WarGames (1983)

Director:

John Badham

Writers:

Lawrence Lasker (written by) &
Walter F. Parkes (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

3 June 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The only winning move is not to play.

Plot:

A young man finds a back door into a military central computer in which reality is confused with game-playing, possibly starting World War III.

Plot Keywords:

Computer | Military | Backdoor | Teen | Seattle Washington

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Matthew Broderick	...	David
Dabney Coleman	...	McKittrick
John Wood	...	Falken
Ally Sheedy	...	Jennifer
Barry Corbin	...	General Beringer
Juanin Clay	...	Pat Healy
Kent Williams	...	Cabot
Dennis Lipscomb	...	Watson
Joe Dorsey	...	Conley
Irving Metzman	...	Richter
Michael Ensign	...	Beringer's Aide
William Bogert	...	Mr. Lightman
Susan Davis	...	Mrs. Lightman
James Tolkan	...	Nigan
David Clover	...	Stockman
Drew Snyder	...	Ayers
John Garber	...	Corporal in the Infirmary
Duncan Wilmore	...	Major Lem
Billy Ray Sharkey	...	Radar Analyst
John Spencer	...	Jerry
Michael Madsen	...	Steve
Erik Stern	...	Commander
Gary Bisig	...	Deputy
Gary Sexton	...	Technician
Jason Bernard	...	Captain Knewt
Frankie Hill	...	Airman Fields
Jesse D. Goins	...	Sergeant (as Jesse Goins)
Alan Blumenfeld	...	Mr. Liggett
Len Lawson	...	Boys Vice Principal
Maury Chaykin	...	Jim Sting
Eddie Deezen	...	Malvin
Stephen Lee	...	Sgt. Schneider
Lucinda Crosby	...	Nurse in Infirmary
Stack Pierce	...	Airman
Art LaFleur	...	Guard
Brad David	...	Flight Pilot Leader (as Brad David Berwick)
Martha Shaw	...	Vice Principal's Secretary
Howie Allen	...	Boy in Arcade
Michael Adams	...	Travis
James Ackerman	...	Joshua
Jim Harriott	...	Newscaster
Tom Lawrence	...	Sgt. Sims
Frances E. Nealy	...	Visitor (as Frances Nealy)
Charles Akins	...	Major Ford
Glenn Standifer	...	Major Wenstin
Edward Jahnke	...	NORAD Officer
Paul V. Picerni Jr.	...	Technician

Directed by
John Badham

Writing credits
Lawrence Lasker		(written by) &
Walter F. Parkes		(written by)
Walon Green		uncredited

Produced by
Leonard Goldberg	....	executive producer
Richard Hashimoto	....	associate producer
Harold Schneider	....	producer
Bruce McNall	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Arthur B. Rubinstein

Cinematography by
William A. Fraker		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tom Rolf

Casting by
Wallis Nicita

Production Design by
Angelo P. Graham

Art Direction by
James J. Murakami

Set Decoration by
Jerry Wunderlich

Costume Design by
Barry Francis Delaney		(costumes: men) (as Barry F. Delaney)

Makeup Department
Michael Germain	....	makeup artist (as Perry Michael Germain)
Lynda Gurasich	....	hair stylist
Brenda Todd	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Richard Hashimoto	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Newt Arnold	....	first assistant director
Robert J. Doherty	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Gregg H. Bilson	....	property master
Robert Scaife	....	construction coordinator
John M. Schenk	....	assistant property master
Kevin Shanks	....	tile/floor covering (uncredited)
Daniel Turk	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Milton C. Burrow	....	supervising sound effects editor
Willie D. Burton	....	sound mixer
Carlos Delarios	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael J. Kohut	....	sound re-recording mixer
William L. Manger	....	supervising sound effects editor
Aaron Rochin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Craig Harris	....	voice processing (uncredited)
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Mick Baran	....	special electronic effects crew
Bill Cobb	....	special electronic effects crew
Robert Cole	....	special electronic effects foreman
Joe Digaetano	....	special effects
Richard Hoffenberg	....	special electronic effects crew
Bruce Knechtges	....	special electronic effects crew
Robin Dean Leyden	....	special electronic effects crew
Robin Reilly	....	special electronic effects crew
Mark Stivers	....	special electronic effects crew
Robert Wilcox	....	special electronic effects crew (as Robert G. Wilcox Jr.)
David Domeyer	....	special effects (uncredited)
R.J. Hohman	....	special effects wireman (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Colin Cantwell	....	computer graphics design consultant
Jack Cooperman	....	miniature photography
Marcia Dripchak	....	computer graphics unit
Michael L. Fink	....	visual effects supervisor
Linda Fleisher	....	visual effects consultant
Steve Grumette	....	computer video consultant
Don Hansard	....	process coordinator
David R. Hardberger	....	computer graphics unit (as David Hardberger)
Judith Herman	....	computer graphics unit
Geoffrey Kirkland	....	visual consultant
Sylvia Lovegren	....	computer graphics unit
Jonathan Seay	....	computer graphics unit
Wayne Baker	....	assistant camera: miniature unit (uncredited)

