Time for a fun #FlashbackFriday thread on "Lone Wolf McQuade," an action movie starring Chuck Norris, David Carradine and Barbara Carrera that was shot in #ElPaso in the spring of 1982. It's a sweaty time capsule of the Borderland and it's streaming now on @PrimeVideo. /1/
For Norris, the martial-artist-turned-action-star was about to enter the peak of his film career. Carradine had left the TV show "Kung Fu" and enjoyed a string of hit films in the late 1970s. Carrera went on to make a big splash in the James Bond movie "Never Say Never Again." /2
For Norris, the martial-artist-turned-action-star was about to enter the peak of his film career. Carradine had left the TV show "Kung Fu" and enjoyed a string of hit films in the late 1970s. Carrera went on to make a big splash in the James Bond movie "Never Say Never Again." /2
For Norris, the martial-artist-turned-action-star was about to enter the peak of his film career. Carradine had left the TV show "Kung Fu" and enjoyed a string of hit films in the late 1970s. Carrera went on to make a big splash in the James Bond movie "Never Say Never Again." /2
The script hinges on some tired tropes, like a rogue cop who lives by his own set of rules. J.J. McQuade is a Texas Ranger who gets partnered up with a rookie state trooper, the affable Robert Beltran, who chews up plenty of scenery. He later appeared on "Star Trek: Voyager." /3/
The script hinges on some tired tropes, like a rogue cop who lives by his own set of rules. J.J. McQuade is a Texas Ranger who gets partnered up with a rookie state trooper, the affable Robert Beltran, who chews up plenty of scenery. He later appeared on "Star Trek: Voyager." /3/
The script hinges on some tired tropes, like a rogue cop who lives by his own set of rules. J.J. McQuade is a Texas Ranger who gets partnered up with a rookie state trooper, the affable Robert Beltran, who chews up plenty of scenery. He later appeared on "Star Trek: Voyager." /3/
It was helmed by journeyman director Steve Carver, who had previously directed Norris and Carradine in two separate low-budget romps. In terms of wardrobe, Norris always wears those really elaborate Western shirts that have a breastplate and lots of buttons. Remember those? /4/
The film opens with a scene at Indian Cliffs near Fabens. Mexican actor Jorge Cervera delivers an enthusiastic (if somewhat problematic by today's standards) performance as a horse thief. I think they were stealing horses. It's implied anyway. But McQuade's not having it. /5/
The film opens with a scene at Indian Cliffs near Fabens. Mexican actor Jorge Cervera delivers an enthusiastic (if somewhat problematic by today's standards) performance as a horse thief. I think they were stealing horses. It's implied anyway. But McQuade's not having it. /5/
The film opens with a scene at Indian Cliffs near Fabens. Mexican actor Jorge Cervera delivers an enthusiastic (if somewhat problematic by today's standards) performance as a horse thief. I think they were stealing horses. It's implied anyway. But McQuade's not having it. /5/
The film opens with a scene at Indian Cliffs near Fabens. Mexican actor Jorge Cervera delivers an enthusiastic (if somewhat problematic by today's standards) performance as a horse thief. I think they were stealing horses. It's implied anyway. But McQuade's not having it. /5/
Carradine is an arms dealer named Rawley Wilkes. His car has a personalized license plate that says "CARATE" so you know he means business. I forgot to mention he's also a middle-aged martial artist who draws big crowds when he fights at @SPRacino Sunland Park Racetrack. /6/
Carradine was literally in hundreds of movies, including the titular role in Tarantino's "Kill Bill." I interviewed him briefly on the red carpet at a B-list Oscar party in 2008, a year before he died. He told me I needed to come up with more interesting questions. #truestory /7/
Lots of great #ElPaso locations sprinkled throughout the movie, including some nice exteriors of what is now EPIC Railyard Event Center. If you have your wedding there, you should re-enact McQuade's grand entrance by smashing through the front gates and kicking the guests. /8/
Lots of great #ElPaso locations sprinkled throughout the movie, including some nice exteriors of what is now EPIC Railyard Event Center. If you have your wedding there, you should re-enact McQuade's grand entrance by smashing through the front gates and kicking the guests. /8/
Lots of great #ElPaso locations sprinkled throughout the movie, including some nice exteriors of what is now EPIC Railyard Event Center. If you have your wedding there, you should re-enact McQuade's grand entrance by smashing through the front gates and kicking the guests. /8/
This is where we are introduced to character actor William Sanderson. He had spent the previous spring delivering a brilliant performance in the cinematic masterpiece "Bladerunner." Then he came to El Paso to play a goofball drug dealer in Coke-bottle glasses. Work is work. /9/
This is where we are introduced to character actor William Sanderson. He had spent the previous spring delivering a brilliant performance in the cinematic masterpiece "Bladerunner." Then he came to El Paso to play a goofball drug dealer in Coke-bottle glasses. Work is work. /9/
This is where we are introduced to character actor William Sanderson. He had spent the previous spring delivering a brilliant performance in the cinematic masterpiece "Bladerunner." Then he came to El Paso to play a goofball drug dealer in Coke-bottle glasses. Work is work. /9/
Lots of locals got some screen time on "Lone Wolf McQuade." Former EPCC theater professor Hector Serrano has a nice turn as the "Cuban." His performance was good enough to merit a close-up. No small feat for a local hire. (Bonus fact: Serrano created @VivaElPaso in 1978.) /10/
Lots of locals got some screen time on "Lone Wolf McQuade." Former EPCC theater professor Hector Serrano has a nice turn as the "Cuban." His performance was good enough to merit a close-up. No small feat for a local hire. (Bonus fact: Serrano created @VivaElPaso in 1978.) /10/
