Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Martin Brest

Writers:

Danilo Bach (story)
Daniel Petrie Jr. (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

5 December 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

In Detroit a cop learns to take the heat. In L.A. he learns to keep his cool. [Theatrical Australia]

Plot:

A freewheeling Detroit cop pursuing a murder investigation finds himself dealing with the very different culture of Beverly Hills.

Plot Keywords:

Gallery | Police | Murder | Art Gallery | Detective

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Eddie Murphy	...	Det. Axel Foley
Judge Reinhold	...	Det. William 'Billy' Rosewood
John Ashton	...	Det. Sgt. John Taggart
Lisa Eilbacher	...	Jeannette 'Jenny' Summers
Ronny Cox	...	Lt. Andrew Bogomil
Steven Berkoff	...	Victor Maitland
James Russo	...	Mikey Tandino
Jonathan Banks	...	Zack, Maitland's Thug
Stephen Elliott	...	Police Chief Hubbard
Gilbert R. Hill	...	Insp. Douglas Todd
Art Kimbro	...	Det. Foster
Joel Bailey	...	Det. McCabe
Bronson Pinchot	...	Serge
Paul Reiser	...	Jeffrey
Michael Champion	...	Casey
Frank Pesce	...	Cigarette Buyer
Gene Borkan	...	Cigarette Truck Driver
Michael Gregory	...	Beverly Palms Hotel Manager
Alice Cadogan	...	Beverly Palms Hotel Clerk
Philip Levien	...	Donny
Karen Mayo-Chandler	...	Maitland Receptionist
Gerald Berns	...	Beverly Hills Cop #1
William Wallace	...	Beverly Hills Cop #2
Israel Juarbe	...	Room Service Waiter
Randy Vasquez	...	Beverly Palms Hotel Bellhop (as Randy Gallion)
Damon Wayans	...	Banana Man
Chuck Adamson	...	Warehouse Crate Opener #1
Chip Heller	...	Warehouse Crate Opener #2
Rick Overton	...	Bonded Warehouse Night Supervisor
Rex Ryon	...	Bonded Warehouse Security Guard
Mike Pniewski	...	Bonded Warehouse Clerk #1 (as Michael Pniewski)
Douglas Warhit	...	Bonded Warehouse Clerk #2
Paul Drake	...	Strip Club Holdup Man #1
Tom Everett	...	Strip Club Holdup Man #2
Sally Kishbaugh	...	Strip Club Waitress
Barry Shade	...	Harrow Club Valet
Jack Heller	...	Harrow Club Maitre D'
Michael Harrington	...	Harrow Club Arresting Officer
David Wells	...	Police Dispatcher
Scott Murphy	...	Det. Owensby
Dennis Madden	...	Detroit Cop #1
John Achorn	...	Detroit Cop #2
John Pettis	...	Detroit Cop #3
Nicholas Shields	...	Detroit Station Cop #1 (as Nick Shields)
Carl Weintraub	...	Detroit Station Cop #2
Anthony De Fonte	...	Detroit Station Cop #3
Darwyn Carson	...	Barmaid
Mark E. Corry	...	Pool Player
Thomas J. Hageboeck	...	Maitland Bodyguard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Martin Brest	...	Beverly Palms Hotel Checkout Clerk (uncredited)

Directed by
Martin Brest

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Danilo Bach		story
Daniel Petrie Jr.		screenplay
Daniel Petrie Jr.		story

Produced by
Jerry Bruckheimer	....	producer
Linda Horner	....	associate producer
Mike Moder	....	executive producer
Don Simpson	....	producer

Original Music by
Harold Faltermeyer

Cinematography by
Bruce Surtees		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Arthur Coburn
Billy Weber

Casting by
Margery Simkin
Rhonda Young

Production Design by
Angelo P. Graham		(as Angelo Graham)

