Iron Eagle (1986)

Greetings fellow film nerds and enthusiasts...

This week I watched one of my favorite 80s flicks... 'Iron Eagle' which just so happens to be celebrating a 30 year anniversary this year.

A lot of people think that this movie was a Top Gun ripoff, but in fact it was filmed before Top Gun and the release was pushed until later because the distributors didn't want people to confuse it with Top Gun.


The film is about an Air Force pilot that gets shot down and held  prisoner in a middle eastern country. They sentence him to death. The U.S. can't do anything about it because they can't start a war over one man. The pilot's kid, who is somewhat of a pilot himself, decides to plan his own rescue mission with the aid of a retired Air Force colonel. They secretly "borrow" military aircrafts and all the firepower they can carry to pull off the greatest rescue mission ever attempted.
Iron Eagle has great aerial combat scenes, a great cast and an awesome 80s soundtrack.

Let's talk about the cast...

Louis Gossett, Jr. and Jason Gedrick

Originally, Emilio Esteves was going to play the lead role of Doug Masters but it ended up going to Jason Gedrick (Backdraft - 1991.) The role of the retired Air Force colonel was played by Oscar winner Louis Gusset Jr (An Officer and a Gentleman - 1982.) Actor Morgan Freeman tried out for the role too.
The downed pilot was played by Tim Thomerson (Trancers - 1984.)


People who grew up watching movies and TV in the '70s & '80s will recognize a few other cast members... Lance LeGault plays an Air Force General (he's the guy that was always chasing the A-Team around.) One of the kid's friends was actor Robbie Rist (cousin Oliver on the Brady Bunch)

actor Robbie Rist

and another was Larry B. Scott (Lamar from Revenge of the Nerds.)

actor Larry B. Scott

This is a fun movie with lots of energy. The soundtrack was really jamming with music from Queen, Katrina & the Waves, George Clinton, Dio, Twisted Sister, Tina Turner and James Brown. The title song was written and performed by King Kobra.

The film spawned three sequels. Louis Gossett, Jr. was the only actor to play in all 4 films.

Nice little cheesy 80s action flick with great music and familiar faces. Check it out now!

Talk to ya soon about more gems!!

- Patrick Shawn Bennett