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No Retreat, No Surrender

Original title: No Retreat No Surrender
  • 1985
  • PG
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
19K
YOUR RATING
Jean-Claude Van Damme and Kurt McKinney in No Retreat, No Surrender (1985)
Watch Trailer [EN]
Play trailer3:19
1 Video
99+ Photos
Dark ComedyMartial ArtsActionComedyCrimeDrama

Jason, a Bruce Lee fan, sees his karate instructor/dad beaten by martial art thugs. They move to Seattle where, after humiliations, he trains with Bruce Lee's ghost so he can defend himself ... Read allJason, a Bruce Lee fan, sees his karate instructor/dad beaten by martial art thugs. They move to Seattle where, after humiliations, he trains with Bruce Lee's ghost so he can defend himself and others against thugs.Jason, a Bruce Lee fan, sees his karate instructor/dad beaten by martial art thugs. They move to Seattle where, after humiliations, he trains with Bruce Lee's ghost so he can defend himself and others against thugs.

  • Director
    • Corey Yuen
  • Writers
    • See-Yuen Ng
    • Corey Yuen
    • Keith W. Strandberg
  • Stars
    • Kurt McKinney
    • Jean-Claude Van Damme
    • J.W. Fails
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    19K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Corey Yuen
    • Writers
      • See-Yuen Ng
      • Corey Yuen
      • Keith W. Strandberg
    • Stars
      • Kurt McKinney
      • Jean-Claude Van Damme
      • J.W. Fails
    • 150User reviews
    • 56Critic reviews
    • 30Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    Trailer [EN]
    Trailer 3:19
    Trailer [EN]

    Photos212

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    Top cast42

    Edit
    Kurt McKinney
    Kurt McKinney
    • Jason Stillwell
    Jean-Claude Van Damme
    Jean-Claude Van Damme
    • Ivan Kraschinsky the Russian
    J.W. Fails
    • R.J. Madison
    Kathie Sileno
    • Kelly Reilly
    Tae-jeong Kim
    • Sensei Lee
    • (as Kim Tai Chong)
    Kent Lipham
    Kent Lipham
    • Scott
    Ron Pohnel
    • Ian Reilly
    Dale Jacoby
    • Dean Ramsay
    Peter Cunningham
    Peter Cunningham
    • Frank Peters
    • (as Pete Cunningham)
    Timothy D. Baker
    • Tom Stillwell
    • (as Tim Baker)
    Gloria Marziano
    • Mrs. Stillwell
    Joe Verroca
    • New York Agent
    • (as Joe Vance)
    Farid Panahi
    • New York Assistant #1
    Tom Harris
    • New York Assistant #2
    John Andes
    • New York Boss
    Mark Zacharatos
    • New York Fighter #1
    Ty Martinez
    • New York Fighter #2
    Bob Johnene
    • Karate Fight Emcee
    • Director
      • Corey Yuen
    • Writers
      • See-Yuen Ng
      • Corey Yuen
      • Keith W. Strandberg
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scene with Kurt McKinney doing two-finger push-ups was filmed with wires to hoist McKinney up and down. The trees in the background cover up the wire.
    • Goofs
      When Jason first meets Bruce Lee he greets him as "Sensei Lee". Lee was Chinese, so the correct term is "Sifu." "Sensei" is a Japanese title.
    • Quotes

      RJ Madison: Alright. No retreat, no surrender!

    • Crazy credits
      Jean-Claude Van Damme's character is Ivan, but in the ending credits, next to his name reads, "Karl Brezdin".
    • Alternate versions
      The new 2004 UK region 2 DVD from Universal features a different opening and logo and film score compared to either the UK or US home video releases. The DVD also features scenes that were not present in either the US or UK video release(s) Scenes that were added
      • after Jason's father leg is broken there is a brief scene of him in the hospital thinking about who done it to him and not wanting to put his family in danger because of the syndicate and his decision to leave L.A.
      • Ian receiving a phone call from the syndicate telling him to meet them at his dojo in half an hour
      • Various scenes were extended plus additional dialogue is heard that didn't feature in either the UK or US home video release Scenes that were deleted:
      • Jason's date with Kelly at the space needle and a brief scene of them looking through the window of a pet shop
      • After Jason comes home from Ian's dojo there is a scene where Jason meets Kelly for the first time after moving from L.A. to Seattle. Those scenes were included in the video releases. The DVD run time on the back of the DVD is incorrectly stated as 79 minutes the correct run time is 94 minutes
      • Also, the final fight between Jason and Ivan is slightly longer using flashbacks to Jason's training explaining how they come into use in the last fight, such as when Jason was practicing on the mokujin (wooden dummy) and used that knowledge to counter Ivan's attacks. This also explains the awkward jump cuts during this fight in the shorter prints.
      • This version also contains a completely different score feature stock music from various Hong Kong films, such as Project A and My Lucky Stars, plus an alternate theme song called "Hold On To The Vision". Also, there is a different voice actor used for "Lee Dai Goh" which sounds properly more Asian rather than the deeper Americanized voice used in the shorter prints.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Best of the Martial Arts Films (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Hold on to the Vision
      (Main Theme)
      Music and Lyrics by Frank Harris and Jo Mortensen
      Produced by Frank Harris
      Sung by Kevin Chalfant

    User reviews150

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10

    Oh, boy

    I'm not a fan of watching campy movies. I can laugh an inept movie for a few minutes but then I get bored. Some people might watch "No Retreat, No Surrender" as camp. I don't but that doesn't mean that it's a good movie. It's not. It does, however, have a certain charm that makes the ridiculousness watchable. I watch "No Retreat, No Surrender" every once in a while. I won't say that it hits the spot but it's a strangely almost satisfying watch.
    • pmtelefon
    • Dec 21, 2019
    • Permalink

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 2, 1986 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Hong Kong
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ring of Truth
    • Filming locations
      • 14556 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, California, USA(As Los Angeles: Opening scenes. 'Sherman Oaks Karate'.)
    • Production companies
      • Seasonal Film Corporation
      • New World Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,662,137
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $739,723
      • May 4, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,662,137
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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