The Little Dragons
Encyclopedia
The Little Dragons is a 1980
American film about two young brothers who use their karate
skills to rescue a friend after she is held captive for ransom. Produced and directed by Curtis Hanson
. Starring Charles Lane
, Ann Sothern
, Chris Petersen
and Pat Petersen
and Pat Petersen
) are young karate
students who embark on a weekend camping trip with their grandfather J.J. (Charles Lane
). Along the way they meet a new friend, Carol Forbinger (Sally Boyden) and her parents (Rick Lenz
and Sharon Clark
)). When the Forbinger family encounters a tough-talking backwoods mother (Ann Sothern
) and her two bumbling sons (Joe Spinell
and John Davis Chandler
) who decide to hold Carol captive believing they can collect a sizeable ransom, the "karate kids" must find a way to use their martial arts
skills to rescue the Forbinger girl with a little help from their grandfather and some new friends they meet along the way.
(born in 1963), and Pat
(born in 1966) appear to be notably younger than in their various other roles during that same year. Indicated by their youthful appearance and hairstyles, the film appears to have been most likely filmed sometime between 1977 and 1978.
Originally released in 1980 as "The Little Dragons", the film was later released on VHS by Active Home Video in 1984 under the same title, but with the new tag line: "The karate kids to the rescue!" in order to take advantage of the popularity of the hit film The Karate Kid released that same year. The film was later re-released on VHS by Magnum Video in 1991, this time retitled as "Karate Kids U.S.A.". Subsequent DVD releases in the U.K.
and the U.S.
used shortened versions of both titles, retitled simply as "Dragons" and "Karate Kids" using the tag line: "Before the Karate Kid, there was The Karate Kids!"; however, the most recent 2009 Music Video Distributors DVD has been released under the film's original title, "The Little Dragons" this time with the tag line: "Meet the REAL Karate Kids...".
Although intended to be a "family film
", by the time of the first VHS release in 1984, some of the language used by the children in the film was deemed inappropriate for a young audience, and was "cleaned up" for the 1984 Active Home Video VHS release. The Petersen brothers having grown too old to re-dub their childhood voices, the decision was made to simply remove the "offending" dialogue altogether, resulting in the actors' mouthes moving, but without the audio.
1980 in film
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American film about two young brothers who use their karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
skills to rescue a friend after she is held captive for ransom. Produced and directed by Curtis Hanson
Curtis Hanson
Curtis Lee Hanson is an American film director, film producer and screenwriter. His directing work includes The Hand That Rocks the Cradle , L.A...
. Starring Charles Lane
Charles Lane (actor)
Charles Gerstle Levison , better known as Charles Lane, was an American character actor seen in many movies and TV shows, and at the time of his death may have been the oldest living professional American actor. Lane appeared in many Frank Capra films, including You Can't Take It With You , Mr...
, Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern was an American film and television actress whose career spanned six decades.-Early life and career:...
, Chris Petersen
Chris Petersen (actor)
Chris Petersen is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor at the age of 12, he is best known for his roles in the feature films When Every Day Was the Fourth of July, The Swarm and The Little Dragons...
and Pat Petersen
Patrick Petersen
Patrick Petersen is an American actor best known for his role as Michael Fairgate in the television drama Knots Landing. His character was the son of "Karen Fairgate MacKenzie"...
Synopsis
Brothers, Zack and Woody (portrayed by real-life brothers ChrisChris Petersen (actor)
Chris Petersen is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor at the age of 12, he is best known for his roles in the feature films When Every Day Was the Fourth of July, The Swarm and The Little Dragons...
and Pat Petersen
Patrick Petersen
Patrick Petersen is an American actor best known for his role as Michael Fairgate in the television drama Knots Landing. His character was the son of "Karen Fairgate MacKenzie"...
) are young karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
students who embark on a weekend camping trip with their grandfather J.J. (Charles Lane
Charles Lane (actor)
Charles Gerstle Levison , better known as Charles Lane, was an American character actor seen in many movies and TV shows, and at the time of his death may have been the oldest living professional American actor. Lane appeared in many Frank Capra films, including You Can't Take It With You , Mr...
). Along the way they meet a new friend, Carol Forbinger (Sally Boyden) and her parents (Rick Lenz
Rick Lenz
Rick Lenz is an American actor best known for repeating his Broadway role as Igor Sullivan in the 1969 film Cactus Flower.-Career:...
and Sharon Clark
Sharon Clark
Sharon Clark is an American model and actress. She was Playboys Playmate of the Month for its August 1970 issue. Her centerfold was photographed by William Figge and Ed DeLong...
)). When the Forbinger family encounters a tough-talking backwoods mother (Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern was an American film and television actress whose career spanned six decades.-Early life and career:...
) and her two bumbling sons (Joe Spinell
Joe Spinell
Joe Spinell was an American character actor, who appeared in numerous films in the 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:...
and John Davis Chandler
John Davis Chandler
John Davis Chandler was an American actor. He portrayed the gangster Vincent Coll in the sensationalized and factually inaccurate 1962 movie Mad Dog Coll. Chandler also appeared in several of Sam Peckinpah's Western films...
) who decide to hold Carol captive believing they can collect a sizeable ransom, the "karate kids" must find a way to use their martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
skills to rescue the Forbinger girl with a little help from their grandfather and some new friends they meet along the way.
