TEQUILA SUNRISE
A business on the line. A friendship on the edge. A woman caught in the middle.
A former L.A. drug dealer tries to go straight but his past and his underworld connections bring him into the focus of the DEA, the Mexican feds and the Mexican drug cartels.
About This Film
Dale "Mac" McKussic (Mel Gibson) is a former drug dealer trying to go straight. His close friend Nick Frescia (Kurt Russell) is a Detective Lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department who, in spite of their long-term relationship going back to high school, is duty-bound to bring Mac to justice if he is selling drugs again, as DEA Agent Hal Maguire (J. T. Walsh) believes to be the case.
Mac is attracted to stylish restaurant owner Jo Ann Vallenari (Michelle Pfeiffer). Nick becomes acquainted with Jo Ann while attempting to learn more about Mac's activities, in particular his relationship with the Mexican drug kingpin Carlos, whom the DEA agents and Mexican federal police commandante' Escalante (Raul Julia) believe is coming to town. Mac has a legitimate business and is raising a son, trying to distance himself from his former drug smuggling ways. But he tries to help his lawyer (Arye Gross) sell some cocaine, and feels indebted to his old friend Carlos, who is pressuring Mac to do one last job.
Jo Ann succumbs to Nick's charms and a love affair begins. Nick genuinely cares for Jo Ann, but she becomes angry when Mac accuses her of spying on him on Nick's behalf. During a meeting at Jo Ann's restaurant with Maguire and Escalante to discuss Mac and Carlos, Escalante gives Nick a ceremonial pistol as a gesture of good faith. Jo Ann then accuses Nick of using her to gather information on Mac because he often eats at her restaurant, and hired her to cater his son's birthday party. Nick admits he is investigating Mac and that he originally approached her because of that. But he truthfully admits that he really has fallen in love with her. Jo Ann ends her relationship with Nick for his initial deception after catching him trying to listen in on a private telephone conversation. Meanwhile, Maguire and his associates set a trap for Mac and the mysterious Carlos, whose face none of them, except Mac, has ever seen.
In time, Jo Ann realizes that Mac is in love with her and that she has fallen for him. Nick figures out that Mac's cousin Gregg (Arliss Howard) is an informer for the DEA. Nick also realizes that Maguire has become dangerously obsessed with catching Mac, willing to use any means necessary. Mac and Jo Ann make love at his house. Jo Ann is called to her restaurant on business. Nick meets her there, gives her a pistol (the same ceremonial pistol he was given by Escalante) for protection, and tells her to stay in her restaurant until a deputy sheriff arrives to guard her, because Carlos is expected to arrive at Mac's home later that night. She does not heed Nick's warning and returns to Mac's house, where she discovers that Escalante is, in fact, Carlos.
Carlos relieves her of Nick's pistol, recognizing it, and then takes her to his yacht at the marina. He knows that Gregg is the informer and has him killed, leaving his body next to a shipment of gasoline contaminated cocaine. Maguire and Nick find Gregg's body and the cocaine at the beach. Nick meets with Mac to warn him that Jo Ann is in danger. Mac pulls a gun on Nick and rushes to the marina. Carlos pressures him to kill Jo Ann because she now knows too much. Mac refuses, threatens Carlos at gunpoint and gets Jo Ann to safety on a speedboat. Mac nevertheless promises Carlos that he will be at the rendezvous site as arranged to conclude their business. Nick explains to Maguire that Escalante is actually Carlos and heads for the marina. Mac arrives first and is double-crossed by Carlos, whereupon a fight ensues between them. As they struggle over the pistol, it fatally discharges into Carlos's abdomen. Carlos dies in Mac's arms.
Maguire shows up and begins shooting, hitting an already dead Carlos in the face, and then at Mac as he is raising his hands to surrender. The gunfire causes the boat's fuel tank to catch fire, just as Mac jumps in the water. Nick arrives at the marina. He hears the gunfire, draws his weapon and orders Maguire to cease fire, but Maguire continues shooting, forcing Nick to shoot him in the back, killing him. The fire causes the boat to explode, and with it the millions of dollars on board.
The story ends with Nick asking Jo Ann to meet him at the beach. She arrives to instead find Mac, running to embrace him in the waves. A pleased Nick watches from a distance.
