20 Reasons Why You Rock: The Delta Force
Valentine’s Day 1986 was truly magical.
For action movie loving guys across the United States that didn’t have that special someone to spend Valentine’s Day with… it didn’t matter that year. Because The Delta Force opened in theaters that day and it more than filled that hole in their heart.
For action movie loving guys across the United States that did have a special someone in their life and that somehow convinced their special someone to skip the romantic dinner and instead go to the theater to see The Delta Force… those guys knew they had a keeper on their hands and that they should run out the next day and buy an engagement ring.
For these two reasons alone you could easily say that The Delta Force rocked… but if the cupid factor isn’t enough for you, I have 20 more reasons why The Delta Force rocked…
#1- The Delta Force was about as Cannon as a Cannon film could get with Chuck Norris in the starring role and Cannon head honcho, Menahem Golan, in the director’s chair. The only thing that could have made The Delta Force more Cannon is if the original trade ads for the film came true and the film starred BOTH Chuck Norris and Charles Bronson.
#2- Lee Marvin would end up with what was presumably the role originally intended for Charles Bronson in The Delta Force and the role that would ultimately be Marvin’s last. It is fitting that a badass movie like The Delta Force was the final film in the career of a badass legend like Lee Marvin.
#3- The Delta Force features one of the shortest retirements in action movie history. Chuck Norris’ character, Scott McCoy, retires at the close of the opening scene. Less than 30 minutes later McCoy was back in action baby! It should be noted five years did actually pass from between McCoy’s retirement and his comeback, but it was still a nice swerve to throw in at the start of the film.
#4- A strong argument can be made that Alan Silvestri’s score for The Delta Force is one of the best scores to ever be featured in a Cannon produced film.
#5- It has been said that Menahem Golan was enamored by the Hollywood stars of yesteryear, so it is no surprise The Delta Force features some all-star hostages including Shelly Winters (The Poseidon Adventure), Joey Bishop, Martin Balsam (Death Wish 3) and George Kennedy.
#6- Speaking of the hostages, I can not believe that it took me this long to realize that The Delta Force has a connection to Iron Eagle. Jerry Hyman, who played hostage Ted Bilicki in The Delta Force, also played the guy who gets Doug Masters flight simulator time in Iron Eagle. Any time I can be reminded of Iron Eagle it is a good thing in my book.
#7- The Delta Force is a movie that could not be made today for a number of reasons. The decision to cast Robert Foster as Abdul, a character of Middle Eastern descent while Forster himself was not of Middle Eastern descent, would cause a social media meltdown today. But there’s no denying that the late great Robert Forster made for a great villain despite the questionable casting.
#8- If you are going to cast a guy to be Chuck Norris’ wing man, you may as well go ahead and cast THE ULTIMATE WING MAN… Steve James! Steve James, who plays Major Bobby Chavez in The Delta Force, was the sidekick to more Cannon heroes than anyone else in history… Michael Dudikoff, David Carradine, David Bradley and Chuck Norris all benefited from having Steve James at their side.
#9- At one point in the movie, McCoy happens upon one of the terrorists in communication with his commanding officer via the radio. McCoy answers the commanding officer’s request to negotiation by shooting the radio.
#10- “Sleep tight sucker!” has to go down as one of Chuck Norris’ most memorable one liners.
#11- You want more star power? The Delta Force delivered in the form of Robert Vaughn. Vaughn plays General Woodbridge… the conduit between The Delta Force and the President of the United States. Vaughn would work with Cannon again in 1989’s River of Death.
#12- Scenes like the one where Scott McCoy sitting on his motorcycle in the middle of the road, essentially becoming a one man roadblock for a terrorist caravan, had to be the inspiration for the Chuck Norris Facts that would enter the world of pop culture years later.
#13- And speaking of McCoy’s motorcycle… a motorcycle that launches freaking missiles is pretty freaking awesome!
#14- And speaking of awesome vehicles… the dune buggies that The Delta Force cruise around in are next level awesome and reminded me of one of my favorite G.I. Joe toys of all-time… the A.W.E. Striker. That’s All Weather/Environment Striker for those in the know.
#15- I love that The Delta Force did not adhere to the usual Cannon rules and well exceeded the usual 90 minute runtime for Cannon action films. The two plus hour and the “cast of thousands” gave The Delta Force an epic feel. And the action packed third act was well worth the wait.
#16- The Delta Force includes just about every type of action imaginable on land, sea and air. Vehicular mayhem, hand to hand combat, gun play… there is something for everyone.
#17- Through all the trials and tribulations, The Delta Force only had one casualty… young Pete Peterson. That is pretty impressive considering The Delta Force was taking on an entire army of terrorists in their own backyard.
#18- At least the man responsible for killing Pete, that no good Abdul, got what was coming to him. The entire McCoy vs. Abdul showdown is gold from start to finish… it starts with McCoy playing mind games with Abdul just before he jumps his motorcyle through the window of the house Abdul is hiding out in. Then there’s the breaking of Abdul’s arm with the car door in the middle. And last but not least the definitive end of Abdul.
#19- With Abdul out of the way, Scott McCoy then boards the airplane that will take The Delta Force and the rescued hostages out of hostile territory in what is easily one of the most memorable scenes in the film.
#20- The celebration to cap off the successful rescue mission could not be any more pro-America in the 1980’s than the hostages and The Delta Force drinking Budweiser and singing “America the Beautiful” on a loop. This Bud’s for you Delta Force!