Cast
- Charles LaneCharles Lane (actor)Charles Gerstle Levison , better known as Charles Lane, was an American character actor seen in many movies and TV shows, and at the time of his death may have been the oldest living professional American actor. Lane appeared in many Frank Capra films, including You Can't Take It With You , Mr...
as J.J. - Ann SothernAnn SothernAnn Sothern was an American film and television actress whose career spanned six decades.-Early life and career:...
as Angel - Chris PetersenChris Petersen (actor)Chris Petersen is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor at the age of 12, he is best known for his roles in the feature films When Every Day Was the Fourth of July, The Swarm and The Little Dragons...
as Zack - Pat PetersenPatrick PetersenPatrick Petersen is an American actor best known for his role as Michael Fairgate in the television drama Knots Landing. His character was the son of "Karen Fairgate MacKenzie"...
as Woody - Sally Boyden as Carol Forbinger
- Rick LenzRick LenzRick Lenz is an American actor best known for repeating his Broadway role as Igor Sullivan in the 1969 film Cactus Flower.-Career:...
as Dick Forbinger - Sharon ClarkSharon ClarkSharon Clark is an American model and actress. She was Playboys Playmate of the Month for its August 1970 issue. Her centerfold was photographed by William Figge and Ed DeLong...
as Ruth Forbinger - Joe SpinellJoe SpinellJoe Spinell was an American character actor, who appeared in numerous films in the 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:...
as Yancey - John Davis ChandlerJohn Davis ChandlerJohn Davis Chandler was an American actor. He portrayed the gangster Vincent Coll in the sensationalized and factually inaccurate 1962 movie Mad Dog Coll. Chandler also appeared in several of Sam Peckinpah's Western films...
as Carl - Clifford A. Pellow as Sheriff
- Stephen YoungStephen Young (actor)Stephen Young is a Canadian actor.Young was born Stephen Levy in Toronto, Canada to a financier father. Directly following high school, the naturally gifted teen athlete signed on for a career with the Cleveland Indians, but his professional bid ended when he seriously injured his knee playing ice...
as Lunsford - Pat E. JohnsonPat E. JohnsonPat E. Johnson is a 9th degree black belt in the art of American Tang Soo Do. He is the president of the National Tang Soo Do Congress, which was originally created by Chuck Norris in 1973...
as Karate Instructor - Bong Soo HanBong Soo HanHan Bong-Soo , also known as Bong Soo Han, was a martial arts instructor, author, the founder of the International Hapkido Federation, and one of the foremost practitioners of hapkido through his participation in books, magazine articles, and popular films featuring this Korean martial art...
as Karate Master - Donnie Williams as Motorcycle Leader
- Tony BillTony BillGerard Anthony "Tony" Bill is an American actor, producer, and director. He produced the 1973 movie The Sting, for which he shared the Academy Award for Best Picture with Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips...
as Niles - Brad Gorman as Deputy
- Tom Kibbe as FBI Van Operator
- Spencer Quinn as Hootenanny M.C.
- Topo SwopeTopo SwopeTopo Swope is an American actress and talent agent.Daughter of Dorothy McGuire and still photographer John Swope. Sister of Mark Swope.-Filmography:*The Little Dragons *Tracks *The Hot Rock...
as Stoned Girl - Scott Spencer as Stoned Guy
- Rosemary Welden as Biker Girl
- Jim Sherwood as Roadblock Cop
- Robert Espinoza as Little Dragon
- Eric Johnson as Little Dragon
- Rachel Lawson as Little Dragon
- Jason Sachs as Little Dragon
- Elan Salberg as Little Dragon
- Oryon Salberg as Little Dragon
- Tim Speer as Little Dragon
- Sam Spira as Little Dragon
- "Jigs" as Rufus
Production
Although most online sources list the film as being released in July 1980, the Petersen brothers, ChrisChris Petersen (actor)
Chris Petersen is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor at the age of 12, he is best known for his roles in the feature films When Every Day Was the Fourth of July, The Swarm and The Little Dragons...
(born in 1963), and Pat
Patrick Petersen
Patrick Petersen is an American actor best known for his role as Michael Fairgate in the television drama Knots Landing. His character was the son of "Karen Fairgate MacKenzie"...
(born in 1966) appear to be notably younger than in their various other roles during that same year. Indicated by their youthful appearance and hairstyles, the film appears to have been most likely filmed sometime between 1977 and 1978.
Originally released in 1980 as "The Little Dragons", the film was later released on VHS by Active Home Video in 1984 under the same title, but with the new tag line: "The karate kids to the rescue!" in order to take advantage of the popularity of the hit film The Karate Kid released that same year. The film was later re-released on VHS by Magnum Video in 1991, this time retitled as "Karate Kids U.S.A.". Subsequent DVD releases in the U.K.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
used shortened versions of both titles, retitled simply as "Dragons" and "Karate Kids" using the tag line: "Before the Karate Kid, there was The Karate Kids!"; however, the most recent 2009 Music Video Distributors DVD has been released under the film's original title, "The Little Dragons" this time with the tag line: "Meet the REAL Karate Kids...".
Although intended to be a "family film
Family film
A family film is a film genre that is designed to appeal to a variety of age groups and, thus, families.In December 2005, Steven Spielberg's 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial came first in a poll of the 100 Greatest Family Films. The genre today generates billions of dollars per annum.Family...
", by the time of the first VHS release in 1984, some of the language used by the children in the film was deemed inappropriate for a young audience, and was "cleaned up" for the 1984 Active Home Video VHS release. The Petersen brothers having grown too old to re-dub their childhood voices, the decision was made to simply remove the "offending" dialogue altogether, resulting in the actors' mouthes moving, but without the audio.