Main Cast: Fred Ward, Joel Grey, Wilford Brimley, J.A. Preston, George Coe, Kate Mulgrew
Release Year: 1985
Country: US
Run Time: 121 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Adapted from the "Destroyer" series of novels and comic books (not exactly the level of Ian Fleming), Remo Williams (Fred Ward) is a New York cop who works for a top-secret government agency accountable directly to the President of the U.S. After his reluctant induction into this agency, Remo is trained in a near-magical Korean martial arts form by Chiun (Joel Grey) in great sequences where walking on water is taken in stride. After his training, Remo goes after a corrupt arms manufacturer with connections in the U.S. military and acquires the necessary help-mate in the form of Major Rayner Fleming (Kate Mulgrew). Antics at the Statue of Liberty and other stunts enliven the action, but cannot make up for comic-book level characters. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Charles Cioffi - George Grove; Marvin Albert - Sports Announcer; Jeff Allin - Lt. Fox; Cosie Costa - Pvt. Damico; Roger Cudney - Capt. Young; Wendy Gazelle - Linda - Soap Opera; William Hickey - Coney Island Barker; Reginald VelJohnson - Ambulance Driver; Dodi Kenan - Nurse; Patrick Kilpatrick - Stone; Gene Lebell - Red; Tom McBride - Jim - Soap Opera; Davenia McFadden - N.Y. Traffic Control Cop; Jon Polito - Zack; J.P. Romano - Boomer; Michael M. Ryan - Sgt. Sullivan; Frank Simpson - Senior Police Officer; Suzanne Snyder - Nurse - Soap Opera; Duane B. Clark - Logger; Phil Culotta - Soldier Driver; Frank Ferrara - Boomer; Joel Kramer - Boomer; Phil Neilson - Hood; Michael Pataki - Jim Wilson; Webster Whinery - Hood; Will Jeffries - Young Captain; John Christianson - Logger; Sebastián Ligarde - Pvt. Johnson; Andrew McMillan - Doctor; Ray Woodfork - Hood; Amanda Mackey-Johnson; Jane Jenkins; Janet Hirshenson
Credit
Brandy Alexander - Art Director, Xavier Rodriguez Gonzalez - Art Director, Augustin Ituarte - Art Director, John R. Jensen - Art Director, Woods Mackintosh - Art Director, Michael Minor - Art Director, Ellen Mirojnick - Costume Designer, Guy Hamilton - Director, Mark Melnick - Editor, Craig Safan - Composer (Music Score), Richie Cannata - Songwriter, Tom Shaw - Songwriter, Carl Fullerton - Makeup, Robert P. Cohen - Production Designer, Jackson de Govia - Production Designer, Andrew Laszlo - Cinematographer, Jeffrey Laszlo - Cinematographer, Dick Clark - Producer, Larry Spiegel - Producer, Melvin B. Bergman - Producer, Fred C. Weiler - Set Designer, Andy Evans - Special Effects, James J. Sabat - Sound/Sound Designer, Glenn H. Randall, Jr. - Stunts, Christopher Wood - Screenwriter, Warren B. Murphy - Screenwriter
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, also released as Remo: Unarmed and Dangerous, is a 1985Americanfilm. The action–adventure film featured Fred Ward, Joel Grey and Kate Mulgrew. It was directed by Guy Hamilton. The character is based on The Destroyer pulp paperback series (later Destroyer books actually make fun of the film and its promotional materials). The movie was the only one on the big screen featuring the character Remo Williams, and fared poorly in theaters. The film received mixed reviews from critics, [1] although it did give Joel Grey a Golden Globe nomination. The film and a Remo Williams television pilot both had Dick Clark as an executive producer.
Samuel Edward "Sam" Makin (played by Fred Ward) is a tough street cop recruited as a secret agent through a bizarre method: his death is faked so that there will be no questions asked as to his disappearance. Rechristened "Remo Williams" (after the name and location of the manufacturer of the bedpan in Makin's hospital room), his face is surgically altered and he is trained to be a human killing machine by his aged Koreanmartial arts master Chiun (played by Grey in heavy makeup). Though Remo's training is extremely rushed by Chiun's standards, Remo learns such skills as dodging bullets and running (not walking) on water. The Chiun character, who is stereotypically nationalistic, racist and sexist, is both the comic relief (aplenty) and wise mentor figure in the film. Chiun and Remo practice a fictional form of Korean martial arts named Sinanju. Remo is sent to investigate a corrupt weapons procurement program within the US Army.
The soundtrack features an instrumental score written by composer Craig Safan, released by Perseverance Records on CD on August 7, 2006. However, the title song, Remo's Theme (What If), written and sung by Styx member Tommy Shaw, is not included on that album, though Shaw has released the song as a solo artist.
