Source: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: Blu-ray, 2015.
Year: 1984
Director: John Milius
Action Stars:
Genre: Combat
Country: United States
Story Duration: 01:48:18
Act Duration:
1st Act: 00:25:56
2nd Act: 00:29:44
3rd Act: 00:29:11
4th Act: 00:23:27
Plot Turns:
1st: Mr. Eckert’s captivity
2nd: News of war
3rd: Execution of Robert
ASD Ratio: 37%
AAD Ratios:
1st Act: 33%
2nd Act: 27%
3rd Act: 50%
4th Act: 40%
Action Structure: 2143
Action Scenarios:
Capture
Escape
Fall
Fight
Pursuit
Rescue
Speed
Total Action Moments: 24
Notable Action Sequence: Invasion
Duration: 00:06:31
Act: 1st
Action Scenarios:
Escape
Fall
Fight
Rescue
Speed
Description: Despite its modest length, the opening invasion sequence is notable for its economy in setting up the primary narrative premises that go on to shape the film’s overarching story. The first premise is the invasion itself that commences with Soviet paratroopers descending from the sky in a controlled fall, a variant of the speed scenario [Figure 1]. The invasion progresses into a merciless attack on a school and then the occupation of the town of Calumet [Figure 2]. Paralleling these developments are those concerning a group of high school students who flee from the onslaught and are rescued by Jed Eckert, who returns to the school’s embattled parking lot in his pickup [Figure 3]. Jed and the students, including his brother Matt, escape from the town as well and temporarily stop at a gas station for supplies before making their way from the ongoing assault on the town. Their escape is temporarily barred by a Soviet military blockade, but an American helicopter appears and strikes the Russian formation, allowing Jed and his friends to proceed to the refuge of the mountains [Figure 4]. By depicting the invasion itself and the escape of what will become the guerilla fighting unit of the “Wolverines”, the opening sequence sets forth the central conflict of the film and its opposing parties.