Blue Thunder (1983)

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

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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) | Netherlands:12 | 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:

One scene was cut after initial test screening: Kate was arriving in downtown, and instead of making a "right" as Murphy hoped, she made a left, and went the wrong way down a one-way street, and she immediately made ANOTHER left into an alley. There was supposed to be a scene were a police car blocked her off in the alley, and she did a James Bond "drive on two wheels" move to get past the police car and get to the TV station. However, audience thought this scene was too "incredible" and it was cut from the movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lymangood is being chased just before he is killed, his hands are taped together. After he is struck by the car and sprawls out on the pavement his hands are clearly free and apart. But when the EMTs are picking him up and putting him in the body bag, his hands are again taped together.

Quotes:

[Murphy and Lymangood are on patrol]
Lymangood: All those people. What do you suppose they're all doing down there?
Frank Murphy: Well, according to the latest statistics, about 1 million, 775 thousand of them are... getting it on!
Lymangood: That many, eh!
Frank Murphy: The rest are waiting for 'Laverne and Shirley'!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Man Who Shot Chinatown: The Life and Work of John A. Alonzo (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"