The Delta Force is a 1986 American action film starring Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin (in his final film appearance) as leaders of an elite group of Special Operations Forces personnel based on the real-life U.S. Army Delta Force unit. Directed, co-written and co-produced by Menahem Golan, the film features Martin Balsam, Joey Bishop, Robert Vaughn, Steve James, Robert Forster, Shelley Winters and George Kennedy. It is the first installment in The Delta Force film series. Two sequels were produced, entitled Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection and the direct-to-video Delta Force 3: The Killing Game. The Delta Force was inspired by the hijacking of TWA Flight 847.
Plot In 1980, Operation Eagle Claw is aborted after a fatal helicopter crash, with the U.S. Delta Force evacuating to their C-130 transports. Among them is Captain Scott McCoy, who, against orders, rescues his wounded comrade, Pete Peterson, from the burning helicopter before the team finally evacuates. McCoy expresses his disgust for the politicians and the military hierarchy that forced the mission to launch despite the risks, and announces his resignation.
Five years later, in 1985, a group of Palestinian terrorists hijacks American Travelways Airlines Flight 282, a Boeing 707 flying from Cairo to New York City via Athens and Rome. Taking all 144 passengers and crew hostage on the Athens—Rome leg, the New World Revolutionary Organization, led by two terrorists named Abdul Rafai and Mustafa, force Captain Roger Campbell and his crew to fly the 707 to Beirut, where they make demands to the United States government that, if not met, will result in the death of all the hostages. During the crisis, they segregate the Jewish passengers from the Americans by forcing a reluctant flight purser of German heritage named Ingrid Harding to identify them. Another passenger, Catholic priest William O'Malley, joins the Jews in solidarity. Unbeknownst to the authorities, the Jewish hostages and O'Malley are then taken off the plane and transported to a militant-controlled area of Beirut, while a dozen additional henchmen are brought on board.
The flight departs for Algiers, where the terrorists release the female hostages and children. Meanwhile, Delta Force, led by Colonel Nick Alexander and the recalled-to-duty and newly promoted Major McCoy are deployed to resolve the crisis. With the female and children hostages evacuated, Delta Force launches its assault, only to discover that there are additional hijackers on board. When Delta Force blows its cover, Abdul kills a U.S. Navy diver named Tom Hale. He then forces the pilots to return to Beirut and takes the remaining male passengers with him.
Upon returning to Beirut, the terrorists transport the passengers to a separate location, while the pilots and two male flight attendants remain in the 707. Working with a sympathetic Greek Orthodox priest, Israeli Army Intelligence prepares an operation to free the hostages. McCoy and Peterson are able to enter into Lebanon disguised as a Canadian television crew. In a prolonged campaign against the terrorists, Delta Force bides its time to identify the terrorist leaders and locate the hostages. Once the hostages are located, Delta Force assaults the terrorist holdouts, freeing the hostages and evacuating them to the airport. During the battle, McCoy, Peterson, and their team hunt for Abdul and the Jewish hostages. They kill most of the militants, but Abdul gravely wounds Peterson and flees. While the commandos tend to Peterson, McCoy chases Abdul and tracks him down to a nearby abandoned home. He then engages him in a vicious hand-to-hand fight, breaking Abdul's arm. As the terrorist leader prepares to shoot McCoy, he is killed when McCoy launches a rocket into his car.
With the hostages and rescue teams secured, the team seizes Flight 282 by secretly infiltrating the airfield through a cotton plantation. Using silenced weapons, Alexander and the Delta team kill the terrorist guards and save the crew. They board the 707 with all of the hostages, taking off for Israel just as McCoy storms the runway on his motorcycle, managing to board after destroying several terrorist jeeps. On board, the team tends to the wounded passengers and the dying Peterson. After having confirmed the hostages are safe and en route home, Peterson says his farewells to McCoy before succumbing to his wounds. In the main cabin, the ex-hostages and Delta commandos join in a rousing rendition of "America The Beautiful," not knowing about Peterson's death, except for Alexander, Bobby, McCoy, and O'Malley. In Israel, the Boeing 707 lands safely, and the hostages are greeted by their families, while Delta Force disembarks with Peterson's body in tow to its C-130. The team concludes its operation and departs for the United States amid celebrations by the passengers.
Cast
Chuck Norris as Major Scott McCoy, the deputy commander of the Delta Force unit. Lee Marvin as Colonel Nick Alexander, the commander of the Delta Force unit. Robert Vaughn as General Woodbridge, US general, Army Chief of Staff. Steve James as Bobby Lee, a member of the Delta Force unit and a friend of Scott. William Wallace as Pete Peterson, a member of the unit who dies near the end of the film. Jerry Weinstock as Dr. Jack, the military doctor of the unit. Shaike Ophir as Father Nicholas, a Greek-Orthodox hieromonk who provides intelligence to the Israelis. Robert Forster as Abdul Rafai, the leader of the terrorist group. David Menahem as Mustafa, member of the terrorist group. Avi Loziah as Jaffar, another member of the terrorist group. Uri Gavriel as Jamil Rafai, commander of the military terrorist group and Abdul's brother. Adiv Gahshan as Salim, member of the military terrorist group. Bo Svenson as Captain Roger Campbell Hanna Schygulla as Flight purser Ingrid Harding Martin Balsam as Ben Kaplan Shelley Winters as Edie Kaplan Joey Bishop as Harry Goldman Lainie Kazan as Sylvia Goldman George Kennedy as Father William O'Malley Kim Delaney as Sister Mary Chelli Goldenberg as Tina Charles Floye as U.S. Navy Diver Tom Hale Howard Jackson as Ed Jerry Lazarus as Robert Levine Susan Strasberg as Debra Levine Natalie Roth as Ellen Levine Kevin Dillon, Liam Neeson, and Mykelti Williamson also appear as extras where they portray Delta Force members.
