The Delta Force (1986)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Menahem Golan

Writers:

James Bruner (written by) &
Menahem Golan (written by)

Release Date:

14 February 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

They don't negotiate with terrorists... they blow them away!

Plot:

A 707 aircraft jetliner on its way from Athens to Rome and then to New York City is hijacked by Lebanese terrorists...

Plot Keywords:

Terrorist | Pilot | Beirut | Priest | Delta Force

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Chuck Norris	...	Maj. Scott McCoy
Lee Marvin	...	Col. Nick Alexander
Martin Balsam	...	Ben Kaplan
Joey Bishop	...	Harry Goldman
Robert Forster	...	Abdul
Lainie Kazan	...	Sylvia Goldman
George Kennedy	...	Father O'Malley
Hanna Schygulla	...	Ingrid
Susan Strasberg	...	Debra Levine
Bo Svenson	...	Capt. Campbell
Robert Vaughn	...	Gen. Woodbridge
Shelley Winters	...	Edie Kaplan
William Wallace	...	Pete Peterson
Charles Grant	...	Tom Hale (as Charles Floye)
Steve James	...	Bobby
Kim Delaney	...	Sister Mary
Jerry Weinstock	...	Dr. Jack
Marvin Freedman	...	Dave Hoskins
Bob Levit	...	Jim Montgomery
Chelli Goldberg	...	Tina
Chris Ellia	...	Lesley
Jerry Lazarus	...	Robert Levine
Natalie Roth	...	Ellen Levine
Jerry Hyman	...	Ted Bilicki
Gael Lehrer	...	Rosalee Bilicki
Hank Leininger	...	Jay Bilicki
Howard Jackson	...	Ed
Eric Norris	...	Andy
Zipora Peled	...	Sister Ann
Aaron Kaplan	...	Mike Fraser
Caroline Langford	...	Sally Fraser
Yehuda Efroni	...	David Rosovsky
David Menachem	...	Moustapha (as David Menahem)
Shaike Ophir	...	Father Nicholas
Avi Loziah	...	Jaffer
Uri Gavriel	...	George Berri
Panos Nicolaou	...	Peter
Elki Jacobs	...	Bartender
Menahem Einy	...	Issam
Assi Dayan	...	Raffi Amir (as Assaf Dayan)
Jack Cohen	...	Lebanese Minister
Adib Jahschan	...	Salim (as Adiv Gahshan)
Haim Sirafi	...	Samir
Mosko Alkalai	...	TV reporter (as Mosco Alkalai)
Larry Price	...	Journalist
Susan Ophir	...	ATW girl
Jack Messinger	...	ATW agent
Janet Harshman	...	TV announcer
Ezra Kafri	...	Israeli commando
Danny Friedman	...	Israeli commando
Richard Salno	...	Capt. Ross
Andy Shulman	...	Pete's assistant
Joe Sapel	...	Delta pilot
Richard Peterson	...	American ambassador in Algiers
Eugene Klein	...	American ambassador in Tel Aviv
Albert Amar	...	Controller in Algeria
Ben Ami Shmueli	...	Officer with George
Moti Shirin	...	Terrorist in plane
Yitzhak Aloni	...	Amal sergeant (as Itzik Aloni)
Boaz Ofri	...	Gate guard
Albert Iluz	...	Passport inspector
Osnat Vishinski	...	Information agent, El Al
David Leshnik	...	TV announcer

Directed by
Menahem Golan

Writing credits
James Bruner		(written by) &
Menahem Golan		(written by)

Produced by
Yoram Globus	....	producer
Menahem Golan	....	producer
Rony Yacov	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Alan Silvestri

Cinematography by
David Gurfinkel

Film Editing by
Alain Jakubowicz

Production Design by
Luciano Spadoni		(as Lucisano Spadoni)

Set Decoration by
Ladislav Wilheim		(as Ladi Wilheim)

