"Blue Thunder" (1984) TV series

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Guy Magar

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

6 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Plot:

An advanced prototype police helicopter and their ground support crew battle crime.

Plot Keywords:

Helicopter | Police | Based On Film | Cult Favorite

Cast

James Farentino	...	Frank Chaney (11 episodes, 1984)
Dana Carvey	...	Clinton 'JAFO' Wonderlove (11 episodes, 1984)
Sandy McPeak	...	Captain Braddock (11 episodes, 1984)
Dick Butkus	...	Richard 'Ski' Butowski (11 episodes, 1984)
Bubba Smith	...	Lyman 'Bubba' Kelsey (11 episodes, 1984)
Ann Cooper	...	J.J. Douglas (10 episodes, 1984)

Runtime:

60 min (11 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

RMS Queen Mary - 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Television

Trivia:

According to a report in TV Guide (Sept 3-9, 1983), Gil Gerard had been signed to play a pilot on "Blue Thunder."

Quotes:

PVC: Well what's that bird Chaney? You look like you're flying my Grandmother's old wringle washer!

Movie Connections:

Follows Blue Thunder (1983)

The A-Team and Airwolf Double, but better than Streethawk

After seeing only the Pilot episode (''Second Thunder'') and the next proper episode to follow (''A Clear and Present Day''), I have to say this spinoff series inspired by the original 1983 box-office smash hit of the same name, is a worthy and stylish piece of television, fiananced by Rastar Productions and the original film's distributer, Columbia Pictures. Dana Carvey get's on my nerves sometimes with his over-the-top humour (noticably taken from Dwight Schultz's Murdock in 'The A-Team'), but the aerial action sequences are superb. Seeing as only 11 episodes were produced, I would have to say it is miles ahead of the 1985 13-episode 'Streethawk' series, seeing as both were aired on ABC in the Eighties. The new theme music is now one of my favourites, but I still recognise the constant drum beat used also constantly in 'The A-Team'. All in all, I would rate these show 8/10. Although the original aerial police station base wasn't available to the show's production team, the stock footage taken from the original film is well put together and the soundstages are alright, but a bit of a goof, with the slow rotating blades above the actors, plus no backing motion video playing to simulate the actors actually flying in the air, which was seen in 'Airwolf'.