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Sundry video titles for this sloppily made movie include DESPERATE MEN, BACK IN THE U.S.A., and PANIC ESCAPE, but by any name it is fundamentally a mess, with weak performances on display throughout, and with production values being wantonly neglected as are normal measures of logic and continuity. Set in 1961, the scenario involves two young GIs: Chas (Ken Wahl) and Leroy (Judge Reinhold), freshly mustered out from tours of duty in Panama, who while hopping an Army cargo plane to Florida, native state of Leroy, take advantage of an opportunity for the latter to test his new infra red capability camera by snapping a picture of what turns out to be a clandestine U.S. military base, and when it is revealed that such a photograph is made, a less than cordial reaction is naturally forthcoming from Army intelligence officers. These latter, preparing for the Bay Of Pigs invasion of Cuba, pursue the former servicemen, and although it is not explained how their identity is learned, this is apparently of little concern to those responsible for this foolishness, and it will come as no surprise that the chase after the two young men is enacted by only Cuban soldiers who cavort about the Everglades terrorizing U. S. citizens while utilizing weapons and vehicles not manufactured until well past 1961. In the course of their flight, the youths are reluctantly joined by Sally Mae (Annie McEnroe), and the trio is tasked with surviving numerous rounds of machine gun ammunition fired at them, bombs dropped from a plane upon them, and so forth, all this while doing a good deal of shouting and screaming, with Leroy determined to lug his Army issue foot locker with him no matter the hazard or whenever the writers are disposed to remember this particular plot motif. Poorly written, directed, and edited, the film wants focus from its outset, and only one filled with admiration for a featured player is likely to weather these moronic goings-on, as the dialogue is woefully trite, with Reinhold particularly unbridled.

I'll be as brief as I can be. This is a well done early Judge Reinhold /Ken Wahl picture. Before both actors went on to bigger things, Wahl to TV's Wiseguy and Reinhold to Fast Times at Ridgemont, Stripes & the Beverly Hills Cops movies. RS is filmed on location for the most part in the Everglades. It starts with the boys in 1961 Panama and they are coming back to their hometowns in the Everglades after a 3 year stint in the Army. Knuckle head Leroy(Reinhold) has stolen a foot locker full of 'goodies' from his base. A rifle, some grenades and a camera that is infra red and can take night time pictures. The guys hop a DC-3 Cargo plane back to the states and on the way back the plane lands at some airfield presumably in the Caribbean somewhere. Leroy snaps a picture with the infrared camera and leaves the tearoff on the plane. The DC-3 eventually lands in Florida bringing the boys' home. Later some soldiers cleaning the plane find the tear off part of Leroy's picture and take it to a strange individual(played by Bradford Dillman) whose planning a Cuban invasion. Chaz's(Wahl)image appears in a positive print of the tearoff negative when the photo is developed by the would be invaders. Mistaking Leroy & Chaz to be privy of the Cuban invasion, the men involved in the planned invasion now set out all over the Everglades looking to hunt down Leroy & Chaz. The boys separate for a while then get back together and meet up with a wealthy but sassy rich blond named Sallie Mae. One series of adventures leads to another with the trio escaping always in the knick of time from their Cuban pursuers. Mind the Cuban leader is played by John Saxon.

The movie boasts some great filming such as the boys' first encounter with two girls at a jukebox joint and subsequent makeout in the girls' station wagon, and the airboat getaway from Leroy's parents house. Or the scary night the boys' and Sallie Mae spent in the swamp. As time goes on a romance blossoms between Chaz & Sallie Mae. Leroy however is finally caught and secretly interrogated by Dillman & his gang. In short they beat his face! Chaz & Sallie Mae go back to her dad's sprawling estate(Dad's in Europe...how convenient) and clean up. The Cubans track them to the house and abduct Sallie Mae by boat. Chaz jumps in another boat and pursues them to the Cuban hideout. Leroy has now managed to escape his captors. He has managed to find some dynamite and is now wiring the compound to be blown to Kingdom Come. Chaz rescues Sallie Mae and they rescue Leroy and finally foil the villains. As the credits roll Dillman has been tied up on a boat by the trio and is set adrift in this boat with it's engine running and steering set for CUBA.

This is a sadly forgotten movie. It used to appear on cable all the time in the 80s. A low point is that this is supposed to take place in 1961 Florida. Early in the film when the armed guerillas first set out to pursue the boys' Saxon and his men use a big yellow Ryder van minus the word Ryder. No problem but the van is a late 70s model Chevrolet and is out of place in 1961 Florida Everglades. Other than this flaw and the fact that leroy manages to carry his heavy 'goodies' footlocker while being on the run, the production is top notch and had some solid acting from the cast. Also I should mention the great Pat Hingle has a minor role here as Chaz's father. Enjoy this.

1980's "Running Scared" hasn't been seen on the TV airwaves since its heyday in the 80s, and its ongoing obscurity is rather mystifying to me (I caught its HBO debut in 1982). After all, it boasts a terrific cast for a low budget actioner of the time, with rising stars Ken Wahl and Judge Reinhold supported by veterans such as Bradford Dillman, John Saxon, and Pat Hingle, all of whom contribute good performances. Still, it's the relatively unknown Annie McEnroe who steals the film as the tough rich girl who helps the unwitting fugitives fight back against the odds (she prevents things from becoming too grim). I first saw the pretty brunette topless in 1981's "The Hand," liked what I saw (who wouldn't?), then caught her in this, her feature debut after a pair of TV movies. She is so solid and dependable that I would have thought her career would skyrocket, but such was not the case (perhaps "Howling 2" really did turn out to be worse than I first believed). Other reviewers are throwing brickbats at this feature, and it's rather unfair, as it was never intended as anything more than the PG rated quickie it clearly is, delivering on everything promised (including the happy ending). Were it rated R, and failed to deliver on violence or nudity, that would be different. Catch it and find out what others seem to be missing. As for Annie McEnroe, thanks for the memories.

This implausible tale follows the road adventure, chase, damsel in distress formula. It's one saving grace is pre stardom Ken Wahl. The film takes place in 1960 and uses the Bay of Pigs as a plot device. I enjoyed the film for its chemistry between the main protagonists. Other than that, don't expect much other than mindless entertainment.

Chas McClain(Wahl) and Leroy Beecher(Judge)are returning home to Florida from military service in the Panama Canal zone as stow-aways on a C-47 cargo plane. Leroy is smuggling a trunk full of guns, cameras, and other goods he has appropriated as his Army "discharge bonus"

When the C-47 makes an unexpected supply drop at a secret military base, under preparation for a Cuban invasion, Leroy innocently takes a photograph while testing his new infra-red camera.

Chas and Leroy's civilian freedom is short-lived because a paranoid intelligence agent has discovered evidence of Judge's photography and assumes the boys are spies. Captain Munoz(John Saxon)doing his best Cuban,officer in the invasion force, is ordered to bring in the boys for questioning. Order are to stop at nothing, including torture, to get the answers they want. This is some of Reinhold best acting, he shows skill he hasn't use since. A good late-nite actioner. Oh yeah lots of cool cars from late 50's and early 60's.