Death Before Dishonor Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Death Before Dishonor Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 3, 2020

In the post-Rambo haze of the mid-1980s, Cannon Films was hunting for heroes, and ones who could believably mow down enemy forces and still pay tribute to American patriotism. For 1987’s “Death Before Dishonor,” the production talked Fred Dryer into making the leap from his small screen success on the T.V. show “Hunter” to a big screen actioner where he was the main attraction. Suiting up to play a Marine on the warpath, Dryer singlehandedly keeps the feature together, offering full commitment to the militaristic elements of the production, and he’s an ideal tough guy for Terry Leonard, a stunt man (most famous for his work on “Raiders of the Lost Ark”) making his directorial debut. “Death Before Dishonor” is crude entertainment, but as these one-man-army efforts go, Dryer is capable of summoning the right amount of fury to help the feature find its way to a satisfying conclusion.

Gunnery Sgt. Burns (Fred Dryer) is a tough leader in charge of transforming young men into the next generation of Marines. While comfortable in his position, Burns is tasked with traveling to the Middle Eastern country of Jamal with Col. Halloran (Brian Keith), working to keep the volatile land stabilized for the American Embassy while exploring the source of terrorist activity. With villain Jihad (Rockne Tarkington) on the loose planning something awful for the Americans, Burns is activated when Halloran is taken prisoner, putting him on the hunt for clues with his subordinates (including Sasha Mitchell), meeting with photojournalist Elli (Joanna Pacula), who knows a lot about regional power players but carries her own motivation when it comes to choosing sides.

Admittedly, there’s a bit of confusion when it comes to the specifics of “Death Before Dishonor.” Inspired by a real-world bombing, the screenplay (by John Gatliff) goes fictional to preserve the escapism factor of the production. He invents growing hostility in Jemal, where opportunists want to use regional instability to attack “Zionist bastards,” putting pressure on American forces to find some form of peace. This blend of actual conflict and the invented stuff is never sold with enough authority, with Leonard frustratingly comfortable with the vagueness of the film. As long as it ultimately features strapping American Marines facing off against Arab aggressors, it’s enough for “Death Before Dishonor.”

Politics don’t get in the way of the film for very long, with the picture locking into a plot once Halloran is collected by the bad guys, subjected to a gruesome torture sequence featuring hostile forces and their way with a power drill, grinding through flesh and bone. “Death Before Dishonor” attempts some characterization, but it mostly exists for the thrills, and those are few and far between. Leonard knows his way around a smash-em- up sequence, and he delivers with an early car chase where Burns manages to work a bazooka with one arm while driving a jeep, extinguishing Jemali pests with Stallone-esque ice. Later in the endeavor, Leonard brings out some theme park stunt show highlights, watching stunt men get shot up and fall from great heights. It’s junky B-movie stuff, but it works better than any dramatics, with Gatliff’s few reveals not as thrilling as watching the cast throw themselves around the frame, and Bond-ish intimidation emerges in the form of henchwoman Maude (Kasey Walker), who rules with an Uzi and isn’t kind to cats.

Death Before Dishonor Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as sourced from "a brand new HD master." Perhaps it is, but the viewing experience seems to be fighting some age, offering a flatter palette, with slightly muted earth tones. Locations are generally okay with desert visits, and costuming brings out the green of fatigues and a more varied look on Pacula's outfits. Detail is acceptable but softness is present. Exteriors present mild dimension with chases and town tours. Delineation is acceptable. Source has some speckling and light scratches, and a few jumpy frames. Judder is detected as well.

Death Before Dishonor Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix delivers the basics of the "Death Before Dishonor" listening event, with the production often favoring noisiness to support its action sequences. Dialogue exchanges are appreciable, with clear performances choices and accents. Scoring is broad but not intrusive, and while instrumentation isn't precise, the music supports as necessary, especially with more patriotic anthems. Sound effects are blunt, with lots of gunfire and explosions, but nothing reaches distortive extremes.

Death Before Dishonor Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (15:52, HD) brings together producer Lawrence Kubik and director Terry Leonard to discuss the making of "Death Before Dishonor," which began life as an idea to turn a real-world terrorist incident in Beirut into a fictional feature. Kubik explores his initial packaging of the movie, finding funding and a star in Fred Dryer, whose success on the T.V. show "Hunter" opened a lot of doors. Taking the production to Israel, Kubik ran into a few difficulties, including faulty firearms and stunt mistakes, but the team never felt exposed to regional tension, heavily guarded by the local security force. Leonard explores his communication failures when planning an embassy bombing for the picture, and his newfound respect for directors, enduring enormous stress while striving to put the endeavor together. Leonard closes with his memories of the bad reviews "Death Before Dishonor" received, and shares the reason why he didn't pursue first unit direction, electing to return to second unit life.

• Interview (15:39, HD) with Kasey Walker opens with a moment of pride, with the actress recalling a gift of champagne from Arnold Schwarzenegger, congratulating her on stealing "Death Before Dishonor." Originally married to producer Kubik, Walker auditioned for the role of Maude, working long and hard on her character look, accent, and backstory, winning over director Leonard with her commitment. The interviewee recalls working in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, shocked they were shooting such violent content on holy ground. Walker offers a director assessment and recalls her co-stars, making friends with Dryer, also forming a relationship with cinematographer Don Burgess's wife. Excited to show "Death Before Dishonor" to her children a few years ago, Walker describes their indifference to the movie, and she theorizes why the film didn't do well, suggesting graphic violence turned audiences off. Weapons training is detailed, and Walker shares where she's at today, doing well in the real estate development business.

• And a Trailer (:58, SD) is included. Unfortunately, this excellent in-production teaser isn't offered.

Death Before Dishonor Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Death Before Dishonor" should be more rousing than actually is, but Leonard doesn't have the budget to keep the picture running at top speed, also dealing with a sluggish story and iffy antagonists. More defined is the effort's patriotism, with the production in love with the Marines, showing them the utmost respect as the film details training and sacrifice, even working the Marines Hymn into the score, for maximum salute potential. "Death Before Dishonor" stumbles quite a bit while it tries to compete with Rambo-style endeavors, but it does have Dryer, who's quite capable here, carrying the movie with such effortless authority, it's baffling that he didn't turn a rare cinematic appearance into a full-time career.