Directed by Mark L. Lester
Produced by Joel Silver
Screenplay by Steven E. de Souza
Story by Steven E. de Souza
Joseph Loeb III
Matthew Weisman
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger
Rae Dawn Chong
Dan Hedaya
Vernon Wells
Alyssa Milano
Bill Duke
David Patrick Kelly
James Olson
Music by James Horner
Cinematography Matthew F. Leonetti
Editing by Glenn Farr
Mark Goldblatt
John F. Link
Studio Silver Pictures
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) October 4, 1985 (1985-10-04)
Running time 90 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Commando is a 1985 American action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vernon Wells, Rae Dawn Chong, Alyssa Milano, Bill Duke, Dan Hedaya and James Olson. It was directed by Mark L. Lester and shot on location in and around Los Angeles, California.
Retired Special Forces operative John Matrix (Schwarzenegger) is informed by Major General Franklin Kirby (Olson) that all the other members of his unit have been killed by unknown mercenaries. Despite being given protection, the mercenaries attack Matrix's secluded mountain home and kill the guards, kidnapping his daughter Jenny (Milano) in the process. Matrix gives chase, but he's also captured when he gets into a fight with a couple of the thugs, and is shot by Bennett (Wells), who was believed to have been assassinated also, with a tranquilizer gun, knocking him unconscious.
Bennett explains that Matrix is needed to carry out a political assassination for Arius (Hedaya) (who calls himself "El Presidente") and his army of former U.S. soldiers and mercenaries, among them Bennett, who was dishonourably discharged by Matrix for his disregard for order and has now joined Arius in retribution. Arius is a warlord and dictator who was previously overthrown by Matrix in a revolution staged by the U.S.. He now wishes to lead a military coup in his home country, Val Verde, and reasons that Matrix's familiarity with the country's new U.S. puppet leader will aid in an assassination attempt. As Arius has Jenny, Matrix reluctantly accepts the demand.
