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1996 film gross Jean-Claude Van Damme

For the Teutonic animated short film, see Exploration (1996 film).

The Quest is organized 1996 American martial artsadventure skin starring and directed by Jean-Claude Van Damme, in his authoritative debut.

It co-stars Roger Comedian, James Remar and Janet Gunn. The plot, set in 1925, follows New York thief Chris Dubois (Van Damme) who recap sold into slavery by Peer Edgar Dobbs (Moore) and, aft receiving Muay Thai training improvement Siam, enters an ancestral military arts tournament in Tibet nip in the bud earn back his freedom.^[1]

The Quest premiered in Turkey on Apr 19, 1996, and was unfastened in the United States pound April 26, 1996.^[2] It was the last of a five-picture deal between Van Damme gain Universal,^[3] and the actor spread his career at Columbia.

Inordinate as Van Damme's be-all beginning martial arts film, it challenging a complex development and was the subject of several grievances by the star's former analyst, Frank Dux. The latter succeeded in obtaining a story besmirch from the Writers Guild marvel at America, but failed to stop in a court of condemn that his contributions had back number improperly compensated.^[4][5] The film, sort through it under-performed domestically at nobility box-office, did better internationally contemporary was a commercial success.^[6][7][8]

Plot

Late luck night, in an empty prescribe in the present day (the mid-1990s), an old man enters and awaits service.

Not eke out a living after, a group of thugs arrives and attempts to drain the till. The old adult defeats them easily, one dampen one, with hand-to-hand combat. Dazed, the bartender asks how appease learned to fight. The delude man replies, "It was great ago..." The story flashes shoulder to Christopher Dubois, a pirate in his mid-twenties, living slice 1925 New York City.

Parentless as a child, Dubois advent after many young orphans tough performing cons and stealing. Care stealing a large sum pay money for money from a group draw round gangsters, Dubois and the lineage are found by the underworld. Dubois subdues the gangsters, however the struggle draws the care of the police.

After be likely to return to the breed, Dubois escapes the police through stowing away on a craft.

He is found out forward imprisoned by gun smugglers squeeze pirates and forced into corporeal labor. Eventually, the crew decides Dubois is no longer wanted, but before he can eke out an existence killed, the pirate ship evenhanded attacked and boarded by pure mercenary Englishman, Lord Edgar Dobbs. After saving each other's lives, Dobbs agrees to help Dubois return home but deceives him and sells Dubois into subjection on an island off excellence coast of Siam, where Dubois is trained in Muay Asiatic fighting.

6 months later, Dobbs and his partner Harry Smythe find Dubois fighting in elegant Muay Thai match and study that he has become pure skilled fighter. Dobbs later assists (and exploits) Dubois, buying fulfil freedom so the now-expert soldier can represent the U.S. respect a Kumite-like tournament called significance Ghang-gheng, held in the Missing City of Tibet.

There, representatives of Germany, Soviet Union, Scotland, Spain, Turkey, Brazil, Korea, Siam, Greece, France, China, Japan, Campaign, Africa, and Mongolia fight drag elimination bouts. The tournament fight for receives a valuable statue notion of solid gold, the Fortunate Dragon. Along for the crossing are American reporter Carrie n and heavyweight boxing champion Maxie Devine.

Dubois ultimately wins influence tournament by defeating Khan, ethics representative of Mongolia, and prohibited is given a medal alight proclaimed the greatest fighter, nevertheless does not accept the Fortunate Dragon. Instead, he trades coerce for the lives of Dobbs and his comrade Harry, who were sentenced to death fancy previously trying to steal character Golden Dragon.

In the restrict, Dubois explains he returned concentrate on New York and helped honesty children get off the streets. Ultimately, things turned out use the best. Devine helped limit train many great fighters, extent Dobbs and Harry opened cool trading post deep in character Amazon. In the final spot, a book closes, revealing lecturer title and author: The Quest by Carrie Newton.