Art Direction by
James J. Murakami

Set Decoration by
John M. Dwyer
Jeff Haley

Costume Design by
Tom Bronson

Makeup Department
Leonard Engelman	....	makeup artist
Barbara Lorenz	....	hair stylist
Ben Nye Jr.	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Mike Moder	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Bogart	....	first assistant director
Richard Graves	....	second assistant director
Steve McRoberts	....	first assistant director: second unit
Dannielle J. Weiss	....	dga trainee
Thomas J. Wright	....	second unit director (as Tom Wright)

Art Department
Mike Blaze	....	assistant props
John Hutchinson	....	stand-by painter
Robert Müller	....	construction coordinator (as Robert Mueller)
Tommy 'Tom' Tomlinson	....	property master (as Tom Tomlinson)
Charles Breen	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Pamela Bentkowski	....	foley editor
Alan Bromberg	....	foley editor
Carolyn Colwell	....	assistant sound editor
Teri E. Dorman	....	sound editor (as Teri Dorman)
Daniel F. Finnerty	....	assistant sound editor (as Daniel Finnerty Jr.)
William Gocke	....	boom operator
Cecelia Hall	....	supervising sound editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bruce Lacey	....	sound editor
Gregg Landaker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald O. Mitchell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alan L. Nineberg	....	adr editor
Bruce Richardson	....	sound editor (as Paul Bruce Richardson)
Gary Ritchie	....	sound recordist
George Watters II	....	supervising sound editor
Charles M. Wilborn	....	sound mixer
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Ken Pepiot	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Steve Grumette	....	computer effects supervisor

Stunts
Christopher R. Adams	....	stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunts (as Janet S. Brady)
David Burton	....	stunts
Danny Costa	....	stunts
Steve M. Davison	....	stunts (as Steve Davidson)
Vince Deadrick Sr.	....	stunts (as Vincent P. Deadrick Sr.)
Eddy Donno	....	stunts
Ron Ellis	....	stunts
Kenny Endoso	....	stunts
Stephanie Epper	....	stunts
Tony Epper	....	stunts
Jay Fuller	....	stunts (as Jay R. Fuller)
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (as Bill Hooker)
Loren Janes	....	stunts
Matt Johnston	....	stunts
Harold Jones	....	stunts
Gary McLarty	....	stunt coordinator
Gary McLarty	....	stunts
Karen McLarty	....	stunts (as Karen Werner)
Bobby McLaughlin	....	stunts
John Meier	....	stunts (as John C. Meier)
Mike Moore	....	stunts (as Michael W. Moore)
Alan Oliney	....	stunts
Rex Pierson	....	stunts
Mic Rodgers	....	stunts
Danny Rogers	....	stunts
John Sistrunk	....	stunts (as J.E. Sistrunk)

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter J. Breen	....	dolly grip
Al Contreras	....	second grip
John Davis	....	best boy
Jack N. Green	....	camera operator (as Jack Green)
Michael Liakos	....	second grip
Danny Marzolo	....	electrician
Frank McKane	....	best boy
Jeff Miller	....	assistant camera (as Jeffrey Lee Miller)
Don Nygren	....	gaffer (as Donald O. Nygren)
Richard R. Robinson	....	still photographer
Jim Rose	....	dolly grip
Francis X. Valdez III	....	electrician
Peter Wagner	....	key grip
Michael D. Weldon	....	assistant camera
Rick Bota	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Maggie Mills	....	casting assistant
Margery Simkin	....	casting
Rhonda Young	....	casting
Franklyn Warren	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kathie Gale	....	costumer
Michael J. Long	....	costumer
Chuck Velasco	....	costumer
Haleen K. Holt	....	costume illustrator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Claudia Finkle	....	assistant editor
John Haggar	....	assistant editor (as John A. Haggar)
Richard Ritchie	....	color timer (as Dick Ritchie)
Markus Schaub	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music editor
Kathy Nelson	....	music consultant: MCA Records
Greg Fulginiti	....	music engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Sam Edelman	....	transportation captain
Jay Fuller	....	transportation coordinator (as Jay R. Fuller)

