Long before Chuck Norris punched his way out of his mother’s womb (which I doubt he even did), Richard Harrison II (click this link and try to follow along) had been in 1,000,000 movies and probably impregnated about 3,000,000,000 women. Even though most of them were Italian sci-fi country wierd things (the movies, not the women, they were all stone-cold-foxes), he was still starring in them and kicking ass.
He would show his true colours later…
I first became familiar with Harrison II’s work with Ninja Strike Force, which I have “borrowed” from some friends (sorry Jon and Mark) for over 10 years. An epic film of massive proportions. After a little more research, I was astounded to learn that I had just scratched the surface of not only Ninja ______ movies but also of Sir Harrison II Esquire (I’m sure he’s knighted somewhere.)
And as impressive as he was in those 75 Italian film gems, his true calling would come in 1985 when he was asked to portray a Ninja in NINJA HOLOCAUST aka 108 Golden Killers. Probably with little-to-no ninja training, “Harrison Deuce”, as his mom called him, had to kill his way to the top, I’m sure.
Richard had learned the taste for blood… and wanted more. A lot more.
After NINJA HOLOCAUST, Richard starred in six more films, five more as a ninja… in 1985 alone.
- Ninja Thunderbolt (1985)
… aka Ninja and the Thief
… aka To Catch a Ninja - Ninja Champion (1985) …. Richard
- Majestic Thunderbolt (1985)
- Ninja Terminator (1985) …. Ninja master Harry
- Inferno Thunderbolt (1985) …. Richard
From 1986 til 1988 Harrison II played either Richard, the ninja side-kick to a Hong Kong cop (but really he was the brains and the braun behind the operation) or his most prized roll:
NINJA MASTER GORDON
Do you know how Gordon (played by Richard Harrison II) is a ninja master? He has a headband that says ninja on it and tells everyone he meets / fights that he is a ninja. He has to tell them, because you can’t read his headband when he’s killing you.
Although I am a Harrison II expert, I have only seen Ninja Strike Force, but can safely assume that the other Ninja _______ movies go something like this:
Part One: Flash back to some old Chinese movie with bad dubbing and someone dying for some ancient powerful relic or just plain murder.
Part Two: Present Day: Some Chinese guys are doing something, while in another scene a bunch of white ninjas (read: white people, mostly bearded) in a rainbow assortment of coloured ninja garb with a variety of weapons get together because someone or thing or group has stolen or killed or kidnapped something to do with the Chinese guys and the only ones who can stop it are the group of ninja masters, led by GORDON!
Contrary to the cover (on the right) there is no car chase, Bronsonesque character with a gun or kissing.
Bingo… that’s it. Now come up with a snappy title:
Ninja Powerforce (1988), Ninja Strike Force, Scorpion Thunderbolt (1988), Ninja: Silent Assassin (1987) Ninja Operation: Licensed to Terminate (1987), Cobra Vs. Ninja (1987), Ninja Avengers (1987), Ninja Commandments (1987), Hands of Death (1987), Ninja Kill (1987), The Ninja Showdown (1987), Diamond Ninja Force (1986), Ninja Dragon (1986), Ninja the Protector (1986), Golden Ninja Warrior (1986), Ninja Squad (1986) and Ninja Hunt (1986)
WOW.
Most people would credit the director with piecing together the Chinese parts and the White people parts so seamlessly.
You can barely tell that when they are talking to each other (for one scene) they aren’t in the same room or under the same lighting. And it takes a complete moron to miss the subtle parts of the story line where the two separate pieces come together for two seconds. Sheesh… just pay attention.
What was I writing? Oh yes… the reason the parts come together so seamlessly is because of one RICHARD HARRISON II… he ninja’d them together and the film changed for him.
So, if you have a week with nothing to do, go down to your local variety store, garbage dump, vintage video store or museum and pick up anything with Richard Harrison II in it.
Why do you need a week?
To recover.
See also this link, with an awesome description of Ninja Strike Force
S submitted by Dan!
