China O’Brien

China O’Brien

Year: 1990

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert Clouse

ActionThrillerEpic heroesIntense combat and martial artsViolent action guns and crime

China O’Brien, a top‑tier city police officer and martial‑arts instructor, is forced to surrender her badge and return to the small hometown where she grew up. She finds the peaceful community under grip of organized crime. After her father, town sheriff, is killed, she runs for his post, leading to confrontations that decide who controls the town.

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Timeline & Setting – China O’Brien (1990)

Explore the full timeline and setting of China O’Brien (1990). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Beaver Creek, Utah

Beaver Creek is a rural Utah town where law and order collide with organized crime. The Beaver Creek Inn and the police station anchor the action, highlighting a community under pressure from a powerful crime boss. The desert landscape and tight-knit population set the stage for a fight to reclaim the town’s future.

🏙️ Small-town 🕶️ Crime and corruption 🌵 Desert setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:31

Main Characters – China O’Brien (1990)

Meet the key characters of China O’Brien (1990), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

China O'Brien (Cynthia Rothrock)

A capable police officer who resigns after a deadly incident and returns to Beaver Creek to confront corruption. She leads with discipline, martial prowess, and a steady will to reform the town’s broken system. Her resolve drives the coalition that challenges Sommers’s grip on power.

💪 Strong-willed 🥋 Martial artist 🛡️ Leader

Matt Conroy (Richard Norton)

China’s former love interest and a loyal ally who assists in her bid to clean up Beaver Creek. He brings experience, steadiness, and a willingness to take risks for justice. His collaboration with China helps sustain the reform effort against corrupt forces.

🧭 Loyal 🤝 Ally 🧘 steady

Dakota (Keith Cooke)

A Native American biker whose past loss fuels his determination to see Sommers defeated. He becomes a crucial ally who shares dangers and helps chase down the crime syndicate. His presence adds grit and a personal motive to the town’s fight.

🤝 Ally 🗡️ Resolute 🧭 Independent

John O'Brien

China’s father and the town sheriff who is killed as part of the corruption plot, catalyzing the election and reform movement. His memory motivates China to restore integrity to Beaver Creek’s institutions. His absence underscores the high stakes of the battle for justice.

🛡️ Authority 😢 Fallen leader

Lickner

A corrupt deputy who serves as Sommers’ right-hand man, emblematic of the town’s compromised leadership. He becomes a key antagonist whose actions reveal the depth of the criminal network. His downfall represents the collapse of the town’s tainted power structure.

🤐 Corrupt 🧠 Schemer

Judge Harry Godar

A local judge who tolerates or enables Sommers’ misdeeds, contributing to the town’s legal imbalance. His complicity shows how power can corrupt formal institutions. He remains a threat until accountability arrives through the town’s reform efforts.

⚖️ Judge 🗝️ Corrupted

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:31

Major Themes – China O’Brien (1990)

Explore the central themes of China O’Brien (1990), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Justice

The story centers on restoring impartial law enforcement as China O’Brien runs for sheriff to replace corrupt leadership. Elections, investigations, and confrontations reveal how a town’s justice system can be bent by power and fear. The narrative emphasizes accountability, civic courage, and the stubborn pursuit of fairness against entrenched interests.

💣 Corruption

Sommers, Lickner, and the judge manipulate local institutions through violence and intimidation. The plot exposes how bribes, bombings, and coercion corrode the rule of law and erode community trust. Beating back this network requires dismantling the corruption at its core and rebuilding institutions from within.

💪 Empowerment

China O’Brien’s leadership marks a turning point for the town, especially as she recruits Matt and Dakota to help. The film portrays female empowerment and teamwork as key to reclaiming authority from criminal forces. It highlights resilience, courage, and the collective effort needed to reform a troubled community.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:31

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China O’Brien Summary

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China O’Brien Summary

China O’Brien Timeline

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China O’Brien Timeline

More About China O’Brien

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