Breathing Fire
| Breathing Fire | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by |
Brandon De-Wilde (co-directed) Lou Kennedy |
| Produced by | Raymond Mahoney |
| Written by |
Raymond Mahoney Wayne John |
| Story by | Delon Tanners |
| Starring |
Jonathan Ke Quan Eddie Saavedra Ed Neil Jerry Trimble Bolo Yeung Wendell C. Whitaker |
| Music by | Paul Hertzog |
| Cinematography | Henry Chinon |
| Edited by |
Rick Mitchell William Young |
Production company |
Golden Pacific Films & Arts |
| Distributed by | Scanbox Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Breathing Fire is a 1991 American martial arts film directed by Lou Kennedy in his directorial debut, and co-directed by Brandon De-Wilde, and starring Jonathan Ke Quan, Eddie Saavedra, Ed Neil and Jerry Trimble. The film was released on direct-to-VHS in the United States on July 15, 1992.
It is a remake of the 1977 Hong Kong film The Flash Legs that starred Tao-liang Tan, who executive produced and wrote this film under the pseudonym of Delon Tanners. This was Eddie Saavedra's first American film only. After the film, Saavedra has retired from acting.
Plot
Michael Moore (Jerry Trimble), a Vietnam vet, pulls off a bank heist with his gang, which includes the bank's manager. To ensure the loyalty of everyone involved, a set of keys is made to the hiding place for the loot so it can only be opened if all the members are present. These sets of keys were encrusted in a fake pizza mold that was later sliced and given to the gang. The bank manager gets cold feet and tries to back out, but Michael and his henchman arrive to kill him and his wife in their home.
The bank manager's daughter Annie (Laura Hamilton) gets hold of the key and runs for help to David Moore (Ed Neil), one of her father's old friends and also a Vietnam vet as well as Michael's brother. David does some investigation, alongside Michael's two sons, Charlie (Jonathan Ke Quan) and Tony (Eddie Saavedra), to find out who murdered the girl's parents. They eventually discovered that Michael is the killer. However, trouble brews up when Michael reveals why he adopted his son Charlie, leading to a showdown between father and son. When Michael is arrested, Tony puts the blame on Charlie and intends to settle the score with his brother at a taekwondo tournament. Among other things, 'Breathing Fire' is known for the scene in which the two adolescents battle kung fu midgets in a bar.
Cast
- Jonathan Ke Quan as Charlie Moore
- Eddie Saavedra as Tony Moore
- Ed Neil as David Moore
- Jerry Trimble as Michael Moore
- Bolo Yeung as Thunder
- Wendell C. Whitaker as Tank
- Alan Tackett as Alan
- Jacqueline Pulliam as Jenny
- Laura Hamilton as Annie Stern
- Drake Diamond as Peter Stern
- T.J. Storm as Mickey (as Juan Ojeda)
- Pamela Maxton as Tank's Mother
- Jacqueline Woolsey as Mrs. Stern
- Gary Green as Harry
- Annie Rubanoff as April
- Eugene Trammell as Bank Security Guard
Production
Jason David Frank was considered for the role of Tony, Frank turned down the role due to an injury occurred to him while training. The future Power Rangers star was then replaced by Eddie Saavedra. It is set and filmed at Chino Hills, Redlands and Fontana, California, in 39 days on February 22 and April 2, 1990, with part of the movie filmed at the home of Executive Producer Peter L. Zang in Bradbury, California.