MISSING IN ACTION
US, 1984, 101 minutes, Colour.
Chuck Norris, M. Emmett Walsh.
Directed by Joseph Zito.
The Missing in Action films focus on the exploits of Colonel James Braddock. He is played by martial arts champion Chuck Norris - so the films are really Chuck Norris action adventures.
Norris built up a reputation in the late '70s as a champion turned actor. While his acting style is minimal, his screen
presence has been strong enough for a series of hit films. By the mid-80s he was something of a popular folk-hero on screen.
These films also fit into the concern by Reagan's America for prisoners of war missing in action in Vietnam. Ted Kotcheff made First Blood and Uncommon Valor, focusing on returned soldiers or exploits to free prisoners of war. First Blood had a sequel - Rambo and Rambo, in the person of Sylvester Stallone, became the personification of the militaristic hero righting the wrongs of American defeat. Battle Rage and Missing in Action are derivatives of Uncommon Valor and the First Blood, Rambo films. Produced by Cannon Films, they have small budgets, Philippine and Mexican settings, elementary staging of action sequences - but, for a popular audience, have pace and movement which keeps the audience involved.
There is some criticism of these films for their raising hopes about prisoners of war, for families distressed about the loss of family members. There was much discussion, in the context of Rambo, about the rights and wrongs of such films. Nevertheless, they were immensely popular in the United States during the mid-'80s.
1. A Vietnam action film? Chuck Norris vehicle? Focus on American society in the '80s? missing in action? The aftermath of the Vietnam war? The prisoners
2. Philippine locations for Vietnam? The contrast between America and Vietnam, the jungle sequences, the river, the prisoner of war camp?
3. The title and its focus? James Braddock and his experience in the camps? His escape? Attitudes towards the Vietnamese authorities? Concern about the prisoners of war? The bases in fact for assertions about prisoners? The attempts during the '80s to rescue prisoners of war?
4. The focus on James Braddock, his experience in the war, in prison, his escape? The aftermath of the imprisonment? His campaigning on behalf of the service men? The American investigatory committee? The encounter with the Vietnamese and the clash with General Iraan? The perjury and the discrediting of Braddock? His commando tactics to get at Iraan? The information about the MIAs? His going to Bangkok, the friendship with Tuck, Tuck and his smuggling, the rescue attempt? The assassination attempts? Colonel Vinh and his attack? The fight with Vinh? The arrival on the coast? The camp, the prisoners missing, the pursuit? The convoy? The battle, Tuck's death., the helicopter - and the retrieval of the prisoners? The prisoners confronting the American visitors and the Vietnamese authorities? Braddock's relationship with the American authorities? His vindication?
5. Tuck as friend, smuggler?
6. His gruff style? Friendship with Braddock, going up the river? Involvement in the attack? Strategies? The pursuit on the raft? His giving his life?
7. The portrayal of the American authorities, their scepticism, intrigues in government circles?
8. The Vietnamese officials, face-saving devices, brutality, their being exposed?
9. The presentation of the American prisoners of war, their plight, audience concern, the escape?
10. The film's focus on the status of America in the 80s, the experience of the Vietnam war, the defeat, the prisoners? A vindication of American might through action films?
