American Ninja
Encyclopedia
American Ninja is a 1985 ninja action film
produced by Menahem Golan
and Yoram Globus
's Cannon Films. Directed by Sam Firstenberg
, who specialized in this genre in the 1980s, the film stars Michael Dudikoff
in the title role, with Steve James
as his side-kick. Domestic box office grosses for the picture totaled $10,499,694.
), an orphaned drifter with little respect for much other than martial arts, finds himself on an American Army base in the Philippines after a judge gives him a choice of enlistment or prison. On one of his first missions driving a convoy, his platoon is attacked by a group of rebels who try to steal the weapons the platoon is transporting and try to kidnap Patricia (Judie Aronson
), the base colonel's daughter, who happens to be along for the ride. Joe rescues Patricia and defeats all the rebels, but the ninjas suddenly arrive and kill everyone in the platoon. Joe escapes with Patricia and gets her safely back to the base, but everyone else in the platoon is killed. When he arrives back on base, Joe is yelled at by the Col. William Hickock (Guich Koock) and Master Sergeant Rinaldo (John LaMotta
) for disobeying a direct order. This leads his superiors to conclude that Joe is guilty of cowardice, collaboration or simple incompetence. Even his fellow army soldiers want nothing to do with him, asking if the price of one girl was worth the lives of four fellow soldiers. At the same time, the rebel leader of the Black Star Ninja army (Tadashi Yamashita
) vows revenge against the serviceman who disrupted his plans, and is ordered by a businessman named Victor Ortega (Don Stewart) to eliminate the "American Ninja" Joe Armstrong.
While performing his daily chores, Cpl. Curtis Jackson (Steve James
) antagonizes Joe and challenges him to a match. Joe easily wins, showing off his ninjutsu skills and impresses Jackson, earning the respect of the others as well. Jackson gets the whole story from Joe: he has amnesia, but he always remembers his ninjutsu moves, and that has helped him with his instinct for survival. Patricia arrives back on the base and arranges a date night, Jackson and Charley Madison (Phil Brock) sneak him off the base, but they are caught during dinner by Rinaldo, who is having a business dinner with Ortega (meaning they're in league together). To ensure his elimination, Rinaldo leads him to an abandoned warehouse on the pretense of dropping off some supplies. Ninjas ambush Joe, but Joe quickly kills all of them. Somebody steals his truck and Joe chases him on motorbike. The driver tails Joe, crushing his bike and thinks he is dead. Joe, however, rides under the car and gets a glimpse into Ortega's operation and the ninja training: he is smuggling weapons from the U.S. Army and selling them to the highest bidder. He is caught by ninjas and fights, but later makes his escape thanks to Ortega's helper named Shinyuki (John Fujioka). Joe is immediately placed under arrest by military police led by Sergeant Frankie "Private Stomper" Upton upon his arrival at the base. Jackson asks the MP duty sergeant, Sergeant First Class Chucky "Act so bad" Walowitz, what charges have been leveled at Joe and later protests to Rinaldo that the charges are not justified. The black star ninja leader sneaks in to the MP holding cells that night, and kills all the stationed MP officers, including Specialist Phil "Hardcore" Norton, before trying to kill Joe. Joe escapes, and challenges him to a duel before other MP officers arrive at the scene. One MP is found with a throwing star lodged in his head, this further implicates Joe as a murderer. Joe explains everything to Jackson, who brings Patricia along as well.
Joe informs William of the hijacked weapons, but not before he is betrayed when Williams orders Rinaldo to finish it. The black star ninja leader arrives at the house and kidnaps Patricia, while Ortega threatens Williams, who now knows the full extent. At the same time, Joe drives off with Rinaldo and his men on the trail. Joe's car clips Rinaldo's that sends him off course and into a tree, killing him instantly. Joe sneaks back into Ortega's, reuniting him with Shinyuki. It is revealed that Shinyuki raised Joe when he was a baby, training him in the art of Ninjutsu before a bomb blast separates them both. With the remaining time left, Shinyuki completes Joe's training and begin an assault on Ortega's base. Shinyuki dies in battle, as the Army officers arrive on the scene with Hicock leading the way. Hickock is killed by Ortega, and the black star ninja leader is killed by Joe. Ortega leaves with Patricia in the chopper, but Joe rescues Patricia in time for Jackson to fire a missile at the helicopter, killing Ortega.
The final scene shows Joe fulfilling his duties as an American ninja as he lets Jackson catch Patricia.
It was also the first of three films pairing Michael Dudikoff
and Steve James
, the other two being American Ninja 2: The Confrontation
and Avenging Force
.
