RIP: Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart died on October 28, 2026.  He was 86.

Patrick Stewart was encouraged by his teachers to get into acting.  By the age of twelve, Patrick was a member of local drama groups.  He quit school at the age of 15.  Patrick Stewart worked at a various jobs, attended drama classes and continued to seek roles in local plays.

His first professional stage appearance was in 1959 at the Theatre Royal, Bristol in Cyrano de Bergerac.  In 1964 Mr. Stewart’s first television credit appears on his acting resume.  It wasn’t until 1975 that Patrick Stewart got a feature film credit.   When Patrick Stewart was chosen to play Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation (the role that made him famous), the Los Angeles Times referred to him as an “unknown British Shakespearean actor”.

Some of Patrick Stewart’s television work includes: Story Parade; Theatre 625; BBC Play of the Month; Play for Today; Fall of Eagles (3 episodes); Anthony and Cleopatra; Omnibus (2 episodes); North and South (4 episodes); The Madness; I, Claudius (4 episodes); Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; The BBC Television Shakespeare; Little Lord Fauntleroy; Smiley’s People; Maybury (20 episodes); Star Trek: The Next Generation (176 episodes); Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; 500 Nations (3 episodes); Moby Dick (2 episodes); A Christmas Carol; Frasier; The Lion in the Winter; High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman (8 episodes); Extras; Hamlet; The Hollow Crown (2 episodes); Futurama; The Simpsons (2 episodes); The Daily Show; Oscar’s Hotel for Fantastical Creatures; Robot Chicken (3 episodes); Blunt Talk (20 episodes); National Theatre Live: No Man’s Land; Family Guy (15 episodes); Star Trek: Picard (30 episodes); Bait (2 episodes) and American Dad! (125 episodes).

Some of Patrick Stewart’s feature film work includes: Hennessy; Excalibur; The Plague Dogs; Dune; Wild Geese II; Lifeforce; L.A. Story; Gunmen; Robin Hood: Men in Tights; Star Trek: Generations; Star Trek: First Contact; Conspiracy Theory; Safe House; Star Trek: Insurrection; The Prince of Egypt; X-Men; Star  Trek: Nemesis; X2: X-Men United; X-Men: The Last Stand; X-Men Origins: Wolverine; The Wolverine; X-Men: Days of Future Past; Green Room; Logan; Charlie’s Angels; Dr. Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness and The Sheep Detectives.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Patrick Stewart’s family, friends and fans.

“Beetlejuice” (1988) starring Michael Keaton, Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin / Z-View

Beetlejuice (1988)

Director:  Tim Burton

Screenplay:  Michael McDowell, Warren Skaaren; story by Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson

Stars:  Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder and Glenn Shadix.

Tagline: In This House… If You’ve Seen One Ghost… You Haven’t Seen Them All.

The Plot…

Adam and Barbara Maitland are almost home when they swerve to avoid hitting a dog.  Their car goes over a bridge and into the river.

When Adam and Barbara wake up they’re home.

And dead.

Adam and Barbara are now ghosts in their country home.  When their house is sold, the new owners are a New York real estate developer, his wife who considers herself an artist and their goth daughter.

Adam and Barbara hate changes made to the house by the new owners.  So they decide to scare the new family into moving. That doesn’t work so Adam and Barbara decide they’ll move on.  But because of afterlife red tape and bureaucracy,  Adam and Barbara can’t leave their former house for 125 years.  The afterlife is like nothing they could have imagined.

Adam and Barbara learn about Betelgeuse, a self-proclaimed bio-exorcist.  Despite warnings that Betlegeuse is a rude, crude, spirit that cannot be trusted, Adam and Barbara decide to ask for his help.

Be careful what you ask for… you just might get it.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Beetlejuice was nominated and won one Academy Award for Best Make-up – Ve Neill, Steve LaPorte, and Robert Short.

Catherine O’Hara met her future husband, Bo Welch who was production designer for Beetlejuice, during filming.

Tim Burton originally wanted Sammy Davis, Jr. to play Beetlejuice.  The studio wouldn’t agree.

Sylvia Sidney plays a smoking ghost with a hole in her throat through which she exhales smoke. Sadly Ms. Sidney died from throat cancer at the age of 88.

Geena Davis is so cute in this film.

