Good Guys Wear Black

Good Guys Wear Black is a 1978 American martial arts action film starring Chuck Norris and directed by Ted Post.[4][5] This was the second film to feature Norris as the star, following Breaker! Breaker! (1977).[6] However, this is the one that Norris considers his "breakthrough".[7]

Good Guys Wear Black
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTed Post
Produced byAllan F. Bodoh
executive
Michael Leone
Screenplay byBruce Cohn
Mark Medoff
Story byJoseph Fraley
StarringChuck Norris
Anne Archer
Soon-Tek Oh
Dana Andrews
James Franciscus
Lloyd Haynes
Jim Backus
Music byCraig Safan
CinematographyRobert Steadman
Edited byMillie Moore
William Moore
Production
company
Action One Film Partners, LTD
Mar Vista Productions
Western Film Productions
Distributed byAmerican Cinema Releasing
Release date
  • June 21, 1978 (1978-06-21)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1 million[1]
Box office$18.3 million (United States)[2][3]

Following years of kung fu film imports from Hong Kong action cinema during the 1970s, most notably Bruce Lee films followed by Bruceploitation flicks, Good Guys Wear Black launched Chuck Norris as the first successful homegrown American martial arts star, having previously been best known for his film debut as a villain in Bruce Lee's Way of the Dragon (1972). Good Guys Wear Black distinguished itself from earlier martial arts films with its distinctly American setting, characters, themes, and politics, a formula which Norris continued with the similarly successful Force of One (1979).[5] The film featured a first screen appearance by Norris' brother Aaron Norris and final appearances by Lloyd Haynes, Dana Andrews and Jim Backus.[8]

Plot

Back in 1973, one United States Senator Conrad Morgan (James Franciscus), the chief delegate diplomat in negotiating the terms of the end of Vietnam War, made a deal in Paris, France with Kuong Yen, the North Vietnamese negotiator. The deal called for Yen to release certain key CIA POWs in exchange for Morgan setting up a death-trap for an elite group of CIA assassins, known as the Black Tigers. The treaty signed, the Black Tigers were sent into the jungles of 'Nam to their unknowing demise, under the guise that they were on mission to liberate American POWs. However, the negotiators failed to realize one thing: the commando's team leader was one Major John T. Booker (Chuck Norris). So, needless to say and despite all odds, Booker survives. As do the four men wise enough to have remained in his general vicinity.

Five years after returning from Vietnam, Booker, now living in Los Angeles, is now working as a political science professor at UCLA, donning a post-war moustache, and with a hobby of race car–driving. Booker lectures to a bunch of kids on how the war should not have happened, and that the U.S. should not have been involved. He then jokes about singing patriotic songs the following week to atone. Sitting in on one of his lectures is a bright female reporter named Margaret (Anne Archer) who starts asking some very specific questions about the botched rescue mission. It seems that someone is slowly killing all the surviving members of the special forces team.

Booker is suddenly thrown back into his past when Morgan's appointment as Secretary of State spurs Yen to blackmail his ex-negotiations buddy into making good on his unfinished deal: the extermination of the Black Tigers.

Cast
  • Chuck Norris as Major John T. Booker (The Black Tigers)
  • Anne Archer as Margaret
  • James Franciscus as Conrad Morgan
  • Lloyd Haynes as Murray Saunders
  • Dana Andrews as Edgar Harolds
  • Jim Backus as Albert (The Apartment Doorman)
  • Lawrence P. Casey as Mike Potter (The Black Tigers)
  • Anthony Mannino as Gordie Jones (The Black Tigers)
  • Soon-Tek Oh as Mjr. Mhin Van Thieu (The Black Tigers)
  • Joe Bennett as Lou Goldberg (The Black Tigers)
  • Jerry Douglas as Joe Walker (The Black Tigers)
  • Stack Pierce as Holly Washington (The Black Tigers)
  • Michael Payne as Mitch (The Black Tigers)
  • David Starwalt as Steagle (The Black Tigers)
  • Aaron Norris as Al (The Black Tigers)
  • Don Pike as Hank (The Black Tigers)
  • Benjamin J. Perry as Finney (The Black Tigers)
  • Kathy McCullen as Kelly
  • Michael Stark as Pitman
  • James Bacon as Senator
  • Hatsuo Uda as Shoeshine Man
  • Virginia Wing as Mrs. Mhin Van Thieu
  • Viola Harris as Airline Ticket Agent
  • Jacki Robins as Fat Lady
  • Pat E. Johnson as CIA Agent
  • Warren Smith as James (Morgan's Chauffeur)
  • Dick Shoemaker as Newscaster

