Assault on Precinct 13

 

Moviedrome Introduction

Film Details

Release Date: 1976

Director: John Carpenter

Austin Stoker as Lieutenant Ethan Bishop
Darwin Joston as Napoleon Wilson

Plot Summary

Set in a desolate Los Angeles neighborhood, the film follows a small group of police officers and criminals who must band together to survive an onslaught from a ruthless street gang. The nearly abandoned Precinct 13 is in the process of being decommissioned when a vengeful gang, known as Street Thunder, launches a relentless attack on the station. Inside, newly assigned Lieutenant Ethan Bishop (Austin Stoker), convicted murderer Napoleon Wilson (Darwin Joston), and a handful of others must fight for their lives against overwhelming odds.

Personal History

Watched it several times during the Betamax frenzy of the 1980s.

Current Review

Season 3 looks very interesting, from a cursory look of titles. More modern. More cultish. I am in familiar territory.

No mention in the plot summary or Alex Cox introduction of one of the most shocking things I have seen in cinema. To establish our silent and relentless gangs intention, both an innocent ice cream man and his customer are shot in cold blood. The customer - an 8 year old girl, who was given the wrong flavour of ice cream.

Never Go Back

The gang - who are mixed race and look vaguely political in a Che Guevara hat are out for revenge. Once we get past the opening soundtrack (which drove me made trying to remember which video game I know it from), we have their fellow members being shotgunned to death in an alley.

Gang Culture

Silently, and presumably after a massive recruitment campaign, they set off to attack a closing down police station. It then becomes a run of the mill siege. Defenders include an officer on his first day, a trio on death row convicts forced to break up their journey and a few civilians. Attackers are relentless.

Sadly, interest wanes through the monotonous assualt. Apart from some one-liners, there is little humour. Little variety. But its certainly original. Despite its "influences",

The soundtrack - Xenon II.

Quirky Facts

Listen to the introduction to show films where dialogue was lifted from.

Darwin Joston's portrayal of convict Napoleon Wilson is inspired by Charles Bronson's character "Harmonica" in Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

The assault takes place on Precinct 9, Division 13. Many have noted the title misnomer, since there is no "Precinct 13" in the film.

Shot in only 20 days.

Quotes

[repeated line]
Napoleon Wilson: Got a smoke?

Lt. Ethan Bishop: How did you come by a name like Napoleon Wilson?
Napoleon Wilson: I'll tell you some time.
Lt. Ethan Bishop: When will you tell me?
[the street gang breaks through the barricade and rush at Bishop and Wilson]
Napoleon Wilson: Make that in a minute or two!

Warden: [after punching Wilson out of a chair without the slightest provocation] He just slipped right out of the chair.
Napoleon Wilson: [sarcastic] Yeah, I don't sit in chairs as well as I used to.

Warden: You know Wilson, I'm gonna miss you.
Napoleon Wilson: That's not the truth, Warden. You should always tell the truth. Even a little white lie can sometimes trip a man up.
[trips the Prison Warden with his chain]
Napoleon Wilson: He don't stand up as good as he used to.

Future Inspiration

Rio Bravo - of course links in with my Howard Hawks recommendations.

A top 5 of John Carpenter Films;

The Thing (1982)

Halloween (1978)

Escape from New York (1981)

They Live (1988)

Big Trouble in Little China (1986)