First Blood (1982)

The American action film First Blood (1982), directed by Ted Kotcheff and co-written by and starring Sylvester Stallone, follows Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. Based on David Morrell’s novel of the same name, which had been unsuccessfully attempted to be adapted in the 1970s by various directors and studios. After searching for his old comrade at a lake house, Rambo discovers that he passed away from cancer caused by Agent Orange exposure during the war over a year ago. He expresses his condolences to the soldier’s widow and gives her a photo of their unit, Baker Team. As he continues his journey, Rambo arrives in Hope, Washington. The town’s sheriff, Will Teasle, intercepts him and takes him to the outskirts of town, stating that it is his duty to keep drifters out of Hope. Ignoring the warning, Rambo returns to Hope and is subsequently arrested by Teasle for vagrancy, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed knife.

Under the leadership of the sadistic chief deputy Art Galt, Teasle’s team mistreats Rambo, provoking memories of his past suffering in Vietnam. When they attempt to scrape him with a straight razor, Rambo reacts violently and breaks free from the sheriff’s office, retrieving his knife and running off into the wilderness on a motorcycle. A search party is organized by Teasle, equipped with rifles, canines, and a helicopter. Despite Teasle’s orders not to do so, Galt tries to shoot Rambo from the helicopter. Trapped on a steep cliff face, Rambo jumps into a tree but injures his arm in the process. As Galt continues to fire at him from above, Rambo throws a rock at the helicopter, damaging its windscreen and causing it to lose control briefly. Losing his footing, Galt plummets to his death on sharp rocks below.