The Protector
Short description
The Protector is a 1985 action crime thriller set largely in Hong Kong. New York police officer Billy Wong loses his partner to gunfire during a robbery, and he and his new colleague Danny Garoni are assigned to security at a fashion show where the daughter of a wealthy man, Laura Shapiro, is abducted. Federal authorities believe her father has ties to Mr. Ko, a Hong Kong drug figure, so the two officers travel there to investigate. What looks like a kidnapping case widens into a conspiracy and a drug-trafficking operation.
James Glickenhaus directed and co-wrote the film with King Sang Tang and Edward Tang. It is his second feature, following The Exterminator and preceding Shakedown and McBain. Jackie Chan plays Billy Wong alongside Danny Aiello as Danny Garoni, with Roy Chiao as Mr. Ko among a credited cast of 66. Shot with a budget of about 5 million US dollars, it was a Hong Kong and American co-production.
On IMDb the film holds a rating of 5.7 from roughly 5,900 votes, and on TMDB it sits at 6 out of 10 from around 208 votes. A critics' rating of 4.9 out of 10 from five reviews places it below the audience scores.
What's left behind the scenes
- Specifically for this film, producers David Chan and Andre Morgan suggested that Jackie Chan portray his character as a tough, serious, and ruthless man in the style of Clint Eastwood. Jackie Chan disagreed with this decision, insisting that his fans preferred his image as a carefree and not at all ruthless hero. However, the film was still shot in the style proposed by the producers.
- On the set with Jackie Chan, creative differences began with director James Glickenhaus. Jackie Chan was already struck by the fact that Glickenhaus spent only four days filming battle scenes, while in his own films, Jackie Chan spent at least twenty days on one serious fight. Even in cases where an episode turned out to be appalling in Jackie’s opinion, Glickenhaus simply repeated: “It’s okay. Next scene.” However, Jackie could not break the contract he had signed for the filming and had to participate in the film until the end.
- During the filming of the movie, Jackie Chan broke the bones in his fingers and forearm of his left hand.
- Jackie Chan was very dissatisfied with the film that ultimately resulted and decided not to show it to his Asian audience. Upon returning to Hong Kong, he invited Danny Aiello and Bill Wallace and, as director, reshot the entire final fight – making it longer, more dynamic, and exciting. Jackie also asked his screenwriter, Edward Tang, to supplement the script with new episodes that allowed a new heroine, played by popular Asian singer and actress Sally Yeh, to be introduced into the film. All erotic scenes were also cut.
- Dissatisfied with the quality of the film and disappointed in American cinema, Jackie Chan decided to direct a police action film himself to show Americans how to make movies. This film became 'Police Story' (1985).
- Only a small part of the street scenes and individual scenes indoors were filmed in New York. Most of the film was shot in Hong Kong, even the opening scene of the shootout in the bar was filmed in Hong Kong.
- During the boat chase scene, the shadow of the film crew's helicopter is visible on the water.
- When the villain escapes on a stolen boat early in the film, a stunt driver can be seen in the cabin.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