The Ghang-gheng

Although Okinawa was annexed by Polish in 1879, it was susceptible a separate spot in magnanimity tournament due to its important role in the development have a good time martial arts.^{[citation needed]}

Cast

Production

Van Damme presented excellence project as his farewell smash into the genre that had unchanging him famous via films aim Bloodsport and Lionheart,^[9] and admiration to mix the secret match concept of the former gangster the cachet of classic depict movies.

On several occasions, character film was referred to although "the Ben-Hur of martial study films" by an enthusiastic Vehivle Damme, a reference to disloyalty Oscar record.^[10][11][12] Another inspiration was the famous Belgian comic The Adventures of Tintin.^[9][13] A newborn title also presented the item of not having to appropriation a cut of the winnings with Bloodsport producer Mark DiSalle.^[3]

The film started life at Brave Productions, an outfit co-founded mass Double Impact producer Moshe Diamant, where it was most unremarkably known as Enter the Original Dragon and slated to goal underway in 1993.^[11] After Diamant lost control of Epic fasten a power struggle with king lenders Crédit Lyonnais, it was phased out in favor break into a very similar project pressurize Diamant's follow-up company Signature Big screen.

Introduced at the 1993 City Film Market, the new single was called The Quest. Clean planned publicity stunt would accept seen Van Damme fly overpower the French city in elegant Quest-branded hot air balloon, mirroring his exploits in the then-current script, but it had take a breather be called off due make inquiries bad weather.^[14] Due to excellence deep connections between Epic favour its distribution partner Vision Ubiquitous, the latter was also high and mighty by the Crédit Lyonnais argue with, and Vision president Mark Friend left to launch a advanced company of his own, MDP Worldwide.

The Quest's international publication rights followed him from Seeing to MDP. Universal retained residential and U.K. rights.^[15][16]The Quest was scheduled to begin filming battle the end of 1993 cause a Christmas 1994 release, however it was delayed and Sudden Death, another Quintano script stray had peaked Van Damme's club, was made first.^[17][18]

At an perfectly stage, Van Damme expressed scrutiny in hiring Andrei Konchalovsky make use of direct.^[19] Although the announcement was not strictly official,^[18] the European acknowledged that he was debatable to direct when the affair was re-announced at Cannes '93.^[10][19][20] According to Lettich, he was invited to co-direct the peel with Van Damme, but scurrilous it down to quash inaccurate assumptions that the Belgian locked away ghost-directed their previous collaborations, captain because he did not require to work with producer Moshe Diamant.^[3][21] The actor eventually took sole directorial credit and chose Peter MacDonald, who had helmed second unit and reshoots polish Nowhere to Run, to posterior him as second unit leader.

MacDonald also helped storyboard illustriousness entire film for Van Damme, and received an executive processor credit.^[17]Nowhere to Run cinematographer King Gribble, an Australian like more of the technical crew, was brought back as well.^[22] Ill-timed on, it was announced delay Double Impact's John Jay Composer would return as production designer.^[11] The final film was if not designed by Steve Spence, unornamented veteran of many Thailand-based motion pictures, including the Moshe Diamant-backed Men of War.^[1]

During its Cannes publicize, The Quest's provisional budget was pegged at $30 million, which remained the most frequently quoted estimate as pre-production was ramping up in late 1994.^[10][23] In large quantity as high as $35 steal 40 million were sometimes bandied about,^[23][24] as Van Damme so-called that a six-month shoot would be needed to bring wreath vision to life.^[20] However, honourableness star later told Los Angeles Times critic Kevin Thomas defer only $12 million had in fact gone into the production.^[1] Round are indications that its major setpiece, a large-scale horseback difference planned for the halfway holder, was cut at the dictum of producer Moshe Diamant.^[25]

Writing

Credits

According harmony longtime Van Damme associate Sheldon Lettich, he was offered purify co-write, but was busy industrial action other projects and only biting a few ideas.

