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Extreme Prejudice (film)
Encyclopedia
Extreme Prejudice is an American action film originally released in 1987.
The film was directed by Walter Hill
; it was written by John Milius
, Fred Rexer
and Deric Washburn
(the latter collaborated with Michael Cimino
on Silent Running
and The Deer Hunter
). Extreme Prejudice stars Nick Nolte
and Powers Boothe
as two former friends on opposing sides of the law forced to confrontation. The film is an homage, of sorts, to The Wild Bunch
, a western directed by Sam Peckinpah
and with whom Hill worked on The Getaway
(1972 film). Both films end with a massive gun fight in a Mexican border town.
The title originates from "terminate with extreme prejudice
", a phrase popularized by the 1979 film Apocalypse Now
, also written by John Milius.
The character of Jack Benteen was loosely based on Joaquin Jackson
, now a retired Texas Ranger. Nolte spent three weeks with Jackson learning the day to day activities of a Ranger. Nolte took what he learned and incorporated it into his character; the mannerisms and dress.
The U.S. DVD has been criticized for its low quality transfer and lack of features.
The film was directed by Walter Hill
Walter Hill
Walter Hill may refer to:*Walter Hill *Walter Hill , American film director*Walter Hill , founder of Brisbane's botanical gardens...
; it was written by John Milius
John Milius
John Frederick Milius is an American screenwriter, director, and producer of motion pictures.-Early life:Milius was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Elizabeth and William Styx Milius, who was a shoe manufacturer. Milius attempted to join the Marine Corps in the late 1960s, but was rejected...
, Fred Rexer
Fred Rexer
Fred Rexer, aka Fred L. Rexer and Fred Rexer, Jr., is a U.S. Army Vietnam combat veteran and Hollywood actor and screenwriter. He is best known as the military advisor for Apocalypse Now and as Spiritual Advisor for Conan the Barbarian...
and Deric Washburn
Deric Washburn
-Filmography:* Silent Running * The Deer Hunter * The Border * Extreme Prejudice -Awards:As a writer, Washburn was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and a WGA Award for "Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen" for The Deer Hunter, along with Quinn Redeker, Louis...
(the latter collaborated with Michael Cimino
Michael Cimino
Michael Cimino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer and author. He is best known for writing and directing Academy Award-winning The Deer Hunter and the infamous Heaven's Gate. His films are characterized by their striking visual style and controversial subject...
on Silent Running
Silent Running
Silent Running is a 1972 environmentally themed science fiction film starring Bruce Dern and directed by Douglas Trumbull, who had previously worked as a special effects supervisor on such science fiction films as 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Andromeda Strain.-Plot summary:Silent Running depicts a...
and The Deer Hunter
The Deer Hunter
The Deer Hunter is a 1978 drama film co-written and directed by Michael Cimino about a trio of Russian American steel worker friends and their infantry service in the Vietnam War. The film stars Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, John Savage, John Cazale, and George Dzundza...
). Extreme Prejudice stars Nick Nolte
Nick Nolte
Nicholas King "Nick" Nolte is an American actor whose career has spanned over five decades, peaking in the 1990s when his commercial success made him one of the most popular celebrities of that decade.-Early life:...
and Powers Boothe
Powers Boothe
Powers Allen Boothe is an American television and film actor. Some of his most notable roles include his Emmy-winning 1980 portrayal of Jim Jones and his turn as Cy Tolliver on Deadwood, as well as Vice-President Noah Daniels on 24....
as two former friends on opposing sides of the law forced to confrontation. The film is an homage, of sorts, to The Wild Bunch
The Wild Bunch
The Wild Bunch is a 1969 American Western film directed by Sam Peckinpah about an aging outlaw gang on the Texas-Mexico border, trying to exist in the changing "modern" world of 1913...
, a western directed by Sam Peckinpah
Sam Peckinpah
David Samuel "Sam" Peckinpah was an American filmmaker and screenwriter who achieved prominence following the release of the Western epic The Wild Bunch...
and with whom Hill worked on The Getaway
The Getaway (1972 film)
The Getaway is a 1972 American action-crime film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw.The film is based on a novel by Jim Thompson, with the screenplay written by Walter Hill...