In a seaside California town, best friends Mac and Nick are on opposite sides of the law. Mac is a former drug dealer trying to clean up his act, while Nick is a high-profile detective trying to take down a Mexican drug lord named Carlos. Soon Nick's loyalties are put to the test when he begins an affair with restaurateur Jo Ann -- a love interest of Mac's -- unwittingly leading his friend into a police-orchestrated trap.
Mac is attracted to stylish restaurant owner Jo Ann Vallenari (Michelle Pfeiffer). Nick becomes acquainted with Jo Ann while attempting to learn more about Mac's activities, in particular his relationship with the Mexican drug kingpin Carlos, whom the DEA agents and Mexican federal police commandante' Escalante (Raul Julia) believe is coming to town. Mac has a legitimate business and is raising a son, trying to distance himself from his former drug smuggling ways. But he tries to help his lawyer (Arye Gross) sell some cocaine, and feels indebted to his old friend Carlos, who is pressuring Mac to do one last job.
Jo Ann succumbs to Nick's charms and a love affair begins. Nick genuinely cares for Jo Ann, but she becomes angry when Mac accuses her of spying on him on Nick's behalf. During a meeting at Jo Ann's restaurant with Maguire and Escalante to discuss Mac and Carlos, Escalante gives Nick a ceremonial pistol as a gesture of good faith. Jo Ann then accuses Nick of using her to gather information on Mac because he often eats at her restaurant, and hired her to cater his son's birthday party. Nick admits he is investigating Mac and that he originally approached her because of that. But he truthfully admits that he really has fallen in love with her. Jo Ann ends her relationship with Nick for his initial deception after catching him trying to listen in on a private telephone conversation. Meanwhile, Maguire and his associates set a trap for Mac and the mysterious Carlos, whose face none of them, except Mac, has ever seen.
In time, Jo Ann realizes that Mac is in love with her and that she has fallen for him. Nick figures out that Mac's cousin Gregg (Arliss Howard) is an informer for the DEA. Nick also realizes that Maguire has become dangerously obsessed with catching Mac, willing to use any means necessary. Mac and Jo Ann make love at his house. Jo Ann is called to her restaurant on business. Nick meets her there, gives her a pistol (the same ceremonial pistol he was given by Escalante) for protection, and tells her to stay in her restaurant until a deputy sheriff arrives to guard her, because Carlos is expected to arrive at Mac's home later that night. She does not heed Nick's warning and returns to Mac's house, where she discovers that Escalante is, in fact, Carlos.
Carlos relieves her of Nick's pistol, recognizing it, and then takes her to his yacht at the marina. He knows that Gregg is the informer and has him killed, leaving his body next to a shipment of gasoline contaminated cocaine. Maguire and Nick find Gregg's body and the cocaine at the beach. Nick meets with Mac to warn him that Jo Ann is in danger. Mac pulls a gun on Nick and rushes to the marina. Carlos pressures him to kill Jo Ann because she now knows too much. Mac refuses, threatens Carlos at gunpoint and gets Jo Ann to safety on a speedboat. Mac nevertheless promises Carlos that he will be at the rendezvous site as arranged to conclude their business. Nick explains to Maguire that Escalante is actually Carlos and heads for the marina. Mac arrives first and is double-crossed by Carlos, whereupon a fight ensues between them. As they struggle over the pistol, it fatally discharges into Carlos's abdomen. Carlos dies in Mac's arms.
Maguire shows up and begins shooting, hitting an already dead Carlos in the face, and then at Mac as he is raising his hands to surrender. The gunfire causes the boat's fuel tank to catch fire, just as Mac jumps in the water. Nick arrives at the marina. He hears the gunfire, draws his weapon and orders Maguire to cease fire, but Maguire continues shooting, forcing Nick to shoot him in the back, killing him. The fire causes the boat to explode, and with it the millions of dollars on board.
The story ends with Nick asking Jo Ann to meet him at the beach. She arrives to instead find Mac, running to embrace him in the waves. A pleased Nick watches from a distance.
In a seaside California town, best friends Mac and Nick are on opposite sides of the law. Mac is a former drug dealer trying to clean up his act, while Nick is a high-profile detective trying to take down a Mexican drug lord named Carlos. Soon Nick's loyalties are put to the test when he begins an affair with restaurateur Jo Ann -- a love interest of Mac's -- unwittingly leading his friend into a police-orchestrated trap.
