Wheels of Fire (film)

Last updated

Wheels of Fire
Wheels of Fire 1985 Movie Poster.jpg
Theatrical poster
Directed by Cirio H. Santiago
Written byFrederick Bailey
Story byEllen Collett
Produced byCirio H. Santiago
Armida Reynolds
StarringGary Watkins
Laura Banks
Lynda Wiesmeier
Linda Grovenor
CinematographyRicardo Remias
Edited by Gervacio Santos (as George Saint)
Music by Christopher Young
Production
company
Rodeo
Distributed by Concorde Pictures
Release date
September 1985
Running time
81 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Philippines
LanguageEnglish

Wheels of Fire (Also known as Vindicator and Desert Warrior [1] ) is a 1985 American film directed by Cirio H. Santiago.

Contents

Plot

In a post-apocalyptic future, the only semblance of order is an organized militia called "The Ownership" which seeks to peacefully convert scattered settlements to stable governments loyal to them, Trace is a wanderer who once worked for The Ownership, who is joined by his sister Arlie and her boyfriend, Bo; having saved them from a confrontation with a local gang. Trace, Arlie and Bo soon encounter a band led by a man called "Scourge" and split up, Trace defeats the bandits following him, but Bo and Arlie are captured by Scourge's men. Bo is allowed to join the bandits, Arlie is taken by Scourge to be his sex slave. Back on the road, Trace saves a Mercenary called 'Stinger' from Scourge's men and the two join forces and continue on. Stinger and Trace find a group of 'Sand People' and rescue a psychic captive called 'Spike' who also joins them.

Stinger, Spike, and Trace leave together and find an Ownership fuel convoy that was attacked. They return the sole survivor to his community of 'True believers', Trace leave Stinger and Spike with the True Believers and continues on to find his sister. Scourge's men attack and destroy the True Believer camp, and when Trace returns he finds Stinger and the Ownership forces plotting a retaliatory strike. Trace notices his sisters locket around the neck of one of Scourge's dead men, In a rage, Trace ignores Stinger's requests for him to wait for the Ownership forces and a joint strike and goes alone.

Trace goes to Scourge's fortress and finds Arlie, while escaping Trace realizes that the Ownership is advancing into a trap set by Scourge. Arlie dies while disarming the trap before it destroys the Ownership forces. Outnumbered, Scourge runs away but Trace catches up with him and kills him with Arlie's car. Stinger leads the Ownership troops in claiming the fortress and is killed by Scourge's second in command.

Production

Wheels of Fire was filmed in part in the island of Corregidor in the Philippines. [2]

Roger Corman had money in the film. His former company, New World Pictures refused to distribute it, contributing to Corman suing New World. [3]

Critical reception

Variety called Wheels of Fire a 'Bargain-Basement rip-off of the Road Warrior series' [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Smokey and the Bandit II</i> 1980 film by Hal Needham

Smokey and the Bandit II is a 1980 American action comedy film directed by Hal Needham, and starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed, Jackie Gleason and Dom DeLuise. The film is the sequel to the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit.

<i>Weaveworld</i> 1987 dark fantasy novel by Clive Barker

Weaveworld is a 1987 dark fantasy novel by English writer Clive Barker. It is about a magical world that is hidden inside a tapestry, known as the Fugue, to safeguard it from both inquisitive humans and hostile supernatural foes. Two normal people become embroiled in the fate of the Fugue, attempting to save it from those who seek to destroy it. The book was nominated in 1988 for the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.

<i>Zoids: Chaotic Century</i> Television series

Zoids: Chaotic Century, simply titled Zoids in Japan, is the first of five anime series based on the Zoids range of mecha model kits produced by TOMY. It is loosely adapted from the manga series Kiiju Shinseiki Zoido, which was created by Michiro Ueyama and published in CoroCoro Comic. The series was animated by Xebec, and aired from September 4, 1999, to December 23, 2000, on TBS and Network. Although the first series to be produced for the franchise in Japan, Chaotic Century was the second series to be dubbed and aired in Western nations, following Zoids: New Century. In August 2013, a Blu-ray box set of the series was released in Japan, it optionally came with a limited edition Blade Liger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qin Ming</span>

Qin Ming is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Fiery Thunderbolt", he ranks seventh among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

Gervacio Santos is a Filipino film editor. During his career, he was considered one of the most demanded in his field. Gervacio has worked under numerous pseudonyms including: George Santos, Gerry Santos, Herb Bas, Bas Santos, and Bass Santos. He has earned numerous awards, including three Famas Awards for Kalibre 45 (1957), Cavalry Command (1963) and Scout Rangers (1964). He won Best Film Editing Awards in both the Metro Manila Film Festival for "Remembrance" and in the Quezon City Film Festival for "Alyas Bagsik".

Cirio Hermoso Santiago was a prolific Filipino film producer, director and writer. He used the screen names Cirio Santiago, Cirio H. Santiago and Leonard Hermes.

Robin Hood is an Italian-Japanese anime series produced by Tatsunoko Productions, Mondo TV and NHK. It is an adaptation of the Alexandre Dumas version of the Robin Hood story consisting of 52 episodes. In this version, Robin and his allies are mostly pre-teens.

