Good Guys Wear Black

"Everything went wrong by the numbers, and that takes planning." - Booker

release year: 1979
genre: action/drama
viewing setting: home DVD 8/6/22 and 12/10/13 and 10/10/04

synopsis: Ex-CIA operative realizes that other surviving members of his team are being assassinated.

impressions: This is one of Chuck Norris' earlier works, and it shows: there's not a lot of action, and there's a little too much talky plot. I think the conspiracy angle is a good one, but there just aren't any notable martial-arts-using bad guys like in later Chuck Norris movies. Still, it's a good government-conspiracy-and-betrayal adventure.

things to watch for: Chuck's behavior at the very end

something this movie has that no other movie has: a flying karate kick through the windshield of a speeding car

acting: Chuck Norris does fine, but he seems to be lacking the confidence that he had later in his career. Anne Archer, in an early role, is a mysterious woman who may or may not be part of the problem. Lloyd Haines is Chuck's CIA friend who helps out. James Franciscus is the villainous politician.

final word: Worth seeing, but not his best work.

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