Michael Keaton is perfect as Beetlejuice.

Beetlejuice (1988) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Rocky Balboa by Randy Martin!

Randy Martin and his his wife, Laura were one of the first people that I knew who had an art themed collection.  Theirs is Edward Scissorhands.  Anyway, I was at one of the first (maybe even the first) conventions when I started getting Sylvester Stallone character sketches.  Randy (who is a collector, not a professional artist) said he had an idea for a Stallone sketch.  I said (in my best Rocky III voice), “Go for it!”

The result is a, pardon the expression, knockout!  It still brings a smile to my face.

“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” – Season 5 (2025) / Z-View

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds -Season 4 (2026)

Created by: Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman Jenny Lumet; based on Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry

Teleplay by:

  • (ep. 1) Akiva Goldsman & Henry Alonso Myers from a story by Henry Alonso Myers & Alan B. McElroy
  • (ep. 2) Robbie Thompson
  • (ep. 3) Kathryn Lyn
  • (ep. 4) Skylar Ojeda & Dana Horgan
  • (ep. 5) Henry Alonso Myers & Dana Horgan
  • (ep. 6) Bill Wolkoff
  • (ep. 7) Dana Horgan & Bill Wolkoff
  • (ep. 8) Alan B. McElroy
  • (ep. 9) Onitra Johnson
  • (ep. 10) Henry Alonso Myers & Robbie Thompson

Directed by:

  • Chris Fisher (eps. 1; 10)
  • Axelle Carolyn  (ep. 2)
  • Yana Gorskaya (ep. 3)
  • Meera Menon (ep. 4)
  • Jordan Canning (ep. 5)
  • Dan Liu (ep. 6)
  • Anna Dokoza (ep. 7)
  • Sharon Lewis (ep. 8)
  • Sydney Freeland (ep. 9)

Stars: Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun, Martin Quinn, Rebecca Romijn and Carol Kane.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

During Season 4 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Captain Christopher Pike and the crew of the USS Enterprise face more dangerous adventures.

  • “Valles Marineris”  The Enterprise is sent back in time 65 million years.  Pike sends a team to a planet to explore.  They have run-ins with dinosaurs. Meanwhile Martians take control of the Enterprise.  The Martians are at war with with the Dol’drm who live on a planet that lies between Mars and Jupiter.  Pike attempts a peaceful resolution to the war as the rest of the crew seek a way to get back to their own time. (This episode is saved by the way it wraps up.  It ties in the extinction of the dinosaurs, why Mars is a barren planet in our time and why there is no longer a planet between Mars and Jupiter. – Craig)
  • “The Griffin Incident”  Spock, James Kirk and La’An are piloting a shuttle back to the Enterprise when they come across the USS Griffin floating in space.  The Griffin disappeared nearly a decade ago.  Scans show no life on the Griffin.  Spock, Kirk and La’An beam aboard to investigate.  Almost immediately the three are separated.  Each begins to see/hear things that make them question their sanity.  (Star Trek with a haunted “house story”. – Craig)

 

  • “Human Best Friend”  It’s been too long since the primary crew of the Enterprise has had time off.  Scott and Ortegas are at odds. The rest of the team is on edge.  Pike decides a weekend for the primary crew on a planet with an atmosphere that safely and temporarily reduces inhibitions is needed.  Pike, Spock, Number One, M’Benga, Scott, Ortegas and Chapel go.  Inhibitions are down and each is acting way out of character.  Their judgment is negatively impacted.  Then they learn that a bomb planted on the Enterprise will soon explode. (I didn’t care much for the actions of most of the inebriated crew, but the Kirk/Spock interactions had a nice twist. – Craig)
  • “A Case of Chiaroscuro”  Number One, M’Benga, and Uhura are sent to recover a probe on a planet controlled by Klingons.  When their shuttle is detected by Klingons, the three head to the nearest city to hide out.  To their surprise, the inhabitants dress like 1940s Earthlings.  Complicating matters, Number One is mistaken for a resistance leader attempting to overthrow the Klingons.  (Star Trek meets Casablanca. – Craig)

 

