Blind Fury (1989)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Phillip Noyce

Writers (WGA):

Ryozo Kasahara (earlier screenplay)
Charles Robert Carner (screen story)
(more)

Release Date:

16 March 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Action

Tagline:

He may be blind but he don't need no dog.

Plot:

A blind Vietnam vet, trained as a swordfighter, comes to America and helps to rescue the son of a fellow soldier.

Plot Keywords:

Vietnam | Casino | Humor | Fall Down | B Movie

Cast

Rutger Hauer	...	Nick Parker
Terry O'Quinn	...	Frank Devereaux (as Terrance O'Quinn)
Brandon Call	...	Billy Devereaux
Noble Willingham	...	MacCready
Lisa Blount	...	Annie Winchester
Nick Cassavetes	...	Lyle Pike
Rick Overton	...	Tector Pike
Randall 'Tex' Cobb	...	Slag
Charles Cooper	...	Cobb
Meg Foster	...	Lynn Devereaux
Shô Kosugi	...	The Assassin (as Sho Kosugi)
Paul James Vasquez	...	Gang Leader
Julia González	...	Latin Girl (as Julia Gonzales)
Woody Watson	...	Crooked Miami Cop #1
Alex Morris	...	Crooked Miami Cop #2
Mark Fickert	...	Bus Station Cop
Weasel Forshaw	...	Popcorn
Roy Morgan	...	Six Pack
Tim Mateer	...	Snow
C.K. McFarland	...	Female Biker
T.J. McFarland	...	Cornfield Killer #1
Blue Deckert	...	Cornfield Killer #2
Glenn Lampert	...	Cornfield Killer #3
Red Mitchell	...	Cornfield Killer #4
Bonnie Suggs	...	Rockwell Mom
Harold Suggs	...	Rockwell Dad
Barbara Gulling-Goff	...	Freeway Lady #1
Dorothy LeMay	...	Freeway Lady #2 (as Dorothy Young)
Sharon Shackelford	...	Colleen
Jay Pennison	...	Casino Bodyguard #1
Tiger Chung Lee	...	Casino Bodyguard #2
R. Nelson Brown	...	Crooked Croupier
Lincoln Casey Jr.	...	Croupier #2
Gene Skillen	...	Croupier #3
Debora Williams	...	Big Mama
Kyle Thatcher	...	Casino Cowboy
Patricia Mathews	...	Casino Patron
Mitch Hrushowy	...	Waiter in Elevator
Ernest Mack	...	Penthouse Guard #1
Linwood Walker	...	Penthouse Guard #2
Robert Prentiss	...	Drug Dealer (as Robert Manning)
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	...	Ski Lodge Killer #1 (as Jeff Dashnaw)
Glenn R. Wilder	...	Ski Lodge Killer #2 (as Glen Wilder)
David R. Ellis	...	Ski Lodge Killer #3 (as David Ellis)
Michael Adams	...	Ski Lodge Killer #4 (as Mike Adams)
Dave Bartholomew	...	Ski Lodge Killer #5 (as David Bartholomew)
Fred Lerner	...	Ski Lodge Killer #6
Mike Shanks	...	Ski Lodge Killer #7
Ray Colbert	...	Ski Lodge Killer #8

Directed by
Phillip Noyce

Writing credits (WGA)
Ryozo Kasahara		(earlier screenplay)
Charles Robert Carner		(screen story)
Charles Robert Carner		(screenplay)

Produced by
Charles Robert Carner	....	associate producer
Robert W. Cort	....	executive producer
Daniel Grodnik	....	producer
David Madden	....	executive producer
Tim Matheson	....	producer
Dennis Murphy	....	associate producer

Original Music by
J. Peter Robinson

Cinematography by
Don Burgess

Film Editing by
David A. Simmons		(as David Simmons)

Casting by
Junie Lowry-Johnson		(as Junie Lowry)

Production Design by
Peter Murton

Art Direction by
John Myhre

Set Decoration by
Tom Talbert

Costume Design by
Katherine Dover

Makeup Department
Karoly Balazs	....	key hair stylist (as Charles Balazs)
Karoly Balazs	....	key makeup artist (as Charles Balazs)
Jan MacKenzie	....	assistant hair stylist
Jan MacKenzie	....	assistant makeup artist
J.C. Matalon	....	special makeup effects
Jeanne Van Phue	....	key hair stylist
Jeanne Van Phue	....	key makeup artist
Cinzia Zanetti	....	hair stylist: second unit
Cinzia Zanetti	....	makeup artist: second unit