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
produced by Menahem Golan
Menahem Golan
Menahem Golan is an Israeli director and producer. He has produced movies for such stars as Sean Connery, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Charles Bronson, and was known for a period as a producer of comic book-style movies like Masters of the Universe, Superman IV:...
and Yoram Globus
Yoram Globus
Yoram Globus Yoram Globus Yoram Globus (born 21 October 1941 in Tiberias, Israel, is an Israeli director and producer who is most famous for his association with Cannon Films Inc., a company he ran with his cousin Menahem Golan....
's Cannon Films. Directed by Sam Firstenberg
Sam Firstenberg
Sam Firstenberg is an American film director. Born in Poland, Sam Firstenberg grew up in Jerusalem, and obtained his higher education in Los Angeles, California. he is best known for having made low-budget B-movies most of his career, he is also known for directing the American Ninja series...
, who specialized in this genre in the 1980s, the film stars Michael Dudikoff
Michael Dudikoff
Michael Joseph Dudikoff II is an American actor who has been in numerous films, including the American Ninja series , Tron , Bachelor Party , Platoon Leader , River of Death , Soldier Boyz , Ringmaster , and The Silencer , to name a few...
in the title role, with Steve James
Steve James (actor)
Steve James was an American actor, stuntman and martial artist. He starred mostly in action films such as the American Ninja series, The Delta Force , The Exterminator , and Enter the Game of Death...
as his side-kick. Domestic box office grosses for the picture totaled $10,499,694.
Plot
Pvt. Joe Armstrong (Michael DudikoffMichael Dudikoff
Michael Joseph Dudikoff II is an American actor who has been in numerous films, including the American Ninja series , Tron , Bachelor Party , Platoon Leader , River of Death , Soldier Boyz , Ringmaster , and The Silencer , to name a few...
), an orphaned drifter with little respect for much other than martial arts, finds himself on an American Army base in the Philippines after a judge gives him a choice of enlistment or prison. On one of his first missions driving a convoy, his platoon is attacked by a group of rebels who try to steal the weapons the platoon is transporting and try to kidnap Patricia (Judie Aronson
Judie Aronson
Judith M. Aronson is an American actress who has starred in many films and a television show. The television series in which she starred was the short-lived Pursuit of Happiness as Sara Duncan from 1987-1988....
), the base colonel's daughter, who happens to be along for the ride. Joe rescues Patricia and defeats all the rebels, but the ninjas suddenly arrive and kill everyone in the platoon. Joe escapes with Patricia and gets her safely back to the base, but everyone else in the platoon is killed. When he arrives back on base, Joe is yelled at by the Col. William Hickock (Guich Koock) and Master Sergeant Rinaldo (John LaMotta
John LaMotta
John LaMotta is an American actor best known for his role Trevor Ochmonek in the sitcom ALF, a show which he later confessed to despise.-Biography:...
) for disobeying a direct order. This leads his superiors to conclude that Joe is guilty of cowardice, collaboration or simple incompetence. Even his fellow army soldiers want nothing to do with him, asking if the price of one girl was worth the lives of four fellow soldiers. At the same time, the rebel leader of the Black Star Ninja army (Tadashi Yamashita
Tadashi Yamashita
is an Japanese American martial arts instructor and actor.- Biography :Yamashita was born in mainland Japan but raised in Okinawa, where he earned a black belt at the age of 16...
) vows revenge against the serviceman who disrupted his plans, and is ordered by a businessman named Victor Ortega (Don Stewart) to eliminate the "American Ninja" Joe Armstrong.
While performing his daily chores, Cpl. Curtis Jackson (Steve James
Steve James (actor)
Steve James was an American actor, stuntman and martial artist. He starred mostly in action films such as the American Ninja series, The Delta Force , The Exterminator , and Enter the Game of Death...
) antagonizes Joe and challenges him to a match. Joe easily wins, showing off his ninjutsu skills and impresses Jackson, earning the respect of the others as well. Jackson gets the whole story from Joe: he has amnesia, but he always remembers his ninjutsu moves, and that has helped him with his instinct for survival. Patricia arrives back on the base and arranges a date night, Jackson and Charley Madison (Phil Brock) sneak him off the base, but they are caught during dinner by Rinaldo, who is having a business dinner with Ortega (meaning they're in league together). To ensure his elimination, Rinaldo leads him to an abandoned warehouse on the pretense of dropping off some supplies. Ninjas ambush Joe, but Joe quickly kills all of them. Somebody steals his truck and Joe chases him on motorbike. The driver tails Joe, crushing his bike and thinks he is dead. Joe, however, rides under the car and gets a glimpse into Ortega's operation and the ninja training: he is smuggling weapons from the U.S. Army and selling them to the highest bidder. He is caught by ninjas and fights, but later makes his escape thanks to Ortega's helper named Shinyuki (John Fujioka). Joe is immediately placed under arrest by military police led by Sergeant Frankie "Private Stomper" Upton upon his arrival at the base. Jackson asks the MP duty sergeant, Sergeant First Class Chucky "Act so bad" Walowitz, what charges have been leveled at Joe and later protests to Rinaldo that the charges are not justified. The black star ninja leader sneaks in to the MP holding cells that night, and kills all the stationed MP officers, including Specialist Phil "Hardcore" Norton, before trying to kill Joe. Joe escapes, and challenges him to a duel before other MP officers arrive at the scene. One MP is found with a throwing star lodged in his head, this further implicates Joe as a murderer. Joe explains everything to Jackson, who brings Patricia along as well.
