| | | | Band of the Hand
(1986) |
It's vice, Miami-style -- where hot cars, fast cash, cocaine deals and cold-blooded murder are the name of the game. But when five young players decide to beat the odds, their only chance of winning is as the BAND OF THE HAND. After serving time in a grueling rehab program set in the treacherous Florida swamp, convicted felons Ruben, JL, Carlos, Moss, and Dorcey return to an even tougher turf -- the Miami ghetto. But making it on the streets becomes a brutal battle for survival against crime kingpins determined to run them off. Too cool to conform, too tough to back down, the Band fights back the only way they can -- to the death. Featuring a searing soundtrack with the title song, "Band of the Hand," written by Bob Dylan, performed by Bob Dylan with the Heartbreakers, and produced by Tom Petty -- BAND OF THE HAND grabs you and never lets go!" (Direct from the movie box.)
In 1986 as "Miami Vice" was nearing the height of its popularity, Paul Michael Glaser and Michael Mann shifted gears and brought us a movie with the same quick pace and urban chic. This time our unlikely heroes are a handful of hoodlums from the Florida juvenile detention system -- Carlos, a drug dealer; JL, a disturbed young man who killed his father after witnessing his dad beating his mother; Ruben and Moss, two Miami gang leaders; and Dorcey, who got caught trying to escape from somewhere.
These five get plucked from their juvenile-detention facility and are dumped rather unceremoniously in the middle of the Everglades. From out of the mist steps Joe, an American Indian social worker, who announces that they have been paroled to his charge. They will learn to work as a team, or they will die. If they manage to survive the swamps, they will be given the chance to apply what they have learned to life back in the city.
Once back in the city, they work to clean up the ghettos and rid the world of drugs and gangs. While they all have gained self-worth and found new purpose, Carlos feels compelled to go back to "the life"... mostly driven by his girlfriend Nikki's involvement with his old boss Nestor and his henchmen.
It does not take a rocket scientist to see where all this is going. Kids want to get rid of drug dealers. Drug dealers don't want to leave. It gets messy, but eventually it brings Carlos back to the boys in order to reunite against the bad guys.
There is a "touching" moment where they realize their common experiences have bonded them. Like the five fingers of a hand, they are... The Band of the Hand.
 Don't forget that Band of the Hand is now available to order on DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
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I make everyone I know watch this movie, because it is the epitome of 80’s bad-boy cool.
It has to be watched and appreciated for what it is. Sure, some aspects are a little over the top, but when your heroes are teenagers, that tends to be the case.
The wonderfully planned and executed final sequence where the Band finally gives the bad guys what is coming to them is worth sitting through the first hour and a half to see.
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Director Paul Michael Glaser was "Starsky" on TV's Starsky and Hutch! 
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"Carlos" is played by Danny Quinn, son of Anthony Quinn, while "Nikki" is played by a young Lauren Holly. The two were actually married in real life between 1991-1993.
The actor who played "Ruben", Michael Carmine also played "Snake" on Miami Vice. He passed away in 1989 of heart failure at 30-years-old.
Al Shannon ("Dorcey") also appeared on an episode of Miami Vice as Eddie.
John Cameron Mitchell ("JL") was named one of People Magazines 'Breakthrough Stars of 2001'.
You may recognize Leon Robinson ("Moss") from Madonna's "Like a Prayer" video. He also starred in Cool Runnings.
A little star named Laurence Fishburne played one of the bad guys named "Cream". Incidently, he also had a guest appearance on Miami Vice. Hmm... do we see a trend here?
Martin Ferrero, who played "Izzy" brilliantly on Miami Vice, has a great moment as the hardware store clerk in Band of the Hand.
Okay, so some other actors in Band of the Hand who also had guest appearances on Miami Vice include:
- James Remar ("Nestor")... found later on Sex and the City.
- Paul Calderon ("Tito")
- Tony Bolano ("Felix")
- Bill Smitrovich ("Chavez")
- Luis Valderrama ("Chooch")
- Roy Datz ("Rene")
- Carl Jay Cofield ("27th Avenue Player")
- Antoni Corone ("Narc #1")
- Jim Fitzpatrick (IV) ("Young Street Gangster")
Stephen Lang, the kids mentor, was in the TV show "Crime Story" as the Attorney helping Dennis Farina prosecute the mob figures on the show. -Thanks to James Froelich
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check out this list: ..... Angel ..... Raiders of the Lost Ark ..... Beverly Hills Cop ..... Die Hard ..... Predator ..... Terminator ..... Black Rain ..... 48 HRS ..... Untouchables ..... Lethal Weapon ..... Rocky IV ..... Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior ..... Top Gun ..... Highlander ..... Streets Of Fire ..... Commando .....[More]
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|  |  |  | | Band of the Hand
Locations |
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Hialeah FL, was the main area, by Biscane Blvd area by the old 1st Baptist Church [Thanks to Shawn Graves]
Other Filming Locations include Florida Everglades, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, Crandon Park Zoo, and Dade County, Florida
Can you help? Do you know any of the Miami, Florida filming locations used for Band of the Hand? [Please send them in]
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Comments: French and English subtitles. |
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Band Of The Hand - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack US V/A LP:Tri-Star/MCA MCA-6167 (1986). Track Listing:
1. Band of the Hand - Bob Dylan with The Heartbreakers
2. Faded Flowers - Shriekback
3. Turn It On - The Reds
4. Carry Me Back Home - Andy Summers (of The Police)
5. Hold On - The Reds
6. Mission - The Reds
7. Boar Chase - The Reds
8. Waiting for You - The Reds
9. All Come Together Again - Tiger Tiger
10. Theme from Joe's Death - Michel Rubini
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Soundtrack Available:
Used Vinyl LP / Tape
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