know how to thank him, the Commissioner says "oh yes, he does" and explains that his job is based on working with people and paying and collecting favors and that John is going to owe him some big favors when he is elected.
Essentially having permission from the Commissioner to take out Eldorado, John waits patiently on the roof above Eldorado's vehicle. When Eldorado and his men enter the car, John drops a grenade through the vehicle's roof. The grenade explodes, killing everyone inside the car.
John ends up winning the election, and a large celebration with family and friends takes place inside his deli. The PNP has cleaned up the neighborhood, and crime is no more. The final scene shows children playing in the same park that was once occupied by criminals.
Cast
- Tom Skerritt as John D'Angelo
- Patti LuPone as Lisa D'Angelo
- Michael Sarrazin as Vince Morelli
- Yaphet Kotto as Ivanhoe Washington
- David Rasche as Michael Taylor
- Lewis Van Bergen as Laz Burkofsky
- Earle Hyman as Police Officer
- Ted Ross as Police Commissioner
- Frank Sivero as Frank Russo
- Pat Cooper as Harry Janelli
- Paul Rawson as Jim
- Gina DeAngelis as Vera D'Angelo
- Allan Graf as Carl-The Bartender
- Donna de Varona as Sara Rogers
- Jonathan Adam Sherman as Danny D'Angelo
- Pete Richardson as Eldorado
- Joseph Rangno as Mike Pelyk
- Sal Richards as Bill Gallo
- Jim Moody as Lester Baldwin
- Maurie Fields as Police Sergeant
Production
Fighting Back was mostly filmed in and around the Kensington section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[16]
Reception
Opening the weekend of May 23, 1982, Fighting Back grossed $1,624,381 at the US box office. The film went on to gross $3,355,948 in the United States and Canada.
Critical response
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives Fighting Back a score of 20% based on reviews from 5 critics and a rating average of 4.5 out of 10.[18]
Richard F. Shepard of
Critic Gary Arnold of
Release
Fighting Back was released in theatres on May 21, 1982. The film was released on VHS in the United Kingdom.[21]
References
- ^ De Laurentiis PRODUCER'S PICTURE DARKENS: KNOEDELSEDER, WILLIAM K, Jr. Los Angeles Times 30 Aug 1987: 1.
- ^ a b De Laurentiis PRODUCER'S PICTURE DARKENS: [Home Edition] KNOEDELSEDER, WILLIAM K, Jr. Los Angeles Times 30 Aug 1987: 1.
- ^ Talbot 2006, p. 37.
- ^ "Fighting Back". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "Tom Skerritt". Hollywood.com. Boca Raton, Florida: Hollywood.com, LLC. 28 August 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "Patti luPone". NNDB. Mountain View, California: Soylent Communications. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "Michael Sarrazin". Hollywood.com. Boca Raton, Florida: Hollywood.com, LLC. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "Michael Sarrazin". NNDB. Mountain View, California: Soylent Communications. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- TIFF Bell Lightbox. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "Yaphet Kotto". NNDB. Mountain View, California: Soylent Communications. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "David Rasche". NNDB. Mountain View, California: Soylent Communications. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "Lewis Van Bergen". Hollywood.com. Boca Raton, Florida: Hollywood.com, LLC. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "Earle Hyman". Hollywood.com. Boca Raton, Florida: Hollywood.com, LLC. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- TIFF Bell Lightbox. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "Ted Ross". NNDB. Mountain View, California: Soylent Communications. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ Frankford Gazette Staff (July 5, 2009). "1981 Movie "Fighting Back" Filmed In And Around Frankford". Frankford Gazette. Frankford: Keep the Faith Ministry. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- Amazon.com. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "Fighting Back". Rotten Tomatoes. United States: Fandango. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ Shepard, Richard F. (May 22, 1982). "FIGHTING BACK". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ Arnold, Gary (May 26, 1982). "Motley 'Fighting Back'". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Nash Holdings LLC. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ASIN B001GD3DDG. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
Sources
- Talbot, Paul (2006). Bronson's Loose!: The Making of the Death Wish Films. ISBN 978-0595379828.
External links
- Fighting Back at IMDb