Sylvester Stallone tackles the police

Press, 16 June 1983, Page 14

Sylvester Stallone tackles the police

After his three successful “Rocky” movies, Sylvester Stallone stars in another smash hit, “First Blood,” which will start at the Carlton tomorrow.

This time, Stallone plays a former Green Beret and Vietnam veteran who, despite his innocence, is haunted by small-town police — much to their regret.

While America is still in the process of attempting to understand the 60s and in the throes of mending after the Vietnam debacle, “First Blood” illustrates the potentially violent ramifications when the blindly-adhered-to values of the past come in conflict with the mutated mores of today. A fit setting for this rendezvous was chosen in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Nestled in the Fraser Valley, Hope, 8.C., served as a base camp for the initial filming. This area has given the film makers access to the perfect combination of awesomely rugged and beautiful terrain along with the soulshrivelling weather needed to properly establish the tone and mood for the story. As. a testimony to the professionalism of the cast and crew, they were forced to overcome obstacles which took courage and involved genuine intrigue. This could all be summarised as weather, wounds and weapons.

The filming, most of which was exteriors, was suddenly hit with unseasonably cold weather, blanketed by snow and pelted by freezing rain, it pierced to the bone of all. This made the stunts, with which the movie is liberally laced, including a unique high-fall from a moving helicopter, even more hazardous.

In the line of duty, Stallone cracked several ribs and badly burned his hand; Brian Dennehy was cut by a prop and also broke some ribs.

Neither man held up filming longer than it took to rush them to the hospital, tend to their wounds and return them to the set. Due to the nature of the film, many exotic weapons needed for props, unavailable in Canada, had to be imported. Two-thirds of the way through principal photography, while under heavy guard, they were expertly stolen without a trace, giving rise to the theory that they were taken by professional gun-runners. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the F. 8.1. and Interpol are still working on the case. All the action and beauty captured by the camera was supervised by the renowned cinematographer, Andrew Laszlo, whose work on “Shogun” and “Southern Comfort” have recently brought

hin much critical acclaim. Interlaced throughout the story is the thread of social relevance. “First Blood” touches on the plight of the Vietnam veteran. It highlights the unique difficulties they have had re-adjusting to civilian life, as reflected by the statistics indicating that more Vietnam veterans have committed sucide since returning than were killed in combat.

Though particularly special, Stallone’s role is more perhaps a metaphor for all Vietnam veterans. The anguish and confusion he feels are manifest in his words:

“When I got off the plane, I kissed the ground . . . and from the crowd, kids carrin’ signs and screamin’ ‘Baby Killer,’ ‘Warmonger,’ spittin’ and callin’ me vile names like we had done something wrong! It wasn’t my war. I didn’t ask for it — and all those people protesting me. Hey, don’t protest about me unless you’ve been me and been there and know what you’re yellin’ about.”