Foxforce
(a.k.a. Ebony, Ivory, and Jade,
Foxfire,
American Beauty Hostage,
and She-Devils in Chains)
(1976)
Director: Cirio H.
Santiago
Cast: Rosanne Katon, Colleen Camp, Sylvia Anderson
There isn't really much to say about Foxforce,
except
that it's pretty much indistinguishable from other Filipino actioners
of
the era. In fact, it's pretty much par for director Santiago, who has
cranked
out a lot of forgettable movies (though I did enjoy his Max Max
rip-off Wheels of Fire.)
Actually, there is one unforgettable thing associated with the movie,
but I'll get to that later.
The movie is also strictly PG, so don't expect a lot of
sleaze, which
is associated with a fair number of other Filipino movies. Strange,
because
the set-up of the movie promises that there will be. The USA's women
track
team travels to Hong Kong for an upcoming athletic competition. Among
the
team members are Ginger Douglas ("Ivory"), a supermarket heiress, and
Pam
Rogers ("Ebony"), who meets her old friend Jackie ("Jade") at the
airport.
The two friends see a mugging at the airport and proceed to kick the
tar
out of the mugger. A promising beginning, despite the movie from the
start
having murky photography and wavy sound quality. The latter is really
apparent
in sequences when there's one native English speaker and a non-native
who's
dubbed on the screen at the same time - and there are a number of such
scenes.
Later at the hotel, "Ivory" and "Ebony" are kidnapped at
the hotel,
along with "Jade" who steps into to help with the women's karate
battles,
but to no avail. Another "Ivory" teammate and another "Ebony" teammate
are also kidnapped. Since the movie centers around these five women for
much of the movie, the movie could be retitled, "2 Ebonys, 2 Ivorys,
and
a Jade". But at the halfway point, after the kidnapped women have been
horrendously bored in unspeakable ways, the movie is now "2 Ebonys and
an Ivory". The women break out of their jungle prison and the second
half
of the movie is focused on their flight back to civilization with their
kidnappers in hot pursuit. This half of the movie is somewhat better,
having
a swifter pace and some better action sequences. But mediocre is not
good,
and it doesn't save the movie.
As I said earlier, there's not much to say about Foxforce.
However, I feel I must talk about the video box. The front of the video
(put out by the now defunct Wizard Video) has a copy of the original
poster,
having the tagline "3 Foxy Mama's (sic) Turned Loose...",
which is worth a chuckle. But the real laughs come from the description
at the back of the box, which I've copied for your enjoyment:
FOXFORCE
You're better off dead when they start blasting lead!
Ebony, Ivory,
and Jade! Killing is their trade! With fist, foot, and blade, they can
lick any man ever made! 3 foxy mamas who've got what it takes and know
how to use it! 3 masters with a thousand ways to kill! Jump back, Jack,
fo' yo' skull is cracked!
Skin of bronze! Muscles of iron! Fists of steel! The
ultimate gladiators
in the final arena! Angels of vengeance on a massacre marathon!
Lusting bursting babes ripe with the fruits of
desire! In slaughter
or seduction they score!
FOXFORCE! They turned them loose! Three sisters got
soul they can't
control! Back to back they face death! When their blood gets hot you're
on the spot! Skirting disaster! Flirting with fate! Dancing with death!
FOXFORCE! 3 spittin' kittens on a roaring rampage of
revenge! Whipped
into a blazing frenzy of violence! A raging ride through hell! From
olympic
contenders to bloody defenders! From the first burst to the last blast!
.38 caliber kittens spitting death as they claw their way to freedom!
Warm hands! Cold triggers! Blazing death! They're
women! They're
warm! They're wildcats! FOXFORCE! Rapid fire frenzy erupting in a .45
caliber
climax! Flashing fists of fury strike like vipers of vengeance! You
haven't
a prayer when they leap through the air! Ebony, Ivory, and Jade can
lick
any man ever made!
What you've just read is the best thing about this movie.
Check for availability on Amazon (VHS)
Check for availability on Amazon (DVD)
See also: Ninja: Silent
Assassin, Fantasy Mission Force, Robotrix
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