Chains of Gold

About a social worker who is set on bringing a kid out of the underworld and drug trade. He asks for help from the cops who dont care about one kid. He disguises himself and gets into the dirty underbelly of the trade, just to save a kid. This movie could be worse, the acting is horrible, and even the story seems out of whack. But if you have a 2 hours to spare, why not see what kind of movies Travolta was in before Pulp Fiction saved him. This movie isnt horrible, it does have it's highlights, and what could have been a good story about the drug trade. But sitting through a lot of bad acting override these. Not a recommended movie.

My review was written in November 1992 after watching the movie on Academy video cassette.

Earnest with a capital E, "Chains of Gold" is a failed attempt to deal with the ongoing drug/crime wave entrapping today's youth. This 1989 MCEG production was shown on Showtime last year and is now a Christmas video release.

Opening title card indicates the film was based on actual events, but the screenplay by star John Travolta and three other writers is corny melodrama.

Travolta portrays a do-gooder social worker in Miami with major guilt over the death of his son when he was too drunk to help. He's now taken under his wing a surrogate son, Joey Lawrence, who's deeply involved in local drug dealing.

When Lawrence disappears, Travolta becomes obsessed with finding the boy and saving him. Losing his job after a fight with a superior, Travolta decides to infiltrate the drug ring, led by evil Benjamin Bratt. To this end, he enlists the aid of an old flame, Marilu Henner, who's now working as Bratt's corrupt lawyer.

The film becomes utterly unconvincing when Bratt admits Travolta to his inner circle while having his henchman closely monitor the outsider. Of course Travolta bulls his way through to a violent, offing-the-baddies conclusion, but it plays as false.

Keeping his 1970s superstar charisma and physical abilities under wraps, Travolta is tiresome in this stolid, goody two-shoes role. Pairing with Henner strikes no sparks either. Film's best performance comes from Bratt, as the brash. 21-year-old fabulously wealthy drug kingpin.

Rod Holcomb's direction varies from overly low-key in the middle reels to egregiously hokey melodrama for the finale.

If you see this movie on the video shelf at a video store, rent it. It is definitely worth seeing.

When Chains of Gold came out is was dismissed as a vanity project. I don't get it. While the film is far from perfect its very well made and has some good performances.

Travolta is sympathetic as hell as Barnes, the social worker.

The supporting cast are good and is stacked with familiar faces and the Miami setting is exotic and adds production value.

The script is never likely to feature on any best of lists, but it gets the job done and the direction is solid and the pacing is fast.

As I said I really don't get the hate. The pic is entertaining and Travolta is always watchable and there's some good action scenes.

Chains of Gold is a fun watch.

An enjoyable film in my mind. Travolta is especially good in a movie about a social worker's determination to save his friend after he is kidnapped by the drug dealers that he worked for. Sure, this is hardly a perfect movie, but it will entertain you for 95 minutes.