Costume Design by
Tami Mor

Makeup Department
Vittorio Biseo	....	key makeup artist
Esty Kariv	....	makeup artist
Tamy Levy	....	hair stylist
Patrice Morieres	....	hair stylist
Zivit Yakir	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Zion Chen	....	unit production manager
Itzik Kol	....	production supervisor (as Itzhak Kol)
Dov Maoz	....	production manager
Michael R. Sloan	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Brandt	....	first assistant director
Michal Engel	....	second assistant director
Carlos Gil	....	second unit director
Shauli Gorodeski	....	third assistant director: second unit
Mike Katzin	....	second assistant director
Avi Mograbi	....	second assistant director: second unit
Avner Orshalimy	....	first assistant director: second unit
Haim Rinski	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Yuda Acco	....	assistant production designer (as Yuda Ako)
Leonardo Coen Cagli	....	set designer
César Díez Álava	....	property master
Batia Grafka	....	property master
David Varod	....	set dresser
Arie Ben Yishai	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Gary Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Bartlett	....	sound effects editor
Ron Bartlett	....	sound editor
George Berndt	....	supervising dialogue editor
David Bifano	....	audio programming
Baird Bryant	....	foley editor
Ed Callahan	....	sound effects editor
Smith Craig	....	supervising foley editor
Keith Critchlow	....	foley editor
Lee Dragu	....	foley editor
Ann Ducommun	....	assistant sound editor
Mark Eiges	....	foley editor
Thomas A. Fucci	....	dialogue editor
Victor Grodecki	....	dialogue editor
Allan Hartz	....	sound effects editor
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Christopher Jenkins)
Richard King	....	sound effects editor
J.W. Kompare	....	sound effects editor
Cliff Latimer	....	adr editor
David Lebrun	....	dialogue editor
Martin Maryska	....	sound effects editor
Oscar Mitt	....	assistant sound editor
Andrew Patterson	....	dialogue editor
Jerry Ross	....	supervising sound editor
Ruth Schell	....	dialogue editor
Tracey Smith	....	adr editor
Larry Stensvold	....	sound re-recording mixer
Fred Wasser	....	sound effects editor
Eli Yarkoni	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Ian Biggs	....	special effects
Chris Corbould	....	special effects
Neil Corbould	....	special effects
Chris Gant	....	special effects
John Gant	....	special effects
Yoram Pollack	....	special effects
Alon Reuven	....	special effects assistant
Andy Williams	....	special effects
Shemesh Yaron	....	special effects assistant
Yoram Zargary	....	special effects assistant

Stunts
BJ Davis	....	stunts (as B.J. Davis)
Mike De Luna	....	stunts
Jon H. Epstein	....	stunt double: Chuck Norris (as John Epstein)
Greg Gault	....	stunts
Don Pike	....	stunt coordinator
Gary Pike	....	stunts
Alberto Vaknin	....	stunts (as Albert Vaknin)
B.J. Worth	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Effi Agami	....	grip
Avi Avrahami	....	electrician
Danny Ben Menahem	....	gaffer
Arik Bernstein	....	camera operator: second unit
Michael Biniaminy	....	focus puller
Yoni Hamenachem	....	still photographer
Mikey Inbari	....	electrician
Avi Koren	....	focus puller
Hans Kühle Jr.	....	photographer: second unit (as Hans Khules Jr.)
Avraham Leibman	....	gaffer
Benny Mali	....	clapper loader
Shimon Sabach	....	key grip
Danny Schneider	....	clapper loader
Danny Sheneor	....	camera operator
Rami Siman-Tov	....	clapper loader
Yuda Tatarko	....	best boy: second unit

Casting Department
Perry Bullington	....	casting: Los Angeles
Tova Cypin	....	casting: Israel
Robert MacDonald	....	casting: Los Angeles

Editorial Department
Anne Couk	....	first assistant editor
Kobi Dagan	....	first assistant editor
Dory Lubliner	....	first assistant editor
Omneya 'Nini' Mazen	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Tom Carlin	....	music editor
Paula Erickson	....	music supervisor
Dennis S. Sands	....	music scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Doron Mizrachi	....	action vehicles
Sam Rubi	....	transportation captain
Meir Sigura	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Wenden K. Baldwin	....	title designer
Raz Chen	....	location manager
Alan Gershenfeld	....	production coordinator: Los Angeles
Sharon Kahn	....	assistant: Menahem Golan
Sophie Kahn	....	unit publicist
Naomi Kol	....	production accountant
Naomi Mayberg	....	production coordinator
James Monaghan	....	army consultant (as Jim Monaghan)
Kyle O'Feere	....	title designer
Avner Peled	....	location manager
Charlotte Rose	....	assistant to production coordinator
Daniel Schneor	....	operator
Burton Sharp	....	adr group coordinator
Jim Taylor	....	production coordinator: Los Angeles
Vivalda Vigorelli	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Golan-Globus Productions

