Jackie Chan in THE GOLDEN EAGLE
My Mixtape’s A Masterpiece is a weekly feature in which a guest compiles a playlist around some theme. This week, Robb Antequera assembles 12 songs for the best Jackie Chan movie never made. Read Robb’s outline of the film, thoughts on each song, and listen along to the Spotify and YouTube playlists below.
Before I get into the topic at hand, let me explain its origins. During a discussion on my friend Michael Cook's podcast Trash Cinema about the film THE PROTECTOR starring Jackie Chan, he mispronounced the title as The Projector, and we went into a brief tangent about Jackie Chan making a movie set in a movie theater. That idea has stuck with me ever since, and I've been working out the plot of this imaginary Chan project. I think I nailed it, so here it is.
First, some background:
In the ‘80s, Jackie Chan was trying to break into the American market, which led to him starring in THE BIG BRAWL/BATTLE CREEK BRAWL (Dir. Robert Clouse) in 1980, as well as a bit part in 1981’s THE CANNONBALL RUN (Dir. Hal Needham). However, neither gave him the status he was hoping to achieve.
This led him to the role of Billy Wong in THE PROTECTOR, a film written and directed by James Glickenhaus of THE EXTERMINATOR fame. Jackie has been very upfront with his displeasure of the final product and the failure of that movie sent him back to his native Hong Kong to make the superior POLICE STORY. But what if he didn't? What if Jackie, who didn't really like the idea of THE PROTECTOR to begin with, had fought to change the plot to something more his style? And what if Warner Bros/Golden Harvest, the studios behind the film, agreed?
This would lead to Glickenhaus leaving the project, and the production looking for someone more suitable to replace him. The search takes them to Needham, whose previous collaboration with Jackie on THE CANNONBALL RUN, as well as his past as a stuntman, makes him the most qualified person for the job.
As a cast is put together, a new script is commissioned based on Jackie's ideas, and written by the great Steven E. De Souza (48 HRS., COMMANDO, DIE HARD). The cast would include the likes of Steve James, Reb Brown, William Zabka, Moon Lee, Mako, Danny Aiello and Bill Wallace (who stuck with the project after the change).
Jackie is allowed to choreograph all the fight scenes in the movie, so every fight will be classic Chan. The producers also decide to fill this new production with popular American songs, making sure the film is a hit with audiences. Now, without further ado, here is the movie and its accompanying soundtrack, using those songs as chapters in the action opus that is…
Jackie Chan in THE GOLDEN EAGLE
1. “Trouble” by Lindsey Buckingham
Chan plays Billy Wong, who has come to New York from Hong Kong after his father recently died; Billy is there to help run his father's movie theater, Golden Eagle Cinemas. Almost immediately, he runs afoul of a street gang called The Serpents, led by Stryker (Reb Brown), a highly volatile scumbag clad in football pads and chains with a rocking mullet. Billy also meets a young, streetwise kid named Jimmy (William Zabka), who helps him find the theater and then gets a job there out of gratitude.
“Trouble” plays during Billy's first encounter with the Serpents, when he approaches them asking for directions to the Golden Eagle. They antagonize him, then attack him. He fights back and beats them.
2. “Self Control” by Laura Branigan
Once there, Jimmy and Billy are introduced to the staff—which includes Uncle Chu (Mako), who has been running The Golden Eagle until Billy’s arrival, and Maggie (Moon Lee), who runs the concession stand. Jimmy is instantly smitten by her, and tries many times to win her over, with some help from Billy.
“Self Control” plays over our introduction to Maggie, who walks into the lobby in slow motion, while Jimmy stares at her in awe.
3. “Safety Dance (Extended Dance Version)” by Men Without Hats
Meanwhile, Billy has numerous run-ins with The Serpents, where he always beats them, infuriating Stryker. “Safety Dance” accompanies Billy's second confrontation with The Serpents, when they come to the Golden Eagle to retaliate for the previous encounter.
