Blue Thunder (1983)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

John Badham

Writers:

Dan O'Bannon (written by) &
Don Jakoby (written by)

Release Date:

13 May 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

He's Out There...

Plot:

The cop test pilot for an experimental police helicopter learns the sinister implications of the new vehicle.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Helicopter | Police Helicopter | Los Angeles Storm Drain | Observation

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Roy Scheider	...	Officer Frank Murphy
Warren Oates	...	Capt. Jack Braddock
Candy Clark	...	Kate
Daniel Stern	...	Officer Richard Lymangood
Paul Roebling	...	Icelan
David Sheiner	...	Fletcher
Joe Santos	...	Montoya
Malcolm McDowell	...	Col. F.E. Cochrane
Ed Bernard	...	Sgt. Short
Jason Bernard	...	Mayor
Mario Machado	...	Himself
James Murtaugh	...	Alf Hewitt
Pat McNamara	...	Matusek
Jack Murdock	...	Kress
Clifford A. Pellow	...	Allen (as Clifford Pellow)

Also Known As:

Blue Thunder the Movie (UK) (video box title)

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:15 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #26781) | West Germany:12 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Lancaster, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The control stick in the F-16 cockpit is identical to the one from the Viper starfighter cockpit in "Battlestar Galactica" (1978).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: After Cochran's demonstration flight, where the main gun continue to fire after he released the fire button, he stated that he had a "stoppage". A stoppage would indicate the weapon stopped firing. He actually either had a run on, a mechanical failure of the firing mechanism. Or cook off, where the barrel got so hot it ignited the rounds as they were chambered.

Quotes:

Lymangood: Sir, what was that business with the watch? Back in the ready room, with the watch?
Frank Murphy: It's sort of a test.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Standoff: Road Trip (#1.14)" (2007)

Solid Work All Around

John Badham is a curious director and I think he gets it right in this one. After all Roy Scheider never stunk it up in his illustrious career and he hits all the right notes in this one as Frank Murphy the Vietnam Vet trying to escape the memories of his war experience. When Malcolm McDowell shows up (and honestly, who plays an a--hole better than McDowell in his heyday?) to become Murphy's nemesis. The very underrated Warren Oates as the crotchety commanding officer and Candy Clark as Murphy's girlfriend, who is the ultimate heroine of the plot, turn in solid performances. The helicopter clearly steals the show though as anyone between the ages of 7 and 21 had to just be glued to the screen watching that bird strut its stuff. Great action sequences and rather good photography during the climactic chase scene.

I still have fond memories of this film which I saw in the drive in as a kid and I think it's what films of this genre should be...a couple of hours of wild fun!..."Follow My Leader"