The Delta Force
The Delta Force | |
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Directed by | Menahem Golan |
Written by |
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Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | The Cannon Group |
Release date |
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Running time | 129 minutes |
Countries |
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Language | English[1] |
Budget | $9 million[2] |
Box office | $17.76 million (U.S.A.Collection) |
The Delta Force is a 1986 American
Plot
In 1980, Operation Eagle Claw is aborted after a fatal helicopter crash, with the U.S. Delta Force evacuating to their C-130 transports. Among them is Captain Scott McCoy, who, against orders, rescues his wounded comrade, Peterson, from the burning helicopter before the team finally evacuates. McCoy expresses his disgust for the politicians and the military hierarchy that forced the mission to launch despite the risks, and announces his resignation.
Five years later, in 1985 a group of
The flight departs for Algiers, where the terrorists release the female hostages and children. Meanwhile, Delta Force, led by Colonel Nick Alexander and a recalled-to-duty and newly promoted-to-Major McCoy are deployed to resolve the crisis. Once the female hostages are evacuated, they launch their assault, only to discover too late that there are additional hijackers on board. When the Delta Force blow their cover, Abdul kills a U.S. Navy Diver named Tom Hale. He then forces the pilots to return to Beirut and takes the remaining male passengers with him.
Upon returning to Beirut, the terrorists transport the passengers to a separate location, while the pilots and two male flight attendants remain in the 707. Working with a sympathetic
With the hostages and rescue teams secured, the team seizes Flight 282 by secretly infiltrating the airfield through a cotton plantation. Using silenced weapons, Alexander and the Delta team kill the terrorist guards and save the crew. They board the 707 with all of the hostages, taking off to Israel just as McCoy storms the runway on his motorcycle; managing to board after destroying several terrorist jeeps. On board, the team tends to the wounded passengers and the dying Peterson. After having confirmed the hostages are safe and en route home, Peterson says his farewells to McCoy before succumbing to his wounds. In the main cabin the ex-hostages and Delta commandos join in a rousing rendition of "America The Beautiful", not knowing about Peterson's death, except for Alexander, Bobby, McCoy, and O'Malley. In Israel, the Boeing 707 lands safely and the hostages are greeted by their families, while Delta Force disembarks with Peterson's body in tow to their C-130. The team concludes their operation and departs for the United States amidst celebrations by the people.
Cast
- Chuck Norris as Major Scott McCoy, the deputy commander of the Delta Force unit.
- Lee Marvin as Colonel Nick Alexander, the commander of the Delta Force unit.
- Robert Vaughn as General Woodbridge, US general, Army Chief of Staff.
- Steve James as Bobby, a member of the Delta Force unit and a friend of Scott.
- William Wallace as Pete Peterson, a member of the unit who dies near the end of the film.
- Jerry Weinstock as Dr. Jack, the military doctor of the unit.
- Shaike Ophir as Father Nicholas, a Greek-Orthodox hieromonk who provides intelligence to the Israelis.
- Liam Neeson as Delta Force member (uncredited extra)[5]
- Mykelti Williamson as Delta Force member (uncredited extra)
- Kevin Dillon as Delta Force member (uncredited extra)
- Robert Forster as Abdul Rafai, the leader of the terrorist group.
- David Menahem as Mustafa, member of the terrorist group.
- Avi Loziah as Jaffar, another member of the terrorist group.
- Uri Gavriel as Jamil Rafai, commander of the military terrorist group and Abdul's brother.
- Adiv Gahshan as Salim, member of the military terrorist group.