Distributors

• Cannon Film Distributors (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1986) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Cannon France (1986) (France) (theatrical)
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (1986) (France) (theatrical)
• Succéfilm AB (1986) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• VMP (1986) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Vestron Video International (1986) (Belgium) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1987) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1988) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (France) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Veronica (2003) (Netherlands) (TV)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• SBS6 (2005) (Netherlands) (TV)
• SBS6 (2006) (Netherlands) (TV)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• América Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Pan-Canadian Film Distributors (198?) (Canada) (theatrical)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Video Treasures (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Enigma Records  soundtrack released by
• Freeze Frame  titles and opticals
• G.G. Israel Studios Ltd. (I)  production facilities
• Intrada  score album released by (signature edition) (limited edition)
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services

Also Known As:

Mahatz Ha-Delta (Israel: Hebrew title)
Amerika's nieuwe helden (Netherlands) [nl]
Comando Delta (Brazil) [pt]
Delta Force (West Germany) [de]
Delta Force (Finland) [fi]
Delta Force (Spain) [es]
Delta Force (Italy) [it]
Dynami Delta (Greece) [el]
Força Delta (Portugal) [pt]
Styrka Delta Force (Sweden) [sv]
Zafer topu (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]

Runtime:

125 min | 129 min

Country:

USA | Israel

Language:

English | Arabic | Hebrew | Greek

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | South Korea:15 | West Germany:18 (nf) | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) (heavily cut) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:R (DVD rating) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Ben-Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel

Company:

Golan-Globus Productions

Trivia:

The movie was originally to be produced with the cooperation of Delta Force's real-life founder and original commanding officer, Col. Charles Beckwith. The producers wanted to tell the story of Operation Eagle Claw, the failed attempt to rescue the American hostages from Iran in 1979, but they wanted to change the story so that Delta Force completed their mission successfully. Colonel Beckwith left the project in disgust.

Goofs:

Continuity: When McCoy is going through the bedroom, a terrorist hits the lens of McCoy's wrist mounted flashlight. Shortly thereafter, the lens is intact.

Quotes:

Jaffer: Here are some blankets for the night.
Capt. Campbell: How about some beds?
Jaffer: You don't need beds, you're gonna die tomorrow.

Movie Connections:

Featured in JCVD (2008)

Bhm Bhm Bhmmm Bhm Bhm Bhm (rest) Bhm Bhm Bhmmm Bhm Bhm Bhm Bhm Bhm Bhm

Sorry, that's the best I could do to get Alan Silvestri's theme across. I saw the last part of this movie many moons ago and one of the reasons I thought it was soooooooooo bad was that insipid theme playing over and over and over again. It's a bright, peppy, we're-number-one theme, so it hardly works for all the death and destruction, but I'm sure Silvestri, one of Hollywood's most accomplished composers had nothing to do with this aural overkill; he composed a theme for one scene and the producers just kept placing the same theme EVERYWHERE in the movie where there's Delta Force action.

So last night, Delta Force comes on. In the mood for a bad movie, honey? Sure, she says. At first I'm surprised. It's not bad. In fact, it's quite promising. Robert Forster as an Arab terrorist? Enough character actors to make a disaster flick? Kim Delaney as a nun? Hanna Schygulla as a stewardess? The acting was good, the plotting tight, and there was actually some genuine tension.

Then the Delta Force arrives.

And so does that unstoppable theme music. Ah, this is the part where the movie gets bad. I was right! My memory hadn't been faulty. Phew. Open a window.

Poor Lee Marvin, looking tired, puffy, and letting his eyebrows do the acting in this, his last role. Norris isn't a bad actor, but come on man, get a hair cut and a shave. The clichés are so painful, I wished they'd shot this without anyone doing any talking at all. And even the most patriotic, flag-waving guy or gal will cringe at how noble and heroic and elite and superior our boys are compared to the sniveling, savage, sneaky Arabs; at the height of the action the Arabs come off as though they studied terrorism with the Ritz Brothers.

The fight between Forster and Norris is perhaps the highlight, but ends stupidly (Mr. Forster's terrorist is killed by a motorcycle-to-Mercedes missile, just like all the special forces use).