Production

Norris had been offered a number of karate films but turned them down because he did not want to be limited. "Bruce Lee movies were all karate with a little story thrown in. I want to have a story with some karate scenes."[9]

Norris said a friend wrote the script from a storyline he devised with one of his students.[3] "My country wasn't built on sacrificing people to expedite principles", said Norris.[10]

Norris said he "peddled" the script "all over Hollywood. The night before I was to meet this producer – I'd gone through everyone; he was the last – I thought, 'What can I say to this guy that I haven't said to everyone that's turned me down?' I went to bed, and about 2 o'clock in the morning, the answer popped into my head. And when I met the producer, he asked me the same question the others asked, 'Chuck, why will this movie make money?' And I said, 'First of all, there's four million karate people in America. They all know who I am. And if only half of them go to the movie, that's a $6 million gross on a $1 million budget.' And he said, 'Sounds good to me'."[11]

The film was produced by Allan Bodoh, Mitchell Cannold and Michael Leone. Bodoh ran Mar Vista Productions, who in a two-year period made Dirt, Acapulco Gold, Dogs and The Great Smokey Roadblock.[12][13]

Norris said during filming that he compared "Breaker! Breaker! with Clint Eastwood's A Fistful of Dollars and Good Guys Wear Black with Dirty Harry."[9]

Filming started in May 1977.[14] There was an excellent support cast including Dana Andrews. "I do one film a year just to keep my hand in", said Andrews.[15]

"I want to be as big in the movie industry as I've been in the karate industry", said Norris. ""I know I can do it because I've got the faith to do it."[9]

Norris said his character of Booker "had more feeling than the Clint Eastwood characters. Booker's sensitive, caring about people, but if pushed he can take care of the situation. That's like me. I'm an easy going guy but in the ring I have a fanatical desire to win. I want Booker to be someone people can relate to, a hero to worship. Take Bruce Lee, who was an Oriental but able to pull Caucasians. I'm taking a little from Eastwood, a little from Lee, and a little special effects from James Bond. John T Booker is someone moviegoers can emulate, to be that kind of person, a guy who doesn't push his weight around, an easygoing person who can be dangerous."[9] Chuck Norris had a long dialogue scene with James Franciscus about the Vietnam War. Steve McQueen, who Norris knew, saw it and advised Norris to let support characters take care of the exposition, "then when there's something important to say, you say it."[16] "Let the co-stars do the b.s. dialogue", Norris says McQueen told him. "I do it. Eastwood does it. Bronson does it."[3]

Norris later stated:

The film was having trouble getting distribution, so the producers decided to distribute it themselves, renting theaters in individual cities around the country for a flat fee and pocketing the box-office receipts I traveled with them, opening from cities to hamlets, talking with folks and promoting the film any way I could. Many critics panned that film, but the public embraced it. They filled those theaters and launched my movie career.

[17]

Release

The film was originally rated R but Norris lobbied successfully to have it changed to PG. "My argument was the strong, positive image I project on the screen", he said. "The word karate, unfortunately, connotes violence to many people. Actually, it's a means of avoiding violent situations, and a form of defense if you have no choice and you're backed into a corner." [18]

Reception

Box office

The movie grossed $18 million at the box office, due in part to a year-long publicity tour Norris did. (The actor estimated he did over 2,000 interviews in a year and says he had to go to hospital for laryngitis.)[3]

Critical response

The Los Angeles Times called it "cynical, reasonably entertaining... the slick, efficient murders are less gory to watch than disturbing to contemplate."[19] The Washington Post said "the little plot it [the film] does have goes a long way."[20] The New York Times said the film was "short on everything."[21]

