WATCH NOW
John Schneider was only 19 when THE DUKES OF HAZZARD emitted its breakout hit into CBS during 1979, and by the time it ended its seven-season run in early 1985, he probably believed that bigger opportunities awaited him. Unfortunately, all he got was the ‘Roger Cormar’s COCAINE WARS.’ Schneider was unable to jump start his movie career since he had a break during DUKES and decided to do EDDIE MACON’S RUN with Kirk Douglas in 1983. Schneider was never able to get supporting roles throughout his career, the chilling Italian horror movie THE CURSE (1987) and the legendary CANNONBALL RUN semi-sequel SPEED ZONE (1989) did him no favors, nor did him starring as a vigilante priest in 1989’s MINISTRY OF VENGEANCE. Taking matters into his own hands, Schneider, along with his co-star Tom Wopat decided to hold out in a salary dispute to bring attention to the lack of money they were being paid. Unfortunately, the two stars were replaced for most of the show’s fifth season, as the DUKES have an acrimonious battle with the new franchise owners- with Byron Cherry and Christopher Myers being introduced as the new Duke cousins.
However, since DUKES OF HAZZARD came to an end over 30 years ago, Schneider, now 56 years old, has continued to work. He has had regular television roles in DR. QUINN: MEDICINE WOMAN, SMALLVILLE (Pa Kent) and THE SECRET LIFE OF AN AMERICAN TEENAGER as well as numerous guest roles in many other programs. He also acted in SyFy movies including LAKE PLACID 2, SHARK SWARM, and faithsploitation films like OCTOBER BABY. In the past few years, he has begun directing, starting with various low-budget films, including C-list horror summit SMOTHERED (2016) and other no-budget films that usually appear in Walmart’s new release section. Schneider was also successful in the country music industry, with several albums released in the 1980s and 1985’s A Memory Like You topping the Billboard Country Charts.
At the center of the collaboration between Corman and Argentina’s Aries Films (which Corman was involved with in the production of BARBARIAN QUEEN and THE WARRIOR AND THE SORCERESS), COCAINE WARS is the one that had Schneider flying to Buenos Aires. Schneider had the role of Cliff Adams, a narcotic pilot who is a DEA agent working in disguise and seeking to operate a drug trade for a South American drug lord, Gonzalo Reyes. Cornered, Cliff could only seek vengeance. When his partner Rikki is murdered by Reyes’ German sadistic henchman Wilhelm who is a real-life ‘kewpie-doll’ and a Ronald Lacey Tohti impersonator from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Cliff’s anger escalates even further when Reyes approaches him with a $200,000 bounty to kill against the politician Marcello Villalva. Cliff shifts gears however, and joins forces with Villella and American journalist Janet Meade in a quest to reveal the triangle of Reyes’ drug dealing to the world. Many complications arise when Janet Meade’s editor divulges the carefully crafted strategy and aims to claim the exiled Cliff’s head, revealing him to the public as a DEA agent. Now he and Janet have no option but to escape while being chased by Reyes and his henchmen.
To watch more movies like Cocaine Wars (1985) 123Movies.
Also Watch for more movies like: 123MOVIES
