The Flight of the Intruder (1990)

25% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
49% of users liked it
(5,752 ratings)

Two pilots go against the rule book in a bid to win the war in Viet Nam in this speculative military drama. Lieutenant Jake Grafton (Brad Johnson) is a U.S. Navy pilot stationed aboard an aircraft carrier after the death of his one-time flying partner Morgan McPherson (Christopher Rich), who… More Two pilots go against the rule book in a bid to win the war in Viet Nam in this speculative military drama. Lieutenant Jake Grafton (Brad Johnson) is a U.S. Navy pilot stationed aboard an aircraft carrier after the death of his one-time flying partner Morgan McPherson (Christopher Rich), who perished during a recent, ill-advised mission. Lt. Grafton, who has become cynical about the current state of military affairs, is convinced that if the war were left to the soldiers rather than the politicians overseeing the Pentagon, United States victory would be swift and assured. Grafton shares this opinion with Virgil Cole (Willem Dafoe), a supremely confident new pilot under his command, and together they commandeer an A-6 Bomber, known as The Intruder, for an unauthorized bombing raid against Hanoi. The city had been declared off-limits because it was believed that it would have a negative impact on the Paris peace talks, so the raid lands Grafton and Cole in hot water. However, when the talks break down, President Richard Nixon authorizes the pilots to lead a new strike against Hanoi with everything they've got. Ving Rhames and David Schwimmer both appear in small roles that predated their respective rises to fame (in fact, this was Schwimmer's first movie). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: John Milius
Written By: Robert Dillon, David Shaber
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jan 18, 1991 Wide
On DVD: Jul 1, 2003
Studio: Paramount

Critic Reviews

Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
Decent Vietnam war film. Dafoe's presence can only help.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Less entertaining than any of the leads have ever done.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Inert gung-ho Vietnam adventure.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Cast

            Danny Glover as Commander Frank Camparelli

            Willem Dafoe as Lieutenant Commander Virgil Cole

            Brad Johnson as Lieutenant Jake "Cool Hand" Grafton

            Rosanna Arquette as Callie

            Tom Sizemore as Boxman

            J. Kenneth Campbell as Cowboy Parker

            Jared Chandler as Razor

            Dann Florek as Mad Jack

            Madison Mason as "Cag"

            Christopher Rich as Morg

            Douglas Roberts as Guffy

            Adam Biesk as Librarian

            Reb Brown as Air Boss

            John Corbett as Big Augie

            Richard Fancy as Intelligence Captain

            Mike Jolly as Merchant Thug

            J. Patrick McNamara as Admiral

            Adam Nelson as Little Augie

            Jeff O'Haco as Merchant Thug

            Ving Rhames as C.P.O. Frank McRae

            Peter Sherayko as Clerk

            Scott N. Stevens as Hardesty

            Fred Dalton Thompson as Captain Copeland

            Justin Williams as Lt. Sammy Lundeen

            Ken Wright as Aide

            Duane Matthews as Jack "Hammer" Johnson

            Mindy Marin
            
            Akio Mitamura as Sniper

            David Schwimmer as Duty Officer

            Rick Dano as Fighter Pilot Drunk

            Hugo Napier as Newsman
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