The Protector (1985)

Director:

James Glickenhaus

Writers:

James Glickenhaus (writer)
King Sang Tang (Hong Kong version)

Release Date:

23 August 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Action | Crime

Tagline:

Now, New York has a new weapon - A cop with his own way of fighting crime

Plot:

Billy Wong is a New York City cop whose partner is gunned down during a robbery. Billy and his new partner...

Plot Keywords:

Hong Kong | Police | New York | New York City | Thrown Through Window

Cast

Jackie Chan	...	Billy Wong
Danny Aiello	...	Danny Garoni
Sandy Alexander	...	Gang Leader
Victor Arnold	...	Police Captain
Kim Bass	...	Stan Jones
Irene Britto	...	Masseuse #1
Jesse Cameron-Glickenhaus	...	Jesse Alexander
Al Cerullo	...	Helicopter Pilot
Roy Chiao	...	Mr. Ko
Richard Clarke	...	Superintendant Whitehead
Patrick James Clarke	...	Michael Alexander
Ron Dandrea	...	Martin Shapiro
Valerie De Pena	...	Punk Woman
Saun Ellis	...	Laura Shapiro
Richard Epper	...	Man in Bar

Also Known As:

Wai lung maang taam (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
Wei lung meng tan (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

Hong Kong | USA

Language:

English | Cantonese

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (US version) | Mono (Hong Kong version)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (original rating) | Finland:K-16 (cut) | Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:R | Australia:MA (TV rating) | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (original rating) | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 (nf) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Golden Harvest Company

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the boat chase scene, the camera helicopter's shadow is seen on the water.

Quotes:

Billy Wong: [to his superior] He killed Michael, Captain!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Jackie Chan: My Stunts (1999) (V)

Soundtrack:

ONE UP FOR THE GOOD GUYS

lifeless

This movie suffers from the fact that for years Hollywood had no clue as to how to package Jackie Chan for the masses. His low-budget Hong Kong movies were all fast-paced kinetic thrillers that highlight his amazing gymnastic skills and talent for light comedy. His early Hollywood films stuck him in the same movies that were being packaged for Stallone or Chuck Norris. There is nothing about Chan's character in this movie that requires the character to be Asian except for his being the star. In his Hong Kong films Chan is never dull, with the movies being one rapid-fire martial arts sequence after another, but "The Protector" is lifeless throughout. Danny Aiello isn't given much to work with either and the lacking chemistry between the two probably is more a result of the script and direction than how the two actors got on together. Both have been better in worse movies. The best thing about the movie is the Hong Kong settings. The worst part is the appalling way that Jackie Chan comes off so colorless and drab. It wouldn't be until the made-in-Canada "Rumble in the Bronx" that the west would finally figure out how to make a good Jackie Chan movie.