Attack Force Z (1981): Cast & Plot
Attack Force Z is a 1981 war action film directed by Tim Burstall, starring Mel Gibson as Captain Kelly, John Waters and Sam Neill. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 33m (93 min)
- Director
- Tim Burstall
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Fauna Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Attack Force Z About?
The premise of Attack Force Z without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Tasked with rescuing survivors of a World War II plane crash in the South Pacific, Captain Kelly leads an elite team of Australian commandos. While securing the wreckage, they must also monitor a defecting Japanese official whose knowledge could be the key to peace, heightening the mission’s danger and urgency.
Attack Force Z Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- commando unit
- commando raid
- commando mission
- historical event
- hiking
- naval officer
- journey
- military officer
- army captain
- beret
- z special unit
- looking at a photograph
+38 more Show fewer
- man wears eyeglasses
- crying woman
- ozploitation
- strangled with a telephone cord
- travel
- camouflage uniform
- firearm
- australian military
- military
- world war two soldier
- australian soldier
- enemy
- japanese soldier
- japanese military
- weapon
- brutality
- secret
- group
- scream
- door
- dutch
- mission
- commando
- black hair
- nickname
- crime victim
- slaughter
- killed with a gun
- blood splatter
- death
- plane wreck
- tragedy
- japanese occupation
- death of lover
- horrors of war
- defection
- letter in title
- failed rescue attempt
Attack Force Z Cast & Characters
Mel Gibson leads the cast as Captain Kelly, with John Waters as Ted King and Sam Neill as Sergeant Costello. Directed by Tim Burstall; 9 actors are credited in all.
- Director Tim Burstall
-
Mel Gibson as Captain Kelly -
John Waters as Ted King -
Sam Neill as Sergeant Costello - Ko Chun-Hsiung as Lin Chan-Lang
Also Starring in Attack Force Z
· 5 more- Sylvia Chang Chien Hua
- John Phillip Law Lieutenant Veitch
- Yi Yuan Imanaka
- Chris Haywood Able Seaman A.D. 'Sparrer' Bird
- Val Champion Ed Ayres
More from Tim Burstall
More films directed by Tim Burstall: Nightmare at Bittercreek, Kangaroo, The Naked Country and The Last of the Knucklemen.
Attack Force Z Plot Summary
What happens in Attack Force Z from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the Straits of Sembaleng, five men are dispatched by submarine in Klepper canoes to rescue survivors of a shot-down plane on a nearby island occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army. Led by Captain Kelly, Mel Gibson, an inexperienced commando officer, the team secretly lands on the island and hides their kayaks. As they venture inland, Ted ‘Kingo’ King, John Waters, is hit by fire from an unseen machine gun post, and the four remaining men swiftly neutralize the Japanese defenders and rush back to their wounded comrade. King has been struck in the leg, the bullet smashing his kneecap. He cannot be allowed to fall into enemy hands and jeopardize the mission under interrogation, and after sharing a cigarette with him, Costello Sam Neill shoots him.
Full summary
The whole story of Attack Force Z, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Attack Force Z?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the commando team's mission on the island?
Cars in Attack Force Z
1 car on screen: the unknown.
-
unknown Minor role
Attack Force Z Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “Soldier - Die durch die Hölle gehen” and “Delta Mission - Kommando grüne Teufel”.
- Also known as
-
- Soldier - Die durch die Hölle gehen
- Delta Mission - Kommando grüne Teufel
- Force de frappe
- Die grünen Teufel vom Mekong
- Ataque Fuerza Z
- Útočná síla Z
- Z-Men
- A Z rohamosztag
- Força de Ataque Z
- Штурмовой отряд Z
- Junglekrigens hårde halse
- Atak jednostki Z
+2 more Show fewer
- Z字特攻队
- Z 특공대
Seen Attack Force Z?
Movies Like Attack Force Z
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Attack, Attack on the Iron Coast and Attack! The Battle for New Britain.
Attack Force Z FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Attack Force Z, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Attack Force Z?
Attack Force Z runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).
When was Attack Force Z released?
Attack Force Z was released on May 18, 1981.
Who directed Attack Force Z?
Attack Force Z was directed by Tim Burstall.
More films by Tim Burstall Who is in the cast of Attack Force Z?
Attack Force Z stars Mel Gibson as Captain Kelly, John Waters as Ted King and Sam Neill as Sergeant Costello, among 9 credited actors.
Does Attack Force Z have a post-credit scene?
No. Attack Force Z has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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