During the Vietnam War, Colonel Hambleton's aircraft is shot down over enemy territory and a frantic rescue operation ensues.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Gene Hackman | ... |
Lt. Colonel Iceal Hambleton
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| Danny Glover | ... |
Captain Bartholomew Clark
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| Jerry Reed | ... |
Colonel George Walker
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| David Marshall Grant | ... |
Ross Carver
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| Clayton Rohner | ... |
Sgt. Harley Rumbaugh
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| Erich Anderson | ... |
Major Jake Scott
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| Joe Dorsey | ... |
Colonel Douglass
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Michael Ng | ... |
Vietnamese Man
(as Rev. Michael Ng)
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Theodore Chan Woei-Shyong | ... |
Boy on Bridge
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| Don Ruffin | ... |
Helicopter Crew
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Scott Howell | ... |
Helicopter Crew
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Michael Raden | ... |
Helicopter Crew
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Timothy Fitzgerald | ... |
EB-66 Officer
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Stuart B. Hagen | ... |
EB-66 Officer
(as Stuart Hagen)
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Jeffrey Baxter | ... |
Helicopter Gunner
(as Jeff Baxter)
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Alan King | ... |
Helicopter Gunner
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Bonny Yong | ... |
NVC / VC Officer
(as Bonnie Yong)
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Willie Lai | ... |
NVA / VC Officer
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Martin Yong | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Jim Aman | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Freddie Chin | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Dennis Chong | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Liow Hui Chun | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Fung Yun Khiong | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Henry Lee | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Ming-Yang Li | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
(as Michael Lee)
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Jeffrey Liew | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Fredolin Leong | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Benedict Lojingkau | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Walter Lojingkau | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Johnny Michael | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Clarence Mojikon | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Wilod Nuin | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Harold Sinpang | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Paul Yong | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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Conidon Wong | ... |
NVA / VC Soldier
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Craig Huston | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc | ... |
Army pilot (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Peter Markle | ||
Written by
| William C. Anderson | ... | (book) |
| William C. Anderson | ... | (screenplay) and |
| George Gordon | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Michael Balson | ... | producer |
| Mark Damon | ... | co-producer |
| David Fisher | ... | producer |
| Evzen Kolar | ... | line producer |
| Gary A. Neill | ... | producer |
| Jerry Reed | ... | executive producer |
| David Saunders | ... | co-producer |
Music by
| Christopher Young | ||
Cinematography by
| Mark Irwin | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Stephen E. Rivkin | ||
Editorial Department
| Hope Moskowitz | ... | first assistant editor |
| Bill Swenson | ... | second assistant editor |
| Dode Weyant | ... | negative cutter |
| Richard Garibaldi | ... | home video mastering colorist (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Nancy Banks | ||
Production Design by
| Vincent Joseph Cresciman | ... | (as Vincent Cresciman) |
Art Direction by
| Arthur Riddle | ||
| James Terry Welden | ... | (as Terry Welden) |
Costume Design by
| Audrey M. Bansmer | ||
Makeup Department
| Kashka Banjoko | ... | hair stylist |
| Louis Lazzara | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Robert E. Waters | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Everett Creach | ... | second unit director |
| Stuart B. Hagen | ... | second assistant director |
| Craig Huston | ... | first assistant director |
| Navin Naidu | ... | assistant director: Malaysia |
| Chris Pechin | ... | second unit director |
| Yahya Sayadi | ... | assistant director: Malaysia |
Art Department
| Mark Joyce | ... | model maker |
| Dick Kyker | ... | property master |
| Chris Pechin | ... | storyboard artist |
| Thomas Thom | ... | construction coordinator |
