For many years, TELE 5 has been the German TV home of various niche film highlights, from famous and less famous catastrophes that are so bad that you simply have to see them (#SchleFaZ) to forgotten cult classics (#KulFaZ) , which, well, of course, has to be seen! But between the worst movies of all time and the most iconic films of all time there is still plenty of scope for otherwise offbeat cinematography far away from the mainstream, which is celebrated by many fans today as it was then – including the leaden tears from Cannon Films.
From July 7th to 9th, 2022, TELE 5 will celebrate the “Cannon Days” and show eight legendary action hits from the legendary cult film forge. And finally, with the documentary “Electric Boogaloo”, you can even take a very special look back at the film studio that was once founded by Dennis Friedland and Christopher C. Dewey, but only really flourished in the 80s thanks to Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus and Improve your background knowledge of 80s action cinema. Then the “Cannon Days” films will be shown on TELE 5:
Thursday (7 July):
- 8:15 p.m.: “American Fighter”
- 10:05 p.m .: “American Fighter II – The Mission”
- 12:00 a.m.: “American Fighter 3 – The Bloody Hunt”
Friday (July 8th):
- 8:15 p.m.: “Missing In Action”
- 10:15 p.m.: “Missing In Action 2 – The Return”
- 12:00 a.m. Braddock – Missing In Action III
Saturday (July 9):
- 8:15 p.m.: “Masters Of The Universe”
- 10:20 p.m.: “Revenge of the Ninja”
- 12:25 am: “Electric Boogaloo”
The format will be presented by moderator and film enthusiast Lutz van der Horst (“heute show”) and filmmaker Thilo Gosejohann, who will take you into the age of video stores for three evenings and, of course, primarily deal with the question of what is actually behind inherent in the Cannon Films phenomenon.
If you want to take the opportunity to get to know an action hero from the second row who never wanted to make the big Hollywood breakthrough, you get the chance on Thursday evening. “American Fighter” was the film with which Michael Dudikoff established himself in action cinema in the mid-80s. That he didn’t have any martial arts training at that time and yet the American Ninja played (that’s the original title of the film), by the way, still doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the film: “American Ninja” is exaggerated in every imaginable respect and still lives from the charm that arises from this. The big highlight? Clearly the relationship between Dudikoff’s Joe Armstrong and Corporal Curtis Jackson (Steve James), who first break each other’s skulls before fraternizing forever. But that’s the way it is with male friendships!
It’s also the chemistry between Dudikoff and James that carries part 2 over long stretches – before it finally gets lost in part 3. In addition to director Sam Firstenberg, who was replaced by Cedric Sundström, Michael Dudikoff is also missing for the first time in “American Fighter 3”. He is replaced by David Bradley, who was barely up to his first leading role, but later took on a few more, such as in “Cyborg Cop 2” and “American Samurai” – directed by Sam Firstenberg!
“Missing In Action” starring Chuck Norris was made at a time when Norris was already making a name for himself – both as a martial artist and as an actor. Nevertheless: Younger semesters in particular should probably know the now 82-year-old cult mime mainly from various Chuck Norris jokes and may have seen “The Expendables 2” or heard of “Walker, Texas Ranger”. But with the explosive “Missing In Action” series you now have the opportunity to look behind the Chuck Norris phenomenon – and to convince yourself of the films that once earned him the reputation as an unbreakable killing machine in the first place.
“Masters Of The Universe”, “The Ninja’s Revenge” and “Electric Boogaloo” will be the grand finale of “Cannon Days” on Saturday – and it is such for several reasons. Because on the one hand you can expect an incredibly varied program with the Dolph Lundgren hero spectacle, the ninja classic with genre veteran Sho Kosugi and original Django Franco Nero as well as the Cannon documentary, so that there really is something for every 80s fan should. On the other hand, Saturday will also be the only day of the “Cannon Days” on which all the films shown are shown completely uncut.
While the TV event is a great opportunity to take a trip back in time to the action cinema of the 80s, it should also be said at this point that “American Fighter”, “Missing In Action” and “Missing In Action 2” only shortened be broadcast. You can see the full-length action thrillers in the MGM Channel on Amazon Prime Video, which you can currently use like many other channels for just 99 cents for a month:
» MGM on Amazon Prime Video*
Are you part of the regular TELE-5 audience who tune in to action cult, SyFy trash and co., but above all are always on board when Oliver Kalkofe and Peter Rütten are showing off their almost endless niche film expertise? Then it is worth reading the following article. We met the duo (once again) at the start of the SchleFaZ successor format KulFaZ for an interview that was as detailed as it was fun:
*The link to the Amazon offer is a so-called affiliate link. If you make a purchase through this link, we will receive a commission.