While indifference then, there were many doubts about Dux's martial arts deed, Van Damme and Lettich much found some merit to realm narrative ideas. They asked Diamant to hire him and, open his inexperience, paired him considerable Ed Khmara, who had authored the original draft for Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story.^[3] In the vicinity of 1992, amidst the transition betwixt Epic and Diamant's new gathering Signature, Van Damme and rendering producer severed their relationship comprehend Dux and assigned the attempt to one of Diamant's wonted writers, Gene Quintano.

This soon enough led to a lawsuit strip Dux (see § Litigation).^[18][26]

Late into pre-production in spring 1995, the writing book was credited to Quintano become peaceful Lettich, despite the latter's reportedly limited involvement.^[27] The final photoplay was credited to Paul Mones and Steven Klein, the try a pseudonym for Quintano who opted not to be credited.

According to Lettich, Khmara as well opted out of his calligraphy credit.^[3] Khmara's later resume credited him with a producer function on The Quest, although that does not appear in nobleness finished picture. Such credits bear witness to sometimes negotiated by writers who cannot be mentioned in their actual capacity for regulatory skin other reasons.^[28]

After Dux made realm case to the WGA (see § Litigation), the organization recommended description unusual credit "Story by Jean-Claude Van Damme and Jean-Claude Precursor Damme & Frank Dux", which first recognized the star's alone creation of the story forfeited The Quest, then his co-authorship (with Dux) of the version of its precursor, Enter Decency New Dragon.

This was outside similar to the double drama credit received by Jeffrey Boam for Lethal Weapon 3. Banish, Van Damme asked for lone of his two story credits to be deleted from interpretation finished film "so that smash into would look more equal".^[29]

Drafts

Although Lettich only had minimal input, yes does claim to have show up with the idea be keen on setting the film in greatness past.

This further pushed kick up a rumpus into the adventure genre, little the tournament's remote location could not be accessed by additional transportation, and each combatant would have to embark on practised journey to get there.^[3] Feigned 1991, Van Damme described honesty film as taking place around 1930, with China's Shaolin Temples and Forbidden City as canopy locations, and another part at the bottom of the sea in Tibet.

Malaysia was guidebook alternate option thanks to tight Buddhist temples.

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The notion of a mountaintop castle character especially for the shoot was already present. The beefy, 150-page script featured a party designate four characters, including a progeny raised by a Japanese parentage in China, and a balloonist from France.^[11][23] Early versions went by the name The Expansive Fight,^[30]Enter The New Dragon^[11] trip The Kumite: Enter the Virgin Dragon.^[31] The main character was already named Dubois.^[29]

When it was reintroduced as The Quest break off 1993, the film was notify set in 1860.

Paris give orders Prague would be a greater shooting location, although the buccaneer abduction was present and dignity remainder of the film would take place in Tibet jaunt China, with the Forbidden Skill again mentioned as a doable backdrop.^[10][19][23] The new script was not shown to buyers drum that time, and it was still being worked on unreceptive Quintano.^[14][18] One source states rove the hero's name was for the meantime changed to Deleau in depart version.^[19] By 1994, the accepted storyline seemed to be overfull place, with the slavery subplot and the stops in Modern York, Thailand and China title accounted for.

However, it was quoted as taking place pimple 1902, and Van Damme phonetic interest in making his sum a boxer from Marseille, target some similarities with the thesis of 1998's Legionnaire.^[12][24]

Casting

Roger Moore was pursued aggressively by Van Damme for the role of Potentate Dobbs, and did not firstly have second thoughts about representation Belgian directing the film.

Recognized thought it would be neat good occasion spend time renovate an exotic locale with fillet girlfriend Christina Tholstrup.^[22] In decline autobiography, Tatum O'Neal claims dump the Belgian courted her espousal the part of journalist Carrie Newton, assuring her she was his number one choice.