| Maryann Willie | ... | scenic artist |
Sound Department
| Randy Alsenz | ... | sound assistant |
| Joseph D. Citarella | ... | foley mixer |
| Florentino Corpuz | ... | boom operator |
| Mark A. Elliot | ... | sound editing (as Mark Elliot) |
| Lisle Hebert | ... | sound editing |
| Grover B. Helsley | ... | re-recording mixer (as Grover Helsley) |
| Harry Hitner | ... | sound editing |
| William Hooper | ... | sound editing (as Bill Hooper) |
| Itzhak Magal | ... | sound mixer |
| Dessie Markovsky | ... | Sound Design and Supervising Sound Editing / supervising sound editor |
| Jon Oh | ... | sound assistant (as John Oh) |
| Troy Porter | ... | foley mixer |
| Emile Razpopov | ... | Sound Design and Supervising Sound Editing / supervising sound editor |
| Richard D. Rogers | ... | adr mixer / re-recording mixer |
| Clarinda Wang | ... | sound assistant |
| John Wilkinson | ... | re-recording mixer (as John 'Doc' Wilkinson) |
| Brent D. Winter | ... | sound editing (as Brent Winter) |
| Mary Jo Lang | ... | foley mixer (uncredited) |
| Sarah Monat | ... | foley artist (uncredited) |
| Morten Folmer Nielsen | ... | adr editor (uncredited) / adr recorder (uncredited) |
| John Roesch | ... | foley artist (uncredited) |
| Edward M. Steidele | ... | foley artist (uncredited) |
| Carolyn Tapp | ... | foley recordist (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Richard E. Johnson | ... | special effects supervisor |
| Joe Viskocil | ... | pyrotechnician |
| Gene Warren Jr. | ... | special effects supervisor |
| Alan White | ... | special effects crew (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Bruce A. Block | ... | matte cameraman |
| Michael Joyce | ... | model shop supervisor |
| Ken Marschall | ... | matte artist |
| Bret Mixon | ... | rotoscoping |
Stunts
| Mickey Alzola | ... | stunts |
| Everett Creach | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Scott Howell | ... | stunts |
| Gary Littlejohn | ... | stunts |
| Anthony Ogunsanya | ... | stunts (as Tony Ogunsanya) |
| Michael Raden | ... | stunts |
| Don Ruffin | ... | stunts |
| V. Thiagarajah | ... | stunt helicopter pilot (as Capt. V. Thiagarajah) |
| Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc | ... | stunt helicopter pilot |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Kenneth Adams | ... | key grip |
| Scotty Allan | ... | gaffer |
| Tommy Chang | ... | still photographer |
| Jun Dalawis | ... | second assistant camera (as Jun Dalawas) |
| Eric J. Goldstein | ... | first assistant camera |
| Richard Haas | ... | second assistant camera |
| Philip Holahan | ... | director of photography: second unit |
| Mark Irwin | ... | aerial and spotter plane photographer |
| Roland Neveu | ... | special still photographer |
| Nick Papanickolas | ... | best boy grip (as George Papanickolas) |
| Lee Yen Phin | ... | second assistant camera |
| Ian D. Scott | ... | best boy electric |
| V. Thiagarajah | ... | pilot: camera helicopter (as Capt. V. Thiagarajah) |
| Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc | ... | pilot: camera helicopter |
Casting Department
| Ruth Peebles | ... | casting assistant |
| Burton Sharp | ... | voice casting |
Music Department
| Jason Bentley | ... | music supervisor |
| George Doering | ... | musician |
| Mark Graham | ... | music copyist / music librarian |
| Marni Sanders | ... | copyist |
| Jeff Vaughn | ... | score mixer / score recordist |
| Jim Weidman | ... | music editor |
| Paul Francis Witt | ... | conductor: orchestra / music consultant |
| Masakazu Yoshizawa | ... | featured musician: shakuhachi and nokan solos |
| Anne Atkins Young | ... | music coordinator |
| Joe Zimmerman | ... | music preparation |
| Mark Zimoski | ... | electronic percussion programming |
| Tom Boyd | ... | oboe (uncredited) |
| Harvey Cohen | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Alexander Courage | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Sandy De Crescent | ... | orchestra contractor (uncredited) |
| Steven L. Smith | ... | music preparation (uncredited) |
| James Thatcher | ... | musician: French horn (uncredited) |
| Christopher Young | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Maxine Bergen | ... | script supervisor |
| Marita Grabiak | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Henry King | ... | transportation captain |
Additional Crew
| David L. Aaron | ... | title designer |
| Lyle Byrum | ... | aerial coordinator / pilot: spotter plane |
| Bundy Chanock | ... | set medic |
| Gary Douris | ... | parachutist |
| Iceal Hambleton | ... | technical advisor (as Lt. Colonel Iceal Hambleton) |
| Cindy Hochman | ... | production coordinator |
| John J. Lee Jr. | ... | funding services |
| Solomon J. LeFlore | ... | production financing |
| Muhandes H.J. Mohamed | ... | parachutist |
| Anthony Ogunsanya | ... | stand-in (as Tony Ogunsanya) |
| Deborah Shaw-Kolar | ... | unit publicist (as Deborah Shaw) |
| Jon Turtle | ... | financier |
| Alan Webber | ... | stand-in |
Thanks
| Sam Oetinger | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
- TriStar Pictures (presents)
- Vision PDG (presents)
- Eagle Films
- Bat 21 Limited L.P.
