DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR
US, 1987, 91 minutes, Colour.
Fred Dryer, Brian Keith, Paul Winfield, Joanna Pacula.
Directed by Terry Leonard.
Death Before Dishonor is an extremely gung-ho American actioner. It was a U.S.-Israeli collaboration and co-production. Many of the stars are American - Fred Dyer is an uncharismatic hero. However, Brian Keith has the opportunity to do a John Wayne as a tough marine. Joanna Pacula (Gorky Park) is the ambiguous heroine.
The film takes up themes of tension in the Middle East, the attacks by Arabs on American Marines in Beirut, and weaves a straightforward story of espionage and action. The approach is simplistic, supports the Americans and the Israelis, is anti-Arab. It fits into the mood of Reagan's America (and the bombing of Libya) in the mid-'80s - and with such films as Iron Eagle, Top Gun, White Nights.
1. The impact of this American gung-ho adventure? In the John Wayne tradition - with his picture on the wall? The tradition of the Marines?
2. The background of Middle East troubles in the '80s, based on factual events? Interpretation? War, espionage, resistance?
3. The film's pro-U.S. stances, pro-Israel, anti-Arab? The audience and the invitation of the film to a hard line response rather than reconciliation?
4. Locations, atmosphere? The musical score (by Brian May) and the weaving in of traditional Marine songs and themes?
5. The opening with the Marines and their training, bonds and initiation into the group, the Gunny and his hold over his troops? Personal loyalty? Their involvement in the Middle East? The young men and torture, courage and death, obedience, sentimental attachment? Traditional American heroism?
6. Burns: tough hero, training, his relationship with his men, the Middle East situation, tough stances with the ambassador, his friendship with Halloran, the encounters with Elli and his suspicions of her? The ambush, the capture, interrogation? Gung-ho attacks? Enmity? His leadership and 'my boys'? The attack and its failure, deaths? Meeting the Moussad? The final battle - and the triumphant car chase - and his emerging unhurt?
7. Halloran and his experience, a veteran, in the Middle East, his chauffeur and turning against him? His being taken, tough, torture, the death of the young Marine, his hand being drilled? The rescue and his participation in the action?
8. The Israelis and the deaths? Counter-terrorism?
9. The Arab terrorists, their cause, the camp, European terrorists and their madness, (stereotyped in brutality)? The murder of the Israeli family in Cyprus? The capture of the American Marines, interrogation, torture, drilling of the hand? Photography, propaganda? The use of Elli? The Arab leader and his control? The suicide drive into the embassy? The escape from the hideout, the final attack? The Two European terrorists? People dying for causes? their deaths? Spectacular ending to the terrorism?
10. Elli, her photos, mysterious presence, her story about liaisons in Holland and her being caught out, prison, the end?
11. The Americans, the ambassador and his stances, negotiations, the marines, the young marine and his seeming to succumb and then killing his interrogator? Bombings, the attack on the embassy?
12. The picture of the Arabs - their cause, their terrorism?
13. The Israelis, the Mossad and tactics?
14. Action adventure? To what purpose?