<i>The Water Margin</i> (film) 1972 Hong Kong film

The Water Margin, also known Outlaws of the Marsh and Seven Blows Of The Dragon, is a 1972 Hong Kong film adapted from the Chinese classical 14th-century novel Water Margin. It was produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio and directed by Chang Cheh. Godfrey Ho was assistant director.

Jonathan Kaplan is an American film producer and director. His film The Accused (1988) earned actress Jodie Foster an Oscar for Best Actress and was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 39th Berlin International Film Festival. His film Love Field (1992) earned actress Michelle Pfeiffer an Oscar nomination for Best Actress and was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 43rd Berlin International Film Festival. Kaplan received five Emmy nominations for his roles directing and producing the television series ER.

<i>Barbarian Queen</i> 1985 American-Argentine fantasy film

Barbarian Queen is a 1985 American-Argentine fantasy film starring Lana Clarkson, directed by Héctor Olivera and written by Howard R. Cohen. The film premiered in April 1985 in the United States. It was executive produced by Roger Corman, and it was the third in a series of ten movies that Corman produced in Argentina during the 1980s.

<i>Wizards of the Lost Kingdom</i> 1985 American film

Wizards of the Lost Kingdom is a 1985 sword and sorcery film written by Ed Naha and directed by Héctor Olivera. It stars Bo Svenson as Kor the Conqueror, Vidal Peterson as Simon, and Thom Christopher as Shurka. The film is one of ten that Roger Corman produced in Argentina during the 1980s, beginning with Deathstalker in 1983. The sequel Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II followed in 1989.

<i>The Hunt for Eagle One</i> 2006 film

The Hunt for Eagle One is a 2006 direct-to-video war film directed by Brian Clyde and produced by Roger Corman, starring Mark Dacascos, Theresa Randle, Ricardo Cepeda, Rutger Hauer, Joe Suba, and Zach McGowan. Set during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Philippines, the film follows a team of U.S. Marines who attempt to rescue a captured U.S. Marine Corps captain and an Armed Forces of the Philippines major, while tracking down a group of al-Qaeda terrorists intent on launching biological weapons.

<i>Capone</i> (1975 film) 1975 American biographical crime film

Capone is a 1975 American biographical crime film directed by Steve Carver, written by Howard Browne, and starring Ben Gazzara, Harry Guardino, Susan Blakely, John Cassavetes, and Sylvester Stallone in an early film appearance. The film is a biography of the infamous Al Capone.

<i>Deathstalker</i> (film) 1983 sword and sorcery film

Deathstalker, also known as El cazador de la muerte, is a 1983 sword and sorcery film directed by James Sbardellati, and starring Rick Hill, Barbi Benton, Bernard Erhard and Lana Clarkson.

<i>Beast of the Yellow Night</i> 1971 Filipino-American horror film

Beast of the Yellow Night is a 1971 Filipino/American horror film, directed by Eddie Romero and starring John Ashley, who co-produced the film with Romero. It was the fourth release for Roger Corman's distribution company New World Pictures.

<i>Ultra Warrior</i> 1990 American film

Ultra Warrior, also known as Welcome to Oblivion, is a post-apocalyptic 1990 film directed by Augusto Tamayo San Román and Kevin Tent. Set in a futuristic dystopia, a nuclear holocaust creates mutants who inhabit the radioactive areas. One man emerges as the leader of a group of survivors called "Muties". The main character, portrayed by Dack Rambo, is looking for zirconium which is used to make bombs to prevent aliens from destroying Earth.

<i>Angelfist</i> 1993 film by Cirio H. Santiago

Angelfist is a 1993 martial arts action film starring Catya Sassoon, Michael Shaner, and Melissa Moore. Directed by Cirio H. Santiago, the film was produced by Santiago and Roger Corman.

<i>Sorceress</i> (1982 film) 1982 American film

Sorceress is a 1982 sword and sorcery film directed by Jack Hill, and starring Leigh Harris and Lynette Harris. It was the last film directed by Jack Hill.

<i>The Taking of Tiger Mountain</i> 2014 Chinese-Hong Kong epic action film by Tsui Hark

The Taking of Tiger Mountain is a 2014 Chinese-Hong Kong epic action film directed by Tsui Hark, produced by Huang Jianxin and Yu Dong, and based on the novel Tracks in the Snowy Forest by Qu Bo. The story is based on a conflict between the People's Liberation Army of China and a bandit gang. It was released on December 23, 2014.

<i>Stryker</i> (1983 film) 1983 action film directed by Cirio H. Santiago

Stryker is a Philippine action film directed by Cirio H. Santiago. The film is set in the future where after a nuclear holocaust, survivors battle each other over the remaining water in the world.

References

  1. DoctorSF. "Wheels of Fire – Cirio H. Santiago (1985)". Scifi-Movies. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  2. "The Ruins of Corregidor". Fire in the Jungle. January 22, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  3. London, Michael (March 6, 1985). "Film Clips: Corman, New World Sue in a Battle for Control". Los Angeles Times. p. i1.
  4. "Wheels of Fire". Variety . 320: 26. September 18, 1985.