Breaker! Breaker! is a 1977 American action film directed by Don Hulette and starring Chuck Norris in his first lead role. The co-stars include George Murdock, Don Gentry and Michael Augenstein.
| Breaker! Breaker! | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Don Hulette |
| Written by | Terry Chambers |
| Produced by | Sam Schulman Bernard Tabakin Don Hulette John Burrows |
| Starring | Chuck Norris George Murdock Terry O'Connor Michael Augenstein |
| Cinematography | Mario DiLeo |
| Edited by | Steven Zaillian |
| Music by | Don Hulette Terry Chambers Denny Brooks |
Production companies | Paragon Films Inc. Worldwide Productions |
| Distributed by | AIP |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 85 min. (approx.) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $250,000[1][2] |
| Box office | $12 million[1] or $3 million[3] |
J.D. (Norris), a trucker from California, learns that his old friend was assaulted and paralyzed by Sergeant Strode (Gentry), a policeman in Texas City, California. J.D. discovers that Strode has a history of "trapping" truckers for a corrupt judge named Trimmings (Murdock), who is running various rackets. Eventually J.D.'s younger brother (Augenstein), who is starting a trucking career, is deceived by Strode and goes missing. J.D. sets out to find him.
The film was a box-office success, grossing $12 million at the box office, but received generally negative reviews from critics.
Plot
editJ.D. (Chuck Norris), a trucker from California, returns from the road to learn that an old friend was assaulted and paralyzed by Sergeant Strode (Don Gentry), a policeman in Texas City, California. He makes inquiries into Texas City and learns that its policemen Strode and Deputy Boles (Ron Cedillos) have a history of "trapping" truckers for a corrupt judge named Trimmings who is running various rackets in the so-called "City".
When his younger brother Billy (Michael Augenstein) begins working as a trucker, J.D. warns him to stay away from Texas City. But Billy is easily fooled by an officer (Strode) on a CB radio, who pretends he is a fellow trucker.
After Billy disappears, J.D. sets out in search of him. He goes to Texas City and barges in on a city council meeting, wherein Trimmings' stooges boast of their speed traps. He befriends a waitress named Arlene, a single mother, working at a diner which overcharges outsiders. After getting into a fight with the owner of the local wrecking yard and accidentally killing him, J.D. is arrested and sentenced to death by Judge Trimmings.
Arlene escapes from Trimmings corrupt lawmen on a motorcycle and contacts J.D.'s fellow truckers about what has happened via CB radio. They come to rescue J.D. and Billy, knocking Strode into a ditch before tearing the town down with their big rigs. J.D. finds Billy in a local barn, and then fights Deputy Boles in a horse corral, knocking him out. One of the truckers drives his rig into Judge Trimmings house while he is in bed with his lover, presumably killing them, as the rest of the corrupt town burns.
Cast
edit- Chuck Norris as John David "J.D." Dawes
- George Murdock as Judge Joshua Trimmings
- Terry O'Connor as Arlene Trimmings
- Don Gentry as Sergeant Strode
- John DiFusco as Arney
- Ron Cedillos as Deputy Boles
- Michael Augenstein as Billy Dawes
- Dan Vandegrift as Wilfred
- Douglas Stevenson as Drake
- Paul Kawecki as Wade
- Larry Feder as George
- Jack Nance as Burton
Production
editNorris said he was paid $5,000 to do the film. "I didn't know anything when I made that movie", said Norris. "We shot it in just 11 days. But it was amazing, people loved it anyway. It's a down-home kind of movie. It's still my dad's favorite."[1]
"I want to become as big in the movie industry as I've been in the karate industry", said Norris in 1977. "I know I can do it because I have the faith to do it."[4]
Reception
editCritical response
editNorris was not particularly proud of the film but in 1981 said it was his father's favorite of his movies and "made a lot of money".[5]
The New York Times called it "shoddy" with "wooden direction" and a "sophmoric cast".[6] The Los Angeles Times called it "a talky, melodramatic exploitation hybrid."[7]
Other media
editIn popular culture
editThe film was referenced on the May 24, 2007 episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien, when O'Brien used a Breaker! Breaker! lever to showcase random scenes from Walker, Texas Ranger.[8]
The film was a subject of good-natured ridicule in a March 21, 2013 video-on-demand release by Rifftrax.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c BROESKE, P. H. (May 19, 1985). "CHUCK NORRIS--AN ALL-AMERICAN HIT". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 154169712.
- ^ "Noted...: Chuck Norris Films Re-Enter Fight Scene". Los Angeles Times. May 2, 1981. p. c9.
- ^ Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 300. ISBN 9780835717762. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
- ^ Lee, Grant. (May 25, 1977). "FILM CLIPS: Trek From TV to Movie to TV". Los Angeles Times. p. g9.
- ^ Drooz, A. (Mar 12, 1981). "Chuck norris aims for stardom". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 152733428.
- ^ A. H. WEILER. (May 19, 1977). "Film: 'Breaker!' Stalls". New York Times. p. 71.
- ^ Gross, Linda. (May 10, 1977). "MOVIE REVIEW: Truckers Blitz Evil in 'Breaker!'". Los Angeles Times. p. i8.
- ^ Late Night with Conan O'Brien on YouTube, May 24, 2007, accessed January 16, 2013
- ^ "RiffTrax Breaker! Breaker! Page", March 21, 2013.