In a world where, unbeknownst to the public, all famous pulp fiction heroes are real, one of them, Jake Speed, agrees to help desperate Margaret Winston save her sister from sadistic white s... Read allIn a world where, unbeknownst to the public, all famous pulp fiction heroes are real, one of them, Jake Speed, agrees to help desperate Margaret Winston save her sister from sadistic white slaver Sid, who's operating in Africa.In a world where, unbeknownst to the public, all famous pulp fiction heroes are real, one of them, Jake Speed, agrees to help desperate Margaret Winston save her sister from sadistic white slaver Sid, who's operating in Africa.
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- Writers
- Stars
- Maureen Winston
- (as Rebecca Ashley)
- Director
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Featured reviews
A sappy and cheesy film that doesn't pretend to be something that it's not. I have to give this one a recommendation. That's if you enjoy movies that like to have fun and for those who don't take everything at face value.
Recommended.
Unlike other people's comments, I do not think that this film intended to pretend that it was Indiana Jones; it was meant to entertain in the genre of fictional hero with human frailties, and in that respect Jake Speed succeeds. No one wants to believe he exists, and he has an over-the-top archenemy, played to the hilt by John Hurt. Karen Kopins does fine as the "heroine" who just wants to get her sister back from white slavers and finds herself caught up in the strange world of a hero whose books are based upon his real-life adventures. And Dennis Christopher tries to hold the adventure together while dealing with Jake's ego and Karen's disbelief.
For escapist fun without the need to invest mentally or emotionally, Jake Speed fits the bill.
Did you know
- TriviaThe movie is both a tribute to, and satire of, pulp novels and their heroes. As a tribute to these stories, the movie is set in an alternate reality where, unknowingly to the general public, all of the famous pulp fiction heroes like Remo Williams, a.k.a. The Destroyer, Mack Bolan, a.k.a. The Executioner, and Doc Savage are real, and the novels about them are factual testimonies about their real-life adventures. In the movie, Jake Speed is just one of these real-life pulp heroes, and even talks about his famous colleagues once or twice. However, in real-life, unlike Remo Williams, Mack Bolan, and Doc Savage, Jake Speed is not a pulp fiction character, and was entirely made up for this movie, as a satire on pulp archetypes and clichés.
- GoofsShortly after Sid ejects Maurice from the Jeep during the car chase, you can see three people inside as it turns a corner. There should only be two: Sid and the driver.
- Quotes
[Margaret is captured by the white slavers]
Sid: Yesss. You're a bit straight, but you've got potential.
Margaret Winston: You scum sucking pig!
Sid: How old are you, pussycat? How old!
Margaret Winston: Twenty-seven.
Sid: Sorry. This is a game for kids.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Meurtres en VHS (1988)
- SoundtracksNight After Night
Written by Mark Holden, Lea Hart and Steve LeGassick (as Steve Lagassick)
Performed by Mark Holden
Produced by Don Perry and Bob Summers
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Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,943,751
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,058,048
- Jun 1, 1986
- Gross worldwide
- $1,943,751
- Runtime1 hour 45 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1