Distributors
- TriStar Pictures (1988) (United States) (theatrical)
- Guild Film Distribution (1988) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Eurogroup (1989) (France) (theatrical)
- Senator Filmverleih (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Shochiku-Fuji Company (1989) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Astral Video (1989) (Canada) (VHS)
- Roadshow Home Video (1989) (Australia) (VHS)
- HGV Video Productions (1990) (Canada) (VHS)
- Media Home Entertainment (1990) (United States) (VHS)
- Showtime Video (1990) (Finland) (VHS)
- Video Treasures (1990) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (VHS)
- Future Film (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
- Kino Lorber (2018) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Kino Lorber (2018) (United States) (DVD)
- NSM Records (2020) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- NSM Records (2020) (Germany) (DVD)
- Starlight
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Cinema Research (Titles and Optical Effects)
- Cinema Research (acknowledgement: Titles and Optical Effects)
- Ensorcell Inc. (location assistance)
- Entertainment Completions Inc. (completions bond by)
- JoAnn Kane Music Service (music preparation)
- PS Production (production equipments)
- Ryder Sound Services (Sound by)
- Shaw Brothers (negative processing by)
- Varèse Sarabande (score album released by)
- Varèse Sarabande (soundtrack)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Lt. Col. Iceal "Ham" Hambleton is a weapons countermeasures expert and when his aircraft is shot over enemy territory the Air Force very much wants to get him back. Hambleton knows the area he's in is going to be carpet-bombed but a temporary shortage of helicopters causes a delay. Working with an Air Force reconnaissance pilot, Capt. Bartholomew Clark, he maps out an escape route based on golf courses he has played. Along the way however, he has to face enemy forces and the death of some of his fellow soldiers. Written by garykmcd |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Trapped behind enemy lines. A whole army after him... And only one man can save him. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $11,300,000 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | As a U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, "Gene" Hambleton commanded the 57first Missile Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, from 1965 to 1971. He is better known as by his tactical radio call-sign, "Bat 21", he used in Vietnam when he was shot down in 1972, while jamming enemy radar, and parachuted behind enemy lines. When on the ground, Colonel Hambleton found himself in the midst of an invasion force of over thirty thousand North Vietnamese troops. While evading capture for eleven days, he used his survival radio to call in air strikes against the invasion force. Rescue crews gave him coded instructions for where to go to be rescued, based on golf courses, on which he had played, at different Air Force bases. Hambleton's harrowing ordeal was recounted in the book Bat 21 (1980), which was made into this movie. He died from cancer on September 19, 2004 at age 85. See more » |
| Goofs | In the movie, the aircraft flown by "Bird Dog" was not actually a Cessna O-2 observation aircraft, but was a civilian Cessna 337 Skymaster, painted gray. An O-2 would have multiple windows in the doors and floor to allow visibility of the ground. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Stealth Fighter (1999). See more » |
| Quotes |
Capt. Bartholomew Clark:
Let's get the basic relationship down... I'm the lifeguard, you're the drowning man. If you relax, I can bring you to shore. If you fight me, then I'll have to slap you around. See more » |