Lots of locals got some screen time on "Lone Wolf McQuade." Former EPCC theater professor Hector Serrano has a nice turn as the "Cuban." His performance was good enough to merit a close-up. No small feat for a local hire. (Bonus fact: Serrano created @VivaElPaso in 1978.) /10/
Let's not forget Gil Reyes, the fitness guru who would later become @AndreAgassi's personal trainer during the tennis star's most successful era. I remember watching Reyes on KTSM doing funny fitness segments. In the film he plays a bodyguard who isn't very good at his job. /11/
Let's not forget Gil Reyes, the fitness guru who would later become @AndreAgassi's personal trainer during the tennis star's most successful era. I remember watching Reyes on KTSM doing funny fitness segments. In the film he plays a bodyguard who isn't very good at his job. /11/
Let's not forget Gil Reyes, the fitness guru who would later become @AndreAgassi's personal trainer during the tennis star's most successful era. I remember watching Reyes on KTSM doing funny fitness segments. In the film he plays a bodyguard who isn't very good at his job. /11/
Let's not forget Gil Reyes, the fitness guru who would later become @AndreAgassi's personal trainer during the tennis star's most successful era. I remember watching Reyes on KTSM doing funny fitness segments. In the film he plays a bodyguard who isn't very good at his job. /11/
And a shout-out to the local actors at the Mexican gas station, which looks to me like it was shot in Sunland Park, NM. Suffice to say, the make-up department was a little heavy handed when it came to the "dirt and distress" effect on the actors. /12/
And a shout-out to the local actors at the Mexican gas station, which looks to me like it was shot in Sunland Park, NM. Suffice to say, the make-up department was a little heavy handed when it came to the "dirt and distress" effect on the actors. /12/
And a shout-out to the local actors at the Mexican gas station, which looks to me like it was shot in Sunland Park, NM. Suffice to say, the make-up department was a little heavy handed when it came to the "dirt and distress" effect on the actors. /12/
And a shout-out to the local actors at the Mexican gas station, which looks to me like it was shot in Sunland Park, NM. Suffice to say, the make-up department was a little heavy handed when it came to the "dirt and distress" effect on the actors. /12/
Oh yeah, there's also a love triangle happening. This scene is the movie's "From Here to Eternity" moment. McQuade and Lola frolic in mud and the garbage that McQuade had just thrown into his yard. There's also a broken toilet in the background. McQuade's idea of romance. /13/
Cut to my favorite scene: McQuade has been buried alive in his trusty Dodge Ram. But he uses the power of Pearl beer to fuel a symbiotic union with his Dodge. He kicks on Chekhov's supercharger, stomps on the gas and bursts out of the sand like a modern-day Lazarus. /14/
Cut to my favorite scene: McQuade has been buried alive in his trusty Dodge Ram. But he uses the power of Pearl beer to fuel a symbiotic union with his Dodge. He kicks on Chekhov's supercharger, stomps on the gas and bursts out of the sand like a modern-day Lazarus. /14/
Cut to my favorite scene: McQuade has been buried alive in his trusty Dodge Ram. But he uses the power of Pearl beer to fuel a symbiotic union with his Dodge. He kicks on Chekhov's supercharger, stomps on the gas and bursts out of the sand like a modern-day Lazarus. /14/
Cut to my favorite scene: McQuade has been buried alive in his trusty Dodge Ram. But he uses the power of Pearl beer to fuel a symbiotic union with his Dodge. He kicks on Chekhov's supercharger, stomps on the gas and bursts out of the sand like a modern-day Lazarus. /14/
The hero's journey also takes our intrepid lawmen through some lovely scenery at @HuecoTanksSP State Park and Historic Site. That place is amazing. It's become one of the top #bouldering sites in the country. Maybe the movie helped spread the word, even tho they used ropes. /15/
The hero's journey also takes our intrepid lawmen through some lovely scenery at @HuecoTanksSP State Park and Historic Site. That place is amazing. It's become one of the top #bouldering sites in the country. Maybe the movie helped spread the word, even tho they used ropes. /15/
The hero's journey also takes our intrepid lawmen through some lovely scenery at @HuecoTanksSP State Park and Historic Site. That place is amazing. It's become one of the top #bouldering sites in the country. Maybe the movie helped spread the word, even tho they used ropes. /15/
The "ultimate showdown" happens in a fictional Mexican hacienda. But it could be Fabens maybe? We get some hand-to-hand combat between Norris and Carradine. Lots of practical special FX. Good explosions. This was the era when movie grenades sent people soaring into the sky. /16/
The "ultimate showdown" happens in a fictional Mexican hacienda. But it could be Fabens maybe? We get some hand-to-hand combat between Norris and Carradine. Lots of practical special FX. Good explosions. This was the era when movie grenades sent people soaring into the sky. /16/
The "ultimate showdown" happens in a fictional Mexican hacienda. But it could be Fabens maybe? We get some hand-to-hand combat between Norris and Carradine. Lots of practical special FX. Good explosions. This was the era when movie grenades sent people soaring into the sky. /16/
The "ultimate showdown" happens in a fictional Mexican hacienda. But it could be Fabens maybe? We get some hand-to-hand combat between Norris and Carradine. Lots of practical special FX. Good explosions. This was the era when movie grenades sent people soaring into the sky. /16/
The epilogue was shot in downtown #ElPaso. McQuade is supposed to help his family with the big move to Las Cruces. (McQuade made a big deal about the move earlier in the film.) But duty calls. McQuade bails on his family. Crane shot above Santa Fe Street. Roll credits. /17/
Next week, my favorite comedy podcast @ActionBoyzPod will review "Lone Wolf McQuade." I can't wait. I'd like to think the selection had something to do with my pestering. Regardless, I think it's a film worth watching, especially if you're nostalgic for those fancy Western shirts
You can follow @RobertKFOX14.
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