Main Cast: Chuck Norris, Karen Carlson, Lee Van Cleef, Tadashi Yamashita, Carol Bagdasarian
Release Year: 1980
Country: US
Run Time: 103 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Karate champ Chuck Norris returns for another chop-socky vigilante flick in The Octagon, one of a handful of undistinguished Ninja pictures released during the early '80s. Norris appropriately plays a retired karate champ hired as a bodyguard for a wealthy woman (Karen Carlson) plagued by a gang of vicious ninjas. Reluctant at first to take the job, he reconsiders when he learns the gang is headed by his longtime arch rival Tadashi Yamashita (Lee Van Cleef). The script -- as is the case in nearly every Ninja film -- has holes bigger than Okinawa, and the acting is downright atrocious, particularly that of Norris, who, thankfully, improved with time. However, the production values are fair, as is the direction, and the action sequences are often exciting and comparatively realistic. Recommended for genre fans only. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide
Art Hindle - A.J.; Kim Lankford - Nancy, Dancer; Kurt Grayson - Doggo; Yuki Shimoda - Katsumoto; Larry D. Mann - Tibor; John Fujioka - Isawa; Jack Carter - Sharkey; Ted Duncan - Truckdriver; Ken Gibbel - Meat; Redmond Gleeson - Duffy; Ernie Hudson - Quinine; Brian Libby - Deadwyler; Enrique Lucero - One Armed Man; Jo McDonnell - Amy Lee; Gerald Okamura - Ninja Instructor; Carlos Romano - Pilot; Brian Tochi - Seikura at Eighteen; Aaron Norris - Hatband; Richard Norton - Longlegs; Don Pike - Chauffer (sic); Kevin Brando - Scott at Eight; Elizabeth Carder - Desk Clerk; Crane Jackson - House Detective; Alan Marcus - Truckdriver; John Barrett - Justine's Killer
Credit
Chuck Norris - Choreography, Barbara Burgdorf - Costume Designer, Eric Karson - Director, Dann Cahn - Editor, Michael Leone - Executive Producer, Alan Belkin - Executive Producer, Aaron Norris - Fights Choreographer, Dick Halligan - Composer (Music Score), James L. Schoppe - Production Designer, Michel Hugo - Cinematographer, Joel Freeman - Producer, Jim Hassinger - Set Designer, Glenn Anderson - Sound/Sound Designer, Aaron Norris - Stunts Coordinator, Paul Aaron - Screen Story, Leigh Chapman - Screenwriter
