''Getting Even'' (also known as ''Hostage: Dallas'') is a 1986 American film directed by

Dwight H. Little Dwight Hubbard Little (born January 13, 1956) is an Americans, American film director, film and television director, known for directing the films ''Marked for Death'', ''Rapid Fire (1992 film), Rapid Fire'', ''Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home'', ...

Plot

A soldier-of-fortune, Tag Taggert, played by Edward Albert, steals some Russian nerve gas from Afghanistan, and brings it to the U.S. to be analyzed. A greedy millionaire rancher, played by Joe Don Baker, finds out about it, steals it and uses it in an extortion scheme. Audrey Landers plays the lead FBI agent-in-charge tasked with thwarting the extortion scheme.

Production

In an interview, director Dwight H. Little explained that ''Getting Even'' was a "vanity project" for members of a wealthy Texas oil family. "They owned helicopters, a Lear jet, ranches. Their only condition was that we used all of their stuff. The whole movie was written and devised around what they owned", said Little. Actress

Audrey Landers Audrey Landers (born Audrey Hamburg; July 18, 1956) is an American actress and singer, best known for her role as Afton Cooper on the television series ''Dallas'' and her role as Val Clarke in the film version of ''A Chorus Line'' (1985). Early ...

was dating one of the financiers of the film, according to Little. She also helped getting a lot of local acting talent, many of whom she knew from her work on the TV show ''Dallas''. Little also explained that stuntman

Paul Baxley Paul Reginald Baxley Jr. (September 24, 1923 – March 4, 2011) was an American actor and stunt coordinator best known for his work as a stunt coordinator on ''Star Trek: The Original Series''. He was a stunt double of William Shatner. Early life ...

was instrumental in making the film: "He really helped me to figure out the helicopter sequences, the explosions, how to do all of it safely. He was super knowledgeable. If he wanted a guy to drop from a helicopter, he knew who to call. Paul Baxley was my secret weapon." The final scene, which takes place on top of

Reunion Tower Reunion Tower is a observation tower in Dallas, Texas and one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. Located at 300 Reunion Boulevard in the Reunion district of downtown Dallas, the tower is part of the Hyatt Regency Hotel complex and is the ...

, was filmed there with permission. The financiers knew the owners of the restaurant on top of the tower. According to Little, the helicopter from which Joe Don Baker's character shoots at Edward Albert's character, was really flying only thirty feet from the tower.

Cast

Edward Albert Edward Laurence Albert (February 20, 1951 – September 22, 2006) was an American actor. The son of actor Eddie Albert and Mexican actress Margo, he starred opposite Goldie Hawn in ''Butterflies Are Free'' (1972), a role for which he won a ...

as 'Tag' Taggert *

as Paige Starson *

Joe Don Baker Joe Don Baker (born February 12, 1936) is an American character actor and a life member of the Actors Studio. He established himself as an action star with supporting roles as a mysterious cowboy drifter in ''Guns of the Magnificent Seven'' (196 ...

as King R. Kenderson * Rod Pilloud as Doc * Billy Streater as Ryder * Blue Deckard as Kurt * Dan Shackleford as Roule *

Caroline Williams Caroline Williams is an American actress and producer. She is best known for her role as Stretch in ''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'' film series. Her other film roles include ''Alamo Bay'' (1985), ''The Legend of Billie Jean'' (1985), ''Stepfa ...

as Molly * Woody Watson as Max

References

External links

* * 1986 films Films scored by Christopher Young Films directed by Dwight H. Little 1980s action films The Samuel Goldwyn Company films Films set in Dallas Cold War spy films 1980s English-language films American spy action films 1980s American films {{1980s-action-film-stub