Other crew
Chuck Adamson	....	technical advisor
Laurie Allison	....	assistant: Mr. Brest
William Bowling	....	location manager
Stanley Brossette	....	unit publicist
Janis Benjamin Collister	....	assistant: Mr. Moder
Robert C. Decker	....	location manager
Simon Doonan	....	art gallery consultant
Faith Ginsberg	....	assistant: Mr. Brest
Betty Goldberg	....	script supervisor
James Herbert	....	location manager
Barbara Lichtenberg	....	office assistant
Scott Metcalfe	....	assistant: Mr. Simpson
Carol Richmond	....	assistant: Mr. Simpson
David Robertson	....	assistant: Mr. Brest
Robert Thorson	....	production auditor
Barbara Weintraub	....	assistant: Mr. Bruckheimer

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents)
• Eddie Murphy Productions (in association with)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1985) (Australia) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1988) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• MCA Records  soundtrack
• On Tour Productions  transportation services
• R/Greenberg Associates  titles
• White Gloves  negative cutting

Also Known As:

Beverly Drive (USA) (original script title)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | Dolby Digital (Dolby 5.1)

Certification:

Finland:K-14 (re-rating) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 (1985) | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:12 | Canada:18A | Brazil:12 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:G (Quebec) | Chile:18 | Ireland:15 | Norway:16 (1985) | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills Civic Center - 19606 450 Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The movie was written for Sylvester Stallone, with the character of Michael Tandino being his brother, and Jenny Summers being his love interest. Two weeks before filming was to start, Stallone was suddenly out and Eddie Murphy was in, prompting massive rewrites.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Mikey is killed outside Foley's apartment, there is no flame emitting from the gun the assassin fires to kill him. It's not terribly bright in the hallway, and therefore we should see a flame when the assassin pulls the trigger.

Quotes:

Serge: [Serge is having trouble understanding/pronouncing Axel's first name] Donny, run and tell Miss Summers that, uh, Mister Achmed Foley is here to see her...
Axel Foley: No, *Axel* Foley. Axel.
Serge: Achnell...? Achwell...
Axel Foley: *Axel*.
Serge: ...Foley is here to see her, he's an old acquaintance.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Space Chimps (2008)

Soundtrack:

Nasty Girl

This is my favorite Eddie Murphy movie.

Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is a sassy, streetwise Detroit detective who travels to Beverly Hills to track down the men who murdered his old friend (James Russo).

That's the simple setup for the most entertaining movie Eddie has ever done (in my opinion). This is a rather easy picture to review because it's so successful it would be hard to find its flaws. It works in many areas: laughs, action, casting, chemistry between the actors, music, and execution.

Axel Foley was truly one of the best roles Eddie's ever had, and the comic is at the top of his game, indulging in a little improvisation as Axel manufactures scams in order to manipulate the people around him and get what he needs. It truly is a pleasure to watch these performers work together. Harold Faltermeyer's electronic pop score is instantly catchy, and the songs are good too. Some bits, notably the 'bananas in the tailpipe', and the 'supercops' story, are inspired.

It's also worth it to see future comedy stars like Paul Reiser (as an amusingly annoying colleague of Axel's), Bronson Pinchot (stealing his two scenes as the art gallery employee Serge), and Damon Wayans (with hair!) as the young guy who gives Axel the bananas.

Why can't Eddie make movies like this nowadays? For every good movie that he does (the "Dr. Dolittle" movies, "Daddy Day Care"), his failures ("Showtime", "Pluto Nash", "I Spy") set him back. To date, his first three movies ("48 HRS.", "Trading Places", and this one) remain his best.

Now that I've seen the special edition version of the videotape, I've learned that for a while the movie was intended to be a serious, non-jokey cop movie starring Sylvester Stallone! How fortunate that it ended up the way that it did.

If you want to see Eddie Murphy at his best, watch this and the other two movies that I mentioned. They are SO worth it.

10/10