Cusack - Der Schweigsame

During the 1980's, Chuck Norris was a big star who starred in many sub par action flicks. Code of Silence(1985) is one of the raw exceptions where the action and story blends together. Code of Silence's story seems to take its roots from the Italian police thrillers of the 1970's. The locales of Chicago are beautifully shown.

Code of Silence(1985) along with Aliens(1986) contained some of the most slam bang action sequences during that period. There are two remarkable scenes that define the movie. First, the fight on top of the elavated subway. Second, the climax where Chuck takes on an entire group of villains on his own.

The sub plot involving a corrupt cop who covers up an accidential shooting adds some realism to the film. The title refers to the code that policemen uphold among themselves. Code of Silence(1985) deals with police corruption in a frank and honest many that many action specialist in the 1990's would be afraid to tackle. This is the only Police thriller I've seen where no one helps the main hero.

The director, Andrew Davis has created characters who always fight against corruption...E.G., Above the Law(Nico), The Package(Agent), Under Siege(Casey), and The Fugitive(Richard). Henry Silva is fantastic as the cool and cold blooded Luis Comacho. Dennis Farina is his usual sarcastic self in the role of a policeman named Dorato. The funniest scene is when two people attempt to rob a bar that's full of Police officers.

To me,it's kind of unfortunate that many people,when people mention the name Chuck Norris think mostly of "Walker:Texas Ranger"(if they're not thinking of the barrage of Internet facts and the Home Gym infomercials he's been doing with Christie Brinkley),which is a shame. "Walker..." may've offered people who enjoy their television simple,straight-forward and moralistic(not to meniton full of round-house kicks),but to me,Mr.Norris seems better suited for movies,where his quiet,confident and likable minimalism as an actor--which perfectly balance his awesome fighting skills--can go from introduction through denouement of a three-to-four act movie involving situation,rising tension,action,climax and conclusion,all in the tight space of two hours or so(As opposed to a recurring character over the space of twenty-plus episodes per season). But that's just my humble Opine.

THis story isn't particularly taxing,as following suit with many of this genre: Tough,upright,fair and moral Chicago Sgt.Eddie Cusack(guess who?)has two looming problems on his hands--an IAD investigation into the shooting of a young boy in the projects involving two of his undercovers,one of whom becomes his de facto partner,and a gang war brewing between Italian and Bolivian(?) drug-families,which has him becoming the guardian of a scared Mafia princess(Molly HAgan). Cusack'll need his not only his toughness but also his wits(And a police robot,to boot)to play both families(the Latino family led by Henry Silva,a piece of excellent casting) off each other AND dodge the repercussions of bitter,corrupt fellow cops to make sure that justice is preserved and the innocent young woman in his care is not made yet another mob war casualty.

Directed by rising star director Andrew DAvis(in another seven years,he'll helm the surprise hit "UNder Siege" and in eight,the blockbuster "The Fugitive"),this show uses A lot of Chicago--it's scenery,it's landmarks,neighborhoods and(last but not least)it's actors,none the least of which is someday acting staple but then former Chicago cop himself Dennis FArina(As Chuck's easy-going partner and erstwhile comic relief)--and it's all used to very good effect. About the only thing that doesn't cut muster here is the almost CAsio-like music that scores this,but being that this was a 1985 release,I'm figuring that this show was no more or less guilty of that than most films of the era. I got this movie out of the cheap,cheap CHEAP bin at the local music and movie resold store,and I must say that it better than makes up for the price paid. This film's been swept under,but to me,coupled with such lost classics as "The Octagon","Lone Wold McQuade" and "Eye for an Eye" are definitely worth your Norris film library,if you are so inclined to start one,of course.

*****SOME SPOILERS***** Eddie Cusack, Chuck Norris,is both though and honest. During an impending drug raid on the Comacho mob by Cusack's undercover crew their interrupted by the Luna mob who kill eight Comacho gang members.

Luis Camacho, Henry Silva, the head of the Comacho mob vowed revenge and a full scale gang war erupts in Chicago. During the police raid officer Cragie, Ralph Foody, shoots an innocent boy down in cold blood and then plants a gun on him to cover it up. In full sight of his startled partner officer Kopalas, Joe Guzaldo.

