| | | Try to rip him off and he'll rip you apart!
Features: DVD, Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 1.85:1, Trailers
This gripping, action-intensive and thought-provoking film focuses on the drama and desperation of drug smuggling and heroin addiction and stars Nick Nolte and Tuesday Weld.
"Strong performances in virtually every role." Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide
Editor's Note
In Karel Reisz's film, based on Robert Stone's novel DOG SOLDIERS, John Converse (Michael Moriarty), a Marine combat veteran, returns to Vietnam as a war correspondent. He is overwhelmed by the challenges that face him, and so he decides that in an insane world, it makes sense to to smuggle heroin into the United States, and joins in with a conspiracy group suspected to have CIA connections. His ex-marine buddy, Ray Hicks (Nick Nolte), now a merchant marine sailor, helps him smuggle the heroin to San Francisco. When Ray delivers the drugs to John's wife Marge (Tuesday Weld), thugs disguised as Federal agents steal the drugs. Outraged at being double crossed, Hicks takes Marge with him on the run, followed now by real CIA agents. In their flight through the drug underworld of L.A. and down into New Mexico, Hicks discovers that Marge is a junkie herself. Though she is physically weak, she nonetheless possesses an inner strength to match Hick's exterior strength. Nolte, in one of his first staring roles, is unequaled in his expression of intelligence and sensitivity, while being simultaneously tougher than nails. |Reisz keeps the action and characters in the forefront, and in doing so keeps this heavily allegorical story about the corrupting effect of the Vietnam War on America from collapsing under its own weight.
Plot Summary
Severely disappointed with the US government after the Vietnam conflict, John decides that the best way to make money is to smuggle heroin from South-east Asia into the States. He recruits his equally disgruntled wartime buddy, Ray who agrees to help. But when Anthell, a corrupt DEA man, gets wind of their plans, he abducts John in hopes of getting his hands on the stuff. Now Ray and Marge, John's wife, have to figure out how to get rid of the smack quickly and find a place to hide from Anthell and his goons.
| Features | Spanish Mono | | French Subtitles | | Spanish Subtitles | | Theatrical Trailer | | Widescreen Version | | English Mono |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: MGM |
| Release Date: 12/6/2006 |
| Running Time: 126 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1978 | | Catalog ID: 1002208 | | UPC: 00027616864390 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English, Spanish Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: French, Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
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| | Professional Reviews | Variety
"...It has a hardnose progression and solidity in its characterizations. Nolte earns his star stripes here, displaying presence and perceptiveness..." 05/24/1978Uncut
"The acting is superb....Here, Reisz preserved the frightening story, [and] made his best film..." 04/01/2005 p.140 Uncut
Ranked #15 in Uncut's Best DVDs Of 2005 -- "[I]t gave Nick Nolte his first great role..." 01/01/2006 p.84-85 |
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