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IMDbPro

Private Wars

  • 1993
  • R
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
5.1/10
194
YOUR RATING
Private Wars (1993)
Action

A wealthy businessman is trying to "convince" the inhabitants of an old neighborhood to abandon their homes in order to build a huge business center there. To achieve his goals, he bribes th... Read allA wealthy businessman is trying to "convince" the inhabitants of an old neighborhood to abandon their homes in order to build a huge business center there. To achieve his goals, he bribes the police and uses organized bands to intimidate the neighbors. But perhaps this alcoholic ... Read allA wealthy businessman is trying to "convince" the inhabitants of an old neighborhood to abandon their homes in order to build a huge business center there. To achieve his goals, he bribes the police and uses organized bands to intimidate the neighbors. But perhaps this alcoholic ex-cop, Manning, could help them, but how?

  • Director
    • John Weidner
  • Writers
    • Ken Lamplugh
    • John Weidner
  • Stars
    • Steve Railsback
    • Michael Champion
    • Dan Tullis Jr.
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.1/10
    194
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Weidner
    • Writers
      • Ken Lamplugh
      • John Weidner
    • Stars
      • Steve Railsback
      • Michael Champion
      • Dan Tullis Jr.
    • 8User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos4

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    Top cast23

    Edit
    Steve Railsback
    Steve Railsback
    • Jack Manning
    Michael Champion
    Michael Champion
    • Chief Carpenter
    Dan Tullis Jr.
    • Mo Williams
    Holly Floria
    • Ronnie Gilmore
    Stuart Whitman
    Stuart Whitman
    • Alexander Winters
    Michael DeLano
    Michael DeLano
    • Mr. Mendoza
    James Lew
    James Lew
    • Obata
    Brian Patrick Clarke
    Brian Patrick Clarke
    • Ben Gilmore
    Albert Garcia
    • Ferret
    Cynthia Frost
    • Mrs. Dominick
    Tim Colceri
    Tim Colceri
    • Sergeant Fuller
    John Hobson
    • Biker
    Vince Murdocco
    Vince Murdocco
    • Eddie
    • (as Vincent Murdocco)
    John Salvitti
    John Salvitti
    • Falco
    Anthony R. Lovett
    • Wolcott
    • (as Andy Lovett)
    Jan Michael Shultz
    • Cop #1
    • (as Jan Shultz)
    Todd Eric Valcourt
    Todd Eric Valcourt
    • Pimply Teen
    Ken Davitian
    Ken Davitian
    • Bartender
    • Director
      • John Weidner
    • Writers
      • Ken Lamplugh
      • John Weidner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    5.1194
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    Featured reviews

    10joshf1

    Best bad movie of all time

    Steve Railsback is an underrated actor who plays an ex-cop named Jack Manning. Manning, who now is a private detective, has become a drunken-shell of his former self. When approached by an old friend, Manning is called back into action. This time, to clean up a town and prevent a rich tycoon from taking whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

    This movie is so "creatively bad" it's hilarious. Even if I was paid to TRY making a bad movie, I wouldn't be able to dumb-down enough to make one that comes close to Private Wars. If you are a fan of Mystery Science Theater 3000, you need to watch this movie and wish that Joel was with you. This movie is worth watching because the everything is so unrealistically funny that you will not be able to stop laughing.
    7Bezenby

    Railsback is back, as Railsback!

    I read somewhere that early PM films are awful, and they kind of are. But they're also kind of great! How can you hate a film that has four separate montages? It's impossible.

    This one has Steve Railsback (of the mighty Turkey Shoot and the Wing Hauser/Meg Foster weirdness Edge of Terror) as a straight cop in a world of cops on the take. After catching a police captain getting a kickback from a property developer (Stuart Whitman), Railsback is framed and booted off the force, becoming a drunken P.I.

    Meanwhile, his mate's neighbourhood is under threat from evil gangs (the montage introducing the gang – all three of them! Is hilarious. Love the repeated stamping of the kids car!) which results in one dead shopkeeper and a vengeful sister. Can they clean up the neighbourhood, fight off the evil property developer guy (who has conversations with underlings while folks duke it out by his swimming pool), fall in love with each other, blow crap up, have gunfights etc etc etc? It's all about the montages. You've got two bad guy montages, one sobering up/training montage, and a 'cleaning up the neighbourhood' montage. That's a lot of montage for the six pence I paid for this. It's not a horrifically bad film, and I couldn't help but wish the action could have been a bit more 'packed', but tis a fine slice of cheese that wouldn't be out of place in your crappy nineties action movie collection.