"The first time I saw myself, I didn't feel embarrassed yet thought I could be better", said Norris. "But, by the fourth viewing, I wanted to hide behind a chair."[10]

According to Norris, the critics said that "I was the worst thing in 50 years. Well, I wasn't good, but my feelings were hurt. I said, 'I'm not trying to be Dustin Hoffman; I just want to project a strong positive hero image on the screen.' I went to Steve [McQueen], and he said, 'In Good Guys you talk too much. Too much dialogue. Let the character actors lay out the plot. Then, when there's something important to say, you say it, and people will listen. Anyway, you'll get better as an actor. You should have seen me in The Blob."[11]

The producers went on to make Go Tell the Spartans with Ted Post.[22]

The film was meant to be the first in a series.[9] However no further Booker movies resulted.

Other media

Other references
  • Chuck Norris' character in The Expendables 2 is named Booker "The Lone Wolf", in homage to John T. Booker in Good Guys Wear Black.

See also

References
  1. Goldman, Stuart (June 29, 1980). "MOVIES: MARTIAL-ARTS FILMS: ALIVE AND KICKING". Los Angeles Times. p. y28.
  2. "Good Guys Wear Black – Box Office Data". The Numbers. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  3. Drooz, A. (Mar 12, 1981). "Chuck norris aims for stardom". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 152733428.
  4. Maslin, Janet (1984-12-02). "FILM VIEW; SHORT ON TALK, BIG AT THE BOX OFFICE". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  5. Cook, David A. (2002). Lost Illusions: American Cinema in the Shadow of Watergate and Vietnam, 1970–1979. University of California Press. p. 270. ISBN 978-0-520-23265-5.
  6. "Good Guys Wear Black". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  7. Cook, Bruce (Jan 29, 1988). "IN 'BRADDOCK,' NORRIS KICKS OUT OVER WAR'S LOST CHILDREN". Chicago Tribune (SPORTS FINAL, CN] ed.). p. K.
  8. "GOOD GUYS WEAR BLACK". Monthly Film Bulletin. 47 (552). London. Jan 1, 1980. p. 22.
  9. Lee, Grant (May 25, 1977). "FILM CLIPS: Trek From TV to Movie to TV". Los Angeles Times. p. g9.
  10. Groen, Rick (16 June 1979). "Karate champion now has 2 films under his black belt". The Globe and Mail. p. 35.
  11. Chase, Chris (15 Apr 1983). "AT THE MOVIES; Chuck Norris wins appeal on rating". New York Times. p. C.10.
  12. Lees, David; Berkowitz, Stan (Sep 24, 1978). "THE BIG LURE: MOVIES AS AN INVESTMENT: TAKING A FLYER AT FILMS MOVIES MOVIES". Los Angeles Times. p. l1.
  13. "Article 5 -- No Title". Los Angeles Times. 31 July 1977. p. o42.
  14. Lee, Grant (Mar 16, 1977). "Farrah, Lee in Majors Production?". Los Angeles Times. p. f11.
  15. "Star of Stage And Savings". The Washington Post. June 9, 1977. p. B2.
  16. BROESKE, P. H. (May 19, 1985). "CHUCK NORRIS--AN ALL-AMERICAN HIT". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 154169712.
  17. https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/08/21/chuck-norris-shuttered-movie-theaters-scene-of-unfolding-cliffhanger-962818
  18. Ryan, Desmond (21 Apr 1983). "THE LONER – DESPITE CRITICS, THIS ACTOR'S PROUD OF HIS FILMS". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D.6.
  19. Gross, Linda (Mar 23, 1979). "Action, Adventure in 'Good Guys Wear Black'". Los Angeles Times. p. g19.
  20. K.C. SUMMERS. (Apr 27, 1979). "Au Courant 'Good Guys'". The Washington Post. p. W25.
  21. TOM BUCKLEY (June 30, 1979). "Film: 'Good Guys' Opens: The Cast". New York Times. p. 11.
  22. Lee, Grant (Sep 11, 1978). "FILM CLIPS: Vietnam Movie Made on Spartan Budget". Los Angeles Times. p. e9.
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