On this day April 10, 1981, the gritty action thriller Nighthawks premiered in theaters, starring Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams as two New York City cops drawn into an international terrorist case. The film combined urban crime drama with international espionage, giving audiences a tense, fast paced ride through the city streets.
Stallone played Detective Deke DaSilva, a street smart officer suddenly assigned to a high profile anti terrorism unit. Paired with partner Matthew Fox, played by Billy Dee Williams, they’re tasked with tracking down a ruthless European terrorist played by Rutger Hauer in his American film debut. Hauer’s chilling performance as Wulfgar added a new level of intensity to the film and made him one of the standout villains of early 80s cinema. With its dark tone, suspenseful chases, and strong performances, Nighthawks stood apart from the typical cop thrillers of the time and gave Stallone a chance to show range outside of Rocky and Rambo.
Fun fact: Rutger Hauer learned his lines phonetically for his scenes early in filming because he was still learning English at the time.
Trivia question: What legendary Star Wars actor co starred with Sylvester Stallone in the 1981 film Nighthawks?
Stallone played Detective Deke DaSilva, a street smart officer suddenly assigned to a high profile anti terrorism unit. Paired with partner Matthew Fox, played by Billy Dee Williams, they’re tasked with tracking down a ruthless European terrorist played by Rutger Hauer in his American film debut. Hauer’s chilling performance as Wulfgar added a new level of intensity to the film and made him one of the standout villains of early 80s cinema. With its dark tone, suspenseful chases, and strong performances, Nighthawks stood apart from the typical cop thrillers of the time and gave Stallone a chance to show range outside of Rocky and Rambo.
Fun fact: Rutger Hauer learned his lines phonetically for his scenes early in filming because he was still learning English at the time.
Trivia question: What legendary Star Wars actor co starred with Sylvester Stallone in the 1981 film Nighthawks?
