McBain (film)

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McBain is a 1991 American action-war film written and directed by James Glickenhaus, starring Christopher Walken as the title character. The cast also includes Michael Ironside, María Conchita Alonso, Steve James, Jay Patterson, T. G. Waites, Victor Argo, Hechter Ubarry, and Russell Dennis Baker.

Plot
During the 1973 U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam, POW Lieutenant Bobby McBain is freed by a group of soldiers, one of whom gives him half of a $100 bill and says the other half will repay him later. Years afterward, in Colombia, Roberto Santos tries to lead a people’s revolt to overthrow the president. When Santos is killed after his revolt fails, his sister Christina goes to New York to find McBain and return the other half of the bill. McBain agrees to help, recruits his old war buddies, raises cash by pressuring a crooked businessman, and leads an assault to topple the Colombian president.

Production and release
The film was announced in 1990 under the working title McBain's Seven and later shortened to McBain. It was produced by Shapiro-Glickenhaus Entertainment with a budget around $16 million. The company released the film themselves, spending a substantial amount on promotion and printing, instead of selling distribution rights. McBain opened in theaters on September 20, 1991, and earned about $456,000 at the U.S. box office.

Home video and later releases
McBain was released on videocassette in the United States in 1992 by MCA/Universal Home Video and in Canada by C/FP Video. Goodtimes released a budget tape later. In 2013, RiffTrax offered a video on demand version with commentary from Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumni. Synapse Films later announced plans for a Blu-ray release from a newly restored 2K transfer.

Trivia
The name McBain is also used for a Simpsons character (voiced by Rainier Wolfcastle), but the film has no connection to that character beyond the name.