Production Management
Leonard Bram	....	production manager: second unit (as Len Bram)
Dennis Murphy	....	unit production manager
Ted Zachary	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sandy Collister	....	additional second assistant director: Houston (as Sandy Collister-Drown)
K.C. Colwell	....	second assistant director: second unit
Tom Davies	....	first assistant director
Douglas Dean III	....	second assistant director (as Doug Dean)
Donald P.H. Eaton	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Donald Eaton)
Thomas A. Irvine	....	second assistant director (as Thomas Irvine)
Max Kleven	....	second unit director: additional crew
Dick Ziker	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
John Beauvais	....	scenic artist
Joel Bestrop	....	set dresser: second unit
Lloyd Brown	....	assistant property master (as Loyd Brown)
Jim Cavalucci	....	scenic shop foreman
Kirk Corwin	....	property master: second unit
Mark Haskins	....	key set dresser (as Mark C. Haskins)
James Henderson	....	lead man (as James Michael Henderson)
Anthony Maccario	....	property master
Michael Marcus	....	art director: second unit
Tim I. Miller	....	propmaker (as Tim Miller)
James Monroe	....	assistant props
Len Morganti	....	production illustrator: second unit
Michael Holton Murphy	....	assistant props
Lauren E. Polizzi	....	set designer (as Lauren Polizzi)
Maggi Poorman	....	art department assistant: Houston
Paul S. Power	....	production illustrator (as Paul Power)
Nicholas T. Preovolos	....	set decorator: second unit (as Nikko Preovolos)
Michael Reinhart	....	construction coordinator: second unit
Lisa Roman	....	art department coordinator: second unit
Chuck Singleton	....	construction coordinator
William R. Southern Jr.	....	carpenter foreman (as William P. Southern Jr.)
Norman West	....	lead man: second unit
David W. Roden	....	construction foreman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gregg Baxter	....	sound editor
Jacob Goldstein	....	production sound mixer
William Grigg	....	boom operator: second unit (as Bill Grigg)
David Hagberg	....	assistant sound editor
Grover B. Helsley	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Grover Helsey)
Michael Hilkene	....	sound editor
Walter Hoylman	....	sound mixer: second unit (as Walt Hoylman)
David M. Ice	....	sound editor (as David Ice)
Doug Jackson	....	sound editor
Eric Lindemann	....	special sound effects
Eric Lindemann	....	supervising sound editor
William L. McCaughey	....	sound re-recording mixer (as William McCaughey)
Prometheus Patient	....	boom operator
Tally Paulos	....	adr editor
Troy Porter	....	foley mixer
Richard D. Rogers	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Christopher Sheldon	....	sound editor (as Chris Sheldon)
Thomas W. Small	....	assistant sound editor (as Tom Small)
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Martin Bresin	....	special effects coordinator: second unit (as Marty Bresin)
Steven C. Foster	....	special effects assistant (as Steven Foster)
Marvin Gardner	....	special effects assistant
Allen Hall	....	special effects coordinator
Mike Menzel	....	special effects foreman
Joe Montenegro	....	special effects assistant
Michael Schorr	....	special effects foreman: second unit (as Mike Schorr)
Frank Toro	....	special effects assistant
Mark Twogood	....	special effects: second unit
Robert G. Willard	....	special effects foreman (as Robert Glen Willard)
Yancy Calzada	....	stop-motion animation (uncredited)