Joe informs William of the hijacked weapons, but not before he is betrayed when Williams orders Rinaldo to finish it. The black star ninja leader arrives at the house and kidnaps Patricia, while Ortega threatens Williams, who now knows the full extent. At the same time, Joe drives off with Rinaldo and his men on the trail. Joe's car clips Rinaldo's that sends him off course and into a tree, killing him instantly. Joe sneaks back into Ortega's, reuniting him with Shinyuki. It is revealed that Shinyuki raised Joe when he was a baby, training him in the art of Ninjutsu before a bomb blast separates them both. With the remaining time left, Shinyuki completes Joe's training and begin an assault on Ortega's base. Shinyuki dies in battle, as the Army officers arrive on the scene with Hicock leading the way. Hickock is killed by Ortega, and the black star ninja leader is killed by Joe. Ortega leaves with Patricia in the chopper, but Joe rescues Patricia in time for Jackson to fire a missile at the helicopter, killing Ortega.
The final scene shows Joe fulfilling his duties as an American ninja as he lets Jackson catch Patricia.
Cast
- Michael DudikoffMichael DudikoffMichael Joseph Dudikoff II is an American actor who has been in numerous films, including the American Ninja series , Tron , Bachelor Party , Platoon Leader , River of Death , Soldier Boyz , Ringmaster , and The Silencer , to name a few...
- Pvt. Joe Armstrong - Steve JamesSteve James (actor)Steve James was an American actor, stuntman and martial artist. He starred mostly in action films such as the American Ninja series, The Delta Force , The Exterminator , and Enter the Game of Death...
- Cpl. Curtis Jackson - Judie AronsonJudie AronsonJudith M. Aronson is an American actress who has starred in many films and a television show. The television series in which she starred was the short-lived Pursuit of Happiness as Sara Duncan from 1987-1988....
- Patricia Hickock - Guich Koock - Col. William T. Hickock
- John Fujioka - Shinyuki
- Don StewartDon Stewart (actor)Donald Bruce Stewart was an American actor best known for his long-running role as attorney Mike Bauer on Guiding Light. Stewart appeared on Guiding Light from 1968 to 1984, with a brief return appearance in 1997....
- Victor Ortega - John LaMottaJohn LaMottaJohn LaMotta is an American actor best known for his role Trevor Ochmonek in the sitcom ALF, a show which he later confessed to despise.-Biography:...
- MSgt. Rinaldo (as John La Motta) - Tadashi YamashitaTadashi Yamashitais an Japanese American martial arts instructor and actor.- Biography :Yamashita was born in mainland Japan but raised in Okinawa, where he earned a black belt at the age of 16...
- Black Star ninja - Phil Brock - Pvt. Charley Madison
- Richard Norton - MP (uncredited)
- Bob NewhartBob NewhartGeorge Robert Newhart , known professionally as Bob Newhart, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. Noted for his deadpan and slightly stammering delivery, Newhart came to prominence in the 1960s when his album of comedic monologues The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart was a worldwide...
- Old guy in coffee shop
Production
The film was originally called American Warrior, but was changed to American Ninja prior to its release. The trailer (included on the DVD) contains the original title. In Germany, however, the film was released under the title American Fighter.It was also the first of three films pairing Michael Dudikoff
Michael Dudikoff
Michael Joseph Dudikoff II is an American actor who has been in numerous films, including the American Ninja series , Tron , Bachelor Party , Platoon Leader , River of Death , Soldier Boyz , Ringmaster , and The Silencer , to name a few...
and Steve James
Steve James (actor)
Steve James was an American actor, stuntman and martial artist. He starred mostly in action films such as the American Ninja series, The Delta Force , The Exterminator , and Enter the Game of Death...
, the other two being American Ninja 2: The Confrontation
American Ninja 2: The Confrontation
American Ninja 2: The Confrontation is a 1987 action/adventure sequel starring Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, Jeff Weston, Gary Conway, Michelle Botes and Larry Poindexter...
and Avenging Force
Avenging Force
Avenging Force is a 1986 film directed by Sam Firstenberg. The screenplay was written by James Booth, who co-starred in the film. It is a sequel to the 1985 film Invasion U.S.A., which starred Chuck Norris in the role of Matt Hunter.-Plot:...
.