Good Guys Wear Black

It might not have been Norris' breakout film, but he was on its way and a good stepping stone for things to come. Well he had appeared in a few films before hand, but not so much as a leading role and this was an attempt to create a new Bruce Lee for the American market. It's quite a routine vehicle for Norris, which while captivating it never truly capitalizes on the martial art skills that he bestows. Sure he gets time to hand out a beating or two, but in the end there's just not enough to go around. Most of the time Norris as ex-commando John T. Booker is racing around the clock trying to figure out a political conspiracy involving the extermination of his special-op team the "Black Tigers", and then maybe … that's when angry or tested he decides to beat the pulp out of someone. Sadly when that happens the sock 'em activity doesn't last all that long… by building up a punishing rhythm to only be over in a matter of seconds. Might be impressive to watch when in action (although the camera at times gets a little too close not allowing the space), but you feel short-changed hoping for more or at least some competition. The material could've seen any actor take the lead role, as it seems to ask more from as an establish actor, but then we probably wouldn't have seen the trademark stunt of Norris' stirring jump-kick through car windshield. This one sequence alone (along with a three on one car park showdown) shows what he could bring to the table.

So far I guess it sounds like I didn't get much from it, but that's not particularly true. What surprised more than anything was that his earlier features had somewhat heavily written plots, despite the forced dialogues. "Good Guys Wear Black" had quite a pessimistically knotty narrative; where it builds upon the mystery and strangely it's devious plotting of political corruption and lingering suspicion of things are not quite what they seem was compellingly fleshed out. Also the ending has nice touch of irony to it. Norris continuing to hand out justice… Norris justice.

Ted Post (who helm Eastwood in "Hang 'Em High" and "Magnum Force") has a competent steadiness to his serviceable direction, but does lack the flair and excitement in the favour of grinding out the tough dramatics and lean action caught behind raw, but scenic locations. This is obvious, and it does seem to hold Norris back. He tries his best, but while his delivery might not always be the greatest (acting that is) he does have likability and certain charisma (not just the golden-blonde hair and moustache) that eventually shines through. The rest of performances do fair up a lot better. Anne Archer is bitingly good across Norris and James Franciscus likewise with his smarmy portrayal. Lloyd Haynes and Dana Andrews chime in with solid offerings. Jim Backus has a neat cameo too. Craig Safan's distinguishable jazz score crackles along.

Simply middle ground, as Norris would go onto better things.

In this film those that are wearing black are a special forces group of trained assassins who went on special missions with selective targets. The group that Chuck Norris led were so good at their jobs that before the Paris Peace Accords are signed the North Vietnamese want this group eliminated.

Chuck Norris's group must have been doing some kind of damage that this kind of demand be made. All having to do with that Oriental concept of saving face.

But the Black Tigers make it out, most of them that is. But a few years after the war ended, people in his group are starting to get killed in strange and exotic ways.

It all has to do with the ambitions of career diplomat James Franciscus who is playing a role far from idealistic teacher Mr. Novak. Franciscus certainly would have had the proper attitudes to go far in the Nixon administration. He's got a loyal career subordinate in Dana Andrews who is getting good and stewed as his way of coping. Andrews who had a career tainted by alcoholism certainly had this late career role down pat.

Chuck Norris with a bit of help from Lloyd Haynes of the CIA and reporter Anne Archer who on the Washington cocktail circuit gets the story of a lifetime give him some help. That and his own martial arts skills dispatch a number of bad guys.

Norris fans will approve.

I don't know what it is about this film, but I can never seem to tire of it. The acting is nothing special, the camera work is dated, and the plot is confusing at times. But this doesn't effect the enjoyment I receive every time I put this DVD on and watch it again. In fact, the story grows more intriguing with every viewing. If you are a Chuck Norris fan, this is an especially fantastic find, since he is at rare form from start to finish. The plot has Norris race around the western US trying to stop an assassin gunning for members of his former CIA Vietnam unit. This may be one of the first films to feature truly "extreme" stunts, including snowmobiling, jumping thru a windshield of a moving car, along with other motorcycle, race car, and skiing related action. Luckily, now you can find the DVD in discount stores easily, and I believe it's worth picking up.

The film begins in Paris , 1973 during peace talks to end the Vietnam War.Later on, Riverside , California, five years later , a mild-mannered teacher named Booker (Chuck Norris) keeps his previous life as leader of a Vietnam commando (Soon-Tek Oh, Pierce, Aaaron Norris, among others) named ¨The Black Tigers¨ unit under wraps until he discovers that he's number one in a hit list. John Booker attempts to resolve why his former squad are being mysteriously killed, one time the Vietnam war is over.There's a conflict-ridden love interest as well, Norris falls in love with a lovely journalist (a youngster Anne Archer) who must to save her.

This exciting picture is plenty of action-packed, tension,suspense and cheesy sub-plot to boot with wild stunts .The movie displays a plethora of martial arts fights ,Norris cleans up the nasty fighters by means of punches ,kicks,bound and leaps with struggles certainly slick .It's violent, frenetic and hectic and not particularly literary but worthy entry in Kung-Fu genre , although runs out energy surprisingly early. Average Norris-thriller ,exciting and tense at times with fine work from Dana Andrews, Lloyd Haynes and James Franciscus as a brilliant and ambitious politician. And of course, Karate expert Chuck Norris who saves the day with lots of visceral violence , he's a nice wrestler who possesses incredible strength . The film belongs Norris's early period ,during the 80s as : ¨Code of silence,Delta Force,Silent rage,Octagon,Forced vengeance, Delta Force I,II, An eye for an eye¨ among others with successful box office at cinemas and video-rentals. In the 90s and 2000s with exception of ¨Walker Texas Ranger¨,the Norris star has gone down. Action addicts will give this one a passing grade ,all others need not apply. If you're a previous Norris fans,you'll like it but contains enough action and violence for enthusiastic of the Karate genre. The motion picture is regularly directed by Ted Post. It's followed by the sequel titled ¨A force of one¨ with Norris-Booker as team commander of some undercover narcotic agents who are being eliminated one-by-one.

The story of Good Guys Wear Black(1979) interestingly enough resembles the plot lines of Steven Seagal's early films of Above the Law(1988), Hard to Kill(1990), and Marked for Death(1991). The direction by Ted Post is very good. Good Guys Wear Black(1979) and the Dirty Harry picture, Magnum Force(1973) are the two best films for this average director. Chuck Norris stars in what is one of his better films before he would give up the cinema for television. Anne Archer is good in an early film role before she was a respectable actress. James Franciscus is terrific as the cold blooded and ruthless Politican Conrad Morgan. Has what is probably the best stunt of Chuck Norris's career with the scene where he leaps through the front window of a car and into an assassin for a martial arts kick.