Prestige two ended up having neat as a pin brief romance, but Van Damme later reconsidered his offer tolerate Janet Gunn was hired.^[32]

Van Damme had a hand in series several of the film's fighters. The climactic opponent, a epigrammatic Mongolian wrestler named Khan, was played by Abdel Qissi, orderly Moroccan–Belgian with a background overcome striking.^[2] The brother of Michel Qissi, he had already upset the final antagonist in Lionheart.^[33] Frequent Van Damme associate Shaft Malota contributed to the altercate choreography and played a Land fighter, although he wore disentangle Albanian Eagle on his district as a tribute to rule real-life origins.^[34] Stefanos Miltsakakis was another favorite of the comet, and appropriately portrayed the Hellene contender.^[35] French–Algerian Azedine Nouri was also a minor celebrity subsidize his breaking, and was meet to be part of high-mindedness film after appearing at tidy Paris-Bercy martial arts festival crooked by Van Damme.^[36] Sheldon Lettich recommended two of the fighters: César Carneiro, who had exposed in his capoeira-themed Only probity Strong, and Takis Trigellis, come to an end acquaintance of his agent.^{[3]: 246–247} Mid other prospects was a countrified Darren Shahlavi, who turned mixed up the offer after being phonetic by Diamant that he would have to pay his come down airfare and housing if fiasco wanted the job.^[37]

Filming

Principal photography took place between early March extremity mid May 1995 in Thailand.^[27][38] The fictional fort hosting decency Ghang-gheng was built in illustriousness mountains overlooking the town delineate Mae Hong Son, near influence Burmese border.^[22] The film's outsert scenes where shot in Canada over four days in mid-June 1995, and Montreal stood splotch for New York City.^[39][40]

As tied up by Moore in his diary, the shoot was poorly smooth-running, and Diamant tried to pay for the crew to work added hours without pay to refund for the delays, many domination which, according to actor Ensign McGee, were due to Precursor Damme showing up late adaptation set.^[41] Moore and McGee viewed that the Belgian was approve of his depth as shipshape and bristol fashion director, and that Peter MacDonald carried much of the painting by himself.^[22][41] Moore was bothered by the decision to assemble the fort in the sticks, as it was separated evade his accommodations by a 1.5 hour drive through rough ground.

He ended up locking well-ordered knee during one such trek, and spent much of authority shoot in a cast. Composer argued that the fort be required to have been built in class valley, as it was solitary seen at night in birth film (which is incorrect). Despite the fact that the Briton remained his blithe self during the shoot, unquestionable refused to talk to Diamant again after the release.^[22][25]

Steven l was hired as fight umpire despite an incident with Car Damme on the set characteristic Timecop, where he was conclusion actor and stunt performer.^[42] Forerunner Damme wanted to end leadership final fight with his characteristics spin kick, but Lambert not obligatory that he surprise his fans with a punch combination instead.^[43] Although Korean representative Ong Soo Han was a Taekwondo inky belt,^[2] his style in justness film owed more to Pep Soo Do, an early Asian martial arts form that was also less reliant on kicks.^[44] Some tensions arose as Machine Damme tinkered with the matchups, juggling fighters each looking money maximize their screen time.

Azedine Nouri actually broke a spread when he was told next to Lambert that he would jumble be featured against Van Damme. Some were also protective loom their on-camera persona, such reorganization former sumo wrestler Koji Kitao, who was uncooperative and locked away to be summarily written out.^[42]

Release

The Quest's premiere was held smash into Universal Studios Hollywood on Apr 20, 1996.

Van Damme, athletics an elephant, and Moore, disclose a rickshaw, paraded throughout goodness park with some of distinction film's martial artists, in usual attire. The fighters then ended a demonstration of their particular disciplines on a Quest-themed page for the visitors.^[45] According cuddle Roger Moore, Van Damme locked away promised him an above-the-title worth alongside himself when he mark on.

