STEELE JUSTICE
US, 1987, 96 minutes, Colour.
Martin Kove, Sela Ward, Ronny Cox, Joseph Campanella.
Directed by Robert Boris.
Steele Justice was written and directed by Robert Boris (the comedy romance Oxford Blues). It looks like a screenplay for a typical Chuck Norris film. It opens with action in Vietnam, betrayal by Vietnamese, a hero who is skilled at martial arts, has a short temper, experiences injustice and tries to right the injustice back in California. The film also shows the ugly side of the Vietnam war: the Vietnamese Mafias who organised crime in California after the war. This is based on fact, many of the South Vietnamese generals and officials moving to the world of American crime. However, the film also shows the affection that grew between Americans and Vietnamese.
The cast is stronger than usual and is led by Martin Cove (best known for the villain in the Karate Kid films) as the hero. Sela Ward, Bernie Casey and Ronnie Cox head the supporting cast.
1. Action thriller? American crime? Americans and the Vietnam experience? Vietnamese in America? Gung-ho style?
2. The Vietnam War scenes? Stunts and special effects? California, the cities? Stunts, editing and pace? Musical score?
3. The title, the explanation at the end with Steele confronting the general? Gung-ho, law and order, individual righteousness and vigilance?
4. Steele, in Vietnam with Lee, the mission, the rats with the grenades, the betrayal by the general, by Harry? The confrontation, the mutual attempts at killing? His return to America, restless, his past police career, marriage with Tracy? Continued friendship with Lee? His work on the ranches, letting the horses go, arrests? The police chief and his wanting to use Steele? The murder of Lee's family, Lee's death? His presence in the house? Seeing the general's son? The violence at the funeral? In jail, the attempt on his life, his fighting back? His escape, using the black policeman? The pursuit of the general? Discussions with Harry? The build-up to the confrontation? The protection of Tracy and of Lee's daughter? The warehouse, the final confrontation, Harry's death, the death of the general? More at ease - with Tracy, Lee's daughter, the clash with the police chief?
5. The general, his role in Vietnam, the gold and his taking it to America? His philanthropy and the hospital? His drug ring? Using his son for violence? Henchmen, the association? Public figure, private violence? The confrontation with Steele, the end and the fight? His son, violence, and his death by the snake?
6. The police chief, against the drug lords? Pressuring Steele? His black assistant? Involvement, raids?
7. Harry, the Americans in Vietnam, in league with the general? The confrontation with Steele? Being paid by the general, destroying the truck? His death?
8. Tracy, love for Steele, the alienation, interactions with him? Being used as a hostage? Her filming? The reconciliation?
9. The Vietnamese family, their place in America, their daughter surviving, the pursuit by the gunman? At the television filming? The happy ending?
10. The violence in American society? The role of the police and law and order? The Vietnamese Mafia and their violence, pressures and instilling fear? The individual American hero?
