Dead Bang

"For one cop this isn't just a case. It's a war."

1989 1h 45m EN

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 119

ActionThrillerCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Los Angeles homicide detective Jerry Beck searches for the murderer who killed a police officer on Christmas Eve. The investigation takes Beck inside the violent world of hate groups and white supremacists, who are hatching a deadly plot to attack even more innocent people. Beck must also confront his own personal demons, including his growing problem with alcohol, if he wants to track down and stop the violent neo-Nazis before it is too late.

“For one cop this isn't just a case. It's a war.”

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Where to watch · US

Cast

Don Johnson
Jerry Beck
Penelope Ann Miller
Linda Kimble
William Forsythe
Arthur Kressler
Bob Balaban
Elliott Webley
Frank Military
Bobby Burns
Tate Donovan
John Burns
Mickey Jones
Sleepy
Stephen E. Miller
Bogan - Oklahoma Officer

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Frankenheimer
Writers: Robert Foster, Jerry Beck, John Frankenheimer
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

37 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John Frankenheimer, shot by Gerry Fisher. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Gary Chang. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Robert F. Shugrue shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Don Johnson and Penelope Ann Miller and William Forsythe carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "For one cop this isn't just a case. It's a war.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0097166 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Frankenheimer directs. Gerry Fisher behind the camera. Gary Chang scores. Robert F. Shugrue cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

137 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by John Frankenheimer, shot by Gerry Fisher. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Gary Chang. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Robert F. Shugrue shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Don Johnson and Penelope Ann Miller and William Forsythe carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "For one cop this isn't just a case. It's a war.".
7IMDB entry: tt0097166 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Gerry Fisher
Original score: Gary Chang
Editing: Robert F. Shugrue
Production design: Ken Adam
Costume design: Jodie Lynn Tillen
Makeup / hair: Iloe Flewelling
Stunt coordinator: Mic Rodgers
Runtime: 105 min · 1h 45m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $8,125,592
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Dead Bang (1989)

Also by

John Frankenheimer

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Community reviews

What people are saying

GenerationofSwine2023-01-14
★ 10/10
I haven't seen this before. A cop with a dead partner, sure, I have seen that. A scumbag FBI agent, yeah, I've seen that too. I've also seen a widow that want's revenge. BUT, from there it veers off and we have a group of skinhead white supremacists on a racist rampage and you have Mr. Miami Vice himself, in 1989, dressed like could care less about how he looks and, I haven't seen that before either. The plot takes you from LA to small town America with all the shoot outs in between. The cop is a screw up and one that seems to only get by because he's seen it all before, not because he is particularly good at what he does. It all boils down to a unique film and one that is exceptionally well put together. The only thing that would make it a better film, would make it more unique, is if the white supremacists were as deeply and disturbingly family orientated as they are in the documentaries about the KKK. But, instead, you have them as the cliched psychopaths, which is somehow LESS disturbing. But, it's a small cliche for a movie that you likely haven't seen before and certainly won't see again, at least not without the protagonist being a super buff ex-Navy SEAL with all the special effects to back it up.

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