- Bo Svenson as Captain Roger Campbell
- Hanna Schygulla as Flight purser Ingrid Harding
- Martin Balsam as Ben Kaplan
- Shelley Winters as Edie Kaplan
- Joey Bishop as Harry Goldman
- Lainie Kazan as Sylvia Goldman
- George Kennedy as Father William O'Malley
- Kim Delaney as Sister Mary
- Chelli Goldenberg as Tina
- Charles Floye as U.S. Navy Diver Tom Hale
- Howard Jackson as Ed
- Jerry Lazarus as Robert Levine
- Susan Strasberg as Debra Levine
- Natalie Roth as Ellen Levine
Production
Development
In 1985, it was announced that The Delta Force would be made with Chuck Norris and Charles Bronson co-starring and Joseph Zito directing.[6] The budget was to be $12 million.[7]
"We look at Chuck as having the potential of a Clint Eastwood," said Menahem Golan. "His acting talent is getting better. He's in the right style, and he's very popular."[8]
In response to the hijacking of TWA flight 847, Norris said the United States is becoming a "paper tiger" in the Middle East. "What we're facing here is the fact that our passive approach to terrorism is going to instigate much more terrorism throughout the world," he said, adding, "I would have sent the Delta Force immediately."[9]
"I've been all over the world, and seeing the devastation that terrorism has done in Europe and the Middle East, I know eventually it's going to come here," added Norris. "It's just a matter of time. They're doing all this devastation in Europe now, and the next stepping stone is America and Canada. Being a free country, with the freedom of movement that we have, it's an open door policy for terrorism. It's like Khadafy said a few weeks ago. 'If Reagan doesn't back off, I'm going to release my killer squads in America.' And there's no doubt in my mind that he has them."[8]
Bronson dropped out of the film due to his commitment to a project named Act of Vengeance (1986). August 1, 1985 ,Lee Marvin signed on as Bronson replacement. Also producer Menahem Golan replaced Zito for directorial duties.[6] Marvin said the film "shows the American audience a larger view of terrorism than they're used to seeing on the small screen and the news. There you see a plane at the end of the runway. But what's it like to be on a plane as the facilities deterioriate? It's bad enough on a seven-hour flight - imagine what the bathrooms are like after three or four days."[10]
Norris' fee was a reported $2 million.[11]
"It is the first time that Chuck works with an ensemble of first-class actors," said Golan.[12]
Before the film came out Cannon signed a seven-picture contract with Norris.[13]
Filming
Filming started in October 1985. The Delta Force was entirely shot in
Vehicles
The
The Boeing 707-139(B) with the registration N778PA, was operated by several airlines including
The 1985 Suzuki SP600 motorcycle used by Chuck Norris was designed by Suzuki specifically for the film. After modifying it and adding the weaponry, Suzuki America gave the bike to Golan-Globus production in Israel prior to filming.
Historical resemblances
The film, although fiction, draws inspiration from two real-life events; the flight 847 hijacking and
TWA Flight 847
- The hijacked TWA 847took off from Athens on 14 June 1985; the film's ATW likewise departed Athens, on 19 July 1985.
- The movie airline, American Travelways Airlines, is abbreviated as ATW, an anagram of Trans World Airlines. While the plane used is a Boeing 707, TWA used a Boeing 727 for flight 847.
- Both airlines originated from Cairo, with stops in Athens and Rome. Unlike TWA 847 which has two more stopovers in Boston and Los Angeles before ending in San Diego, the film's flight terminates in New York.
- Two terrorists hijack the flight; the third is arrested in Athens in both real-life and film.
- The flight is managed by a German American flight purser, who is forced by the hijackers to segregate Jewish passengers from the non-Jews by identifying them through collected passports. Real-life flight attendant Uli Derickson, who was the purser of TWA Flight 847, served as the basis for Ingrid Harding, the film's purser.
- Three U.S. Navy members are onboard the flight and are held hostage; one is shot and dumped off the plane into the tarmac. While this incident happened at night in both real-life and film, the latter depicts the setting as Algiers as opposed to Beirut in the former.
- Additional henchmen board the plane along with the released hijacker.
- Women and children are released; among them is a pregnant passenger.
Operation Entebbe
- The hostage rescue scene when the commandos raid the terrorist quarters
- A pregnant woman is on the flight. Unlike flight 847, this passenger is the first to be released after pretending to either go into labor or suffer miscarriage.
- A single casualty among the rescuers, near the end of the operation.
Music
The soundtrack album was initially released by Enigma Records, and later by Milan Records (minus "The Rescue") on an album paired with Jerry Goldsmith's King Solomon's Mines; in 2008 Intrada Records issued a limited edition CD with the entire score. Quartet Records released a two-disc set in 2013 featuring the Intrada album programme on disc one and the Enigma album listing on disc two; all are now out of production.
