CHAINS OF GOLD
US, 1991, 95 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Bernie Casey, Marilu Henner, Joseph Lawrence, Benjamin Bratt, Hector Elizondo, Conchata Ferrell, Tammy Lauren.
Directed by Rod Holcomb.
Chains of Gold is a drug thriller, set in Miami. It shows the drug empires with their Latin-American? leaders, the young street kids who are recruited to process and pack phials of crack for distribution in the city and suburbs.
John Travolta plays a welfare worker, a former alcoholic who has been responsible for the death of his son in an accident, who now wants to be involved in welfare work for others. Marilu Henner is a lawyer caught up with the drug dealers. The supporting cast includes Bernie Casey and Hector Elizondo as Miami police, preparing for a big drug bust. The material is familiar, as are the characters. However, John. Travalto tries to give it some intensity. The desperate nature of the American cities and drug problems are brought to the fore.
1. Interesting and entertaining thriller? Police action? Individual citizens? Drug problems? Street Kids?
2. The Miami locations, the streets, the drug centres and warehouses? The contrast with the homes of the wealthy? Police precincts? Clubs? Musical score?
3. The title, its references- drug world, drug lords and their wealth?
4. John Travolta as Scott Barnes: his screen presence, his background story, broken marriage, alcoholism, the death of his son? His involvement in welfare work? His rebellious nature, the attacks on the welfare administrators, his finally being sacked? Wanting to work on the streets? The audience seeing the desperation of the Miami slums through his eyes? His friendship with the Burkes, Mrs Burke and money, watching television? The daughter and the money coming in? Tommy and his money? His concern about Tommy, trying to help him, playing basketball with him? Tommy's disappearance and his wanting to find him? Like his own son? The chance meeting with Jackie, the evening with her, seeing her with the drug dealers? The clash, enlisting her help? His contacts with the police, Lieutenant Ortega warning him off? His decision to infiltrate, going to the club, with James, the introduction to Carlos? His being taken on tour? Expectations for his job? Seeing Tommy, his anger? Going to the police and being discovered by Carlos? Captured, the pursuit? the confrontation and beating, the alligator pit? His falling but saving himself? The confrontation with the gangs? Releasing Tommy? The irony of the fight with
Carlos and his death? James being undercover police? The final confrontation with the police? Going with Tommy? Exorcising his demons? His future?
5. The Burke family as typical: the slovenly mother, the household, watching television? No supervision over her children? The daughter and her friendship with Scott? Tommy, on the street? The drugs and the wealth? Playing basket ball with Scott? His being taken, in the factory, strict regime? Packing the crack? His confrontation and bashing? Tyring to escape, caught, in the cage? Trying to help Scott? His future? Typical of the street kids?
6. Carlos and his empire, crack, the street kids and organising them under the guise of a youth protection programme? Slave labour conditions? Escapes, his violent outbursts? The death of Jackie? With Scott? His anger and the confrontation, tried to kill him? The final fight and his death? His henchmen, their killing Jackie, coming to kill Scott - Scott and his anger, shooting, the bullet vest? The world of drug dealers and their henchmen? The kids?
7. Jackie, past friendship with Scott? The attraction, her wealth? The double dealing - bringing the car, helping Scott, her death?
8. The police, Ortega and his assistant, their planning the drug raid? His son undercover? The assistant policeman, friendship with Scott? Trying to help? The
action and the cracking of the gang?
9. A portrait of the American cities of the eighties and nineties? Social problems? Drug problems? Inadequacy of police and welfare in assisting?