  • “Level-Five Transporter Accident”  An experiment to extend the range of the Enterprise’s transporter goes sideways. The ship briefly vanishes. When it reappears everyone (except Spock) has transformed into a muppet. Complicating matters pirates have boarded the ship.  What chance do puppets have against space buccaneers?  (I appreciate ST: SNW writers taking chances, but the resolution was such a cliche. – Craig)

 

  • “Off-Hour” While traveling at warp speed the Enterprise is pulled into a slipstream.  In less than an hour, unless a solution is found, the Enterprise will explode.  Meanwhile, in sick bay, M’Benga was pinned by rolling medical equipment during the disturbance.  If the machinery is moved, M’Benga will bleed out.  But there may be a solution that will save both M’Benga and the ship…  (What are the odds? – Craig)

 

  • “Like Chronitons Through the Hourglass”  Pike wakes up in sick bay suffering from amnesia. He’s shocked to learn Spock is in sick bay and needs a “live heart transplant”.  As Pike works to process it all, Uhura busts in claiming Pike is her father.  If you think this this sounds like a soap opera, you’re not wrong.  But why?  (ST: SNW writers know why. – Craig)

 

  • “Orders of Magnitude”  Admiral Reeger and James Kirk are visiting the Enterprise.  When a distress signal is received from a nearby planet, Pike and a small crew beam down to investigate. Reeger is left in charge of the Enterprise with Kirk his second in command. Then the Enterprise picks up evidence of a cloaked warship that has killed millions. Reeger orders the Enterprise to follow traces left by the invisible craft.  They track the ship to a planet containing 5,000 inhabitants.  Unsure whether the ship is still there, Admiral Reeger issues an order to destroy the planet.  When Kirk objects, Reeger threatens to charge him with mutiny.  Meanwhile Pike and crew discover they’d been lulled into a trap! (This is one of the best episodes of the season. – Craig)  
  • “Once La’An a Time”  On a disc-shaped planet, Pike, Spock, La’An and Pelia beam down. There they find fairytale versions of the Enterprise crew. Expect a princess, heroes, cowards, villians, dragons, an evil queen and more. (One of my least favorite episodes of the season. – Craig)

 

  • “Tomorrow’s Enterprise”  The Enterprise crew is studying a rare white hole when an explosion kills Scotty and sends Uhura one year into the future. She’s still on the Enterprise, but Kirk was made Captain of the ship when Pike was promoted to Admiral.  The “future” Uhura was sent one year in the past.  Future and Past Uhura’s find a way to communicate.  With the help of Spock they hope to find a way to get each back to their “right” timeline… and maybe save Scotty in the process.  (If you get past the “space babies” aspect, this is a good episode. – Craig)

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been nominated for two PrimeTime Emmy Awards…

  • 2024 Primetime Emmy Nominee for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) for the episode Hegemony (2023)
  • 2022 Primetime Emmy Nominee for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) for the episode Memento Mori (2022)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is perfectly cast.  Anson Mount is perfect in his role, but so are Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Celia Rose Gooding and Melissa Navia.  The series is well written with each major cast member displaying personality and getting a showcase.

I am a fan of the original Star Trek series, cartoon and movies with the original cast.  I never watched any other Star Trek productions.  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds changed that.  I’ve been a big fan of the show, but found this season to veer in directions that weren’t as entertaining.  Each season took chances with some episodes, but this season had more misses than past seasons.  With that said, I’m still looking forward to season 5.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2025) earns 4 of 5 stars.

RIP: Peter Medak

Peter Medak died on October 27, 2026.  He was 88.

Peter Medak was born in Budapest, Hungary.  In 1956, Mr. Medak moved to Britain and began a career in the movie industry.  In 1963, Peter Medak was hired to direct television movies for Universal Pictures.  In 1967, he began making feature films for Paramount.

Some of Peter Medak’s television work includes: Court Martial; Strange Report (2 episodes); The Persuaders; The Third Girl from the Left; Space: 1999 (2 episodes); The Professionals; Return of the Saint; Hart to Hart (4 episodes); Remington Steele; Magnum, P.I.; St. Elsewhere; Crime Story; The Twilight Zone (7 episodes); Fairie Tale Theatre (5 episodes); Beauty and the Beast; China Beach; Tales from the Crypt; Kindred: The Embrace (2 episodes); Homicide: Life on the Street (6 episodes); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; Chicago Hope; David Copperfield; The Wire; Carnivale; The Guardian (3 episodes); House; South Beach; Agatha Christie’s: Miss Marple; In Justice; Masters of Horror; Breaking Bad; Cold Case; Hannibal (2 episodes); The Assets (2 episodes); Hand of God (3 episodes) and The Ghost of Peter Sellers.