With most of her family murdered by the Comacho mob, Cusack rescues Diana Luna, Molly Hagan, and hides her with a friend of his Ed Pirelli, Allen Hamilton, until he can get her to the safety of the police. Meanwhile at the police hearing of the shooting of the boy by Cragie, Cusack testifies that he wrote a memo some time ago that Cragie should be taken off the streets. Cusack says "30 years on the streets is too much for anyone" plus he saw that Cragie was not only a threat to those that he dealt with but also to his fellow police officers.

The Comacho mob finds where Cusack hid Diana and after murdering Pirelli who was hiding her takes her hostage. Cusack going to the Comacho mob headquarters calls for backup but his fellow policemen let him go at it alone and don't come to his aid since he broke the "Code of Silence" in regards to taking against a fellow police officer. Cusack gets brutally beaten by the Comacho mob and is told that if he doesn't bring them Diana' father Tony Luna, Mike Genovese, she'll be dead by morning.

Cusack finding out that Tony Luna is arriving at the Chicago train station from Wisconsin where he was in hiding tries to arrest him. In a wild shootout and car chase Luna is killed in a car smash up as Cusack was chasing him through the city streets. With nothing left for him to negotiate for Diana's life and with his fellow policemen treating him as a leper an not coming to his aid Eddie Cusack is now left to take on the entire Comacho mob by himself. In a last and desperate attempt to save Diana's life.

Chuck Norris's best movie by far with more story and less action then Norris movies usually have. Few as they are the action scenes are far more effective and exciting when they come on the screen. Because of the much more superior writing they don't come off cheap and monotonous like they usually would in a Chuck Norris action movie.

With great heart stooping shoot-outs in the beginning and end of the movie and an exciting and terrifying chase on top of the Chicago El Train in the middle of the film makes "Code of Silence" with out a doubt Norris's best movie ever. Norris's acting has also improved when he's directed to talk more and fight less which director Andrew Davis allowed him to do.

1985 was perhaps the peak year for action star Chuck Norris, with three big hits released. This was the second one out, and it's arguably one of the best made of his career. It still manages to make enough mistakes to limit its appeal, though. Chuck stars as a Chicago cop caught in the middle of a bloody drug war between the Italian mafia and Colombian drug lords. He's also having trouble at work, where a burn-out veteran detective involved in a bad shooting incident asks Chuck for support, which he denies, and most of the force turns against him because of it. Co-starring Henry Silva as the head Colombian, Bert Remsen as the police captain, Molly Hagan as a mobster's daughter, John Mahoney, and Dennis Farina in his largest role to date. He was still on the job as a real Chicago policeman at the time, but he would turn to acting full-time the following year, with a major role in Manhunter and the lead in the TV series Crime Story.

The mood is much grittier than in most Norris films, and the Chicago location shooting adds a lot of atmosphere. Much of the story is more than a little cliched, though, and the finale takes things into 80's action film absurdity. Several of the earlier action scenes are well mounted, a trademark for director Andrew Davis (Under Siege, The Fugitive).

Well, I certainly wasn't expecting this; Chuck Norris in a genuinely good film.This is one of the better ones though. There isn't much in the way of martial arts, but there's a great one man army style finale.

It's more of a cop thriller, which has a genuinely good story and a damn good cast to boot. You've got the legendary Denis Farina and Henry Silva, who can never, ever play a good guy; he just looks evil all the time.

I love stories about corrupt cops; there's something that really grabs you emotionally because you get so angry that even "heroes" can be corrupted. Not our Chuck though, who ends up alienating himself from the force because he wants to bring down one of his own.

Code of Silence is a gritty, old-school cop thriller kinda like Dirty Harry and it's one of Chuck's more serious roles and he is actually pretty damn good in it too. Its a little slow in the first half and isn't constant action, but it is really tense in places and doesn't skimp on the violence either.

I would have given it a higher score if there was more martial arts in the film. But overall, if you're a Chuck Norris fan then give Code of Silence a watch. It's definitely one of his better films. 8 out of 10