Repo Man (1984)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Alex Cox

Writer:

Alex Cox (written by)

Release Date:

2 March 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A repo man is always intense... but only a fool gets killed for a car.

Plot:

Young punk Otto becomes a repo man after helping to steal a car, and stumbles into a world of wackiness as a result.

Plot Keywords:

Repossession | Punk | UFO | Police | Televangelist

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Harry Dean Stanton	...	Bud
Emilio Estevez	...	Otto
Tracey Walter	...	Miller
Olivia Barash	...	Leila
Sy Richardson	...	Lite
Susan Barnes	...	Agent Rogersz
Fox Harris	...	J. Frank Parnell
Tom Finnegan	...	Oly
Del Zamora	...	Lagarto
Eddie Velez	...	Napo
Zander Schloss	...	Kevin
Jennifer Balgobin	...	Debbi
Dick Rude	...	Duke
Miguel Sandoval	...	Archie (as Michael Sandoval)
Vonetta McGee	...	Marlene
Richard Foronjy	...	Plettschner
Bruce White	...	Reverend Larry
Biff Yeager	...	Agent B
Ed Pansullo	...	Agent E
Steve Mattson	...	Agent S
Thomas R. Boyd	...	Agent T (as Thomas Boyd)
Charles Hopkins	...	Mr. Humphries
Helen Martin	...	Mrs. Parks
Jon St. Elwood	...	Miner
Kelitta Kelly	...	Delilah
Varnum Honey	...	Motorcycle Cop
Sue Kiel	...	Ms. Magruder
David Chung	...	Sheriff
Cynthia Szigeti	...	U.F.O. Lady
Dorothy Bartlett	...	English Dustbin Lady
Jonathon Hugger	...	Otto Dad
Sharon Gregg	...	Otto Mom
Dale Reynolds	...	Peason
Jac McAnelly	...	Pakman (as Jac MacAnelly)
Shep Wickham	...	Additional Blond Agent
Gregg Taylor	...	Additional Blond Agent
Jon Fondy	...	Additional Blond Agent
Keith Miley	...	Additional Blond Agent
Michael Bennett	...	Additional Blond Agent
Brad Jamieson	...	Additional Blond Agent
Jimmy Buffett	...	Additional Blond Agent
Janet Chan	...	Repo Wife #1
Angelique Pettyjohn	...	Repo Wife #2
Logan Carter	...	Repo Wife #3
Laura Sorrenson	...	Repo Wife #4
George Sawaya	...	First Repo Victim
Connie Ponce	...	Repo Victim's Wife
Bob Ellis	...	Soda Jerk (as Bobby Ellis)
Quentin Gutierrez	...	Tow Truck Driver
Richard Surukawa	...	Liquor Store Clerk #1
'Earthquake' Hesson	...	Liquor Store Clerk #2
Keith Morris	...	Nightclub Band Member (as The Circle Jerks)
Greg Hetson	...	Nightclub Band Member (as The Circle Jerks)
Chuck Biscuits	...	Nightclub Band Member (as The Circle Jerks)
Earl Liberty	...	Nightclub Band Member (as The Circle Jerks)
Clyde Grimes	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Chuck Askerneese	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Kevin Long	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Jerry Miller	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Rob Lampron	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Josh Harris	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Herman Askerneese	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Kim Williams	...	Laundry Person
Michele Person	...	Laundry Person
Wally Cronin	...	Doctor
Monona Wali	...	Nurse
Delores Delux	...	Nurse (as Delores Deluxe)
Cosmo Mata	...	Bouncer
Rodney Bingenheimer	...	Club Owner (as Rodney Bengenheimer)
Jorge Martínez	...	Tennis Player (as Jorge Martinez)
Melanie Schloss	...	Tennis Player
Nancy Richardson	...	Tennis Player
Con Covert	...	Harry Pace
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luis Contreras	...	Mr. Humphries' Security Guard (uncredited)
Alex Cox	...	Carwash Attendant (uncredited)
Erin Darling	...	(uncredited)
Todd Darling	...	(uncredited)
Linda Jensen	...	(uncredited)
Tom Musca	...	(uncredited)
Terry Schwartz	...	(uncredited)
Peter Wacks	...	(uncredited)
Abbe Wool	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Alex Cox

Writing credits
Alex Cox		(written by)

Produced by
Peter McCarthy	....	producer
Michael Nesmith	....	executive producer
Gerald T. Olson	....	associate producer (as Gerald Olson)
Jonathan Wacks	....	producer

Original Music by
Steven Hufsteter
Tito Larriva		(as Humberto Larriva)

