LET'S GET HARRY

US, 1987, 107 minutes, Colour.
Robert Duvall, Gary Busey, Michael Schoeffling, Matt Clark, Ben Johnson, Rick Rossovich, Mark Harmon.
Directed by Alan Smithee.

Let's Get Harry seems like a film version of a war game in a soldier of fortune magazine. Opening in Colombia, it shows terrorists abducting Americans. The scene shifts to Aurora, Illinois, where the family of one of the Americans is angry and the young men decide to get the help of a mercenary and go down and rescue him. It seems like a foolhardy idea - and much of the film shows that this is the case - as well as being illegal. However, gung-ho prevails and they actually rescue him and get him home.

Robert Duvall (shaved head, with a beard) snarls and leads the young men as the expert mercenary. Gary Busey is a wealthy hunter who goes on the trip. There is a violent atmosphere about the film - and that strong militaristic, gung-ho American pride.

1.A piece of Americana? Relationship with Latin America, terrorism, drugs? Mercenaries and American rescue invasions?

2.The Colombia settings, the contrast with Aurora, Illinois? The ordinary and the extraordinary? Action, stunts? Musical score?

3.The macho perspective, the war games? The law? How possible was the plot, how plausible?

4.The violence, the action? Pros and cons?

5.Harry and his job, the American experts, helping the Colombians? The ambassador? The attack, the capture, in prison, the torture? Harry almost executed? Negotiations?

6.The four young men, their work, talk amongst themselves, the pressure of the father on Harry's brother, the Christmas celebration, the decision to go - the interview with the would-be mercenaries (and their violent nuttiness)?

7.Shrike and his arrival, appearance, explanation, the deal? Making things clear? The Florida training? His expertise? Going to Colombia, in the city, his martial arts techniques to rescue the two young men? His contacts, the arms dealer, discussion? Betrayal and arrest? Interrogation and torture? The attack, the embassy official, onto the plane, their discussion, most getting out? The return to Alfonso, the deal, finding the girl, her guidance to the prison camp? The fight - and Shrike's being shot?

8.The four men, their style? Their debt to Harry? The plan, Shrike, the training? Going to Colombia, wandering the city, the street gangs, their inexperience? Arrest and torture? The plane, the married man staying on the plane? The others getting off, courage and fear? Finding the girl, not torturing her? The fight and Shrike's death? Going it alone, the attack on the camp, their skills, massacring the enemy? Possible? The rescue and return?

9.Jack Abernathy, his money, hunting, macho, enthusiasm, going, in the adventures, torturing the girl - and apologising?

10.The kidnappers, their reasons, their style, Colombian background, drugs? The gun dealers and their double deals? Government officials?

11.The American embassy official? The double talk? Trying to get the men out?

12.Enjoyable action adventure - of the gung-ho, macho American style?