AN EYE FOR AN EYE

US, 1981, 106 minutes, Colour.
Chuck Norris, Christopher Lee, Richard Roundtree, Matt Clark, Mako.
Directed by Steve Carver.

A typical enough San Francisco police story - the investigation of a syndicate importing heroin. However, it is a vehicle for Chuck Norris, the martial arts star, who made a name for himself in similar action films such as Breaker Breaker, Good Guys Wear Black, A Force Of One, The Octagon.

Norris has a pleasant screen personality and the film is able to present a reasonable plot with action sequences interspersed. Norris's reputation was enhanced by more prestigious stars appearing with him - in this case Christopher Lee as villain. There is excellent use of the city of San Francisco and the action sequences come thick and fast.

There is a rather brutal siege, almost like a war battle, at the end, which highlights audience response to this kind of action film in terms of violence as well as the seriousness of the drug situation in the seventies and eighties.

1. Audience response to this kind of San Francisco police story? policemen, crises, dangers, violence? Crime, drug rings? Respectable criminals? The martial arts and audience response to the techniques? Their being interspersed in the plot? Chuck Norris and his skills, personality? An enjoyable vehicle for this star?

2. Colour photography, the use of San Francisco locations? An authentic atmosphere for the story?

3. The response to the basic ingredients of the plot - their being reminiscent of so many television series?

4. The impact of the opening: Cain and David and their pursuit of the criminal, the confrontation and David's horrific death? The use of this footage throughout the film for flashback? Stevens and his hostility? Cain's resignation from the Police Force? The funeral? The friendship with Linda and her role on San Francisco television? her father and his training of Cain? The encounter with Heather and her collaboration? Canfield as head of the television station, his suave presence and protection of Linda? The introduction of the main characters and the strands of the plot? Audience involvement and interest?

5. The portrait of police and detective work? Cain and his background, the Police Force changing him, his skills? His help with Linda but inability to save her? His visit to James and their becoming a team and James saving him? His home - and his building everything? Boat? The relationship with Heather? her help with information? Her staying at his place? His escapades - at James's home, at the wharves? The visit to the spots around San Francisco for criminals: bars, brothels?

6. The action sequences - fights, the attack of Canfield's army, the sequence in the hold of the ship, his escape from the ship? how well staged?

7. The background of the police, Stevens pressurising Cain to discover evidence? His watching the episode on the boat? having his forces come in for the siege?

8. Linda and her pursuit by the professor, her death? Relationship with Canfield and exposing him? The tape at the railway station? Heather and her discovery, her capture?

9. Christopher Lee as Canfield - suave respectability? The drug ring? having the upper hand, his meeting at his villa, the siege and his almost being killed by Cain?

10. The background of drug smuggling in the United States?

11. The culmination with the siege and the violence and deaths? The martial arts? The comedy with James? The final battle with the professor?


12. This kind of film as the visual equivalent of comic strips: heroes, larger than life action, larger than life evil, justice, law, society? Emotional involvement in situations, with characters, with vengeance and justice?