Nighthawks *** (1981, Sylvester Stallone, Rutger Hauer, Billy Dee Williams, Nigel Davenport, Lindsay Wagner, Persis Khambatta) – Classic Movie Review 8396

Sylvester Stallone stars in Nighthawks (1981) as New York City street cop Deke DaSilva, who reluctantly takes on the job of terminating international terrorist Heymar ‘Wulfgar’ Reinhardt (played by Rutger Hauer) when he blows up a London department store. ‘Wulfgar’ (Hauer) then goes to New York, tracked by Interpol’s inspector, Peter Hartman (Nigel Davenport).

Director Bruce Malmuth’s 1981 movie Nighthawks is a routine violent action thriller, but it is not at all badly done, with enough strong suspense and exciting set pieces to keep it gripping.

Stallone is at ease with this tough-guy action stuff and there is an exciting star-making performance from Hauer to relish. Billy Dee Williams also stars as Sgt Matthew Fox, another New York City cop transferred to an elite anti-terrorism squad with Deke DaSilva.

The film is really only let down by a dispensable, clichéd subplot about Stallone’s strained relations with his wife (Lindsay Wagner), which so is conventional that it hurts.

Also in the cast are Persis Khambatta, Nigel Davenport, Hilarie Thompson, Joe Spinell, Catherine Mary Stuart, E Brian Dean, Walter Mathews, Caesar Cordova as Puerto Rican Proprietor, Charles Duval, Tony Munafo and Howard Stein.

Stallone later apologised to startled residents for the unannounced Sunday morning explosion at Clapham Junction, in south London. The store, Arding and Hobbs, was open again for business on Monday morning.

RIP Caesar Cordova, who was born on 16 May 1936 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, died on August 26, 2020 in Atlantic City. He was also known for Carlito’s Way (1993), Scarface (1983), Where the Buffalo Roam, Cutter’s Way and Sharks’ Treasure (1975).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8396

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