CODE OF SILENCE

US, 1985, 96 minutes, Colour.
Chuck Norris, Henry Silva, Bert Remsen.
Directed by Andrew Davis.

Code of Silence is a tough Chuck Norris police actioner. It was written by Michael Butler and Dennis Shryack, writers of some Clint Eastwood films including Pale Rider. However, this film is more straightforward, lacking the subtlety of the Eastwood films.

Code of Silence relies on the presence and image of Chuck Norris. The former martial arts champion has made a succession of action films very popular at the box office. He is in the line of Clint Eastwood's laconic heroes as well as Sylvester Stallone's Rambo-like warriors.

Code of Silence, set in Chicago, focuses on police and the drug trade. There is consideration of the importing of drugs from Colombia by families. Henry Silva, perennial villain of '70s and '80s films, is the main villain here. There are the expected confrontations, corrupt police, cover-ups. stranded heroine to be rescued ... The finale has Norris using a computerised tank, The Prowler, to confront his enemies in the warehouse. One critic said that he got the aid of something which was on an emotional par with himself. This is probably unfair - but indicates the type of action film that Norris appears in.

1. Interesting and entertaining police story? Contemporary problems? Chuck Norris vehicle?

2. Chicago locations, the city, poverty and wealth, the drug culture in the city, the police precincts, the wealthy homes and yachts, the warehouses? Editing and pace? Action sequences and stunts? The use of The Prowler and its technology for the final confrontation? Rousing musical score?

3. The title and its reference to police solidarity, to the solidarity within the families in the Mafia tradition?

4. Chuck Norris's screen presence and image? Eddie Cusack and his role on the Chicago Police? His co-ordinating attacks? The failure of the attack? Cusack's own prowess and heroics? The confrontation with the Comacho family? The pursuit of Tony Luna? The discovery of Luna's daughter and his trying to save her, her hiding out with him, her being taken? His need to rescue her? Emotional involvement? The confrontation with Felix Scalese, his yacht, the confrontation, Scalese's death? The problems in the police force, the Commander and his suspicions, Cragie and the murder, the planting of the gun, Kopalas and his seeing it? Kopalas and his work with Cusack? The chase and the death of Scalese? The confrontation with Luis Comacho? The Prowler? The rescue of Diana? The 180s tough American hero on the side of right and justice?

5. The drug culture in cities like Chicago? The wealthy familles? Cocaine dealers, contacts, couriers? Gangster gangs? The opening confrontation with the Comachos threatened by the rival gang? The stealing of the drugs? The Colombia connect-ions? Reprisals? Murders and kidnapping? The involvement of businessmen? People in fear, hiding? The build-up to the confrontation with the police?

6. The picture of the police, having to cope with gangsters and cocaine dealers? Brutal methods? Callous morality? The rival gangs? The operations and their strategies, execution? Things going wrong? The cover-ups for police ineptitude? The planting or guns? Cragie and his keeping face, the pressure of Kopalas, the support of his fellow police? Their criticisms of Cusack? The fear of Kopalas, his helping Cusack, telling the truth? The turning against Cragie? Police solidarity, the pressures in their work?

7. Luis Comacho and his family, sinister-, his masterminding the reprisals? Tony Luna as gangster, flight? Luna's Uncle Felix and the pressures on him? The car chase and the crash with the death of Luna and Scalese? The final confrontation with Luis Comacho?

8. Diana as heroine, her belonging to a gangster, her parents, the wealthy home? Her not believing the truth? In a safe house with Cusack? Her being kidnapped? Rescued?

9. The expected blend of toughness, action, the triumph of right?