Stunts
Jim Antonio	....	stunts
Rob Bowman	....	stunts
Steve Boyum	....	stunts
Jackson Burns	....	stunt double: Rutger Hauer
George B. Colucci	....	stunts (as George Colucci)
Chuck Courtney	....	stunts
Laura Dash	....	stunts
Shane Dixon	....	stunts
Christopher Doyle	....	stunts
John Escobar	....	stunts
Terry James	....	stunts
Gary Jensen	....	stunts
Mike Johnson	....	stunts (as John Michael Johnson)
Kent Jordan	....	stunts
Rick Kahana	....	stunts
Max Kleven	....	stunt coordinator: second unit
Dan Koko	....	stunts
Steven Lambert	....	sword fight coordinator
Frank Lux	....	stunts
Dennis Madalone	....	car stunt coordinator (as Dennis 'Danger' Madalone)
Dennis Madalone	....	stunts
Wayne Montanio	....	stunts
Daniel K. Moore	....	stunts (as Daniel Moore)
Tom Morga	....	stunts
Alan Oliney	....	stunts
Ernie F. Orsatti	....	stunts
Frank Orsatti	....	stunts
Melanie Peoples	....	stunts
Spiro Razatos	....	stunts
Dane Selznick	....	stunts
Cherie Tash	....	stunts
Joey Tribunella	....	stunts
Ric Wagner	....	stunts
Jim Wilkey	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunt coordinator
Dick Ziker	....	stunts
Dave Bartholomew	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richie Gaona	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dan Koko	....	stunt double: Tector Pike (uncredited)
John-Clay Scott	....	stunt double: Randall 'Tex' Cobb (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Ahrens	....	lamp operator: second unit
William S. Berry	....	second camera coordinator
Levon Besnelian	....	grip: second unit (as Levon Besnelien)
Josh Bleibtreu	....	first assistant camera
Phillip V. Caruso	....	still photographer
Peter Clarson	....	gaffer: second unit
Jacqui Compton	....	second assistant camera
Scott R. Davis	....	best boy grip (as Scott Davis)
Michael Dreyer	....	grip
Tim Durr	....	grip: second unit
Mark Ellensohn	....	key grip: second unit
Michael Ferris	....	camera operator
Rachel A. Flores	....	gaffer: Houston
Rachel A. Flores	....	key grip: Houston
Wayne Forster	....	gaffer
Kurt Haller	....	camera loader
Kim Heath	....	dolly grip: second unit
Jeff 'Moose' Howery	....	dolly grip (as Jeff Howery)
Bobby Huber	....	key grip
Stephen Lee	....	grip
Michael Lund	....	first assistant camera: second unit
George Mays	....	electrical best boy
Fred L. McLane	....	first assistant second camera (as Fred McLane)
John Murphy	....	grip (as John W. Murphy)
Philip C. Pfeiffer	....	director of photography: second unit (as Philip Pfeifer)
Philip C. Pfeiffer	....	second camera operator (as Philip Pfeiffer)
Mark Pickens	....	gaffer: Reno
Mark Pickens	....	key grip: Reno
Darrin Pulford	....	lamp operator: second unit
Joe Rowan	....	best boy electric: second unit
Kyle Rudolph	....	Steadicam operator: Reno
Edmondo Sepulveda	....	best boy grip: second unit (as Edmundo Sepulveda)
Scott Sproule	....	second assistant camera: second camera, second unit
Chris Squires	....	Steadicam operator
Christopher Woods	....	second camera operator: second unit (as Chris Woods)
Steve Graves	....	grip (uncredited)
Bubba Sheffield	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Elisa Goodman	....	casting assistant
Sandy Holt	....	adr voice casting
William A. Johnson	....	casting associate
Ed Johnston	....	casting: Texas
Sally Lear	....	casting: Nevada
Sue Liberman	....	extras casting: Houston
Louise Marrufo	....	casting assistant
Mimi Maynard	....	adr voice casting
Matthew W. Davis	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jerry R. Allen	....	costume supervisor: second unit (as Jerry Allen)
Deborah Banks	....	wardrobe production assistant
Patsy Chaney	....	wardrobe supervisor: Reno
Athena Hendrix	....	wardrobe production assistant
Beth Holmes	....	wardrobe assistant
Keith G. Lewis	....	wardrobe supervisor: Houston
Stéphane Tavenas	....	wardrobe production assistant (as Stephane Tavenas)

Editorial Department
John A. Barton	....	associate film editor (as John Barton)
Craig Bench	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Michael Rockwell	....	music score engineer
Jim Weidman	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Michael Kern	....	transportation captain
Ron Kern	....	transportation coordinator
Marti Wells	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Lillian Madere Andrade	....	studio teacher (as Lillian Madere)
Chris Auer	....	production assistant
Wendy Baker	....	production assistant: Reno
Steve Boyum	....	action advisor
Irene Brafstein	....	studio teacher
Lloyd Brown	....	armorer (as Loyd Brown)
Helen Caldwell	....	script supervisor
Joe Camp	....	alligator wrangler
Charles Robert Carner	....	technical consultant
David Cass Jr.	....	production assistant (as Dave Cass)
Scott Cort	....	production assistant
Susan Cox	....	travel coordinator: Reno
Susan Elkins	....	location manager: Houston
Carole Fontana	....	location manager: Reno
Shelly Glasser	....	assistant: Mr. Noyce
Nancy Glenn	....	assistant: Mr. Grodnik, Houston
Joyce Gregg	....	production coordinator: second unit
Laura Groppe	....	production office assistant: Houston
Mike Harrowing	....	location scout: Houston
Tom Hoeck	....	set medic (as Thomas B. Hoeck)
Tim Huchthausen	....	sword craftsman
Jeffrey J. Kiehlbauch	....	production coordinator (as Jeffrey Kiehlbauch)
Robyn Kratzer	....	assistant: Mr. Matheson, Houston
Francine Lauzon	....	production secretary: Houston
Kathi Levine	....	assistant accountant
Martha J. Liermann	....	production secretary
Micaela Lockridge	....	production assistant: Reno
Michael Lodge	....	title designer: main titles
Mike Mansfield	....	craft service: Reno
April McKee	....	craft service: Houston
Douglas A. Raine	....	production assistant (as Doug Raine)
Joe Richards	....	unit publicist
William F. Rose Jr.	....	assistant accountant
Roberta Rose	....	production accountant
Jodi Ross	....	assistant: Mr. Grodnik and Mr. Matheson
Gina Scheerer	....	production coordinator: Houston
Mark Schwiesow	....	production office assistant: Reno
Phillip F. St. Pierre Jr.	....	supervisor: tram operations, Squaw Valley
Ivy Whisnant	....	shop foreman (as Iverson Whisnant Jr.)
Lynn Manning	....	advisor: blindness (uncredited)
Lynn Manning	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• TriStar Pictures (presents)
• Interscope Communications