Some of Peter Medak’s feature film work includes: Negatives; The Ruling Class; Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon (short); The Changeling; Zorro: The Gay Blade; The Krays; Romeo is Bleeding and Species II.

My favorite feature film is The Changeling.  It’s an under-rated gem.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Peter Medak’s family, friends and fans.

“Animals” (2026) directed by Ben Affleck, starring Ben Affleck, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson and Steven Yeun / Z-View

Animals (2026)

Director: Ben Affleck

Screenplay:  Connor O. McIntyre, Billy Ray, Ben Affleck

Stars:  Ben Affleck, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Ray Fisher, Luis Gerardo Méndez and Steven Yeun.

Tagline: Power can’t protect you.

The Plot…

Mark Kimball is an independent candidate running for Mayor of Los Angeles.  The race has been an uphill battle that’s put a strain on his marriage to Abigail.

With election day near, Mark is just a few percentage points from the lead.  To get money needed to put him over the top, Mark secretly signs over his family’s savings.  Once he wins, the money will be paid back.

Then the unthinkable happens. Mark and Abigail’s son is kidnapped.  The kidnapper’s ransom demand is out of reach since Mark secretly used the money for his campaign.  If they go to the police, the kidnappers promise to kill their son.

With nowhere else to turn Mark and Abigail enlist the aid of Dayle.  Dayle works outside the law, but has success in dealing with kidnappers.  Dayle doesn’t come cheap and payment delays carry a high interest rate.  As Dayle questions Mark and Abigail secrets held by each are exposed.

Then something unexpected happens.  And it changes everything.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Animals was originally going to star Matt Damon and Jennifer Garner (Ben Affleck’s ex-wife) with Affleck still directing.  When filming was delayed, Damon had to back out.  With Damon out, Affleck decided to take the starring role.  Garner then decided to pass on her role.  Kerry Washington was then signed.

Just weeks before filming was to start, Affleck halted production.  Highest 2 Lowest directed by Spike Lee, starring Denzel Washington had been announced.  The plots of Animals and Highest 2 Lowest were similar.  Affleck decided to make changes to Animals to make it a more morally ambiguous drama exploring marriage, public image, and personal integrity.

Gillian Anderson is excellent as Dayle.  It’s my favorite of Gillian Anderson role.

Animals (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars.

RIP: Susan Saint James

Susan Saint James died on October 26, 2026 from pancreatic cancer.  She was 80.

Saint James was born Susan Jane Miller.  She began a modeling career as a teenager.  When Susan Miller decided on a career in acting she changed her name to Susan Saint James.

Ms. Jame’s first role was in a television movie called Fame is the Name of the Game.  Susan Saint James continued to get television guest appearances, and when Fame is the Name of the Game was adapted into an on-going series (Name of the Game), she was brought back as one of the stars.  Her acting as Peggy Maxwell earned Susan Saint James 4 Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Primetime Emmy Nominations with one win.

The same year that Name of the Game ended, Susan St. James got the co-starring role with Rock Hudson in McMillan and Wife.  Susan Saint James left the series after five years (and two more Outstanding Lead Actress Primetime Emmy niminations) due to a contract dispute.  The series ran with a name change (McMillan) for a much shortened sixth season.

After leaving McMillan and Wife, Susan Saint James began alternating between movie and television roles.  In 1984, Ms. James returned to television in a starring role on Kate & Allie.  The series ran for six seasons and earned Susan Saint James two more Outstanding Lead Actress Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

After Katie & Allie ended Susan Saint James took retired from acting, only returning for a few special opportunities.

Some of Susan Saint James’s television performances include: Fame is the Name of the Game;  Ready and Willing; Ironside (2 episodes); It Takes a Thief (5 episodes); McCloud; Alias Smith & Jones; The Name of the Game (38 episodes); Magic Carpet; McMillan & Wife (34 episodes); Sex and the Single Parent; S.O.S. Titanic; MASH; Kate & Allie (122 episodes); The Drew Carey Show; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; Suits; The Haunting of Bly Manor and Upload (3 episodes).