(1972 film). Both films end with a massive gun fight in a Mexican border town.
The title originates from "terminate with extreme prejudice
Terminate with extreme prejudice
In military and other covert operations, terminate with extreme prejudice is a euphemism for execution . In a military intelligence context, it is generally understood as an order to assassinate...
", a phrase popularized by the 1979 film Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American war film set during the Vietnam War, produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The central character is US Army special operations officer Captain Benjamin L. Willard , of MACV-SOG, an assassin sent to kill the renegade and presumed insane Special Forces...
, also written by John Milius.
The character of Jack Benteen was loosely based on Joaquin Jackson
Joaquin Jackson
H. Joaquin Jackson is a retired Texas Ranger most notable for his appearance on the February 1994 cover of Texas Monthly magazine, after which he became the icon of the modern Texas Rangers. Nick Nolte is said to have modeled his character in the movie Extreme Prejudice on him...
, now a retired Texas Ranger. Nolte spent three weeks with Jackson learning the day to day activities of a Ranger. Nolte took what he learned and incorporated it into his character; the mannerisms and dress.
Synopsis
A Texas Ranger tries to stop a bank-robbing group of ex-soldiers while trying to bring down a drug-dealing former friend.Availability
The film was released on videocassette in the United States in 1987 by International Video Entertainment and again in 1989 by the same company. In 1991, the film was released again on VHS by Avid Home Entertainment, but in the EP (low quality) Mode. In 2001, Artisan Entertainment finally released the film onto DVD, but in pan and scan and without any bonus features. A DVD in the United Kingdom shows the film in widescreen and also contains the theatrical trailer as well as the teaser trailer.The U.S. DVD has been criticized for its low quality transfer and lack of features.
Cast
- Nick NolteNick NolteNicholas King "Nick" Nolte is an American actor whose career has spanned over five decades, peaking in the 1990s when his commercial success made him one of the most popular celebrities of that decade.-Early life:...
as Ranger Jack Benteen - Powers BoothePowers BoothePowers Allen Boothe is an American television and film actor. Some of his most notable roles include his Emmy-winning 1980 portrayal of Jim Jones and his turn as Cy Tolliver on Deadwood, as well as Vice-President Noah Daniels on 24....
as Cash Bailey - Michael IronsideMichael IronsideMichael Ironside is a Canadian-born actor. He has also worked as a voice actor, producer, film director, and screenwriter in movie and television series in various Canadian and American productions. He is best known for playing villains and "tough guy" heroes, though he has also portrayed...
as Major Paul Hackett - María Conchita AlonsoMaria Conchita AlonsoMaría Conchita Alonso , better known as María Conchita, is a Venezuelan Grammy Award-nominated singer and actress.- Early life :...
as Sarita Cisneros - Rip TornRip TornElmore Rual "Rip" Torn, Jr. , is an American actor of stage, screen and television.Torn received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1983 film Cross Creek. His work includes the role of Artie, the producer, on The Larry Sanders Show, for which he was nominated...
as Sheriff Hank Pearson - Clancy BrownClancy BrownClarence J. "Clancy" Brown III is an American actor and voice actor. He is known for his roles in live action as The Kurgan in the cult classic film Highlander, Byron Hadley in the award-winning The Shawshank Redemption, Brother Justin Crowe in HBO's critically acclaimed Carnivàle, and Career...
as Master Sergeant Larry McRose - William ForsytheWilliam Forsythe (actor)William Forsythe is an American actor, known for playing "tough guy" roles. He is also a writer, and has several short stories that are set to be published.-Early life:...
as Sergeant Buck Atwater - Matt MulhernMatt MulhernMatt Mulhern is an American actor who has starred in such films as One Crazy Summer and Biloxi Blues, and such television series such as Major Dad, JAG, and Rescue Me....
as Staff Sergeant Declan Coker - Larry B. ScottLarry B. Scott-Career:Scott's film debut was in the 1978 movie A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich. He is perhaps best known for playing Lamar Latrell, the openly gay fraternity member in the Revenge of the Nerds series of comedy films from 1984 to 1994. In the 1986 film SpaceCamp he played opposite a then-young...
as Sergeant Charles Biddle - Dan Tullis, Jr. as Sergeant Luther Fry