Reception
Box office
The Delta Force opened in 1,720 theaters and debuted as #3 in the box office losing to The Color Purple and Down and Out in Beverly Hills; it beat A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge and Youngblood.[16] The Delta Force earned $5,959,505 on its opening weekend and had a total gross of $17,768,900 in the United States.[2][17] The film was released on DVD on September 28, 2000.[18] The Delta Force has been released on Blu-ray in the US, and more recently in the UK by video label Arrow Films.[19]
Critical response
"I felt better after that film was made," said Norris. "I did, I swear to God. I think it's a way for other people to release their tensions. I think it's good therapy.[27]
Other media
Sequels
Marvin did publicity for the film, which was rare for him. He said the movie was "a good flick" and admitted "but I guess I might be protecting myself, keeping the doors open" with Cannon. "There aren't too many firm film offers these days that guarantee money up front." Marvin was considering doing a sequel where Delta Force would rescue hostages after a terrorist skyjacking of a luxury liner.[28]
Cannon announced they would make a TV series.[29] This did not eventuate. However the film led to two sequels; Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection in 1990 and Delta Force 3: The Killing Game in 1991.
Novelization
A novelization based on the film by Joel Norst titled The Delta Force, was released in 1986. [ISBN missing]
See also
References
- ^ a b "The Delta Force". American Film Institute. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ a b c Andrew 1987, p. 189.
- Time Warner). Retrieved March 2, 2016.
- ^ Chicago Sun Times. Chicago: Sun-Times Media Group. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ "Looking Back At THE DELTA FORCE - Warped Factor - Words in the Key of Geek".
- ^ a b "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
- ^ ATTENBOROUGH PLANS FILM ON SOUTH AFRICAN ACTIVIST Ryan, Desmond. Philadelphia Inquirer 2 June 1985: I.2.
- ^ a b Action star Chuck Norris an intelligent Rambo: [FIN Edition] Ron Base Toronto Star. Toronto Star 11 Feb 1986: F4.
- ^ CAROL LAWRENCE JOINS A `NEW CAST': [SUN-SENTINEL Edition] Sun Sentinel 5 July 1985: 2.A.
- ^ LEE MARVIN, A MAN OF MARVELOUS LEGEND Ryan, Desmond. Philadelphia Inquirer 22 Feb 1986: C.1.
- ^ CHUCK NORRIS -- STRONG, SILENT AND POPULAR KLEMESRUD, JUDY. New York Times 1 Sep 1985: A.14.
- ^ Moviemakeing moxie helps Golan reach the heights SALEM ALATON. The Globe and Mail; Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]13 Feb 1986: C.8.
- ^ CHUCK NORRIS SIGNS SEVEN-YEAR PACT: [THIRD Edition] Boston Globe 14 Feb 1986: 44.
- The Associated Press. September 29, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
- ^ "Lost and Found in Israeli Footage, Gil Z. Hochberg — Kamal Aljafari". kamalaljafari.art. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
- Tronc Inc. February 20, 1986. Archived from the originalon June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
- Amazon.com. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ "Delta Force, The". IGN. March 8, 2001. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ Harley, Joe (May 1, 2014). "Blu-ray Review: THE DELTA FORCE (1986)". Starburst. United Kingdom: Starburst Magazine Limited. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ "The Delta Force (1986)". Rotten Tomatoes. United States: Fandango. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (February 14, 1986). "SCREEN:DELTA FORCE". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "The Delta Force". Variety. United States: Penske Media Corporation. 1986. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Thomas, Kevin (February 14, 1986). "Movie Reviews : Norris Can't Rescue 'The Delta Force'". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ Siskel, Gene (February 14, 1986). "'Delta Force' creates terror: Wasted actors, wasted topic". Chicago Tribune. Section 7, Page F.
- ^ Attanasio, Paul (February 14, 1986). "Hijack Chutzpah". The Washington Post. D3.
- ^ Chuck Norris: A Hero Hazards Comedy: [ALL EDITIONS] By Mike McGrady. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]30 Nov 1986: 09.
- ^ LEE MARVIN: THE 'FORCE' IS WITH HIM Beck, Marilyn. Philadelphia Daily News ]11 Feb 1986: 45.
- ^ FOR CANNON FILMS, A MOVE INTO TELEVISION-SERIES LAND Ryan, Desmond. Philadelphia Inquirer; Philadelphia, Pa. [Philadelphia, Pa]06 Apr 1986: I.1.
Sources
- Andrew, Yule (1987). Hollywood a Go-Go: The True Story of the Cannon Film Empire. ISBN 978-0722193891.