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1990) (USA) (laserdisc)

Special Effects

• VCE (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Allen Park Inn  special thanks
• Ann Barros' Yoga Dance Video  special thanks
• Galleria Area Ford  special thanks
• Houston Film Commission  special thanks
• Nevada Film Commission  special thanks
• Otto Nemenz International  camera equipment provided by
• Shotmaker Co., The  camera cars and camera cranes provided
• Travelbound  special thanks

Runtime:

86 min | West Germany:85 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-16 (cut) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | Netherlands:12 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 (cut) | West Germany:18 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

Based on the Zatoichi film/TV series from Japan.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the policeman gets his hand sliced off and it falls to the floor, you can see a white wire going from the back of the hand into the floor. This wire is what creates the shot from the gun that the hand is holding.

Quotes:

Slag: Not bad for a blind man! But that butter knife ain't gonna stop no bullet!

Movie Connections:

References The Wild Bunch (1969)

Not As Good As I Remember, But Still..........

BLIND FURY is one of those guilty pleasure films. The late Chicago film critic Gene Siskel cited it as such during a broadcast of the show he co-hosted with Roger Ebert several years ago. It is not a great film, but has real moments of warmth and humor that are hard to ignore. It's difficult to explain, but what could have been just another vapid action film, is fleshed out by good performances, a self effacing sense of humor, and solid direction.

During the opening credits, we meet Nick Parker (Rutger Hauer). Having been blinded during a firefight in Viet Nam, he is taken in by a local hamlet and nursed back to health. The villagers also teach Nick the art of the sword, we get several scenes of his progress in which he becomes a master. Jump ahead twenty years, as Nick wanders down a country road, walking stick in hand. He is on his way to visit an old friend from the war. After a silly scene involving switched hot sauce, Nick arrives to find that his friend, Frank Devereaux (Terry O'Quinn) does not live there anymore, having left for Reno. Well, Nick meets Frank's wife and son Billy (Brandon Call). Enter Slag (the Randall 'Tex' Cobb), who has come to kidnap Frank's son, to force Frank into making designer drugs, so that an evil Reno casino owner can pay off his debts. Anyway, after a especially violent debacle, Nick is sworn to protect Billy, and off they go to Reno to rescue Frank.

Admittedly, BLIND FURY is plot heavy, and a lesser film would have sunk under the weight. But the film never gets overly involved with the story, never really takes it to seriously. This is director Phillip Noyce's follow up to DEAD CALM, a tense thriller that put him on the map (he would go on to helm PATRIOT GAMES, SLIVER, THE SAINT). It is a campy ode to samurai pictures and westerns, war movies and ninja chop-em-ups. Noyce sets the right tone and keeps the action moving. Observe the scene, near the end of the film: there is a tense moment when Billy throws a sword to Nick. The sword sails in the air, in slow motion, the music builds and the sword slips right through Nick's hands. It is a wonderfully funny moment.

Another important aspect is the character of Nick Parker. As played by Rutger Hauer, Nick is a simple man, not a super hero. He reacts through instinct to the situations he finds himself in, and uses mostly evasive techniques (similar to Jackie Chan), to defend himself. Hauer does a good job blending the realities of blindness with the Hollywood clichés, which makes scenes in which he drives down one-way streets, and the like, very entertaining. The film makers also keep the violence in a backlit, comic book style, never becoming overtly graphic (the antithesis of something like KILL BILL, where the characters dance through geysers of arterial spray). BLIND FURY is an enigma, it is not wacky enough to be considered cult, it does not deal with important subject matter, yet it is still somehow affecting. It will be cast into the discount bins at your local mall, left to languish in obscurity. But for those who will give it a chance, you may be surprised by this standard action fare raised to a higher level by a talented cast and crew. 8/10.