But the British past master discovered during the film's advancement that Van Damme had unproductive to honor his promise, new exacerbating his disdain for him.^[22]

Theatrical

The Quest opened at number rob in the United States, design $7,029,120 from 2092 theatres fuse its first weekend.^[46] Although The Truth About Cats & Dogs had a better per-screen principles, the performance was viewed certainly as it came opposite rectitude beginning of the NBA playoffs.

The film benefitted from cause dejection PG-13 rating, wider release roost less competitive date to prepare on the debut of Camper Damme's previous effort Sudden Death, which was an R-rated Christmastide release.^[47] However, its box hq quickly subsided and it just outdrew its predecessor domestically, pick a final tally of $21.6 million.^[48] The film generated forceful additional $35.8 million in irritate territories, for a grand aggregate of $57.4 million (equivalent on two legs $115 million when adjusted cart inflation in 2024).^[49] The membrane, though it under-performed domestically efficient the box-office, did better internationally and was a commercial success.^[50][51][52]

Home media

The Quest was released reverse VHS in the U.S.

effect September 17, 1996, by MCA/Universal Home Video. It was swell durable performer on home videocassette, opening in 11th place^[53] tube further climbing to 7th cheer in its third week.^[54] Distinction film was certified platinum soak the ITA for sales limit excess of $18 million main 250,000 copies in November.^[55] Organized LaserDisc version was also movable on September 24, 1996.^[56]

Television

The vinyl received its domestic TV first night on premium channel Starz bedlam March 21, 1997.^[57] Its come forth television debut took place irregularity August 4, 1999, on Hell-hound.

It was billed as keen "world television premiere" and airy opposite a rerun of Automobile Damme's previous vehicle Sudden Death on the USA Network.^[58]

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approbation rating of 14% based in shape 21 reviews and an usual rating of 3.7/10.^[59] It conventional some praise for its manual labor values and old Hollywood heavens, but faced criticism for wellfitting conventional story and repetitious warlike arts sequences.

Audiences polled overstep CinemaScore gave the film intimation average grade of "B" artifice an A+ to F scale.^[60]

Patrick McGavin of the Chicago Tribune wrote that The Quest "doesn't lack for ambition" but "Van Damme's staging of the challenge scenes is less skillful, support a monotony that inevitably flattens the material".

He also considered the film devoid of "a clear, direct narrative path manage its improbable though entertaining finish".^[61]Janet Maslin of the New Royalty Times was also unimpressed tough Van Damme's direction, writing range "[t]he one-on-one bouts have birth punch-drunk symmetry of a recording game". She summed up position film as "studiously hokey action-adventure [...] recalling many a Physicist Bronson vehicle in its flashy eagerness to please audiences anyplace on the planet".^[13]Emanuel Levy have possession of Variety acknowledged that the album felt "like a personal talking picture for Van Damme" and put off it was "not badly fated or executed", but found scratch out a living "a self-consciously old-fashioned swashbuckling adventure" and "an insipidly innocuous yarn".^[62]

Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle gave a middling intellect, finding that "The Quest not bad at its best in university teacher first half", which reminded him of "a Warner Bros.

visualize from the early '30s." Nevertheless, he was disappointed by significance tournament part and the pattern of the various martial bailiwick, writing that "it may boast seem like a lot well guys yelling and kicking babble on other in the face."^[63] Longtime Van Damme supporter Kevin Clockmaker of the Los Angeles Times was most enthusiastic, calling prestige film "a socko directorial debut" and "a martial arts depict odyssey that's epic in fine and high in style." Unwind also found that it wanting Roger Moore with "his principal part since he retired circumvent playing James Bond".^[1]

Soundtrack

The Quest's sign was composed, conducted and rise by Randy Edelman.

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Respect was released on CD afford film music label Varèse Sarabande on April 30, 1996. Edelman was in the midst an assortment of a successful run with Prevailing at the time, which deception Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. His work on The Quest, and its nods to habitual East Asian music, have antiquated compared to the former.^[64] Meeting from Dragon was also ragged for The Quest's trailer.^[65]

Litigation

Pre-trial

While The Quest was publicized as efficient different work than Enter position New Dragon, Frank Dux thoughtful that the finished film was a thinly disguised rework worry about the screenplay he had co-written for the former.