4. “Last Train To Clarksville” by The Monkees
The Monkees’ classic scores a fun montage of the day-to-day operations at the Golden Eagle where, due to Billy's inexperience running a theater, wacky hijinks ensue.
5. “I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock of Seagulls
The new wave classic is heard during a sequence where The Serpents chase Billy through the streets, our hero eventually getting away.
6. “Bloodfeast” by The Misfits
Stryker decides to call in a man named Stone (Bill Wallace), an expert martial artist who will take on Billy. Meanwhile, Billy becomes acquainted with Detective Frank Mason (Steve James), who is investigating The Serpents and wants Billy's help to take them down. Mason's efforts are constantly thwarted by his commanding officer, Captain Cappella (Danny Aiello).
After being thrown off the case, Mason conducts his own investigation, where he finds out that Cappella is working with Stryker, who takes a percentage of The Serpents profits from their street dealings.
The crooked cop and nefarious hoodlums come up with a plan to take care of Billy and the Golden Eagle once and for all.
“Bloodfeast” plays during Stone's introduction, where he beats up a bunch of The Serpents proving his physical prowess.
7. “Dancing With Tears in My Eyes” by Ultravox
8. “I Don't Think I'm Ready For You” by Anne Murray
Having hit it off, Jimmy and Maggie go on a date to a local dance club. The DJ plays Ultravox hit while the couple enjoy their first dance. And then Anne Murray comes in to set the mood for the pair to enjoy a sweet slow dance.
9. “Gloria” by Laura Branigan
While there, they are attacked by the Serpents. They fight back as best they could, with Jimmy utilizing the martial arts training he received from Billy, and Maggie already being a skilled Martial artist, but are ultimately beaten by Stone and taken hostage.
As that is happening, cops show up at the Golden Eagle to arrest Billy on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant. The plan is to take him to jail where Stone is waiting to kill our hero in his cell.
“Gloria” is the soundtrack for when The Serpents attack Jimmy and Maggie in the club, and the duo fight back.
10. “Xanadu” by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra
Billy is rescued by Mason, who tells him of Stryker and Capella's plan. They rush back to the theater to find it engulfed in flames. Everyone has gotten out safely except Uncle Chu, so they rush in to rescue him. Once outside and safe, Uncle Chu tells Billy it was The Serpents who killed his father, and he didn't tell Billy beforehand because Chu was scared they'd get Billy too.
Billy swears vengeance and, joined by Mason, heads to The Serpents’ lair. At the hideout, the pair find Jimmy and Maggie bound and gagged. Once those two are freed, all four take on the gang in a furious fight.
The upbeat musical number is fun contrast during the big showdown with Billy, Mason, Jimmy, Maggie and The Serpents.
11. “Cool” by Leonard Bernstein
As the fight continues, our action leads split off for some one-on-one combat. Mason squares off against Stryker. eventually besting the rage fueled maniac. Meanwhile Billy and Stone go at it in a brutal brawl that takes its toll on both, but Billy emerges victorious.
Bernstein’s WEST SIDE STORY classic plays over the climactic fight between Billy and Stone as the great martial artists unleash fury on each other.
12. “Hungry Like The Wolf” by Duran Duran
Once the battle is over, Cappella shows up demanding to send Billy back to Hong Kong and the rest of our heroes to be arrested. Mason interrupts to reveal that, while looking into Billy, he found his American birth certificate, which shows that Billy is a US citizen. He also reveals evidence of Capella's dealings with Stryker, leading to the other cops arresting their crooked superior. On recommendation from Mason, Billy sues the city, winning a big settlement which he uses to rebuild the Golden Eagle, and throws a big party on the grand re-opening.
Duran Duran’s megahit plays over the end credits following the celebration of Golden Eagle’s grand re-opening.
THE GOLDEN EAGLE comes out in the summer of 1985, making a whopping $78 million domestically and $186 million worldwide.
It’s one of the biggest hits of the year, giving Jackie the success in America that he so desperately wanted. Warner Bros. decide to bankroll all his movies from then on, making him one of the biggest box office draws in America ever.
And all was right with the world…