Cinematography by
Robby Müller		(director of photography) (as Robby Muller)

Film Editing by
Dennis Dolan

Casting by
Victoria Thomas

Art Direction by
Lynda Burbank
J. Rae Fox

Set Decoration by
Cheryl Cutler

Costume Design by
Theda DeRamus		(as Theda Deramus)

Makeup Department
Sharon Frances	....	hair stylist
Sharon Frances	....	makeup artist
Lisa Schulze	....	hair stylist: additional photography
Lisa Schulze	....	makeup artist: additional photography
Sheri Short	....	assistant hair stylist
Sheri Short	....	assistant makeup artist
Kyle Sweet	....	assistant hair stylist (as Kyle Tucy)
Kyle Sweet	....	assistant makeup artist (as Kyle Tucy)

Production Management
Allen Alsobrook	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director
Rip Murray	....	second assistant director (as William 'Rip' Murray)

Art Department
Doug B. Dick	....	construction coordinator (as Doug Dick)
Douglas Fox	....	property master (as Doug Fox)
John Lafia	....	leadman
Ron Seigel	....	property master: additional photography (as Ron Seigal)

Sound Department
Richard Beggs	....	sound re-recording mixer
Christopher Flick	....	assistant sound editor
Donald Flick	....	sound editor
Kim Fowler	....	foley artist
Warren Hamilton Jr.	....	supervising sound editor
Larry Hoki	....	production sound mixer: additional photography
Bonnie Koehler	....	adr editor
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Nelson	....	production sound mixer
John Post	....	foley artist
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist
David E. Stone	....	sound editor (as David Stone)
Ian Valentine	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Roger George	....	special effects
Robbie Knott	....	special effects (as Robby Knott)

Visual Effects by
William Cruse	....	visual effects
Magdalena Rangel	....	computer graphics (as Magda Rangel)
Steven Michael Sarno	....	computer graphics
George Seminara	....	computer graphics (as George Seminarh)

Stunts
Rick Barker	....	stunts
Brad Bovee	....	stunt coordinator: additional photography
Thomas R. Boyd	....	stunt double (as Thomas Boyd)
Danny Costa	....	stunts (as Danny Kosta)
Will Dawson	....	stunts
Bob Ellis	....	stunt double (as Bobby Ellis)
Eddie Hice	....	stunt coordinator
Eddie Hice	....	stunts
Loren Janes	....	stunt safety
Fred Scheiwiller	....	stunts
Rick Seaman	....	stunts
Michael S. Walter	....	stunts (as Michael Walters)
Harry Wowchuk	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Orlando Bagwell	....	grip
Chris Centrella	....	gaffer: additional photography
Chris Centrella	....	grip: additional photography
Robert K. Feldmann	....	key grip (as Robert Feldman)
Kevin Galbraith	....	electrician
Greg Gardiner	....	gaffer
Jim Grce	....	electrician
Scott Guthrie	....	best boy electric
Daniel Hainey	....	second camera operator
Rowdy Herrington	....	grip
Kenneth J. Jones	....	best boy grip (as Kenneth Jones)
Martin J. Layton	....	first assistant camera (as Marty Layton)
Michael E. Little	....	first assistant camera: additional photography (as Michael Little)
Chris Lombardi	....	second assistant camera: additional photography
Dennis J. Lootens	....	grip (as Dennis Lootens)
Patrick Melly	....	electrician: additional photography
Ramon Menendez	....	electrician: additional photography
Tom Musca	....	video camera
Les Percy	....	grip (as Leslie Percy)
Stephen L. Posey	....	camera operator: second unit (as Stephen Posey)
John Reeder	....	video engineer
Robert Richardson	....	camera operator: additional photography
Tom Richmond	....	second camera: additional photography
Christopher Tufty	....	camera assistant: second unit (as Chris Tufty)
Martin Turner	....	still photographer
Thomas Vanghele	....	second assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tim Healey	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Dennis Brookins	....	negative cutter
Dennis Brown	....	apprentice editor
Barbara Caporale	....	apprentice editor
Joan E. Chapman	....	assistant editor (as Joan Chapman)
Janiss Garza	....	supervising assistant editor
Thure Gustafson	....	assistant editor
Stephen R. Myers	....	assistant editor (as Steven Myers)

