Action Jackson movie synopsis. Jericho “Action” Jackson is a Detroit police sergeant who was demoted from lieutenant for almost tearing the arm off of sexually violent sociopath Sean Dellaplane, whose father is Peter Dellaplane, a major car manufacturer. But Dellaplane himself is violent as well. Dellaplane kills his wife Patrice by shooting her.
And then he plants her body in Jackson’s apartment, framing Jackson. Dellaplane won’t miss Patrice very much, because he has a drug-addicted mistress named Sydney Ash. He keeps Sydney hooked with a free supply of heroin. Jackson suspects Dellaplane of masterminding a murder spree against local officials from the auto workers’ union. Dellaplane’s mission is to gain a political power base and choose the next president of the United States. Because of what happened to Dellaplane’s son Sean, Dellaplane has taken a particular dislike to Jackson. Jackson gets Sydney’s help in going after Dellaplane.
Action Jackson is a 1988 American action film directed by Craig R. Baxley in his feature film directorial debut, and starring Carl Weathers, Vanity, Craig T. Nelson and Sharon Stone. The film was released in the United States on February 12, 1988. Paula Abdul was the film choreographer. The film was released by Lorimar Film Entertainment. Vanity was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award as Worst Actress.
About the Story
The story prologues with two auto-worker union officials addressing the recent death of a peer. Within moments, both are brutally murdered by a group of shadowy, almost supernatural killers that seem to move, disappear and reappear at will during a daring skyscraper assault.
Detroit Police Department Detective Sergeant Jericho Jackson, known locally as “Action Jackson”, was a celebrated lieutenant in the police force but demoted (nearly two years prior) because of a case he headed involving the criminal son of successful businessman Peter Anthony Dellaplane. The fall out over the case also collapsed Jackson’s marriage and put the law-school-educated, star athlete and hometown hero at odds with the public.
Even after his demotion, Jackson’s continued interest leads to conflicts with his commander, Captain Armbruster, but he begins investigating Dellaplane’s professional exploits, eventually uncovering a string of murdered trade-union members connected to Dellaplane’s company. He discovers Dellaplane is secretly maneuvering his way into a “behind-the-throne” seat of power and has been using a group of assassins, dubbed The Invisible Men, to kill uncooperative union officials.
Jackson is assisted by Dellaplane’s mistress, Sydney Ash, a local lounge singer and heroin addict whom the businessman has assisted financially. He is eventually framed for murdering Dellaplane’s wife Patrice (killed by her husband after she discovers his plot and goes to Jackson for help). On the run from the police, Jackson is helped by friends from his old neighborhood, kid Sable, a local hotel owner and retired professional boxer, and Dee, a lively, local hairdresser (and gossip informant) who gives Jackson a way to discreetly get to Dellaplane.
Jackson and Sydney arrange a meeting with Dellaplane’s figurehead replacement for the auto union, unaware that The Invisible Men had been tracking them and allowed the meeting so that Dellaplane could confront Jackson face to face. Before he leaves with Sydney in tow, Dellaplane arrogantly reveals the reasoning for his plans and intends to exact it using Jackson as a pawn. He intends to kill Jackson, put one of The Invisible Men in his place, have him kill an important union official, and then have Jackson’s charred body discovered after he failed his getaway.
“Dellaplane, one of these days you are really going to piss me off,” Jackson calls after his nemesis as he leaves with all but three of The Invisible Men. “We’re going to have ourselves a little barbecue,” The Invisible Men’s leader claims as they prepare to burn Jackson alive. But Jackson is suddenly rescued by Sydney’s bodyguard “Big” Edd and the pair kill all three Invisible Men. (“Barbecue, huh? How do you like your ribs?” Jackson asks the leader before he kills him with his own grenade launcher.)
Action Jackson (1988)
Directed by: Craig R. Baxley
Starring: Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, Vanity, Sharon Stone, Thomas F. Wilson, Bill Duke, Roger Aaron Brown, Mary Ellen Trainor, Dennis Hayden
Screenplay by: Robert Reneau
Cinematography by: Matthew F. Leonetti
Film Editing by: Mark Helfrich
Costume Design by: Marilyn Vance
Set Decoration by: Philip Leonard
Art Direction by: Virginia L. Randolph
Music by: Herbie Hancock, Michael Kamen
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: February 12, 1988
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