Some of Susan Saint James’s feature film appearances include: P.J.; What’s So Bad About Feeling Good?; Outlaw Blues; Love at First Bite; How to Beat the High Cost of Living and Carbon Copy.

My favorite Susan Saint James role was as Peggy Maxwell on Name of the Game.  Who wouldn’t want her as a secretary/member of the team?  Susan Saint James was the rare actress who was good whether it was a drama or comedy.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Susan Saint Jame’s family, friends and fans.

RIP: Walter Koenig

Walter Koenig died on October 25, 2026 from natural causes.  Mr. Koenig was 90.

After high school Walter Koenig attended Grinnell College in Iowa where he was a pre-med student. Mr. Koenig transferred to UCLA where he received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. While at UCLA, he decided to try acting.  Walter Koenig moved to New York to attend the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre.

Mr. Koenig’s first role was an uncredited part on Combat! in 1962.  Many other television appearances followed.  Then in 1967, Walter Koenig appeared on Star Trek as Chekov, in the role that made him famous.  Following Star Trek, Mr. Koenig continued to act on television and in movies in a career that spanned over 60 years.

Some of Walter Koenig’s television performances include: Combat!; The Untouchables; General Hospital (2 episodes); The Great Adventure; The Lieutenant; The Alfred Hitchcock Hour; Ben Casey; Mr. Novak (3 episodes); Gidgit; I Spy; Jericho; Star Trek (36 episodes); Mannix; Medical Center; The Viriginian; Ironside; The Starlost (2 episodes); The Questor Tapes; Columbo; Bring ‘Em Back Alive; Anthony and Cleopatra; The Real Ghostbusters; Viva Variety; Almost Perfect; Babylon 5 (12 episodes); Diagnosis Murder; The Privateers; Son of the Beach; Futurama; Star Trek: Phase II; Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters (11 episodes) and Star Trek: Picard.

Some of Walter Koenig’s feature film appearances include: Star Trek: The Motion Picture; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; Stara Trek V: The Final Frontier; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country; Staar Trek: Generations; Drawing Down the Moon; Scream of the Bikini and Raging Midlife.

I may have first seen Walter Koenig on one of his many television guest appearances prior to Star Trek.  It is his signature role on Star Trek though that brought him to my (and the world’s attention). Star Trek was already a popular show among my friends and I. The inclusion of Mr. Koenig only increased the show’s popularity.

I met Walter Koenig at a convention years ago.  I was there with my buddy, comic artist John Beatty, was a guest of the show.  I was walking around before the convention started and saw Walter Koenig behind his table.  I walked over, shook his hand and told him I was a fan.  Mr. Koenig was gracious and humble.  It was a short interaction, but one I fondly remember.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Walter Koenig’s family, friends and fans.

“You’re a big man, but I do this for a living,” by Kelsey Shannon

Kelsey Shannon gifted me this sketch at HeroesCon 2004.  We had “talked” via e-mail for a couple of years, but it was the first time I met him in person.  I knew Kelsey had worked in comics, animation, and film, and that he could pencil, ink and color. At the con I also learned Kelsey plays a mean game of hacki-sack.

Years after this sketch, Kelsey would provide art and a variant cover for EXPENDABLES GO TO HELL!

CRUX by James Byron Huggins / Z-View

CRUX by James Byron Huggins

First sentence…

A bolt of lightning shattered the Observation Room, but even in the deafening thunder Blanchard heard horrified screams and glimpsed a scientist scramble under equipment that was obliterated by a blinding blue streak.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

An experiment at the Hadron Super Collider in Geneva goes horribly wrong.  When the smoke clears seven physicists are missing. Something unexplainable caused a bolt of blue lightning, a massive explosion and seven scientists to vanish.  Although the public learns there was an accident at the Hadron Collider, they aren’t given details.

Amanda Decker’s sister was one of the physicists who died in the “accident”. Amanda realizes the official story doesn’t make sense. She suspects a cover-up.  To get answers, Amanda enlists the aide of a man known only as Isaiah.  Isaiah, for those in the know, has skills to aid people when all hope is gone.

