Experienced Green Beret sergeant Johnny Gallagher is escorting a prisoner, Airborne Ranger Thomas Boyette, back to the US, but Boyette escapes and Gallagher must risk life and limb to catch him.
Acting
Hackman and Jones in a simmering cat-and-mouse masterclass.
Direction
Andrew Davis establishing his gritty Chicago action template.
Practical Effects
Real locations, real stunts, real consequences — zero CGI.
Director
Andrew Davis
Gene Hackman
Sgt. Johnny Gallagher
Joanna Cassidy
Eileen Gallagher
Tommy Lee Jones
Thomas Boyette
John Heard
Col. Glen Whitacre
Dennis Franz
Lt. Milan Delich
Pam Grier
Ruth Butler
Ron Dean
Karl Richards
Nathan Davis
Soviet Press Secretary
Chelcie Ross
Gen. Hopkins
Joe Greco
Gen. Carlson
Marco St. John
Marth
Reni Santoni
Chicago Police Lieutenant
Kevin Crowley
Walter Henke
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Andrew Davis shot this immediately before The Fugitive, using many of the same Chicago locations and crew members.
The hotel kitchen fight between Hackman and Jones was largely improvised, with both actors refusing stunt doubles for the close-quarters brutality.
US
