WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE

US, 1986, 104 minutes, Colour.
Rutger Hauer, Gene Simmons, Robert Guillaume, William Russ, Mel Harris.
Directed by Gary Sherman.

Wanted: Dead or Alive is a contemporary thriller about terrorism from the Middle East in the U.S. Rutger Hauer portrays Nick Randall, a descendant of the Steve Mc Queen character in the television series Wanted: Dead or Alive. Parallels are made between the American frontier and the American city of the 1980s. Gene Simmons of 'Kiss', portrays the ruthless terrorist. The film also presents American police and the FBI in dubious light.

The film focuses on the character of Randall, his past grudges, the confrontation with the terrorist, his bonds with his friends, antagonism towards authorities? There are scenes of terrorist violence as well as a final confrontation - especially the violent ending as Hauer kills Simmons despite the promise of a bonus.

1. American thriller? The bounty hunter? The terrorists? The point being, made about terrorism in the '80s?

2. Los Angeles settings, the world of Randall, the world of the terrorists? Special effects for explosions, confrontations? Stunt work? Musical score?

3. The title, the reference to the television series, the connection?

4. The portrait of Nick Randall: a loner, his past, the Middle East, commissions and death? His relationship with his girlfriend? Tenderness? The contact with his detective friend? The officials, the black official and friendship? Being drawn into the investigation? Working at his own time and pace, being set up by the FBI? His leads, the car chases, shootings?
Deaths? His getting closer to the terrorist? Finding out his own information, a step ahead of the authorities? The bombing of the boat and his not being dead - and the grief about his friend and girlfriend? Following the leads, finding the terrorist, the chase and pursuit, the capture? His finally killing him?

5. The portrait of terrorism: the terrorist entering the United States, disguised as a rabbi, the contacts? Deaths? The set-up, the bombing of the cinema (showing Rambo)? Claiming responsibility? Further deaths, covering his tracks, the girl and the contacts? Supplying explosives? Tile plan? The past with Randall? Catching up, the confrontation, the fight, his being killed?

6. The black policeman and h-is friendship with Randall, not double-crossing him, knowing about his survival? Getting supplies? Vindication?

7. Lipton and the officials, setting him up, their ruthlessness, methods? Police investigations, chases?

8. Danny and his friendship, their talks, the girlfriend and the bond, their being on the yacht, the explosion?

9. American action show? Violence in contemporary society? Terrorists? The role of the law? The role of the bounty hunter?