Film Details
Director
Robert Towne
Writer
Robert Towne
Tags
Keywords
Female Nudity
Murder
Death
Sex Scene
Sex
Police
Cigarette Smoking
Explosion
Corpse
Shot To Death
Kiss
Blood Splatter
Escape
Investigation
Fear
Police Officer
Jealousy
Beach
Photograph
Pistol
Dog
Shot In The Chest
Detective
Revolver
Drugs
Party
Love
Woman
Police Detective
Rescue
Bar
Gangster
Deception
Two Word Title
Shot In The Back
Slow Motion Scene
Boat
Electronic Music Score
Helicopter
Police Car
Betrayal
Shot In The Head
Flashlight
Corruption
Father Son Relationship
Money
Hotel
Hostage
1980s
Held At Gunpoint
Cat
Love Triangle
Friendship
California
California
Ambush
Suspense
Suspicion
Police Investigation
Double Cross
Police Station
Eavesdropping
Camera
Sunglasses
Marijuana
Restaurant
Telephone
Danger
Van
Freeze Frame
Paranoia
Beer
Watching Tv
Written By Director
Rain
Neo-noir
Lawyer
Convertible
Ship
Drug Dealer
Bartender
Gay Slur
Champagne
Hotel Room
Singing
Organized Crime
Apartment
Shot In The Stomach
Weapon
Sabotage
Montage
Heavy Rain
Ends With A Freeze Frame
Crime Boss
Telescope
Judge
United States Of America
Handgun
Gunshot Wound
Revelation
Map
Wine
Cocaine
Pay Phone
Mexican
Surveillance
Gasoline
Shot In The Face
Product Placement
Cousin Cousin Relationship
Birthday Party
Corrupt Cop
Walkie Talkie
Speedboat
Death Threat
Mustache
Ex Convict
Passionate Kiss
Los Angeles
Impostor
Cadillac
Drug Smuggling
Exploding Boat
Hot Tub
Parking Garage
Gun Held To Head
Beach House
Place Name In Title
Drug Lord
Informant
Offscreen Killing
Barbecue
Bribery
Snorting Cocaine
Police Lieutenant
Answering Machine
Warehouse
Ex Husband Ex Wife Relationship
Bullet Wound
Surfing
Slide Show
Mexican Standoff
Drug Smuggler
Illegal Drugs
Marina
Wine Cellar
Magic Trick
Desert Eagle
Subtitled Scene
Suit And Tie
Drug Deal
Sunset
Drug Cartel
Bilingualism
Self Inflicted Gunshot Wound
Chef
Sportscar
Harbor
Police Surveillance
High School Friend
Dea Agent
Table Tennis
Pier
Cartoon On Tv
Mobile Home
Snitch
Money Falling Through The Air
Wiretapping
Federale
Dea Drug Enforcement Administration
Drug Bust
Gasoline Fire
Helium Balloon
Illegal Immigrant
Mexican Drug Cartel
Slicked Back Hair
U.s. Coast Guard
Crisis Of Conscience
Narcotics Detective
Mexican Drug Dealer
Wire Tap
Sheriff's Department
Kissing In The Rain
Drug Enforcement Administration Agent
Cop Criminal Relationship
Sting Operation
Surveillance-operation
Mexican Federale
Informant Killed
Ex Drug Dealer
Dea Informant
Restaurant Owner
Italian Car
Old Friend
Drug Enforcement Administration Officer
Cadillac Seville
House Cat
Bullfight
Audio Begins Before Video
Town Name In Title
Drink In Title
Ping Pong
Fish Restaurant
Title Based On Song
Also Known As
Tequila Connection, Пьяный Pассвет, Tequila Sunrise – Eine gefährliche Mischung, Conspiração Tequila, Текила Сънрайз, Traición al Amanecer, Зора Oчајника, Conexión Tequila, Tequila Sunrise, Tequila Koktejl, Tehlikeli Kokteyl, Traición al Amanecer, Traición al Amanecer, Tequila Sunrise - Eine Gefährliche Mischung, Atsuktuvas Su Tekila, Traición al Amanecer, Az Utolsó Csepp, Traición al Amanecer, Connexió Tequila, Tequila Koktejl, Τεκίλα Σανράιζ, Зора Oчајника, П'яний Cвітанок