    Unless it was made in the eighties. I can't be bothered checking. Also - check out the user review from rsoonsa on this very page - talk about a pretentious arsehole with no sense of humour!
    8Weirdling_Wolf

    Watch 'Private Wars', trust me, you'll wonder where it's been all your B-Movie life!

    Outside of the rabidly trash movie-loving cognoscenti, I honestly don't know why those doyens of destruction at PM Entertainment aren't more revered as DTV shoot 'em up gods! 90s exploitation is often disparaged, since very few wax nostalgically about, Billy Blanks Sci-fighting ouvre, but, utilizing robust filtering there are many batso Bobby Dazzlers yet to be discovered! If pyromaniacal PM Entertainment had only produced 'Private Wars' it would nonetheless remain a meritorious low budget treat! The credulity-sapping levels of B-movie bossage herein provides a plenitude of skewed shenanigans, and 'Private Wars' remains a veritable must-see for, Steve Railsback's dipso butt-kicking private dick, Jack Manning! This riotously entertaining heft of gun-happy hokum has sinister property developing sleaze, Alexander Winters (Stuart Whitman) paying bloodthirsty, Ghetto blasting goons to violently harass the locals into selling up.

    The beleaguered community reluctantly approach liquor-sotted sleuth, Jack Manning (Steve Railsback) to take on these muscle-headed minions of sadistic crime Kingpin, Winters. The sheer bravura absurdity of having, Railsback as an indestructible Krav Maga-savvy Equalizer makes 'Private Wars' such a madly compelling misfire! A relatively unsung cult actioner, Steve Railsback's beerily sardonic, profoundly whiskey-warped, front-kicking, stumble-bum Seagal is pure DTV WTF gold! The fact that, Railsback is a quality actor makes his legless performance that much more precious. Watch 'Private Wars', trust me, you'll wonder where it's been all your B-Movie life! Not on the same lurid level as 'Deadly Prey' or 'Miami Connection', but the bountiful fisticuffs are ably choreographed by the noted martial artist, Jack Salvitti.
    7b_kite

    A solid P.M. Entertainment action flick.

    Steve Railsback is given Chuck Norris powers in this P. M. Entertainment flick where he's a drunk former cop hired by an old friend to help clean up and take back a section of city overtaken by punks. The punks are being paid by Stuart Whitman who is trying to run the people from their homes to build a business center.

    I always heard that by 1992 the P. M. guys had finally managed to start coming into their own, and that defiantly seems true here as everything is more on par from there earlier stuff like the direction, pacing, and production to actually giving their older casted stars like Whitman something to actually do as he's amazing here as the scummy bad guy. The final act feels a bit rushed, but this is overall a lot of fun.
    9dtitus-1

    Railsback at his best since Manson

    This piece of garbage is, whether intentional or not, very hilarious. You could tell the film makers just stopped trying and piled in as much foul language, poor taste, racism, and violence as possible. Plus Railsback is hilarious as a drunk, and there are tons of other lifers in this including Officer Dan, the black cop from Married With Children. Get some beer and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The end sucks because some girl gets Railsback to quit drinking, but up to that point it's great. This movie is not realistic at all. Not like any movie really is, but this one doesn't even try. You wonder why someone with actual talent like Railsback would actually have to resort to this trash, but I'm glad that he did in this case.

    Related interests

    Bruce Willis in Piège de cristal (1988)
    Action

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Features CIA: nom de code Alexa (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      We The People
      Written by Thomas Salvitti & Kenny Texeira

      Performed by Kenny Texeira

      Madeira Publishing & Naples Publishing BMI

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 1993 (Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Gangs of L.A.
    • Filming locations
      • The Langham Apartments - 715 S Normandie Ave, Los Angeles, California, USA(As 'Jackson Heights', the primary neighborhood terrorized by thugs.)
    • Production companies
      • PM Entertainment Group
      • Sunland Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 28m(88 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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