The Delta Force *** (1986, Chuck Norris, Lee Marvin, Martin Balsam, Robert Forster, Joey Bishop, Lainie Kazan, George Kennedy) – Classic Movie Review 9,786

Menahem Golan’s 1986 action thriller The Delta Force is a level-headed film of the real-life rescue of a hijacked TWA plane in Greece, in which the terrorists come up against a Delta Force crack team headed by Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin.

Co-writer/ co-producer/ director Menahem Golan’s 1986 anti-terrorist action thriller The Delta Force is a level-headed film of the real-life rescue of a hijacked TWA plane in Greece, in which the terrorists Abdul Rafai (Robert Forster) and Mustafa (David Menachem) hijack a Boeing 707 at Athens with 144 passengers and eight crew, but come up against a Delta Force crack team headed by Major Scott McCoy (Chuck Norris) and Colonel Nick Alexander (Lee Marvin).

The climax is sheer Boys’ Own action, but until then director Golan (co-head of Cannon films) tackles events steadily and builds up a convincing level of detail and sustained interest with the help of an exceptionally strong cast.

It was made not in Greece but in Israel, with the main filming location at Ben-Gurion International Airport, Israel.

Release date: February 14, 1986.

George Kennedy as Father O’Malley in The Delta Force (1986).

On a budget of $9 million, it took $17.76 million (US). It was popular enough for two sequels in 1990: Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection with Chuck Norris and Delta Force 3: The Killing Game without Chuck Norris.

The TV version edits some content. In the UK, it had a 15 original rating (cut) in 1986 and an 18 video rating in 1986 (uncut), followed by a 15 re-rating (uncut) in 2000.

Also in the exciting cast are Joey Bishop, Lainie Kazan, George Kennedy as Father O’Malley, Hanna Schygulla, Susan Strasberg, Bo Svenson, Robert Vaughn, Shelley Winters, William Wallace, Charles Grant, Steve James and Kim Delaney. Kevin Dillon, Liam Neeson, and Mykelti Williamson appear as Delta Force members.

The Delta Force is directed by Menahem Golan, runs 130 minutes, is made by Golan-Globus Productions, is released by Cannon Group, is written by James Bruner and Menahem Golan, is shot by David Gurfinkel, is produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, is scored by Alan Silvestri, and is designed by Luciano Spadoni.

On the morning of 14 June 1985, TWA Flight 847 was hijacked soon after take off from Athens. The Hezbollah hijackers demanded the release of 766 Shia Muslims from Israeli custody and took the plane repeatedly to Beirut and Algiers.

Lee Marvin replaced Charles Bronson, who dropped out to film Act of Vengeance (1986).

Carlos Ray Norris (March 10, 1940 – March 19, 2026)

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9,786

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