Production Development
In 1985, it was announced that The Delta Force would be made with Chuck Norris and Charles Bronson co-starring and Joseph Zito directing. The budget was to be $12 million.ATTENBOROUGH PLANS FILM ON SOUTH AFRICAN ACTIVIST Ryan, Desmond. Philadelphia Inquirer 2 June 1985: I.2.
"We look at Chuck as having the potential of a Clint Eastwood," said Menahem Golan. "His acting talent is getting better. He's in the right style, and he's very popular."Action star Chuck Norris an intelligent Rambo: [FIN Edition] Ron Base Toronto Star. Toronto Star 11 Feb 1986: F4.
In response to the hijacking of TWA flight 847, Norris said the United States is becoming a "paper tiger" in the Middle East. "What we're facing here is the fact that our passive approach to terrorism is going to instigate much more terrorism throughout the world," he said, adding, "I would have sent the Delta Force immediately."CAROL LAWRENCE JOINS A `NEW CAST': [SUN-SENTINEL Edition] Sun Sentinel 5 July 1985: 2.A.
"I've been all over the world, and seeing the devastation that terrorism has done in Europe and the Middle East, I know eventually it's going to come here," added Norris. "It's just a matter of time. They're doing all this devastation in Europe now, and the next stepping stone is America and Canada. Being a free country, with the freedom of movement that we have, it's an open door policy for terrorism. It's like Khadafy said a few weeks ago. 'If Reagan doesn't back off, I'm going to release my killer squads in America.' And there's no doubt in my mind that he has them."
Bronson dropped out of the film due to his commitment to a project named Act of Vengeance (1986). August 1, 1985, Lee Marvin signed on as Bronson's replacement. Also producer Menahem Golan replaced Zito for directorial duties. Marvin said the film "shows the American audience a larger view of terrorism than they're used to seeing on the small screen and the news. There you see a plane at the end of the runway. But what's it like to be on a plane as the facilities deterioriate? It's bad enough on a seven-hour flight – imagine what the bathrooms are like after three or four days."LEE MARVIN, A MAN OF MARVELOUS LEGEND Ryan, Desmond. Philadelphia Inquirer 22 Feb 1986: C.1.
Norris's fee was a reported $2 million.CHUCK NORRIS -- STRONG, SILENT AND POPULAR KLEMESRUD, JUDY. New York Times 1 Sep 1985: A.14.
"It is the first time that Chuck works with an ensemble of first-class actors," said Golan.Moviemakeing moxie helps Golan reach the heights SALEM ALATON. The Globe and Mail; Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]13 Feb 1986: C.8.
Before the film came out Cannon signed a seven-picture contract with Norris.CHUCK NORRIS SIGNS SEVEN-YEAR PACT: [THIRD Edition] Boston Globe 14 Feb 1986: 44.
Filming Filming started in October 1985. The Delta Force was entirely shot in Israel. Pentagon scenes were shot at the GG Israel Studios facility near Jerusalem, owned by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus.
The Athens, Beirut, Algiers, and Tel Aviv airport scenes were filmed at Ben Gurion International Airport and its military portion, Lod Air Base, although one Athens airport scene where an accomplice of the hijackers exits a taxi, was filmed at the eastern terminal of Ellinikon International Airport while the Athens airport concourse (interior) scenes were filmed in Ben Gurion's present-day Terminal 1 (then the main terminal). However, the scenes of Algiers Airport where Colonel Alexander meets with the flight purser and the US ambassador to Algeria was filmed in Atarot Airport, with the terminal dressed and decorated with Arabic and French signs to resemble Algiers.
Jaffa was used for scenes of the siege and hostage rescue in the Beirut countryside including midnight oceanic scenes. The film's budget was $9 million.
Vehicles The Lockheed C-130H Hercules in the film actually belonged to the Israeli Air Force, registered as 89–9106. It was lent to the Golan-Globus company for filming after it was given a false registration, 14X-FBB and U.S. Air Force designs. Its lease arrangement was similar to Iron Eagle, wherein the United States Air Force refused to participate due to a long-standing policy about not cooperating on any film involving the theft of an aircraft, causing the filmmakers to turn to the Israeli Air Force for the necessary aerial sequences. The army vehicles for the military and terrorists came from the U.S. Army and Israel Defense Forces.