"Airwolf" (1984) TV series 1984-1986

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Creator:

Donald P. Bellisario

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

22 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Plot:

As part of a deal for with a intelligence agency to look for his missing brother, a renegade pilot goes on missions with an advanced battle helicopter.

Plot Keywords:

Helicopter | Vietnam Veteran | Electronic Music Score

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Stringfellow Hawke (56 episodes, 1984-1986)
Alex Cord	...	Michael Coldsmith Briggs III (56 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ernest Borgnine	...	Dominic / ... (56 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jean Bruce Scott	...	Caitlin O'Shannessy / ... (44 episodes, 1984-1986)

Also Known As:

Blackwolf (USA) (working title)
Lobo del aire (USA: Spanish title)
Lonewolf (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

60 min (58 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Belisarius Productions

Trivia:

After the show was canceled the chopper was sold to a German firm. Airwolf - as a Bell 222 - flew as an air ambulance. On 9 June 1992 it crashed during a thunderstorm, killing all three crew members.

Quotes:

Michael 'Archangel' Coldsmith Briggs III: I may not be accurate about your location, but I can sure make an educated guess as to your destination. Can I assist?
Stringfellow Hawke: Yeah, you can feed my dog!
Michael 'Archangel' Coldsmith Briggs III: How'd you know I was - Sometimes, Hawke, you amaze even me. Good luck!
Dominic Santini: How come Archangel's "good luck" always sounds like "goodbye?"
Dominic Santini: Amazing! Behind that impeccable white suit beats a heart... of recyclable plastic!
Dominic Santini: Whatever happened to that flyin'-by-the-seat-of-your-pants stuff?
Stringfellow Hawke: Oh, that went out when designers started writin' their names on your behind!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Diff'rent Strokes' (2006) (TV)

Airwolf - a show a head of it's time?

In my opinion - the answer is definitely yes. I'm not speaking of the monstrous super-copter, or at least, not mainly of it. The character of Stringfellow Hawk, who is the main attraction of the show, is one you might find in nowadays shows. Not a shallow hero, but rather a complex and deep one. In fact, I found Hawk's character to be very similar to another, more recent one - that of FBI's legendary agent Fox Mulder. I'm sure many eyebrows must be raised right now but think of the following - Both characters are eccentric, isolated and have only one close friend whom they trust, both Hawk an Mulder are obsessed with a missing sibling and their lives are centered around that issue. Both have their own truth and won't hesitate risking their lives for that truth. Need I say more? Jan Michael Vincent was the perfect choice for Hawk's roll - Hawk and Vincent are one. JMV brought a lot of him self into his character, the two are one, practically inseparable. In on of the discussions forum I'm participating in, a question was raised regarding the possibility of making an Airwolf movie. I said that I hope no such movie will be made because I can't see anyone entering JMV shoes as Stringfellow hawk. All of the forum members agreed. All in all, I think that what made Airwolf the great show it was, is JMV and of course we must not put down Ernest Borgnines contribution. Airwolf will always remain a classic.