LONE WOLF McQUADE

US, 1983, 105 minutes, Colour.
Chuck Norris, David Carradine, Barbara Carrera, Leon Isaac Kennedy, L.Q. Jones, R.G. Armstrong.
Directed by Steve Carver.

Lone Wolf Mc Quade is an interesting and often exciting police story with a martial arts touch. It is a star vehicle for martial arts champion Chuck Norris (An Eye for an Eye, Silent Rage, The Octagon, A Force of One). He has a very strong supporting star cast.

The film is a contemporary western, set in El Paso with the Texas Rangers. It involves border patrols, drug dealings and police and big business Mafia types. There are plenty of action sequences, with Norris exercising his martial arts skills against villain, ex-Kung Fu star, David Carradine. The director of the film, Steve Carver, directed Norris in An Eye for an Eye.

1. An interesting and exciting police story? Action thriller? Contemporary western?

2. Location photography, the atmosphere of Texas, the city and the open spaces? The traditions of the West? The new cowboys, the new villains? Colour photography? Editing for fight sequences and action sequences? Stunt work? Special effects? musical score?

3. The title and its focus on Mc Quade as a loner, lone wolf? Texas Ranger? Indication of themes ? good and evil, crime and the police, the loner hero conquering evil?

4. Chuck Norris and his presence, martial arts skills? How well integrated into the plot? His work as a Texas Ranger? The modern cowboy and the gang of horse-rustlers? The execution of the State Police patrol? The contrast with city life, ceremony for Dakota? Captain Tyler and his criticisms? The comment on the lone wolf style? His partner Kago? His relationship with Molly, his love for his daughter? Meeting with Lola? Rawley Wilkes? The martial arts challenge? Sally's injury and the death of her boyfriend Bobby? The hijacking of the army convoy? McQuade? and Kayo with the F.B.I., Marcus Jackson? Kayo's skill and McQuade's admiration? The taking of Snow? Falcon? The gunrunners? The involvement of Rawley Wilkes? Lola's relationship with McQuade? The authorities and his suspension? Jackson's use of McQuade?, the airstrip, the weapons? The assault on the base? Wilkes holding Sally in Mexico? The unofficial posse? The combat between McQuade? and Wilkes? The death of Lola? Wilkes' death? The getaway? A typical police western hero?

5. The range of action: the horse rustlers, Wilkes and his hijacking of the weapons, the gunrunning, the Mexican Mafia, the F.B.I.? The assault on the base?

6. Lola as the femme fatale? Relationship with Wilkes? With McQuade? The confrontation with Wilkes?

7. The sketch of the various police: Marcus Jackson, the black F.B.1. man, Kayo and his background, skills? Dakota and his experience? Captain Tyler and his authority? The role of the Texas Rangers?

8. The sketch of Molly and her relationship with McQuade?, the reason for their breaking off? McQuade's love for his daughter? Her injury and being kidnapped by Wilkes?

9. The familiar themes from American films and television of police action, criminals? This film as typical American adventure action?