Music Department
Clem Burke	....	musician: drums
Chuck Ferry	....	assistant music engineer
Steven Hufsteter	....	score performer (as Steven Hufsteter - The Plugz)
Tito Larriva	....	score performer (as Tito Larriva - The Plugz)
Tony Marsico	....	score performer (as Tony Marsico - The Plugz)
Iggy Pop	....	composer: theme
Charlie Quintana	....	score performer (as Charlie Quintana - The Plugz)
Greg Fulginiti	....	music engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Dan Boyd	....	driver
Thomas R. Boyd	....	driver (as Tom Boyd)
Jackie Diskin	....	driver
Bob Ellis	....	driver (as Bobby Ellis)
Thomas S. Lynch	....	driver (as Tom Lynch)
John Morello	....	driver
Scott Padgent	....	driver
David Shaffer	....	transportation captain (as David Shafer)
Hal Voelkel	....	driver

Other crew
Mark Anderson	....	location scout
Cameron Bishop	....	craft service
Misty Carey	....	production assistant (as Misty Sue Carey)
Misty Carey	....	production assistant
Tim Clouse	....	security officer
Chuck Collett	....	technical consultant
Robert Dawson	....	title designer: main titles
Al Delapp	....	police
Bill Demyen	....	police
Debbie Diaz	....	executive: Edge City
Harry Hauss	....	helicopter pilot
Marsha Koff	....	production controller
Iya Labunka	....	production coordinator
Mark Lewis	....	technical advisor
Steve McAfee	....	production assistant
Bruce McKrimmon	....	video technical director
Michael Nesmith	....	presenter
Amy Ness	....	production executive
Brant Reiter	....	creative consultant
Sharron Reynolds	....	script supervisor
Dick Rude	....	creative consultant
Pat Stransky	....	security officer
Anne Van Der Vort	....	production assistant
Brenda Weisman	....	script supervisor (as Brenda Weiman)
Abbe Wool	....	video coordinator

Thanks
Michael Chinich	....	thanks
Harry Gittes	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Edge City

Distributors

• Anchor Bay Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1984) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Artificial Eye (UK)
• CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Focus Features (2006) (USA) (DVD) (Collector's Edition)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Car-Freshener  special thanks (as Car-Freshener Corporation)
• Electric Melody Studios  electronic sound effects
• Filmtrucks  locations
• Helfick Enterprises  special thanks
• Lion's Gate Sound  recording facilities
• MCA Records  soundtrack distributed by
• Movie Magic  opticals
• NW Ayer  special thanks
• Ralph's Markets  special thanks (as Ralph's Supermarkets)
• San Andreas Records and Tapes  soundtrack album available on
• System One  production/payroll
• Technicolor  prints by (as Technicolor®)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

New Zealand:R | USA:R (Approved No. 27271) | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Australia:R (video rating) | Finland:K-15 (re-rating) (2003) | Finland:K-18 (original rating) | UK:18 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Edge City

Trivia:

Ranked #7 on Entertainment Weekly's "Top 50 Cult Films of All-Time"

Goofs:

Continuity: The White Cutlass Otto first repossesses appears on the street as a 1978-80 Cutlass Salon 4-door sedan, but as the negligent owners peer out the window, it appears as a 1981 Cutlass Supreme coupe.

Quotes:

J. Frank Parnell: Ever been to Utah? Ra-di-a-tion. Yes, indeed. You hear the most outrageous lies about it. Half-baked goggle-box do-gooders telling everybody it's bad for you. Pernicious nonsense. Everybody could stand a hundred chest X-rays a year. They ought to have them, too. When they canceled the project it almost did me in. One day my mind was full to bursting. The next day - nothing. Swept away. But I'll show them. I had a lobotomy in the end.
Otto: Lobotomy? Isn't that for loonies?
Parnell: Not at all. Friend of mine had one. Designer of the neutron bomb. You ever hear of the neutron bomb? Destroys people - leaves buildings standing. Fits in a suitcase. It's so small, no one knows it's there until - BLAMMO. Eyes melt, skin explodes, everybody dead. So immoral, working on the thing can drive you mad. That's what happened to this friend of mine. So he had a lobotomy. Now he's well again.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Law & Order: Nowhere Man (#14.19)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Coup D'Etat

Best punk movie ever

Today most part of culture is based in consume: we are what we dress, what we drink, what we eat. The punk scene started more that twenty years ago because the young and bold realized this, unfurtunately, we still are what we consume. Repo-man is the best picture I´ve seen that resembles the punk sesibilities of "no future" and "anarchy" and its no wonder Alex Cox later directed Sid and Nancy. In this movie you can find that ugly stetic, nihilistic breath and the wasted youth of the young people who crashes to the capitalistic jaws of a system understood by few. This is one hell of a movie, and 18 years later after being being made, it ended being profetic. In fact,1999`s Figth Club seems to me like Repo Man updated, and the X-files and MIB are previewed here. Repo Man is a brave masterpiece on the "no future"