Behind Enemy Lines is a 1986 American action film directed by Gideon Amir and starring David Carradine. It is set in the context of the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue where Colonel Cooper, an Airborne commando, is sent to Vietnam to free American soldiers caught in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp.
The film is also known as Attack Force 'Nam (American DVD title), P.O.W. the Escape (American reissue title).
Plot
Colonel Cooper (David Carradine) is a U.S. Airborne commando who comes to Vietnam with a special mission to liberate imprisoned American soldiers. He gets caught in a North Vietnamese POW camp where there are other Paratroopers and Soldiers. Action is set at the end of the war and he, as the highest-ranking officer in the POW camp, is to be sent to Hanoi and prosecuted by the North Vietnamese. Camp commander Vinh (Mako Iwamatsu) gets an order to send him to court but instead of obeying it, he offers Cooper a deal - he will help him get to the American sector and then Cooper, in return, would help him immigrate to the United States, where Vinh has family.
Cooper promptly disregards his proposition, as he is a tough soldier who would rather sacrifice his own life than help the enemy. However Vinh is persistent persuading him, threatening that if he will not accept his deal, then all of the fellow prisoners from his camp will die. Given that threat Cooper reconsiders Vinh's offer, and accepts the deal, but under one condition - all of the camp prisoners must go with them. Vinh, being short of time (as Hanoi set deadline for sending Cooper to court) OK's the plan and so they leave camp in column of two jeeps and a truck (prisoners are hidden in a tank truck while Cooper goes with Vinh in a jeep). Their journey won't be without obstacles as they need to go through zones controlled by The North Vietnamese, and through the jungle wilderness.
Cast
David Carradine as Col. James Cooper
Charles R. Floyd as Sparks
Mako Iwamatsu as Capt. Vinh
Steve James as Johnston
Phil Brock as Adams
Daniel Demorest as Thomas
Tony Pierce as Waite
Steve Freedman as Scott
James Acheson as McCoy
Rudy Daniels as Gen. Morgan
Ken Metcalfe as Gen. Weaver
Kenneth Glover as Teague
Irma Alegre as Bargirl
Spanky Manikan as NVA officer
Estrella Antonio as Vietnamese mother
Tony Beso Jr. as Young boy in Se village
John Falch as GI with Thomas
Pen Medina as NVA #1 in empty camp
Chris Gould as POW #1
Brian Robillard as POW #2
Leif Erlandson as POW #3
Brian Tasker as POW #4
Jim Gaines as POW #5
Eric Hahn as GI #1
Mansour Khalili as GI #2
Tony Realle as GI #3
Willie Williams as GI #4
Avraham Karpick as Murphy
Bill Kipp as Soldier at fuel depot
Andrew Sommer as Soldier at fuel depot
Victor Barjo as Soldier at fuel depot
John Barrett as Soldier at fuel depot
Henry Strzalkowski as Soldier at fuel depot
Steven L. Long soldier in helicopter (opening credits) Donnald P. Sibble as door-gunner
Soundtrack
Cannon re-used some of the musical scores from 'The Delta Force" (1986)