Isaiah and Amanda arrange entry into the Hadron Collider.  Unknown to them (or anyone without a need to know) a small team of US military operatives are headed to the Collider. The US soldiers will make sure the location is secure.  US Military intelligence thinks that the Hadron Collider “accident” was caused by a terrorist attack.

They’re wrong.

Once inside the Collider, Isaiah, Amanda and the soldiers learn the explosion wasn’t an experiment gone wrong.  It wasn’t caused by terrorists.  Someone alone or with the assistance of others used the Collider to attempt to open a gateway to another dimension.

And it worked.

The portal was open just long enough for scientists to be sucked through. And some thing(s) from the other side to enter our world.

+++

James Byron Huggins has never written a book that fails to entertain.  CRUX joins Huggins’ HUNTER trilogy, CAIN, LEVIATHAN, RORA and others that I can easily suggest to lovers of action thrillers.

Rating:

“Nighthawks” (1981) starring Sylvester Stallone, Billy Dee Williams & Rutgar Hauer / Z-View

Nighthawks (1981)

Director: Bruce Malmuth

Screenplay:  David Shaber; story by David Shaber, Paul Sylbert

Stars:  Sylvester Stallone, Billy Dee Williams, Lindsay Wagner, Persis Khambatta, Nigel Davenport, Joe Spinell, Tony Munafo, Catherine Mary Stewart and Rutger Hauer.

Tagline: One man can bring the world to its knees and only one man can stop him.

The Plot…

Terrorist attacks across Europe are on the rise.  In response, the United States created the Anti-Terrorist Action Command (ATAC).  Under the direction of British Police Inspector Peter Hartman, the ATAC squad is made up of the best of the best.  Detectives Deke DaSilva and Matthew Fox of the Street Crimes Unit are transferred to ATAC.

When Wulfgar, an international terrorist, claims responsibility for a New York bombing, the ATAC squad knows they must find and end Wulfgar by whatever means necessary.

Soon DaSilva and Fox will get the chance.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

David Shaber’s original script was meant to become French Connection 3.  Popeye Doyle (Gene Hackman) would be teamed with a wisecracking partner.  Hackman didn’t want to return, so 20th Century Fox sold the script to Universal where it was reworked into Nighthawks.

Nighthawks features the American debut of Rutgar Hauer.  Hauer was offered a role in the big budget film Sphinx at the same time as Nighthawks.  His salary for Sphinx would have been much more, but he opted to co-star in Nighthawks.

The original director, Gary Nelson (best known as the director of Freaky Friday and The Black Hole) was the original director.  Nelson was fired after a week of filming.  Bruce Malmuth was Nelson’s replacement.  Since Malmuth couldn’t make the next scheduled day of shooting, Stallone directed the subway chase scene.

Legendary stuntman Dar Robinson was the stunt coordinator on Nighthawks.  Sylvester Stallone did most of his own stunts including hanging from the Roosevelt Island Tramway 250 feet over the East River.

At the time of Nighthawks‘ release many people believed that a terrorist attack on American soil was unrealistic.  Then came the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing and 2001 World Trade Center attack (to name a few).

Nighthawks original cut was much longer (reportedly 2 1/2 hours vs the 99 minute theaterical version) and more violent.  Scenes with Lindsay Wagner, Rutger Hauer and Persis Khambatta were removed to streamline the film.  To reduce violence, an extended shootout in the disco was cut and the final standoff between Stallone and Hauer was cut.  I would love to see Stallone get a chance to create a new cut of Nighthawks (like he did for Rocky IV).

Some Nighthawks lobby cards/promotional photos show scenes deleted from the film. These include (Think what Stallone could do with these!):

  • Deke and Matthew on a different drug bust
  • Wulfgar and Shaka with a plastic surgeon
  • Deke and Irene at a party
  • Deke and Irene talking inside of her house and in her bedroom
  • A love scene between Wulfgar and Shaka
  • More of the Metropolitan Museum of Art United Nations meeting
  • Deke talking with the French ambassador whose wife was killed by Wulfgar on the tram
  • Deke and Irene holding each other on the stairs of her house after Deke killed Wulfgar

Nighthawks is an under-rated film.

Nighthawks (1981) rates 5 of 5 stars.