No Retreat, No Surrender (1985)
No Retreat, No Surrender is a 1985 martial arts film directed by Corey Yuen in his American film directorial debut. It is the first title in the No Retreat, No Surrender franchise, whose plot lines and characters are mostly unrelated. It stars Kurt McKinney, with a supporting cast of Jean-Claude Van Damme, J.W. Fails, Kathie Sileno, and Tai-chung Kim. The film was released in Italy on October 20, 1985, and in the United States on May 2, 1986. McKinney performs as Jason Stillwell, an American teenager who learns martial arts from the spirit of Bruce Lee. Stillwell uses these lessons to defend his martial arts dojo against Soviet martial artist Ivan Kraschinsky (Van Damme).
Plot
Jason Stillwell is a young karate student and Bruce Lee fanatic who trains in his father Tom’s dojo in Sherman Oaks, California. One night after a training session, the dojo is visited by members of an organized crime syndicate looking to take over all the dojos in the country. After refusing to join the organization, Tom’s leg is broken by a Soviet martial artist named Ivan “the Russian” Krachinsky, one of the boss’ hired thugs. A furious Jason tries to take revenge but is easily subdued by the Soviet. Tom discourages any further effort, telling his son that fighting is not the answer.
The Stillwell family relocates to Seattle, where Jason meets R.J. Madison, and they become good friends. Jason reunites with his old girlfriend Kelly Riley, who lives in the neighborhood with her brother, Ian “Whirlwind” Riley, the newly crowned U.S. National Karate Champion. Despite this, Jason has a hard time adjusting, as he and R.J. are constantly beaten and harassed by local bullies, led by an obese boy named Scott and arrogant martial artist Dean “Shooting Star” Ramsay. After getting beaten up and humiliated by Scott and Dean at Kelly’s birthday party, Jason visits the grave of Bruce Lee and asks him for help.
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Cast:
- Kurt McKinneyas Jason Stillwell
- Jean-Claude Van Damme as Ivan
- J.W. Fails as R.J. Madison
- Kathie Sileno as Kelly Riley
- Tai-chung Kimas the ghost of Bruce Lee
- Kent Lipham as Scott
- Ron Pohnel as Ian “Whirlwind”
- Dale Jacoby as Dean “Shooting Star”
- Peter “Sugarfoot” as Frank Peters
- Joe Verroca as New York mobster
- John Andes as New York mob boss
- Farid Panali as Fajad “the Headhunter”
- Mark Zacharatos as Michael Rocco
- Ty Martinez as John Alvarado
- Timothy D. Baker as Tom Stillwell
- Gloria Marziano as Mrs. Stillwell
- Paul Oswell as Trevor