Stunts
Tom Elliott	....	stunt double: Matthew Broderick
Marguerite Happy	....	stunts
Al Jones	....	stunts
Michael Adams	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Rick Avery	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Anderberg	....	grip
Gerald H. Boatright	....	assistant chief lighting technician
David E. Diano	....	assistant camera
Gary R. Dodd	....	key grip (as Gary Dodd)
To Lee	....	camera assistant trainee
Ralph Nelson	....	still photographer (as Ralph Nelson Jr.)
Doug Pentek	....	chief lighting technician
Richard Turner	....	assistant camera
Richard Walden	....	additional camera operator
Steve Yaconelli	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Pat Orseth	....	location casting: Seattle

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda Matthews	....	costumer: women
Ray Summers	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Ray Martin	....	color timer
Liza Randol	....	assistant film editor
Michael Ripps	....	associate film editor

Music Department
Mark Hoder	....	orchestrator
Joe Tuley	....	music editor
Anthony Marinelli	....	musician: synthesizer (uncredited)
Anthony Marinelli	....	song producer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Randy Musselman	....	driver captain

Other crew
Joy Anzarouth	....	production coordinator
Robert C. Decker	....	location manager (as Robert Decker)
Robert Eggenweiler	....	location manager
Lyla Foggia	....	unit publicist
John Garber	....	dialogue coach
Dana Satler Hankins	....	assistant: Mr. Badham (as Dana Satler)
Richard Keefe	....	process librarian
Harold Michelson	....	continuity consultant
H. Bud Otto	....	script supervisor
Derry J. Pearce	....	production auditor
Bill Watson	....	pterosaur consultant
Duncan Wilmore	....	technical advisor
Mike Berro	....	computer programmer (uncredited)
Lynn Hendee	....	production executive (uncredited)
Kevin King	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Anthony Marinelli	....	synthesizer programmer (uncredited)
Lynn Dee Schwarz	....	location scout (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• Sherwood
• The Leonard Goldberg Company
• United Artists

Distributors

• MGM/UA Entertainment Company (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1983) (UK) (theatrical)
• Guardian Television Network (GTN) (2006) (USA) (TV)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (25th anniversary edition)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1985-1986) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Intrada  score album released by (limited edition)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)  titles and opticals
• UAA Films Limited, Australia  production services

Also Known As:

War Games (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | New Zealand:PG | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:12 (1984) | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

7-Eleven Convenience Store - 41440 Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

First cinematic reference to a "firewall" - a security measure used in computer networking and Internet security. This does not predate the existence of the Internet, however, which is considered to have started in 1969.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Lightman asks Professor Falken if there is a way to make the WOPR play Tic-Tac-Toe against itself (to speed up the game), Falken replies; "Yes. Number of players: Zero". ( Previously, the prompt says Number of Players (0 to 2?) However Lightman then types the word "ZERO". If he was going to have a two-player game, he would have typed the number "2", so surely in this instance he should have typed the number "0".

Quotes:

McKittrick: Excuse me, sir. We can't send these men back to the President of the United States with a lot of head-shrinker horseshit!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "NewsRadio: Freaky Friday (#5.20)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Video Fever

Wanna play Global Thermonuclear War ?

It was with much interest to me to revisit this early 80s hacker piece armed with the knowledge of just how the advent of change in the computer world has evolved. With that in mind the film could quite easily be classed as a bit clunky due to the now almost Neanderthal toys, games and computers used in the movie, but casting aside the nostalgia feelings I had with it, it still hits the spot as both a poignant piece of interest, and a dam good thriller as well.

Matthew Broderick is David Lightman, a young computer gamer geek who is something of a whizz kid on the PC, he can change his school grades and hack into various sites he shouldn't be even looking at. During one eventful sitting he hacks into a computer called Joshua and plays a game called Global Thermonuclear War, he harmlessly chooses to be The Soviet Union and proceeds to launch a nuclear attack on his own country the U.S.A. Trouble is is that the game is for real and the wheels are in motion for World War III !.

It helps to remember the time this film was made {for those old enough of course}, for it was the time of the ever worrying cloud of the Cold War, a time when nuclear war was more than a hearsay threat. I really think that in this day and age where computers literally do run our lives, this film stands up really well not only as a warning piece about messing with technology, but also as a gentle poke in the ribs about defence systems and the people we trust with them. Tho the film is a kind of watered down and accessible 2001: A Space Odyssey for the 80s set, it impacts well and only really suffers from a pointless romance plot strand involving the sprightly Ally Sheedy and the aforementioned dated gadgets. The ending to the film is excellent, the tension builds up nicely and we are left chewing our nails watching a game of Tic-Tac-Toe, sounds simple doesn't it ???, good honest and intelligent fun, 7.5/10.