The Little Dragons
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The Little Dragons

The Little Dragons (also known as Karate Kids U.S.A. or simply Karate Kids) is a 1980 American martial arts film directed and produced by Curtis Hanson, about two young brothers who use their karate skills to rescue a friend after she is held captive for ransom. It stars Charles Lane, Ann Sothern, Chris Petersen and Pat Petersen.

Brothers Zack and Woody are young karate students who embark on a weekend camping trip with their grandfather J.J. Along the way they meet a new friend, Carol Forbinger and her parents.

The Forbinger family encounters a tough-talking backwoods mother and her two bumbling sons. The backwoods family decides to hold Carol captive, in the belief that they can collect a sizeable ransom. The "karate kids" must find a way to use their martial arts skills to rescue the Forbinger girl with a little help from their grandfather and some new friends they meet along the way.

Director Curtis Hanson was hired, in part of what he referred to as his "chequered early career."

The film stars the Petersen brothers, Chris (born in 1963), and Pat (born in 1966). Casting included Charles Lane, a "sharp-featured character actor... one of the most familiar faces in film... though he is one of those ubiquitous players, whose name is known to only a few." Pat E. Johnson was the film's fight choreographer.

Copyright on the script was filed in May 1978. The film was shot in the summer of 1978. As of that October, the film was scheduled for release "this Christmas." However, for unknown reasons, its release was delayed until July 1980.

The film was released gradually, from 1980 to 1981, initially with a roadshow and later with mildly wider releases:

The film's original release advertising included the tagline "Karate Kids to the Rescue!!!"

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