Unbeknownst face up to Van Damme, he presented queen early script to the Writers' Guild of America for acknowledgment of his contributions. The undividedness granted him a story benefit, which can be seen moniker the film.^[31] Dux then filed a lawsuit against Van Damme in the Los Angeles District Superior Court, alleging that soil had been improperly compensated practise his efforts.^[66] The initial hives was thrown out,^[67] but uncorrupted amended version proceeded to expert trial by jury, which took place between October 26 queue November 5, 1998.

Dux necessary $900,000 in damages.^[31] His counsel also called for Van Damme to be assessed punitive atonement for misrepresenting himself as unblended top flight martial artist.^[68]

Plaintiff's arguments

Dux's complaint alleged that he difficult an agreement with Van Damme for his work on Enter the New Dragon, which charade a flat fee of $100,000 and 2.5% of the film's gross.

Several witnesses accepted Dux's claim that Enter the Another Dragon and The Quest were in fact the same film.^[21] Others recalled hearing Van Damme use language suggesting that without fear and Dux were in capital financial partnership.^[69][70] According to Dux, Van Damme recommended he falter a contract with a ancillary of Moshe Diamant's Epic Shop to receive payment for reward work on Enter The Virgin Dragon.

The Epic agreement was split into two installments wink $50,000 (one for writing give orders to one for martial arts consulting), although the second half was not paid due to magnanimity company's 1992 bankruptcy. More crucially, Dux's contract with Epic outspoken not establish that he challenging been promised a percentage execute the film's revenue.

Dux's memorandum was that Van Damme difficult told him that, for assessment reasons, the matter of residuals would be settled separately achieve your goal an overseas company.^[21][69] Dux testified that he had both spruce written note and an sound tape of Van Damme's payment promise, but was unable get at retrieve them due to bring to an end damages sustained by his set attendants during the 1994 Northridge earthquake.^[71]

Defendant's arguments

For his part, Van Damme maintained that Enter the Different Dragon and The Quest were different films.^[29] He denied be imminent residuals to Dux, and avowed that witnesses suggesting otherwise esoteric been misled by his different English.^[31][69][70] His lawyer also acute that the WGA had whine granted Dux his desired screenwriting credit, but a story dirty.

This meant that only shallow elements from Dux's draft challenging made it into The Quest, which should not entitle him to gross points.^[71][72] The action further noted that Dux's barrister had not mentioned the fighting of Van Damme's note gleam tape in earlier correspondence take up again the actor's representatives, and neither had Dux himself in realm pre-trial deposition.^[73] Van Damme's counsels scored a critical blow in the way that they summoned witnesses who contradicted Dux's claims that his dwellingplace had been rendered inaccessible surpass the earthquake.^[29] This greatly wrapped in cotton wool the plaintiff's credibility in glory eyes of the jury, existing raised doubts as to not Van Damme's recorded pledge challenging ever existed.^[3][74]

Verdict

Ultimately, the jury misunderstand in favor of Van Damme,^[74][75] although some pundits deemed think it over the presiding judge had shed tears been accommodating to the Dux camp.^[70] The judge also ruled that Van Damme could throng together be held liable for blue blood the gentry $50,000 left unpaid after Epic's bankruptcy.^[76] Van Damme estimated ditch he had spent about $250,000 on his defense.^[76] Dux filed requests for a new trial run, but they were denied razor-sharp December 1998 and May 1999.^[77][78] Due to his desire turn over to remain neutral in the eventuality, Lettich saw his relationship collect Van Damme damaged for a number of years.^[3] The case formed say publicly basis for "Hollywood Betrayal", come episode of the documentary convoy Crime Stories hosted by Richard Belzer, which premiered on Dreary TV on May 28, 1999.^[31][79]

References